Rapidshare hand out uploader's details, house raided

[Orbital Shark]

This is not Windows 7 related but it's rather interesting.

In Germany, the file-hosting service Rapidshare has handed over the personal details of alleged copyright infringers to several major record labels. The information is used to pursue legal action against the Rapidshare users and at least one alleged uploader saw his house raided. Like many new releases, Metallica’s latest album “Death Magnetic” was uploaded to the popular file hosting service Rapidshare one day prior to its official release date last year. Since users don’t broadcast their IP-address or distribute files to the public directly though Rapidshare, it came as a surprise when the police raided the house of an uploader a few weeks ago

Full details on Releaselog | RLSLOG.net » Rapidshare hands over uploader’s details, house raided

 

[RST101]

I seen this on torrent freak yesterday. Who is going to want to use rapidshare now? They had no need to do that really did they. Mind you it will come back and bite them big time because who is going to trust them now. That is one way which is not going to attract potential customers, clowns!

 

[Orbital Shark]

Too right. I'm not an RS user yet & i certainly wont be now

 

[win7]

Exactly what details though?

I have a premium rs account and am pretty sure all i have given them is a gmail addy??

 

[12eason]

Good news. Rapidshare sucks, hopefully ppl will start using better file hosts now.

 

[win7]

What details exactly can they give out though witout breaking the law themselfs??

For instants im sure most people would pay them via paypal, they "could" gather some details this way,but surely this is breaking some kind of privacy law? I know for a fact paypal themselfs would not give out such info, and in all honesty if rapidshare gave out such info surely THEY would be liable for something or other....

 

[RST101]

I don't and haven't ever used it myself. It's a bit like xp bland and lifeless, it's really going to be lifeless now though. Silly Billys. Shady as hell giving them your private details though and if I were you win7 I would scrap that account because there could be a thud on your door. Im sure you aint got nothing to worry about.

EDIT: Yes they should be liable for something because surely it is a breach of confidentiality.

 

[Nikolay]

Torrents ftw?

 

[Orbital Shark]

If anything is deemed as breaking the law then any details will have to be given out. Otherwise they would be condoning piracy. IMO

 

[win7]

In all honesty i would very much doubt that any of my "downloading" activity would be classed as criminal, and infact i would welcome them in... prove it...

And then be right on to rapidshare for giving out such "private" info...

Its quite easy to get somebodys details but unless they sell something illegal or make a recorded transaction its near on impossible to incriminate them..

 

[Orbital Shark]

win7, it's about the uploaders if you read the article. They would be the 1's supplying the general public, the downloaders don't have to give as much info, you can even download without an account if the filesize is right.

 

[Nikolay]

win7, it's about the uploaders if you read the article. They would be the 1's supplying the general public, the downloaders don't have to give as much info, you can even download without an account if the filesize is right.

Yup, the limit is 100 MB.

 

[win7]

win7, it's about the uploaders if you read the article. They would be the 1's supplying the general public, the downloaders don't have to give as much info, you can even download without an account if the filesize is right.

I understand that but even if i was uploading stuff i shouldn't i would still expect the same privacy (especially from a site i have given cash) anyway... i havent actually read there privacy policy, but AFAIK you would only be required by law to give up logs/details from "your" site, the "extra" details i mention that "could" be gathered would only be possible through thier own paypal account which is totally seperate from there site..

Unless it was a site that required more than just a user id, and pass.. anyway..

 

[Orbital Shark]

Very true, but by doing this RS have opened themselves up to an even bigger kettle of fish than TPB. You don't pay to use TPB or most torrent sites, but as you have to pay for a premium account they open themselves up to some of the biggest copyright laws going.

In essence you are paying to download stuff but none of the money is going to the Producer/Copyright owner. I can see all sorts of court cases coming up since TPB

 

[SIW2]

Hi Win 7,

RS may have been forced to hand the information over.

When you connect, they gather lots of information about you, if you have an account, you can be traced even more easily.

They are only after those who persistently and deliberately share copyright music and movies.

If you have d/l ed one or two things that you didn't know were dodgy, that is not the same - so much stuff is free, it is hard to tell.

If you d/led an o/s, e.g. 7 builds, from one of those sites - M$ is not going to chase you.

So, I assume you haven't been persistently and deliberately sharing music ?

Those who do are a damn nuisance to everyone. It is because of their stupid, selfish actions that our freedoms are being removed and everyone is being spied on.

In the UK , ISP's are now forced by an Act of Parliament to examine the contents of everything entering and leaving your pc - and to hand it over if they have reason to believe there is copyright infringement.

 

[12eason]

Well, rapidshare and sites like it are classed as carriers, so as long as they remove content when asked they are usually ok. I think rapidshare should have asked to see a court subpeona before just handing over details, but then for some reason that doesn't seem to be required in some places. I know in the UK a firm called Davenport lyons managed to get personal details from several ISPs without a single court paper to back up the claim. I'm pretty sure it was against the data protection act here, and it would probably be the same in Germany.

 

[12eason]

In the UK , ISP's are now forced by an Act of Parliament to examine the contents of everything entering and leaving your pc - and to hand it over if they have reason to believe there is copyright infringement.

No, they are not. They are required to retain information for a year, and that's only if they have specifically been asked in advance to do so and only per individual.

 

[SIW2]

There is no protection of privacy in the UK - just the opposite - see my last post.

 

[win7]

Hi Win 7,

RS may have been forced to hand the information over.

When you connect, they gather lots of information about you, if you have an account, you can be traced even more easily.

They are only after those who persistently and deliberately share copyright music and movies.

If you have d/l ed one or two things that you didn't know were dodgy, that is not the same - so much stuff is free, it is hard to tell.

If you d/led an o/s, e.g. 7 builds, from one of those sites - M$ is not going to chase you.

So, I assume you haven't been persistently and deliberately sharing music ?

Those who do are a damn nuisance to everyone. It is because of their stupid, selfish actions that our freedoms are being removed and everyone is being spied on.

In the UK , ISP's are now forced by an Act of Parliament to examine the contents of everything entering and leaving your pc - and to hand it over if they have reason to believe there is copyright infringement.

Still even if i had been doing "whatever" i would expect the same privacy as in any other site.. im sure you or anybody else would NOT agree with me or anyone else logging all headers sent by users/browsers to websites or in short loggin personal info... or let alone giving out info from a seperate site/account (ie paypal) its an invasion of privacy.

Can you link me to details of this uk law? Im sure none of this will affect the individual, and if so, bring it on....

 

[z3r010]

Can you link me to details of this uk law? Im sure none of this will affect the individual, and if so, bring it on....

here ya go, a little light reading.