Kazaa to Google: Stop facilitating infringement
October 19, 2006 – 12:25 amOkay, so this is really old news, but Lok just pointed it out and I feel compelled to share in case it’s news to anyone else.
Do a Google search for Kazaa. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find:
In response to a complaint we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 1 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint that caused the removal(s) at ChillingEffects.org.
In the 2003 complaint, Kazaa alleges–with a straight face–that Google has led its users to infringing copies of its software and unauthorized derivative works.
Shame on Google, facilitating copyright infringement like that. The nerve!
P.S. Immunity for internet companies is a good idea, but the DMCA (Title II, in case you’re keeping score at home; Title I is the anti-DRM part) sets up procedures that are far too skewed in favor of anyone who claims to be a copyright holder or their authorized agent. The history of Title II is riddled with examples of abusive and mistaken takedown notices.