RIAA Secretly Tries to Get ISP Subscriber Info

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In an attempt to change the rules of the game, the RIAA secretly went to a federal district court in Denver with an ex parte application. The goal was to get the judge to rule that the federal Cable Communications Policy Act does not apply to the RIAA's attempts to get subscriber information (pdf) from cable companies. Just to clarify, ex parte means that the application was secret, no one else — neither the ISP nor the subscribers — were given notice that this was going on. They were, in effect, asking the Court to rule that the RIAA does not need to get a court order to be able to force an ISP to disclose confidential subscriber information. The Magistrate Judge declined to rule on the issue (pdf), but did give them the ex parte discovery order they were looking for."

You don't understand.

[Grashnak]

If you aren't with the RIAA, then you're against them, and that means the pirates have already won. We need to surrender our freedom in order to preserve it. Don't misunderestimate the pirates. They hate us for our freedom. Fortunately they are in their last throes. Down with Oceania.

Re:Slashdot front page...

[physicsphairy]

Au contraire, the surest way to be certain that no one will read the details of a news release is to put it on the front page of slashdot.

After the initial barrage of overlord and soviet russia jokes, they will be pretty much in the clear.

Next Up..

[multipartmixed]

..US Government opens prison for political dissidents, on foreign soil to escape constitutional challenge.

Say, on a small island.. just off the coast of Miami..

Re:The goal is again?--Last resort

[Red Flayer]

Emphasis mine:

People were told Not to go to record stores on July 4 between 11 am and 2 pm, buy some DVDs, leave the store, realize that it contains a DRM label, change mind, go back to store and return the item...

Apparently, it didn't work last year.

I think I see why... whoever organized that might need to rethink their cunning plan.