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Is it just me or does that seem like an awfully long for file-sharing? Were these guys doing more than just passing files around that would justify that amount

Is it just me or does that seem like an awfully long for file-sharing? Were these guys doing more than just passing files around that would justify that amount of jail time?

prodmerc 11y ago
Supposedly stealing money from (already) rich people. Which is the worst offense and a big no-no. /s
DanBC 11y ago
As I understand it just file sharing isn't criminal - no criminal conviction and no possibility of fines or jail time. (Although the rights owners can sue for loss of earnings.) To tip it into criminal law you need to either sell the files, or to distribute enough to affect the trade of the rights owners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright,_Designs_and_Patents_Act_1988#Enforcement_of_copyright https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright,_Designs_and_Patents... > Copyright infringement that may be criminal offences under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 are the: >Making copies for the purpose of selling or hiring them to others[11] > Importing infringing copies (except for personal use)[12] > Offering for sale or hire, publicly displaying or otherwise distributing infringing copies in the course of a business[13] > Distributing a large enough number of copies to have a noticeable effect on the business of the copyright owner[14] > Making or possessing equipment for the purposes of making infringing copies in the course of a business[15] > Publicly performing a work in knowledge that the performance is unauthorised[16] > Communicating copies or infringing the right to "make available" copies to the public (either in the course of a business, or to an extent prejudicial to the copyright owner)[17] > Manufacturing commercially, importing for non-personal use, possessing in the course of a business, or distributing to an extent that has a noticeable effect on the business of the copyright holder, a device primarily designed for circumventing a technological copyright protection measure.[18] I agree that these people should not be in prison, and certainly not for that long. Prison should be reserved for violent criminals.

Is it just me or does that seem like an awfully long for file-sharing? Were these guys doing more than just passing files around that would justify that amount of jail time?

prodmerc 11y ago

Supposedly stealing money from (already) rich people. Which is the worst offense and a big no-no. /s

DanBC 11y ago

As I understand it just file sharing isn't criminal - no criminal conviction and no possibility of fines or jail time. (Although the rights owners can sue for loss of earnings.) To tip it into criminal law you need to either sell the files, or to distribute enough to affect the trade of the rights owners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright,_Designs_and_Patents_Act_1988#Enforcement_of_copyright https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright,_Designs_and_Patents... > Copyright infringement that may be criminal offences under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 are the: >Making copies for the purpose of selling or hiring them to others[11] > Importing infringing copies (except for personal use)[12] > Offering for sale or hire, publicly displaying or otherwise distributing infringing copies in the course of a business[13] > Distributing a large enough number of copies to have a noticeable effect on the business of the copyright owner[14] > Making or possessing equipment for the purposes of making infringing copies in the course of a business[15] > Publicly performing a work in knowledge that the performance is unauthorised[16] > Communicating copies or infringing the right to "make available" copies to the public (either in the course of a business, or to an extent prejudicial to the copyright owner)[17] > Manufacturing commercially, importing for non-personal use, possessing in the course of a business, or distributing to an extent that has a noticeable effect on the business of the copyright holder, a device primarily designed for circumventing a technological copyright protection measure.[18] I agree that these people should not be in prison, and certainly not for that long. Prison should be reserved for violent criminals.