With constitutional freedoms at stake, isoHunt files plead

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:44 pm

Freedom of expression on the Internet is under attack. From SOPA in the US, ACTA internationally, and C-11 in Canada, the same theme is apparent on the agenda of copyright industry groups: instead of dealing with actual copyright violators, they want to shut down technologies and internet services that they say will be used by violators. It’s the same alarmist approach that goes back to the VCR and the radio. As the Internet emerges as the de-facto medium of communication, sharing and expression, the control over distribution by copyright industries is threatened. In turn, the constitutional freedom of expression of Canadians and all participants on the Internet is threatened.

Since SOPA, a new term has been coined on this age: the War on Piracy. What it really is is a War on the Internet. In our latest response to CRIA filed in Court, we ask the Supreme Court of BC to adjudicate this crucial issue of balance between the constitutional rights of people on the Internet to communicate, share and search, versus the rights of copyright industries to limit such rights in the corporate interest of protecting and extending copyright. isoHunt urges the court to examine this issue carefully, for the sake of innovations on the Internet, free exchange of culture, and fundamental constitutional freedoms.

Here is an electronic copy of our pleading, filed at the Supreme Court of BC, Canada. The Attorney General has been put on notice of constitutional issues raised.

News:
- http://torrentfreak.com/record-labels-threaten-the-open-internet-isohunt-tells-court-120229/
- http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/t8aef/in_its_case_against_26_major_record_labels_at_bc/ (May 5, 2012) with our comment

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:00 pm

what will happen to you?

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:14 pm

Good work IH, I hope they listen and see sense. Have another +! Wink

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:26 am

this is sooo good web site and your light-motive is so positive . I feel good when know that i share my stuff with people around the world. We help each other and God knows how sometimes getting your old dear song in few minutes can help! Hang on! Wink

ACTA can just move on, it is so wrong ...

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:14 pm

nicely done guys. isohunt does not host any content directly. that in itself is a zinger

Warning removed, its been a year...pacino23

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:13 pm

You are awesome - Keep up the good fight, support will come. I dont think people realized the threat it was not in the news in terms they use. It was in legal speak. The VCR mentality has to go down!

IH wrote:

Freedom of expression on the Internet is under attack. From SOPA in the US, ACTA internationally, and C-11 in Canada, the same theme is apparent on the agenda of copyright industry groups: instead of dealing with actual copyright violators, they want to shut down technologies and internet services that they say will be used by violators. It’s the same alarmist approach that goes back to the VCR and the radio. As the Internet emerges as the de-facto medium of communication, sharing and expression, the control over distribution by copyright industries is threatened. In turn, the constitutional freedom of expression of Canadians and all participants on the Internet is threatened.

Since SOPA, a new term has been coined on this age: the War on Piracy. What it really is is a War on the Internet. In our latest response to CRIA filed in Court, we ask the Supreme Court of BC to adjudicate this crucial issue of balance between the constitutional rights of people on the Internet to communicate, share and search, versus the rights of copyright industries to limit such rights in the corporate interest of protecting and extending copyright. isoHunt urges the court to examine this issue carefully, for the sake of innovations on the Internet, free exchange of culture, and fundamental constitutional freedoms.

Here is an electronic copy of our pleading, filed at the Supreme Court of BC, Canada. The Attorney General has been put on notice of constitutional issues raised.

News:
- http://torrentfreak.com/record-labels-threaten-the-open-internet-isohunt-tells-court-120229/

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:31 am

The internet always finds a way Wink

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:29 am

Good choice going with the supreme court of BC, the judges there actually cared enough to openly criticize ICBC, something our premier doesn't even have the guts to do. Good choice indeed.

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:17 am

Typical. I used to be in a relationship with a violent alcoholic FEMALE partner. Eventually childrens services became involved and THEIR answere was to put a restraining order on me, the non violent one. Their logic was that if I wasn't there, then my partner wouldn't be violent. Go figure. Are all beaurocrats this stupid???

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:15 pm

Very well said, very informative, and clearly put!
The should stand up in a court of law and a damn-near perfect defence. I see no loop-holes.
Good luck to you Smile

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:14 am

To Isohunt and Management,

I would like you guys to know that I support what you have all done. I don't like SOPA and ACTA too. I know this is uninformed opinion but if SOPA and things like that are there, it would threaten your and the others existence.

I noticed that TPB's search engine database has gone crappy. I DO NOT, as much as possible, want this to happen to Isohunt.

PLEASE don't give up because the internet wouldn't be as fun without Isohunt! Exclamation

Thank you for all that you guys have done.

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:54 am

Well said IH.

Awareness for as many users of the nets as possible is really the only answer to these attacks on basic freedoms.
Already it has amounted to a fact that we are all guilty unless we can prove our innocence as the media makers are concerned and they have the financial power to coerce and basically blackmail governments into agreement with their own agendas.
P2P, sharing, torrents.....lets for a moment forget that and just look at what is then available for the internet users.
Cultures throughout the world of art music and in more recent history film have endeavoured to improve upon their predecessors. basically we see we like we copy and improve. Hitchcock for some is the master of suspense and we have a myriad of directors that learned from his style and application of camera angles and sound scapes.
we have painters throughout history that have broken new ground and given new ideas as to how we might perceive the world in which we live.
Music ??? wat is there to say......it evolves and that is its essence otherwise we would still be beating the same drum.

A musician can finally now be truly independent. Software is available to mix record and produce and the nets are your distribution network. It can be put out for the general public and you can make it free or donation ware etc. This is not an easy way for a musician to get rich but it is a way for a musician to possibly earn a living and one totally independent and free from restriction. This simple basic right of freedom to create and share is what is at risk.

IH thanks again for taking up the fight.....8 years young is an eternity on the web and still going strong......I raise my glass, cheers.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:04 am

Since when downloading copyrighted movies, music documents is freedom of expression?
You change the language so you think you're doing the right thing and feel good about yourself?
Just call it as it is.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:46 am

you just answered your own question. to download freely the stuff we enjoy watching, listening, and/or reading is an act of expression. that in itself is worth fighting for. you call it stealing, we call it sharing.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:20 am

arkor wrote:

Since when downloading copyrighted movies, music documents is freedom of expression?
You change the language so you think you're doing the right thing and feel good about yourself?
Just call it as it is.

you miss the point i think......
A tremendous amount of music and media is shared but not stolen.
Music for a long period was for many people a hit and miss affair.
back in the days before MP3 or the web we had radio as a source of music. It was often a case of hearing what a studio wished to promote. I remember when a single cost almost 80pence but an album cost 3.90
As a single only had a B.side one would often buy the album only to find it was less than expected. However when I or any of my friends bought an album that we were excited about then everyone would listen when visiting. Often several people at the same time.....Thats actually against the law as copyright stands. However there was not a policeman in every house but now with IP addresses and software that can identify any individual and where they go on the nets and even see what one has listened to then it is time to fight for some basic freedom and privacy.
Oh......film......how about the simple fact that any individual that has a tv may legally record any item broadcast on their tv's..... So as an Englishman that loved an old comedy as Dad's Army or say Fawlty Towers then I am legally at liberty to have a video or a dvd or data on a hard drive if I take it from the TV. However if it is via the internet it s a crime ??? Jeez just the thought make me get my knickers twisted at such lunacy.
And now onto film......New movies......those that you accuse of stealing probably do not have the money to see it in a cinema and therefore are not a lost ticket sale. Many of those that see t in the cinema or the Imax often do so after a download of some rather bad quality but viewable cam recording.
OK not a true defense for taking what I might want from the nets but how about the fact that my music and my film collection of legally purchased and tax paid is a direct result of interaction with people that share and turn me on to good sounds by people i had never heard of ?
How about the fact that i have a slew of movies that are often never in the cineman for general release but I have the real deal as I sought it out.
OK so maybe I am a jerk for buying it........BUT: here is the real reality.....I have these items thanks to such things as the internet the P2P communities and their willingness to share and everything I have purchased I have done so because I want it........period.
I don't need to download music by popular artists and if i did I would record the video direct from MTV quite legally on my TV Hard disk recorder.
So......In my humble opinion, the vast majority of what is purchased regarding media is the result of the nets or it is by the fans of the artists that choose to buy it as a sign of support.
And finally.......if you call me a thief I will call you a liar......I do not have the item but merely data and at the end of the day if I like it I buy it as I want the artist that make me smile laugh tremble and enrich my life to continue doing what it is that they do.
So dammed right I want the nets to remain free. And yeah i do feel good about myself.