Italians say downloading ok if not for profit

[Robert]

(Source)

 

At last, a slap in the face for those certain greedy corporations.

 

MILAN, Italy - Italy's top criminal court has ruled that downloading music, movies and software over the Internet isn't a crime if profit wasn't the motivation, though analysts questioned Monday whether the ruling would have much effect on copyright laws.

 

The court's decision, issued earlier this month but reported over the weekend by the Italian media, overturns earlier convictions against two former Turin Polytechnic Institute students who set up in 1994 a peer-to-peer, file-sharing network that was shut down within months.

 

They were found guilty of illegal duplication and given a one-year sentence, which was reduced to three months on appeal, defense lawyer Carlo Blengino said.

 

The top criminal court in Rome threw out the convictions, ruling that it was not a crime to download computer files from such networks if there was no financial gain.

 

But analysts said violating a copyright, for example by breaking copy-protection technologies in place, remained illegal even if downloading the material had been decriminalized.

 

"I consider this sentence as a very intermediate step in clarifying what is legal and what is not legal," said analyst Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffe, the president of Assodigitale, a think-tank on digital technology. "This sentence marks an important step in that peer-to-peer per se is not an illegal activity. What stays and remains illegal is copyright infringement by cracking copyright files, and distributing it for commercial purposes."

 

That could cover services that charge access or connectivity fees, he said.

 

The Italian agency that monitors copyright issues, known by the acronym SIAE, said in a statement that the ruling did not bring any "revolutions" in terms of author's rights because the case predates current legislation calling for a fine for anyone who shares protected material over the Internet, even without financial gain.

[Mooney]

Really? Wow. Sorry, Canada, Italy is now better than you, and warmer.

 

I must say, this is really cool. Hopefully it will catch on in some other countries... But you know, I've always kinda felt the same way as the Italian courts ruled: If the downloader is not making money off of it, why make it a crime? It's just like taping a TV show, and maybe letting your friends watch it.

[Agozer]

Now, if only such sentiments would carry all over Europe, and ideally, across continents.

 

Our revamped copyright law made circumventing protections illegal + other nonsensical things, yet that hasn't been able to control "rampant" file-sharing.

[ken_cinder]

When it comes to things I bought, I can do with them as I please.

 

If I want to crack my game to run from a backup, then go ahead and try and tell me I can't or do something about it........I dare you.

 

My Xbox is MINE! If I want to turn it into a toaster/coffee maker combo, try and stop me.

 

Copyright laws are too far reaching. Once you legally OWN something, it should be yours to do with as you please. Theres too much of this "Liscenced to you" BS, even on hardware. NO! If I bought it, it's MINE! F**K you!

[olaf]

Theres too much of this "Liscenced to you" BS, even on hardware. NO! If I bought it, it's MINE! F**K you!

 

^ I totally agree with that, IJTF_Cinder.

[Robert]

I imagine most decent-minded citizens would think that way.

 

If we were renting it, we would be able to take it back when we'd grown bored with it. At least you'd sign a rental agreement in the shop, and have the conditions carefully explained to you.

 

The games are always FOR SALE, and therefore all rights transfer to us at the point of sale. Damn leechers want to live in your pocket for ever.