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USA Users Cut Off from TorrentSpy
Techtree News Staff, Aug 29, 2007 1155 hrs ISTThe suit claims that while TorrentSpy may not host pirated movies, its search engine helps users find unauthorized copies.
BitTorrent's tracking site, TorrentSpy.com, has reportedly announced shutting down access to users in USA.
While TorrentSpy claims the decision is not forced by any court; rather stems from the uncertainties surrounding user privacy in the US, the industry is abuzz that the barring has everything to do with the copyright lawsuit filed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) against TorrentSpy.
The ruling on the suit that alleges TorrentSpy is violating copyright law is expected any day now, and might result in TorrentSpy having to turn over its user information to the MPAA.
The suit claims that while TorrentSpy may not host pirated movies, its search engine helps users find unauthorized copies.
TorrentSpy in turn is saying there are many legitimate uses, and that it is protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that provides safe harbor for Internet service providers, not holding them responsible for any unlawful acts committed by their users.
Attorney for TorrentSpy, Ira Rothken, said the company's decision to shut off US residents is a direct response to a Federal Court order requiring them to start logging users' IP addresses and activities.
Rothken said between the devil and the deep blue sea, the company has opted rather to block US users completely than breach its privacy policies.
Rothken said this should serve as a wake-up call for Internet users that their privacy is not protected as well as they think it is. And that other search engines like Google and Yahoo! should take a cue, and be very concerned as some day the attacks on privacy would affect them too...
While TorrentSpy claims the decision is not forced by any court; rather stems from the uncertainties surrounding user privacy in the US, the industry is abuzz that the barring has everything to do with the copyright lawsuit filed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) against TorrentSpy.
The ruling on the suit that alleges TorrentSpy is violating copyright law is expected any day now, and might result in TorrentSpy having to turn over its user information to the MPAA.
The suit claims that while TorrentSpy may not host pirated movies, its search engine helps users find unauthorized copies.
TorrentSpy in turn is saying there are many legitimate uses, and that it is protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that provides safe harbor for Internet service providers, not holding them responsible for any unlawful acts committed by their users.
Attorney for TorrentSpy, Ira Rothken, said the company's decision to shut off US residents is a direct response to a Federal Court order requiring them to start logging users' IP addresses and activities.
Rothken said between the devil and the deep blue sea, the company has opted rather to block US users completely than breach its privacy policies.
Rothken said this should serve as a wake-up call for Internet users that their privacy is not protected as well as they think it is. And that other search engines like Google and Yahoo! should take a cue, and be very concerned as some day the attacks on privacy would affect them too...
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mC CAULEY
,PONT AVEN, on Aug 31, 2007 12:27 PM
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