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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLeaked Emails Reveal MPAA Plans To Pay Elected Officials To Attack Google
Leaked Emails Reveal MPAA Plans To Pay Elected Officials To Attack Google
from the holy-fuck dept
Okay, it's no secret that the MPAA hates Google. It doesn't take a psychology expert to figure that out. But in the last few days, some of the leaks from the Sony Pictures hack have revealed the depths of that hatred, raising serious questions about how the MPAA abuses the legal process in corrupt and dangerous ways. The most serious charge -- unfortunately completely buried by this report at The Verge -- is that it appears the MPAA and the major Hollywood studios directly funded various state Attorneys General in their efforts to attack and shame Google. Think about that for a second.
There's a lot of background here that's important (beyond just the MPAA really hates Google). First, as you know, the MPAA has certainly not given up on its SOPA desire to get certain websites completely blocked. The leaked emails reveal a lot more about that (which we'll get to). Second, a year ago, the MPAA hired a pitbull of an anti-piracy lawyer in naming Steve Fabrizio its General Counsel. Fabrizio has spent the last decade and a half or so deeply involved in litigating a bunch of anti-piracy battles at both the RIAA and the MPAA/RIAA's favorite big law firm, Jenner & Block. This is not a guy you hire if you're looking to innovate. This is a guy you hire if you want to get into knock-down, dirty legal fights.
...
More MPAAssholery at https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141212/12142629419/leaked-emails-reveal-mpaa-plans-to-pay-elected-officials-to-attack-google.shtml
from the holy-fuck dept
Okay, it's no secret that the MPAA hates Google. It doesn't take a psychology expert to figure that out. But in the last few days, some of the leaks from the Sony Pictures hack have revealed the depths of that hatred, raising serious questions about how the MPAA abuses the legal process in corrupt and dangerous ways. The most serious charge -- unfortunately completely buried by this report at The Verge -- is that it appears the MPAA and the major Hollywood studios directly funded various state Attorneys General in their efforts to attack and shame Google. Think about that for a second.
There's a lot of background here that's important (beyond just the MPAA really hates Google). First, as you know, the MPAA has certainly not given up on its SOPA desire to get certain websites completely blocked. The leaked emails reveal a lot more about that (which we'll get to). Second, a year ago, the MPAA hired a pitbull of an anti-piracy lawyer in naming Steve Fabrizio its General Counsel. Fabrizio has spent the last decade and a half or so deeply involved in litigating a bunch of anti-piracy battles at both the RIAA and the MPAA/RIAA's favorite big law firm, Jenner & Block. This is not a guy you hire if you're looking to innovate. This is a guy you hire if you want to get into knock-down, dirty legal fights.
...
More MPAAssholery at https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141212/12142629419/leaked-emails-reveal-mpaa-plans-to-pay-elected-officials-to-attack-google.shtml
I want to say this is a big deal, but I'm not sure there's anyone in the judicial system left who isn't in the MPAA's pocket in some way.
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Leaked Emails Reveal MPAA Plans To Pay Elected Officials To Attack Google (Original Post)
Dr. Strange
Dec 2014
OP
"directly funded various state Attorneys General in their efforts to attack and shame Google."
PeoViejo
Dec 2014
#1
The National Assn. of Attorneys General has an intellectual property committee.
Dr. Strange
Dec 2014
#5
PeoViejo
(2,178 posts)1. "directly funded various state Attorneys General in their efforts to attack and shame Google."
So the Attorneys Generals become hired-guns and MPAA/RIAA get to keep all the loot, since none of it goes back to the Copyright Holders.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)2. Does the MPAA have legal standing to request anything from AGs?
Dr. Strange
(25,898 posts)3. Not so much legal standing.
More like legal tender, I suspect.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)4. I was told by the Texas AG office that they can only take
requests from Government sources.
Dr. Strange
(25,898 posts)5. The National Assn. of Attorneys General has an intellectual property committee.
Jim Hood is a co-chair. Last year he ragged on Google for not doing enough to combat piracy. So this year, Google has been doing more. Which a lot of people snickered at, because they knew that no matter what Google did, it would never be enough. (Which these emails seem to verify.)