AT&T Is Going To Turn Over Customers Who Are Downloading Music and Video..

[lib2DaBone]

AT&T to start sending copyright warnings

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ju1YHPV9d_8zNg-SeBdAbSXFdy9wD975U93O0
(snip)

NEW YORK (AP) — AT&T Inc., the nation's largest Internet service provider, will start sending warnings to its subscribers when music labels and movie studios allege that they are trafficking in pirated material, according to an executive.

Under the new system at AT&T, copyright holders would send a notice to the ISP that a certain numerical Internet address is associated with piracy. The ISP would then automatically forward the notice to the customer via e-mail, without telling the copyright holder who the customer is, Cicconi said.
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Wasn't it AT&T who cooperated with George Bush and turned over private information so Bush could spy on Americans? (Total Information Awareness)

Just another reason I have NOTHING to do with AT&T... Cell phones, internet or TV.


A whistleblower says AT&T is allowing the U.S. government to spy on American's Internet data.
(ABC News)

[Tim01]

1. United Corporate Government of America.

[ixion]

2. and of course, they'll be happy to charge their customers for the

privilege of being spied on... and in no way be an accessory to the 'crime' for having done so.

That's some level playing field, you betcha. :sarcasm:

[nc4bo]

5. Government in bed with the corporate whores is a relationship brimming with benefits

to both sides and of course, the ones in the middle (us) pay for the room.

[BobRossi]

3. Change providers.

Send them a message.

(I use Speakeasy.net, I am in no way affiliated).

[SecularMotion]

4. As much as I disagree with copyright laws and enforcement tactics

I have to defend AT&T in this case.

They are not turning over customers to music labels & movie studios. The labels & studios are tracking copyrighted material that is being shared online. They provide AT&T with the IP addresses they found to be sharing files. AT&T sends a warning to their customer. As it states in the article - "without telling the copyright holder who the customer is".

[sammythecat]

6. Yes, I'd consider that a considerate warning.

I got one from my local isp a several years ago. I called them and they more or less told me to "be more careful".

[Ohio Joe]

7. Agreed, misleading heading on OP - nt

[Canuckistanian]

8. What's in it for AT&T?

This must cost money to do all this research. Why are they doing it?

[formercia]

9. Due diligence

they have lawyers too.

[Canuckistanian]

11. And where were those lawyers when they were installing phone taps?

If AT&T hadn't had their asses saved by some controversial legislation, they probably wouldn't be around today.

For some reason, I don't think they fear prosecution.

[Stephanie]

15. Maybe their deal with IPhones i.e. ITunes

You think Apple's putting the squeeze on them?

[TwilightZone]

10. Where does it say anything about turning the customers over?

It doesn't. In fact, it says exactly the opposite:

"without telling the copyright holder who the customer is"

[newtothegame]

12. 2 conflicting headlines; sounds misleading.

"AT&T Is Going To Turn Over Customers Who Are Downloading Music and Video."

"AT&T to start sending copyright warnings"

WTF?

[unapatriciated]

13. I use Credo I got more than a cell phone....

I got a voice.
http://www.credomobile.com/

[MonteLukast]

14. How dare we download using THEIR money?

Pay your copyright fees, ya fleecers! Papa needs to buy a new yacht!