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GitHub shuts down Popcorn Time repositories due to MPA DMCA notice

5 points by badRNG 6y ago

badRNG 6y ago
None of the code in the repository was alleged to be copyright infringing, rather the software is often used by users to access infringing material. GitHub page: https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop TorrentFreak found the dev's DMCA Counter-Notification: https://github.com/github/dmca/commit/91d5b5715f1c50877652e2c64e51bb652906a431 https://github.com/github/dmca/commit/91d5b5715f1c50877652e2... (article) https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-suggests-github-could-be-held-liable-for-popcorn-times-copyright-infringements-200505/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-suggests-github-could-be-held-l... Does this mean that developers are going to have their repos shut down if their software is used by pirates? Are they liable? What happens if VLC is the #1 media player of choice for pirates?
- rvz 6y ago
  > Does this mean that developers are going to have their repos shut down if their software is used by pirates? Are they liable? What happens if VLC is the #1 media player of choice for pirates? No. but one thing to learn is that for projects like Popcorn Time who decide have its repository hosted on GitHub, it is a lost cause. GitHub has 100% control over the platform and can do what it likes. i.e, your software can be taken down by them for any reason once it is hosted on their platform; private or not and actively enforces DMCA policy even if none of the code is copyright infringing. Popcorn Time can appeal, but this fight is bigger than GitHub and Mircosoft is friends with Hollywood. To be continued...
rasengan 6y ago
Next, gun makers will be tried for murder.
zentiggr 6y ago
I wonder just how much of Github's recent actions are going to make every major package vendor realize that their source code is now resting in quicksand. Not that I see GitHub's management going completely goofy a la SourceForge, but the unpredictability has got to be concerning to anyone holding a major repository.

5 points by badRNG 6y ago

None of the code in the repository was alleged to be copyright infringing, rather the software is often used by users to access infringing material. GitHub page: https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop https://github.com/popcorn-official/popcorn-desktop TorrentFreak found the dev's DMCA Counter-Notification: https://github.com/github/dmca/commit/91d5b5715f1c50877652e2c64e51bb652906a431 https://github.com/github/dmca/commit/91d5b5715f1c50877652e2... (article) https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-suggests-github-could-be-held-liable-for-popcorn-times-copyright-infringements-200505/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter https://torrentfreak.com/mpa-suggests-github-could-be-held-l... Does this mean that developers are going to have their repos shut down if their software is used by pirates? Are they liable? What happens if VLC is the #1 media player of choice for pirates?

rvz 6y ago
> Does this mean that developers are going to have their repos shut down if their software is used by pirates? Are they liable? What happens if VLC is the #1 media player of choice for pirates? No. but one thing to learn is that for projects like Popcorn Time who decide have its repository hosted on GitHub, it is a lost cause. GitHub has 100% control over the platform and can do what it likes. i.e, your software can be taken down by them for any reason once it is hosted on their platform; private or not and actively enforces DMCA policy even if none of the code is copyright infringing. Popcorn Time can appeal, but this fight is bigger than GitHub and Mircosoft is friends with Hollywood. To be continued...

rasengan 6y ago

Next, gun makers will be tried for murder.

zentiggr 6y ago

I wonder just how much of Github's recent actions are going to make every major package vendor realize that their source code is now resting in quicksand. Not that I see GitHub's management going completely goofy a la SourceForge, but the unpredictability has got to be concerning to anyone holding a major repository.