4 ms·
Does Google break the law because it makes it easy for me to search for mp3s to download? Google isn't hosting the files that point to trackers and ultimately
by otto 18y ago
Does Google break the law because it makes it easy for me to search for mp3s to download?
Google isn't hosting the files that point to trackers and ultimately other peers to download from.
There are cases similar to this:
Galoob v Nintendo.
In this case Galoob was cleared of charges as it was found that users of Game Genie, while altering games, were not creating derivative works that violated Copyright.
Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corporation
Professional photographer vs image search service. It was decided since Arriba was just showing thumbnails and did not have the actual files on their servers they were in the clear.
I personally think the charges are a little out of hand. That said if you don't have rights to the files you are doing something wrong. The repercussions of the pirate bay winning or losing this case are definitely going to be interesting.
- unalone 18y agoBut torrent files don't aren't in themselves illegal, even if they point to illegal content. TPB doesn't host illegal material. It only hosts the files that point to them. So technically, they're not being illegal.
- otto 18y agoBut they also are providing trackers. They are assisting in copyright violations and they often mock requests to remove such files that help others violate copyright. That said, my thoughts are based on US copyright. Please mod me down, but this case is a bit more complicated than "I like to torrent Music" and other self-serving interests.
- unalone 18y agoNah! HN doesn't downmod kneejerk.* The problem with this case is that TPB isn't US. Sweden laws say they're fine. *sometimes