Gotcha! New MPAA Site Tries to Trick Users into Illegally Downloading Movies

Written By Jared Moya
July 3, 2007 | 29 Comments

Also offers the ability to download video content using a custom client which also scans if the user has downloaded copyrighted files.

MediaDefender Inc, the “leading provider of anti-piracy solutions in the emerging Internet-Piracy-Prevention (IPP) industry” has launched a website called “MiiVi” dedicated to busting those who both like to download copyrighted content as well as those who already have.

The site is apparently the latest ploy in the ongoing battle against illegal file-sharing and literally takes the game to new heights. It offers WHOLE DOWNLOADS of movies as well as the ability to download and install a “miraculous” new program that promises “fast and easy downloading all in one great site.” There’s just one problem: the site’s registered to MediaDefender Inc. and it’s army of prying eyes are just nipping at the bud to take down those who are unaware.

The site was apparently registered on March 11, 2007. and unfortunately who knows how many poor souls have fell victim to this latest malfeasance by an MPAA sponsored organization. Luckily however, Brokep over at the Pirate Bay gave me a heads up on the situation and I report back to you with haste to avoid the site and warn others to do so as well.

Here’s proof of the site’s true intent:

…AND here’s a taste of the BAIT for which they are laying out for the unsuspecting noob, a nice 745MB XVID(?) copy of Batman Returns just waiting for someone to come along a take a bite. Too bad this bite could cost one thousands of dollars and lead to an avalanche of letters, settlement notices, or perhaps even a “friendly” knock at the door.

This new development certainly takes the war against illegal file-sharing to new lows and proves to just what degree the MPAA will allows its agents to go to prop up sagging ticket sales for second rate movies. Ever notice how GOOD MOVIES do well and BAD MOVIES do poorly at the Box Office? Well, I guess we’re alone because the MPAA sees no wrong it lousy movies. Who’s really trying to trick whom I ask?

–THX again to Brokep.

**UPDATE: MPAA & MediaDefender Respond to Exposure of Fake Video Download Site

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/tech_news/Gotcha_MPAA_Tries_to_Trick_Users_into_Downloading_Movies_Illegally’;

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Jared Moya
I've been interested in P2P since the early, high-flying days of Napster and KaZaA. I believe that analog copyright laws are ill-suited to the digital age, and that art and culture shouldn't be subject to the whims of international entertainment industry conglomerates. Twitter | Google Plus

@whitenoise Who knows these days. Proof is proof and all it would take is just a high-priced Canadian lawyer or legal team to get the ball rolling. These bastards are getting sneakier and sneakier. I think the downloading part would be entrapment but scanning your PC for copyrighted stuff if you make the mistake of grabbing their client would be a direct hit.

Psilaxs

I doubt this will fly is challenged this could be easily considered entrapment. The article did not make clear if they are actually offering the videos for download or not. Just because they scan your computer and find file names and sized means exactly jack and shit.

ejonesss

that is entrapment and i hope they get sued for entrapment

meyou123

Yeah I think the "entrapment" issue will be considered in court....which will be where this will head if they even try to sue someone.

Signa

WTF i thought they havnt been doing something like this the whole time because of being able to be sued for entrapment. hopefully this desperation will be their undoing.

Sin2

crafty buggers! Cheers for the heads up guys

fujow

Would'nt they in fact be like a napster or Grokester the same companies they sued.

soulxtc

Looks like the "jig is up" the site's now offline. ........I just hope nobody got busted.

AoOoBoOoCo

It's only entrapment if someone from the MPAA is there behind you making you download the movie. It's just like a cop selling drugs and then busting the guy. Unless there was another cop with the guy buying the drugs making him do it. Theres no entrapment. That freedom to not push the download link is what would get an entrapment plea thrown out.

DwarfBaby

Yes but it could be considered extortion and/or self-help both of which are illegal. There will be lawsuits over this. Microsoft could trick a business into downloaded pirated software and turn around and sue that company. This is basically the same.

meyou123

"It's only entrapment if someone from the MPAA is there behind you making you download the movie. It's just like a cop selling drugs and then busting the guy. Unless there was another cop with the guy buying the drugs making him do it. Theres no entrapment. That freedom to not push the download link is what would get an entrapment plea thrown out. " Sorry but I think you are DEAD WRONG on this one! This is CLEARLY a case of entrapment because the site itself is set up SOLELY for the purpose of luring people in! And how EXACTLY is someone going to "make" you download anything. Your statement does not make any sense.

Psilaxs

AoOoBoOoCo they are under contract from the mpaa so it matters not if it is the mpaa directly or not it is someone they are subsidizing therefore they are responsible for there actions. They can and do sanction what means they are going to use to catch people.

nomad9

Sorry DwarfBaby but you and all the rest that think this is entrapment need to take a closer look at the legal definition of entrapment: ENTRAPMENT - A person is 'entrapped' when he is induced or persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime that he had no previous intent to commit; and the law as a matter of policy forbids conviction in such a case. However there is no entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the Government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime. Does that last sentence sound familiar? MiiVi provides a favorable opportunity but does not persuade you to go to the site or download any of the content there. If you go to the site and download content that's your choice. Sorry but any entrapment case would likely be thrown out the window. Your very comment "how EXACTLY is someone going to "make" you..." demonstrates how this would not be considered entrapment. No one can make you download. You choose to do so.

Signa

Legal definition aside it still seems like entrapment as they make videos available in a way that doesnt seem like you would be breaking the law by using their service. and even if you arent a moron you could still assume that the blame lies solely on whoever runs the site and not the end-user. i dont think entrapment would get thrown out just that easily. even a crappy lawyer could argue well for an entrapment case

eivioolla

If miivi.com has permission from the copyright owners to put the material available it can't be illegal to download it. Otherwise you could put up any website and sue anyone whose web browser downloads the site into a cache. One would think that only downloading from unauthorized souce would be illegal...

VAMPYRE BLADE

This reminds me of this other thing few years ago i downloaded a movie and it asked me to register it before it would play i deleted it right away no way i was falling for that. This girl i knew actually registered one movie she downloaded and within the month got a letter from her isp and had her account canceled. fast and easy doesnt mean safe and secure thats why i stay with the program i have used for years might not be the fastest but i get what i want.

Gamer8585

As others have said there is no way they can sue you for downloading the movies they provide. They might be able to bust you for other stuff they find on your hard drive (although doing it the way they are might constitute an illegal search) but they would have to prove that you were sharing that stuff with others. Since the MPAA (copyright owner) is providing the movies with the intent that they will be downloaded they can't sue you for doing it; that would be like a store giving you a free sample and then arresting you for shoplifting. Also DOWNLOADING IS NOT ILLEGAL UPLOADING IS as long as you do not upload anything you are in the free and clear under the law.

seriouswrong

Or you can go to legal sites like www.showflick.com and watch movies without any fear of the MPAA or government for that matter. I guess if you really need to watch the latest movie you will have to decide the risk for me sites like showflick.com are safe.

Signa

@gamer please correct me if im wrong but the way i always understood it is that downloading was just as illegal as uploading. but because of the way p2p works it is completely impossible to see what a particular IP address has downloaded. thats why uploading was the danger as someone from the RIAA could see what you are sharing and then sue you. they could see what you download IF you connect to their shared files and then they could see what IPs tried downloading a song. but i was certain that they couldnt host songs because that would be considered entrapment (or illegal from some standpoint) and then they would have no case. thats what has me confused about this site. it isnt any different so how come are they trying it?

Gamer8585

@Signa You are wrong you can easly see the IP address of anyone downloading a file off P2P (since your computer [and the P2P program] has to have the IP address to retrieve the file). This is not illegal. Uploading is illegal because only the person with the copyright has the authority to determine who receives copies of their work; and uploading would be misrepresenting the permissions you were given by the author. Also with real piracy people would make money on selling copies and therefore deprive the artist of due revenue but the buyer wouldn't be expected to know whether the seller had the proper license (not really an issue on non-profit P2P but you can see where the legal precedent comes from) .

meyou123

People need to understand that UPLOADING not DOWNLOADING is what is illegal! No one to this date ahs been sued for downloading a song ONLY....it is uploading it or sharing it on a network that gets them in hot water. And @nomad9 I got this from wikipedia...seem s they have a very DIFFERENT DEFINTION of entrapment..so your defintion is NOT the be all and end all of defining entrapment.... "In jurisprudence entrapment is a legal defense by which a defendant may argue that he or she should not be held criminally liable for actions which broke the law because he/she was induced (or entrapped) by the police to commit said acts. For the defense to be successful the defendant must demonstrate that the police induced an otherwise unwilling person to commit a crime" So in other words...it is illegal to "induce" an OTHERWISE UNWILLING person to commit a crime. What do you think this site did?? Do you actually think there is a legal defense for it? Apparently the owners did not because they sure took it down in a hurry!

CCSDUDE

you'd think they'd take a tip from Disney... when it comes to bad press and NC17 films

MuzikDudeNC

I can say that they will NOT go after anyone who used the site as the poster in # 23 is 100% corect with his post info.

Zain101

watch online tv channls and online movies Download movies http://masti101.net

andreea360

The thing with downloading illegal movies is very good. But being tricky? This is not a good idea. This will piss a lot of people off. Everybody knows that downloading films is illegal but today that`s a normal thing. Why can`t they just move along and let people do what they did for years. ____________ [url=http://www.drugrehab.net/program.php]long term drug rehab[/url]

corona

I still would think there is some legal complications when they make something very easily avalibe that a normal person would possibly be enticed to. I think of it as a bank puting there money out on the street and not in a valt if you take it your charged with bank robbery. It doesnt make scence to make something easily avalible and charge someone with taking it. people are by nature i'll say corruptable and making that line even smaller and presenting it with a bow I think is a bunch of bs. I'm currently going to college for digital film and video production If I ever make a movie and it was downloaded that would be fine with me because If I really liked a movie I would want to own it... some of the movies out there now are just garbage and i dont think people want to waste there money on garbage. they were a couple movies I've downloaded and when I was finished I ran to the theaters to buy a ticket to watch a better picture of it or i bought it on blueray because I didnt know how good the movie was. In my case downloading of a movie prompted me to go and see it where as otherwise I wouldnt have....