MPAA deals protect Usenet

Hack Mark Hachman has been having fun trying to get the MPAA to explain why it is so keen on taking down p2p sites but is entirely happy to leave Usenet alone.

He seems to think it is something to do with the relationship that the MPAA has with Guba.com which flogs for-pay online rentals and purchases of licensed movies and TV shows.

The outfit provides an archive of files published to Usenet which provides shedloads of illegal material, yet the MPAA just are not interested.

Hachman gave the MPAA a tinkle and was told that the organisation got on well with Guba.com It said that the way they understood it Guba.com was using its software called 'Johnny' to filter MPAA movies on their network.

"They've been working with us in good faith, and they'll continue to do so. We have a relationship with Guba, and they have a commitment into making sure that they don't offer copyrighted content. We'll continue to monitor the situation, and if for some reason it doesn't happen we will talk to them," a spokesMPAA said.

So trusting was the MPAA, it refused to even check Hachman's proof that there was an illegal copy of The Ring available on the site.

It appears that the MPAA does not have a problem with filesharing technology after all, simply those companies who do not sign up for its legal protection schemes.

More here. µ