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Over 100 copyright notices have been sent to Google over the past few months for downloading illegal movies via BitTorrent and other file-sharing services.
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TorrentFreak reports that MPAA-affiliated movie studios have threatened to disconnect Google from the Internet after discovering Google employees downloading movies via BitTorrent.
Unfortunately, the current situation is a bit broader than a few Google employees leeching from BitTorrent or other file-sharing services. In fact, DCMA tracking website ChillingEffects lists more than 100 copyright infringement warnings that have been sent to Google over the past several months. These include not only the actions conducted by Headquarter employees, but IP addresses to those who use Google's free Wi-Fi hotspot service in various cities.
According to a number of notices sent to the search engine giant, the movie studios may pull the plug on its Internet connection if violations continue. This is bad news considering Google's recent attempt to pacify Hollywood by filtering search engine results to cut down on BitTorrent-related search terms and resulting infringing files. But the consequences are unavoidable, as the studios clearly have records of Google-based IP addresses (corporate and public) tossing illegally obtained files across on the Internet.
More recent notices were sent in from Columbia Pictures and Paramount Pictures for sharing files associated with The Green Hornet and The Fighter respectively. Here's just one example:
Infringing Work: The Green Hornet
First Found: 2 Feb 2011 16:57:21 EST (GMT -0500)
Last Found: 2 Feb 2011 16:57:21 EST (GMT -0500)
IP Address: 216.239.XXX.XXX
IP Port: 14077
Protocol: BitTorrent
Torrent InfoHash: 42708AA384CF93EC6B67E6CEFB6E27B32362F689
Containing file(s): The Green Hornet TS(iPod.Zune.PSP).torrent (442,480,008 bytes)
"Copyright infringement also violates your ISP’s terms of service and could lead to limitation or suspension of your Internet service," the movie companies write in various letters. "You should take immediate action to prevent your Internet account from being used for illegal activities."
TorrentFreak notes that the notices are nothing more than a warning, and usually never lead to legal action. Given that over 100 notices have been received by Google over the past several months, it seems apparent that the movie studios aren't standing behind the threat for the moment. If anything, Google may be forced to add a BitTorrent-related filter to its hotspot service or shut down the public connection altogether until a better solution is provided.
But as for the actual Google workers downloading BitTorrent movies, there's currently no word on their employment status. Additionally, Google has not provided statements relating to the numerous copyright notices.
lol, are they serious ? they want to take down google ? i hope google can ban all software/music/movies from any company associated with the MPAA being available on any google site including youtube, and advertisment.