Makers of Kazaa software settle global piracy lawsuits

[Omega65]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The company that distributed software called "Kazaa," which made it simple for millions of computer users to download music and movies over the Internet, has settled global lawsuits brought by the entertainment industry, the industry said Thursday.

Sharman Networks Ltd., which produced and distributed the popular Kazaa software agreed to pay an unspecified "substantial sum" in penalties. It also promised to "use all reasonable means" to discourage online piracy, including building into its software "robust and secure" ways to frustrate computer users who try to find and download copyrighted music and movies, court papers said.

The Supreme Court ruled last year the entertainment industry can file piracy lawsuits against technology companies caught encouraging customers to steal music and movies over the Internet. Earlier this month, in a related federal lawsuit, a U.S. judge said evidence was "overwhelming" against StreamCast Inc., which produced similar software for downloading music and movies called "Morpheus."
Source: USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-27-kazaa_x.htm?POE=TECISVA)

[Omega65]

Kazaa settles with RIAA. I think they settled with the wrong people. They should settle with untold thousands of users whose computers where infected with Kazaa-allowed spyware. (my take, not the news story)
;D ;D ;D

[Leonardo]

Seriously, when I first started taking the malware threat seriously was several years ago when I noticed all the crap that was infesting my computer after using Kazaa. After that quick learning event, I installed Ad-Aware, Spybot, and switched to Kazaa Lite.

NO ONE should use Kazaa. Kazaa Lite is the answer.

[airbornflght]

or Bit-Torrent/Emule/LimeWire, they are all clean. except limewire possible has ad-ware if you dont pay for it.

[Gargoyle]

The programs are one thing, but so much of the actual files you can download on them are hoaxes or tainted with malware.

[RWB]

I used it too... then switched to BT, then I decided I wouldn't do that crap anymore. As much as I hate the RIAA and MPAA and other holier than thou, piss on the little people, ******* groups. I also don't support using illegal goods, though I do support in some ways the method of testing a program which doesn't have a good free trial, to see if it's worth spending $1000's on.