Android Piracy Sites Seized By US Government 184
Dupple writes with news that the DOJ took a few Android app piracy sites offline. From the release: "Seizure orders have been executed against three website domain names engaged in the illegal distribution of copies of copyrighted Android cell phone apps, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates of the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin of the FBI's Atlanta Field Office announced today. The department said that this is the first time website domains involving cell phone app marketplaces have been seized. The seizures are the result of a comprehensive enforcement action taken to prevent the infringement of copyrighted mobile device apps. The operation was coordinated with international law enforcement, including Dutch and French law enforcement officials."
Trolls (Score:4, Insightful)
but how do i buy apps in Uganda? (Score:5, Insightful)
but most of the good apps and games aren't available in the uganda google play store
Re:In the Meantime (Score:5, Insightful)
Does this not make you scared: "In most cases, the servers storing the apps sold by these alternative online markets were being hosted in other countries, and our international law enforcement partners assisted in obtaining or seizing evidence stored on these servers."
I really hate the extent to which the US is exerting its thought crime laws in other sovereign nations. I guess not so sovereign any more.
Apple (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:In the Meantime (Score:4, Insightful)
Does this not make you scared: "In most cases, the servers storing the apps sold by these alternative online markets were being hosted in other countries, and our international law enforcement partners assisted in obtaining or seizing evidence stored on these servers."
I really hate the extent to which the US is exerting its thought crime laws in other sovereign nations. I guess not so sovereign any more.
Hmmm ... labelling copyright violations as "thought crime laws" is what makes me more scared. Come on, people -- we're talking about apps that cost the same as a cup of coffee (if not less). If you've ever written software, you'd know how much work it is; why do people get so upset at having to occasionally pay to support an independent developer?
(disclaimer -- personally, I release all my software as free and open source, but I also believe that it's completely fair and reasonable if people want to charge for what they write.)
Re:Criminal law (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Criminal law (Score:2, Insightful)
1. Copyright infringement is not theft. It's a crime under the law, but it is not defined as theft, otherwise it wouldn't be a separate thing, called copyright infringement.
2. Why is it a criminal offence to steal? Why is the government involved in judging people criminally for theft? Why shouldn't it be a completely private matter between the 2 private sides? OK, when it is stolen from government or when government is doing the stealing, then it would make sense, but government being involved in theft cases? It's a private matter, it should be left up to the private security and civil courts to deal with. Do you really want a thief being locked up in government prison rather than being forced to just return the goods and/or repay the damages (plus a large fine, maybe a 3 times value of the stolen goods?) What does it matter to you if a thief is in jail - you are still out of property, and now you are going to pay taxes to keep him in jail.
Re:In the Meantime (Score:2, Insightful)
It's immoral to allow some to determine the distribution of their work for a limited time?
You're an idiot, but what ever helps you sleep at night when you continue to rip people off,.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:In the Meantime (Score:4, Insightful)
Does this not make you scared
Yes, your shrill, deliberate mis-use of the term "thought crime" and purposeful embrace of the practice of ripping off thousands of man-hours of work in order to save the cost of a cup of coffee - that is scary. Because it shows just how entrenched the entitlement-minded leech culture is.
Stop Global Whining.
Re:In the Meantime (Score:2, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:In the Meantime (Score:5, Insightful)
It's immoral to allow some to determine the distribution of their work for a limited time?
Yes, it is. You don't do it by yourself, you know? You go to nanny State and papa Government and beg them to please, pretty please, violate the property rights of every single other human being on Earth for your own benefit, so that my computer isn't mine anymore, it's the government's, which now merely allows me to use it in the ways they deem right and legit. That's quite immoral, yes.
Which isn't to mean authors shouldn't be rewarded. But they should be rewards in whatever way the free market develops, not by way of employing the full force of the hugest apparatus of violence ever assembled in the History of mankind.