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MIRROR SHUT DOWN - UPDATE 11/13/99
Shortly after our posting of mirrors to DeCSS related sites, the most prominent mirror site at www.rhythm.cx/dvd was shut down by motion picture industry lawyers. Our local copy of this site remains here. Below is the letter faxed to the employer of the individual running the site.
Harvey Shapiro November 12, 1999
Re: Infringement of Copyrighted Motion Pictures:
illegal distribution of deencryption material
www.rhythm.cx/dvd
MPAA #5-671
Dear Sir or Madam:
Sargoy, Stein, Rosen & Shapiro represents and is authorized to act on
behalf of the following copyright owners:
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
TriStar Pictures, inc.
Twentieth Centry Fox Film Corporation
United Artists Pictures, Inc.
United Artists Corporation
Univeral City Studios, Inc.
Warner Bros., a Division of
Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
We have received information that the above referenced address is offering
to provide instructions on defeating DVD encryption to allow for the illegal
replication of DVDs. This site is providing links to 38 sites with the deCSS
utility, the deCSS utility itself, and css-authorizing CVS code. This site,
although appearing to run through an off-shore address resolves back to your
server at [deleted for privacy reasons]. Moreover, from the attached
documentation, it appears that the site is being operated by one of your
employees.
These activities constitute contributory infringement of the exclusive
rights to make and distribute copies; and constitute an infringement of
copyright by offering goods or services which are primarily designed to
circumvent technological protection measures. United States Copyright Act 17
U.S.C. 106 and 1201.
We request that you immediately terminate this individual's account with
your service and take such other action as may be appropriate to suspend
these illegal activities. We would also request that you advise us of the
name and physical address of the person operating this site.
You may contact me as follows:
Harvey Shapiro
Sargoy, Stein, Rosen & Shapiro
1790 Broadway, 19th floor
New York, NY 10019-1412
(212) 581-2222
(212) 581-2755
hshapiro@sargoy.com
On behalf of the respective owners of the exclusive rights to the
copyrighted material at issue in this notice, I hereby state that I have a
good faith belief that use of the material in the matter complained of is
not authorized by the copyright owners, their respective agents, or the law.
I hereby state, under penalty of perjury under the laws of New York and
under the laws of the United States, that the information in this
notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that this law firm
is authorized to act on behalf of the owners of an exclusive rights which
are being infringed as set out in this notification.
We thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Your prompt response is
requested so that the illegal infringing activity can be stopped.
Please telephone or write to me if you have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Harvey Shapiro
View Image of Letter
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