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A Reddit User Admitted To Pirating a Movie 12 Years Ago. Movie Studios Want To Unmask Him. (reclaimthenet.org)

submitted 1 year ago by c0mmando@links.hackliberty.org to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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In what appears to be an escalating incursion into a user’s digital privacy, a collective of film companies continue to implore the court to compel Reddit to surrender its users’ personal details. This move is part of an ongoing piracy liability case against Internet Service Providers. Reddit, however, steadfastly resists, staunchly defending its users’ rights to anonymous speech.

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[-] merc@sh.itjust.works 113 points 1 year ago

The film companies have singled out a Reddit user, “xBROKEx,” citing a 12-year-old comment admitting to pirating the movie The Expendables.

Reddit counters that this attempted breach of privacy is unwarranted, given that the statute of limitations for copyright infringement is just three years.

How ridiculous. Someone admitted / bragged / bullshitted on the Internet 12 years ago. The statute of limitations expired 9 years ago. But, the film companies are still trying to get the information on a poor xBROKEx.

[-] aDuckk@lemmy.world 43 points 1 year ago

Could the selection be intentional? A silly unenforceable case to open the door for a more comprehensive invasion of privacy on platforms to make discussion and hosting discussion of piracy into a riskier endeavor?

[-] Aceofspades@lemmy.ca 22 points 1 year ago

This is what I'm thinking. This is just a case of them seeing how far they can take it. Once precedent is set they can start to litigate based on a user merely mentioning that they pirated a movie.

[-] TawdryPorker@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Could be that they're seeking exhaustion so that can push more of their privacy breaking bullshit in international trade agreements.

[-] subway@lemmy.fmhy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Exactly what the trick is. Once the precedent is set, they can exploit the hell out of it.

[-] Photographer@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago

What a ridiculous case. You can't prove anything based on a comment made online. Defence will just be "i just said that to sound cool, I've never pirated anything and wouldn't know how" probably doesn't even need a lawyer as there's no evidence.

[-] pulverizedcoccyx@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 year ago

Oh fuck that. If those type of words are spoken in court you better have a lawyer or it's going to be twisted against you with some sort of proof that you do in fact know how to pirate stuff. Straight to jail.

[-] Aceofspades@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 year ago

Yup. They will use the fact that a user said they pirated a movie as a starting point. If Reddit capitulated and handed over the user info that could be used to hunt for more evidence and possibly connect them to other pirates. It would open a juicy can of worms for these bottom feeders. Good on Reddit for standing up for their users.

[-] ErevanDB@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 year ago

"Good on reddit for standing up for their users" I mean, you can't abuse them for cash if they're in jail.

[-] Dohnakun@lemmy.fmhy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

But what for? His guilt expired years ago.

[-] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago

even knowing it will be thrown out, the companies want to go after them. they want to hurt xBROKEx as much as they can, as an example to others that you'll never get away with it. That they'll hound you decades later.