Atticus - 2:51 am on Dec 5, 2005 (gmt 0)

EFV,

How can you compare the offense of downloading MP3s to the publishing of stolen content on the Internet? Downloading MP3s is something you do in private -- only you and your ISP know for sure. Stolen content that is published on the web is visible on the web for all to see. Makes it a little easier to catch, don't you think?

All complaints by copyright holders should be immediately investigated and acted upon. But cleaning up the mass of fraudulently published pages sponsored by Adsense would be a good thing for copyright holders, advertisers, honest publishers and searchers. There is no downside except for those who choose to behave in an unethical and possibly illegal manner.

You must not think very highly of the PhDs at the 'plex if you think they can't simply search for some lyrics from popular bands whose material remains copyrighted, make a note of the results which have Adsense ads running, and suspend those accounts.

Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Kind of like pulling over the guy who is obviously driving 110 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and writing him up a big fat ticket. Piece of cake.

Catching mass perpetrators of IP theft is not rocket science. It can be done with little effort and minimal resources. Saying that it can't be done does not make it so.