GetAmnesty.com: MPAA Extortion at its Finest
The MPAA and their fellow anti-piracy organizations send out thousands of infringement notices. Only a fraction of these are played out in court, and those that do make it into court are settled at an early stage. So why not circumvent the whole legal system, and gently coerce people to pay for “amnesty”?
This is exactly what the suits at the MPAA must have thought, because they asked Nexicon to develop a program to convert infringement notices into cash.
The GetAmnesty program is a combination of both enforcement activities and efforts to turn infringers into paying “customers”. It tracks down copyright infringers by using a wide variety of methods. But, instead of sending out the regular infringement notices, they now include links for people to get amnesty. Basically they are asking to pay them an X amount of money, and they promise drop everything and go away.
Here’s what you read on the website, and allegedly in the infringement notices:
If you receive a notice that means that we have evidence of you infringing a copyright holder that we represent. Please stop and consider what such a paper trail could do to one’s future. We understand that this notice may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but we sincerely believe that signing our agreement is in your best interest.
I’m not sure how we’re supposed to call this.. extortion? Intimidation? They are clearly trying to scare people into giving their money to the copyright holders without clear evidence.
They might have an IP address, but this doesn’t mean anything. The MPAA, or any other anti-piracy organization can’t sue someone simply because he or she pays the bills for the internet connection. Several cases (example 1/2) were dropped already because of this argument. An IP address is not a person.
Andrew Norton, a spokesperson of the US Pirate Party, said in a response to TorrentFreak: “These efforts to continually alienate their consumers will not do major rights holding groups any favors. Programs such as this are thinly veiled extortion efforts, and represent further efforts by media cartels to shore up their crumbling business models by intimidation, and violation of users rights.”
Norton continues: “It is impossible for any program to determine if something is infringing copyright, or if it comes under fair use. With the recent probes into the john-doe lawsuits and their usage, it is clear that this is a pathetic new method to try and shore up the outdated perceptions of the rights holders, rather than trying to adapt and change to suit the times. It is no longer the 1940s, and unlike FM, media conglomerates cannot wish or bury the internet, and modern technology.”
The MPAA and other content owners will use these methods because it’s an easy way for them to make money, and they save quite a bit on legal costs too. In fact, the RIAA already uses a website called P2Plawsuits where people can settle their cases online. I seriously question the legality of these extortion tactics.
GetAmnesty.com was launched a few days ago. If people receive infringement letters with links to this site, please contact us. In the meanwhile you might want to take a look at what SiteAdvisor says about GetAmnesty… Phishing or other scams … and that’s exactly what it is.
Update: The MPAA oficially denies having anything to do with GetAmnesty.
Previously: TorrentSpy Blocks Searches From US Visitors
Next: Congressman wants ISPs to be Copyright Police
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“Phishing or other scams”
Haha, yeah…
“Please stop and consider what such a paper trail could do to one’s future.”
Wow, Take it to another level guys, eh?
In all fairness, they ARE breaking the law.
can i still be a president one day if i have such a paper trail?
Patrick - who is breaking the law? There are Fair use rights, there are legitimate reasons to have such material - no program will be able to tell context.
This isn’t like criminal law, where it’s a clear cut ‘this is illegal, this is not’ - it’s civil law “this is a breach of this law, because we don’t have this contract in place, or our contract doesn’t cover this specific case’.
Who to support? The soulless, incestuous, media cartel that homogenizes the airwaves? Or the people who steal from the media cartel?
It’s not exactly a black and white battle.
The corporations are trying to protect their property and increase returns for their shareholders. The downloaders are alienated and feel that they shouldn’t be penalized for downloading something that they wouldn’t pay for anyway.
I do not think that all information/data should be free (because there are definite costs of producing it), but at the same time I can’t really support a group that engages in blatant extortion.
I have no one to root for.
I received a notice, that means that you may have evidence of me infringing a copyright holder that you represent. I understand that this reply may come as a bit of a surprise to you, and I sincerely believe that kissing my ass is in your best interest.
The real question is how exactly do users know this is genuine, and not some attempt from scammers to collect money.
It would be quite easy for anybody to start sending out phishing emails requiring you to settle for downloading copyrighted stuff by signing onto some website. Considering that one third of internet traffic is bittorrent that would make most recipients likely to fall for it.
I totally agree with many of the posts here. Scammers and phishers will use this to their advantage. Many of you will be very surprised if you have received a letter like this, so much so that you will not pay attention to the source of the e-mail, resulting in massless wallets.
When I finally get a job (currently 17 right now and going for a PC technician position in some tech store, eg Futureshop, need to get A+ cert. first) I’d like to produce some music and redistribute them online and P2P for free, I mean, it is a more efficient way of getting more listeners and perhaps fans for my work (or yours if one of you plan to do something similar) just as long they credit me, that is it.
Just the though of people downloading it is fine for me because it mean people want to listen to my work.
Anyway, the MPAA just wants to intimidate people for their money, that is the bottom line for many of the news stories posted on this site.
However, with the subject about money, does the money that they forcibly rip from middle-class, hard working, tax paying people, actually go back to the person who created the media i the first place, or just all of it goes to the MPAA?
I just hope that judges get some more balls in their sacks to refuse these utterly worthless cases. Too much time wasted on this crap.
[quote comment="153746"]In all fairness, they ARE breaking the law.[/quote]
What proof do you or anyone else have? The methods they use to gather evidence isn’t legal; it won’t hold up in court. How many cases have occurred where the one being sued ISN’T at fault? Just because the MPAA says it’s true doesn’t mean it is.
[quote comment="153794"]I received a notice, that means that you may have evidence of me infringing a copyright holder that you represent. I understand that this reply may come as a bit of a surprise to you, and I sincerely believe that kissing my ass is in your best interest.[/quote]
Genius. Love it.
i love how their website has 3 pieces of “news” for august.
I think TF has like what in the 30s already for this month alone?
that website looks like it was built with angelfire.
Seems they’re using ‘amnesty’ the same way the Mafia used “Insurance” in the past. But if people keep calling their bluff their frivilous lawsuits will be their downfall. Up yours MPAA
You steal from the Mafia, you know what you get.
Don’t support or buy anything that comes from the MPAA/RIAA. The internet is an artists new medium for distribution.
I haven’t received one of their letters, but I’m a BAAAD man. How much should I send them?
[quote comment="153749"]can i still be a president one day if i have such a paper trail?[/quote]
yes, but only if your a white male… preferably protestant
It never ceases to amaze me how these people will stop at nothing and tiptoe over the line as much as possible to sue the shit out of a few 11 year olds and their moms over a couple songs…
I for one will download songs I purchase on I-tunes from p2p networks In order to receive a copy of a song I do not need to “activate” before playing it on another computer in my house… seeing as I have 6-7 simple machines for LAN games that I would like to have music on (server slows the network during heavy gameplay ;)) What tells them I haven’t purchased the songs on CD before they send me the fucking letter?
There is no legal basis for the MPAA to sue over copyright infringement. The argument is the same as for the RIAA, see: http://thewaronbullshit.com/2007/07/30/riaa01/
I[quote comment="154212"][quote comment="153746"]In all fairness, they ARE breaking the law.[/quote]
What proof do you or anyone else have? The methods they use to gather evidence isn’t legal; it won’t hold up in court. How many cases have occurred where the one being sued ISN’T at fault? Just because the MPAA says it’s true doesn’t mean it is.[/quote]
I don’t support their methods of extorting money, but on the other hand I can not support the legality of piracy.
I don’t know what to do!
RIAA tried to do the same thing here in Portugal in 2006: they arrived and said they would start to send letters to people who downloaded music saying: ‘We know you downloaded ’something.mp3′ if you don’t pay 3500€ we will be forced to take legal action’. In the next day the Portuguese Association for the Consumer Rights wanted to know if anyone received one of these letters and wanted people to tell them so they could take RIAA to court for blackmailing people… We’ve never heard of RIAA in the news since that day… lol
Ernesto &Ye Likeminded Gentlemen,
I strongly urge you to do your homework before you spout off such specious speculation. Getamnesty.com is NOT in any way commissioned or sanctioned by the MPAA, their members or affiliates. First course of business of any credible journalistic effort is investigation. Did anyone call the MPAA at their opulently appointed office in Encino?…its so easy with theses 10 steps:
1) Dial +1 (818) 995-6600
2) Ring Ring…Ring Ring
3) The Receptionist will answer: “Motion Picture Association”
4) You say: “Can I talk to somebody in charge of anti-piracy for the Internet?
5) The Receptionist will reply: “Just a moment while I connect you”
6) Ring Ring…Ring Ring
7) The Evil Intractable Nightmare Inducing Bogeyman will answer: “MPAA Internet anti-piracy…how can we ruin your life?’ (Not really, you’ll actually get a real human being that will likely say: “This is [First Name]”)
8) You say: Is get amnesty.com in any way commissioned or sanctioned by the MPAA?
9) MPAA Dude tells you: “No”, “Never heard of it” or something succinctly disclaiming any association.
10) But not taking “No” for an answer, you retort: “But what about Nexicon’s claims…”
and PLASE report your answer right back here.
Of course you could read the original press release: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070814/latu056.html?.v=101 and see that there no specific endorsement. Press releases are marketing folks, not gospel. When they claim that “Nexicon developed the GetAmnesty(TM) Program at the suggestion of a major copyright owner trade association”…that translates to they ain’t got s#!t.
Then this MUST be a ‘phishing’ scam!
STEEEEERIKE 2!!!!!
Oh what’s that at the end of the press release? Could it be? Oh yes, it is a ‘forward-looking statement’ disclaimer required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Nexicon is public company, but that is what the stock symbol tells you at the beginning of the press release. Hmm ‘Pink Sheets’…Alas, an investment worthy of the trust of widows and orphans (Call your broker for his/her sage advise). Nevertheless, these guys would be looking at spending a few years in the Crowbar Hilton, by willfully committing such fraud in the course of their fiduciary responsibilities. Hell. just call investor relations, The contact is at the bottom.
My point is don’t believe everything you read unless, and react like a horse-toothed jackass, until you do your homework.
Anyone who posts beyond this without having the BALLS to call the MPAA, is a absolute coward and your arguments, more like epithets, shall have the credibility of Mein Kampf.
Cordially,
DYH
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