The Digg riot..

2007-05-02 12:00:18

#1

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

Basically Diggers posted a hacked HD-DVD code in a post. Obviously, Digg wasn’t going to let that stand or they might have serious legal problems on their hands. So they deleted that post and banned the Digger who posted it. After they did that they (Digg) started to get a flood of the same post containing the hacked code. Loyal Diggers were digging the post in mass to try and push the illegal codes to the top. Users were claiming Digg was selling out to "The Man".

Digg’s Kevin Rose wrote:
I just wanted to explain what some of you have been noticing around some stories that have been submitted to Digg on the HD DVD encryption key being cracked .

This has all come up in the past 24 hours, mostly connected to the HD-DVD hack that has been circulating online, having been posted to Digg as well as numerous other popular news and information websites. We’ve been notified by the owners of this intellectual property that they believe the posting of the encryption key infringes their intellectual property rights. In order to respect these rights and to comply with the law, we have removed postings of the key that have been brought to our attention.
http://blog.digg.com/?p=73

He has since reversed.

Digg’s Kevin Rose wrote:
We had to decide whether to remove stories containing a single code based on a cease and desist declaration. We had to make a call, and in our desire to avoid a scenario where Digg would be interrupted or shut down, we decided to comply and remove the stories with the code.

But now, after seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you’ve made it clear. You’d rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won’t delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.

If we lose, then what the hell, at least we died trying.

I'm thinking he got some encouraging news from his lawyers.

So the question is will/should Digg be held liable in knowingly helping to distribute stolen intellectual property?

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 12:04:33

#2

blisteringsilence: I'd rather hunt with Cheney than ride with Kennedy; +83|7150|Little Rock, Arkansas

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/05/01 … al-revolt/

Some background.

Will digg be held liable? That's a good question. I really don't know. They might be. Should they be? That's trickier. Yes, they're hosting the content, but it's user created, so its not like they specificially infringed. I think it's the same argument as to whether or not an ISP is responsible for piracy that goes on via its subscribers.

So no, I don't think they should. By that same token, I also don't think they should sell out their users.

2007-05-02 13:52:24

#3

iamangry: Member; +59|7093|The United States of America

Nope, a number isn't copyrighted.

Or else, I need to get my ass over to the copyright office stat! I want a dime anybody (or their programs) uses a 1 or a 0!

2007-05-02 13:58:18

#4

motherdear: Member; +25|7099|Denmark/Minnesota (depends)

they should shut down their forums for some time.

2007-05-02 14:04:23

#5

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|7097

Well, it's not like they can really do much about it. It'd be hard to sue them over it, since they tried to stop it, but failed, and they could probably argue they can't lock the site as it's a business or something like that.

2007-05-02 15:17:22

#6

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6916

Thank you for posting links to the number.

2007-05-02 15:21:23

#7

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

doctastrangelove1964 wrote:
Thank you for posting links to the number.

Ya didn't have to go far..
http://digg.com/ You've spoken and we've heard you - update on our HD-DVD stance

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 15:21:59

#8

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|7123|Florida, United States

I'm kinda confused here... I don't go to Digg frequently, but can someone clarify exactly what happened? Is that 16 digit code some kind of access code to download copyrighted material?

2007-05-02 15:23:25

#9

Ninja_Monkey: I TK For Blackhawks; +60|7013|UK

i not sure but i guess it means you can pirate HD-DVD with it /confused

YTMND

Last edited by Ninja_Monkey (2007-05-02 15:34:39)

2007-05-02 15:24:59

#10

RoosterCantrell: Goodbye :); +399|6928|Somewhere else

I bet Digg knew what they were doing. The action of removing the post and banning the user, then getting a flood of retaliation mail will help in thier case if someone points a finger at them. They can now simply say "look at this! look at these posts... what are we supposed to do?" Not that this will get them off the hook for liability, but will help if/when they present thier case.

2007-05-02 15:26:21

#11

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

It is the encryption key. It unlocks the AACS protection on HD-DVD movies. (Obviously you will not get any more info out of me)

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 15:27:44

#12

liquidat0r: wtf.; +2,223|7075|UK

Kmarion wrote:
So the question is will/should Digg be held liable in knowingly helping to distribute stolen intellectual property?

No if: They had ignored, not moderated and not participated in any of the topics, (diggs), made on their site.
This way, they could simply claim that they had no control over what was being posted. They can deny that they intentional helped distribute the key.

Yes if: They post something like this
Asking for a fight, to be honest.

Oops...

2007-05-02 15:32:33

#13

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

Digg vs 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act .

By the way the vulnerability has already been fixed on newer AACS systems.

An opinion on it http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=1152 .

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 15:52:49

#14

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|7123|Florida, United States

Kmarion wrote:
It is the encryption key. It unlocks the AACS protection on HD-DVD movies. (Obviously you will not get any more info out of me)

That's all I was looking to know anyway. I have no clue what AACS is or anything of the sort, so I'll just be an innocent bystander and watch the story unfold. Thanks for the info.

2007-05-02 16:16:25

#15

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6970|...

I don't think they should.

Companies only go after the end points such as such engines because they cannot get to the source. I think it is shame on them for choosing to protect their product with something they think no one would figure out. Why aren't they racing as diligently to suppress article about bump keys?

This was similar to the DeCSS fiasco.

Last edited by jsnipy (2007-05-02 16:16:41)

2007-05-02 22:07:56

#16

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6997|San Diego, CA, USA

Looks like even bad publicity is still good.

2007-05-02 22:42:27

#17

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|7009

I don't get it: people object to Digg doing the right thing? Digg somehow has an obligation to assist in piracy?

2007-05-02 22:49:29

#18

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

Bubbalo wrote:
I don't get it: people object to Digg doing the right thing? Digg somehow has an obligation to assist in piracy?

They pull the free speech card... At least that is what I have gathered from the members.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 22:52:53

#19

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|7009

Are they absolute dipshit? Freedom of speech:

1) Does not apply on a private website on Digg.

2) Has limits. For example, inciting people to crime isn't covered.

2007-05-02 23:11:17

#20

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|7049|132 and Bush

Bubbalo wrote:
Are they absolute dipshit? Freedom of speech:

1) Does not apply on a private website on Digg.

2) Has limits. For example, inciting people to crime isn't covered.

Well it seems like Digg was more concerned with it's image rather than liability. Like I said before, I'm sure they got some reassurances from their lawyers.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2007-05-02 23:18:06

#21

djphetal: Go Ducks.; +346|6784|Oregon

Digg is great. This is not their fault, and if media conglomerates really do lower Thor's Hammer on Digg, then they will be hailed amongst everyone involved in this "movement," if you can call it that. It would do nothing for the media companies to hold Digg responsible, as it will only incite further attacks onto the media that these companies produce.

2007-05-03 01:18:12

#22

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|7123|Canberra, AUS

Good on them (digg). That's certainly what I'd do - if they (the idiots who are posting) want to see digg shut down, they should go right on ahead.

I'm actually not sure whether Digg are liable or not. The statement could easily be interpreted one way or the other - it's not hard.

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2007-05-03 01:24:05

#23

Milk.org: Bringing Sexy Back; +270|7224|UK

It's pointless digg trying to block that number I bet right now a google search would bring up thousands of results, once somethings leaked on the internet, it's out there forever.

Edit: Thinking about it if they find digg responsible even though they're just hosting user created info, could other websites such as google hosting the cached pages be sued aswell for hosting them digg pages?

Last edited by Milk.org (2007-05-03 01:25:32)

2007-05-03 01:29:06

#24

<BoTM>J_Aero: Qualified Expert; +62|6913|Melbourne - Home of Football

More background:

http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=72123

2007-05-03 02:33:03

#25

{XpLiCiTxX}: Ohh skeet skeet; +143|6918|New York

I dugg the story when it only had around 800 diggs, and now it has 34,000+

And no, digg should not be prosecuted for giving this information out to the public because it was not the first website to release this information.

Since Digg is the most popular site for tech stuff, all the other sites such as slashdot and delicious and such posted their article. And today, I got an invite to a facebook group in honor of the validation code.

From what I've read, the code is now being turned off on new(er) HD-DVD's? Meaning, there will just be a new number to create in replacement of the original code (in first post by Kmarion).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20070 … orld/87720

EDIT: inserted link.

Last edited by {XpLiCiTxX} (2007-05-03 02:34:25)

BF2S Forums The Digg riot..

Digg’s Kevin Rose wrote:

Digg’s Kevin Rose wrote:

doctastrangelove1964 wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

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