Hundreds of BitTorrent, eDonkey and
DirectConnect Servers Targeted Worldwide
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motion Picture Association of
America, Inc. today announced that its member companies have filed suit
against individuals operating servers that index millions of illegal copies of
movies and TV programs used on computer networks such as BitTorrent. The MPAA
and its members also are working closely with law enforcement and civil
authorities around the world to shut down illegal servers on eDonkey and
DirectConnect networks.
"The operators of these servers exercise total control over which files
are included on their servers and even determine if some kinds of files aren't
allowed," said John Malcolm, the MPAA's Senior Vice President and Director of
Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations. "For instance, some operators won't post
pornography on their systems, but they have no compunction allowing illegal
files of copyrighted movies and TV shows to flow through their servers. We are
moving to stop that. The message today is clear: if you illegally trade movies
online, we can find you and we will hold you accountable."
BitTorrent, Direct Connect and eDonkey are all examples of newer kinds of
"peer-to-peer" file-trading networks that have proliferated online in recent
years. These kinds of P2P networks rely on servers termed BitTorrent
"trackers," eDonkey "servers" and Direct Connect "hubs" to index and
efficiently deliver files of all kinds. The operators being targeted by these
actions have helped online pirates steal hundreds of millions of illegal
copies of movies and TV programs.
Beyond civil suits filed in U.S. and U.K. courts, the MPAA and its members
are working with rights-holder organizations and local law-enforcement
agencies in several other countries to pursue criminal actions against the
people behind illegal file-trading servers based in those countries. Law
enforcement officials in France, The Netherlands and Finland have already
taken actions based on the information brought to their attention.
The MPAA and local rights-holder organizations are also sending cease-and-
desist letters to Internet service providers worldwide that host eDonkey
servers and DirectConnect hubs. The operators of these servers are among the
Internet's biggest copyright violators, their networks are collectively used
by millions of users to get instant and illegal access to hundreds of millions
of copyrighted files. Cease-and-desist notices have been sent regarding
servers in numerous countries on four continents.
"We cannot just sit back and let Internet pirates brazenly steal our
movies and other intellectual property," said MPAA's President and CEO Dan
Glickman. "Today's actions not only will protect creativity but also will
bolster the nascent legitimate online market for motion picture distribution.
The film industry believes digital delivery of entertainment holds great
promise, if we can protect it from thieves long enough to give it a chance to
grow. Our member companies are developing and supporting technologies that
provide movie fans convenient, affordable and accessible ways to view great
films."
These actions are only the latest in the MPAA's multi-pronged fight
against online piracy. Other initiatives have included educational outreach
to parents, consumers, university administrators and students as well as high
school and elementary school children; anti-piracy legislation to toughen
penalties; support of criminal law enforcement initiatives against egregious
online and hard goods motion picture pirates; litigation against individual
online file traders; and development of new technologies to detect and prevent
piracy. The MPAA's member studios also have been strong supporters of, and
investors in, legal movie download services and technologies such as
MovieLink, CinemaNow and MovieBeam.
"Interpol is committed to fighting all types of piracy and
counterfeiting," said John Newton from the Interpol Intellectual Property
Crime Unit. "Whether motion picture theft takes the form of illegal discs for
sale on street corners or of electronic files being re-distributed over peer-
to-peer networks, piracy is an illegal activity. While criminal organizations
are clearly involved in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit DVDs,
we are working closely with the motion picture industry to establish to what
extent this is the case with peer-to-peer networks. We support the actions
taken today by the Motion Picture Association and law enforcement agencies
around the world to combat this form of criminality."
About Piracy in the Film Industry
The film industry will lose more than $3.5 billion to movie piracy this
year, a total that does not include losses due to illegal file sharing online.
According to a Smith Barney study, that number is expected to jump to $5.4
billion next year. By deeply cutting into revenues, movie piracy limits the
choices for consumers at the box office. Sixty percent of all movies never
recoup their production and marketing costs which average $102.8 million.
Piracy also hurts the hundreds of thousands of individuals whose jobs depend
on a vital movie industry including sound and lighting technicians,
carpenters, theatre and video store employees.
About the MPAA
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice
and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television
industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members
include Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.,
Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox
Film Corporation, Universal City Studios LLLP, and Warner Bros. Entertainment
Inc.
SOURCE Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.mpaa.org
http://www.respectcopyrights.org
CONTACT:
Rich Taylor of the Motion Picture Association
of America, Inc., +1-202-293-1966
|
