Microsoft bullies IT news site into submission

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/01/25/microsoft_bullies_it_news_site/

But for what reason, I ask?

How ’bout Them Apples?

When the founder himself threatens to contribute to the defendant’s legal defense…you know there’s a problem.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/06/apple_think_litigious/

a CNET link at the beginning of ThinkSecret debacle

ThinkSecret mentioned briefly here, but also talks about another case of attacking the messenger for info on information leakage. In a different world, the company would look _internally_ for the fault of the leaks, not externally to squash people (sometimes ‘helpless’ student types in the case of ThinkSecret) for what’s already taken place. Preventative? Maybe – but doesn’t explain the viciousness except to send a message to the ‘little guy’.

PayPal: Freezing Peoples’ Accounts to Make Money

“PayPal will pool your funds together with funds from other Users, and will place those funds in accounts at one or more FDIC-insured banks (“Pooled Accounts”). You agree that any earnings on the Pooled Accounts will be the property of PayPal, and you will not receive interest or other earnings on the funds that PayPal handles as your agent.” (Terms of Use, downloaded December 14, 2001)

In effect, PayPal was benefiting from the freezing (permanent or otherwise) of user accounts, because they could (like a bank) use this money to make money (for themselves). However, a settlement for a class action lawsuit (approved on Nov. 2nd, 2004) brought against them specified that they had to change their business practices, so their Terms of Use has since been modified:

“…PayPal will pool your funds together with funds from other Users, and will place those funds in accounts at one or more non-interest bearing FDIC-insured banks (“Pooled Accounts”). Those funds may be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance. Balances held in currencies other than U.S. Dollars will not be eligible for FDIC insurance.You agree that you will not receive interest or other earnings on the funds that PayPal handles as your agent. PayPal will also not receive interest on those funds, but may receive a reduction in fees or expenses charged for banking services by the banks that hold your funds.” (Terms of Use, viewed on January 9th, 2006)

PayPal: Unethical Practices

They let money into their system without restriction, yet to take that same money back out, they require driver’s licenses, utility bills, and other documents which must be faxed to them…

The DVD Decrypter Story

“Macrovision Corporation recently acquired the intellectual property rights in all versions of DVD Decrypter from its author, Lightning UK!. As the current owner of the intellectual property rights in DVD Decrypter Macrovision has contacted us to inform that ‘any license granted by Lightning UK! to AfterDawn for the distribution of any version of the Software [DVD Decrypter] is hereby terminated with immediate effect.‘ “

AND

 ”Ok so it has taken a while (almost 2 years), but eventually “a certain company” has decided they don’t like what I’m doing (circumventing their protection) and have come at me like a pack of wolves. I’ve no choice but to cease everything to do with DVD Decrypter. I realise this is going to be one of those “that sucks – fight them!” kinda things, but at the end of the day, it’s my life and I’m not about to throw it all away (before it has even really started) attempting to fight a battle I can’t possibly win.

If 321 Studios can’t do it with millions, what chance do I have with £50?! …”

MPAA Sues Grandfather for $600,000

“The Motion Picture Association of America sued a Wisconsin grandfather on Tuesday for allegedly downloading several movies to his home computer. However, there’s one small problem with the case: the man doesn’t like to watch movies, nor does he have any intention of downloading them.Fred Lawrence, 67, of Racine says that his 12-year-old grandson apparently downloaded four movies from the P2P file service iMesh in December 2004. The family actually owns three of the four movies, and Lawrence says his grandson had no intention of breaking, nor knowledge of copyright laws.”

Oregon RIAA Victim Fights

Oregon RIAA Victim Fights Back; Sues RIAA for Electronic Trespass, Violations of Computer Fraud & Abuse, Invasion of Privacy, RICO, Fraud

Big Brother’s Soda?

Not quite thuggish…yet…but…definitely freaky marketing tactics.

RIAA Lawyers Bully Witnesses Into Perjury

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051230-5871.html

Downloading Claim Against Granny Dropped

“In a possible case of mistaken identity, the recording industry has withdrawn a lawsuit accusing a 66-year-old US woman of illegally downloading and sharing more than 2000 songs online. They had included the rap song I’m a Thug.”