Year in review: Copyright wars
Quarrels over digital copyrights shift from courts to Congress, and Hollywood becomes chief antagonist to advocates of the rights of digital consumers--the PC industry among them.
Hollywood and the PC industry lock horns; peer-to-peer loses in court.
New file-trading networks Kazaa and Morpheus solidified their positions as Napster's replacements after the erstwhile song-swapping champ scrambled unsuccessfully to launch its paid service. A falling out between the newcomers ultimately saw Kazaa take an unambiguous lead, while Napster faded to black.
As it became clear that peer-to-peer networks weren't disappearing despite court rulings, Washington policymakers stepped in. Legislators proposed several far-reaching measures, including suggestions that would require all computers or other digital devices to have built-in copy-protection technology. Some went so far as to propose that copyright holders could use hacking techniques to attack file-swapping networks where copyright infringements were allegedly taking place.
The proposals pitted Hollywood and technology companies against each other, but with Congress distracted by national security issues, copyright measures made little progress.
The copyright community then turned to new tactics to stem online piracy. The record labels' trade association fought with Internet service providers in court over blocking pirate sites at the network level and gaining access to individual subscribers' personal information. The labels also began warning colleges and businesses to police their networks for people who might be infringing on copyrights.
By year's end, the action had shifted back to the courts. A judge ordered Madster, once known as Aimster, to shut down. Another court heard arguments over Kazaa's and Morpheus' future, and the first criminal prosecution under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ends in an acquittal.
As the focus of the digital copyright wars shifted from courts to Congress in 2002, Hollywood took over the role of chief antagonist to file-swappers and other advocates of the rights of digital consumers.
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What's your copy right? Hollywood and the PC industry lock horns; peer-to-peer loses in court.
New file-trading networks Kazaa and Morpheus solidified their positions as Napster's replacements after the erstwhile song-swapping champ scrambled unsuccessfully to launch its paid service. A falling out between the newcomers ultimately saw Kazaa take an unambiguous lead, while Napster faded to black. As it became clear that peer-to-peer networks weren't disappearing despite court rulings, Washington policymakers stepped in. Legislators proposed several far-reaching measures, including suggestions that would require all computers or other digital devices to have built-in copy-protection technology. Some went so far as to propose that copyright holders could use hacking techniques to attack file-swapping networks where copyright infringements were allegedly taking place. The proposals pitted Hollywood and technology companies against each other, but with Congress distracted by national security issues, copyright measures made little progress. The copyright community then turned to new tactics to stem online piracy. The record labels' trade association fought with Internet service providers in court over blocking pirate sites at the network level and gaining access to individual subscribers' personal information. The labels also began warning colleges and businesses to police their networks for people who might be infringing on copyrights. By year's end, the action had shifted back to the courts. A judge ordered Madster, once known as Aimster, to shut down. Another court heard arguments over Kazaa's and Morpheus' future, and the first criminal prosecution under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ends in an acquittal. --John Borland |  |  Kazaa steps out of the shadows April 23, 2002 Morpheus: Blackouts and bill collectors March 5, 2002 Antipiracy bill finally sees Senate March 21, 2002 D.C. antipiracy plans fuel culture clash March 27, 2002 Ruling bolsters file-traders' prospects March 28, 2002 Hollywood hacking bill hits House July 25, 2002 Music body presses antipiracy case August 21, 2002 Napster buyout blocked; fire sale likely September 3, 2002 Girding for copyright fights September 9, 2002 What the 2002 election means for tech November 6, 2002 ElcomSoft verdict: Not guilty December 17, 2002
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