Like some of you may know, the RIAA requested information of Verizon Communications about one of their subscribers, because he is suspected of infringing copyrights. The RIAA relies on a part of the DMCA to obtain this information. According to many consumer and privacy groups, this portion breaks our right to be anonymous online.
The 30-page brief says the RIAA is relying on a portion of the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act that violates Americans' right to be anonymous online. "Purported copyright owners should not have the right to violate protected, anonymous speech with what amounts to a single snap of the fingers," the brief said.
At issue in the RIAA's request is an obscure part of the DMCA that permits a copyright owner to send a subpoena ordering a "service provider" to turn over information about a subscriber. It is not necessary to file a lawsuit to take advantage of the DMCA's expedited subpoena process.
It is nice to see that people keep fighting the DMCA, but I doubt it will influence our so called anonymity on the internet. Has it ever existed? I don't think so. Still, it is positive that many groups try to protect it from Big Brothers like the RIAA. Read the full story here.
Source: ZDNet
