Verizon Online (DSL) sent me today an official e-mail notice saying I was infringing on copyrights of software companies namely, Symantec and Macromedia by making available cracked/serial’d versions of their software (SystemWorks and DreamWeaver) on the FastTrack Network.
An earlier post on Zeropaid.com shows a very similar Verizon email sent to a person(s) sharing leaked, prerelease versions of Korn’s new album.
This behavior contradicts Verizon’s earlier public statements about sharing music on P2P:
USA Today, April 2001: …(re Napster)…Copyright.net wanted Verizon to suspend 240 of its customers; Verizon refused. “Those songs were on hard drives, and who knows whether or not they were traded?” she says. “This company is threatening service providers and violating the privacy interests of our customers.”
From News.com, June 2001: …The new file-swapping services “can’t fit under the (copyright law), and the copyright community is very frustrated,” said Sarah Deutsch, associate general counsel for Verizon Communications, one of the biggest high-speed ISPs. “It’s one thing to ask us to take material down. But asking for subscriber termination is a very drastic remedy that infringes on people’s rights and speech.”…
So what does Verizon’s apparent volte-face mean for its customers using P2P? Is Verizon going to really risk terminating subscribers and sending them to less-stringent ISPs, or is this just a scare or follow-the-letter-of-the-law-but-not-its-spirit tactic? Are other ISPs going to follow?
Text of Verizon’s email:
We have received a complaint concerning the unauthorized distribution of
copyrighted material by your account. This is a violation of Attachment B,
Section 4, Copyright Infringement/Repeat Infringer Policy of the Internet
Access Agreement that you accepted when you opened your account.
Please carefully review this agreement which can be found at
http://www.verizon.net/policies .
Infringement Details:
——————————
First Found: 17 May 2002 14:10:0 EDT (GMT -0400)
Last Found: 17 May 2002 14:10:0 EDT (GMT -0400)
Network: KaZaA
IP Address: 151.203.xxx.xxx
Protocol: FastTrack
Username: XXXXXXXXXXXXX@KaZaA
What was located as infringing content:
——————————
Filename: Dreamweaver Fireworks Studio 4 + Serial
+ Bible.exe (51,277kb)
Filename: Norton SystemWorks 2002 iso.exe
(206,442kb)
Filename: Norton Systemworks 2002.exe (131,115kb)
In addition, the distribution, duplication or transmission of this type of
material is strictly prohibited by law without the express permission of
the licensee.
Consider this official notice that Verizon does not tolerate the use of its
accounts in this manner. Any future violations of your Internet Access
Agreement will result in immediate termination of your account without
further notice and notification of the proper law enforcement agencies and
software companies.
Verizon Internet Operations
Security
security@verizon.net
Related Posts
- Verizon is RIAA’s bitch!
- Verizon imposes new (high-speed Internet) service surcharge
- Verizon to Forward Warnings from RIAA, MPAA
- Verizon willing to name p2p users
- Verizon Quits Free Usenet Access Sep 30th
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