"Hurt Locker" File-sharing Suits Moving Ahead with Subpoenas
"Hurt Locker" File-sharing Suits Moving Ahead with Subpoenas
Posted 09/03/2010 at 1:33pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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A few months back, Voltage Studios (the indie studio that made "The Hurt Locker") began legal proceedings against those seen illegally sharing the movie online. 5,000 "John Doe" lawsuits were filed by the film's producers. Voltage Pictures has now started moving ahead with the next phase of the legal process. Several ISP customers have received notices that their provider has been subpoenaed, and must turn over their names to Voltage's lawyers.
A number of small movie studios have been working with the law firm of Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver. This firm is managing the cases in exchange for a portion of any settlements of judgments that result. The ACLU and EFF have both strongly opposed this action. Some ISPs have even objected due to the huge number of subpoenas they are likely to get.
Some alleged infringers have already been offered settlement offers of several thousand dollars. When faced with the possibility of huge legal fees, many individuals may choose to settle. This strategy didn't work out so well for the RIAA, do you think the producers of The Hurt Locker have a better chance of success?
Image Credit: Voltage Pictures
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Keith E. Whisman
September 05, 2010 at 9:48am
For now on, all movies that just completely suck and flot at theaters have an alternative revenue source, sue the only fans you have.
This movie was worse than a flop, Battlefield Earth made more money in theaters and it was dubbed the worst movie ever. They should put it online to be watched online for free with advertising to actually make something of a profit. But they stand to get around $2500 minimum from everyone they sue and that is minimum, if they sued me they wouldn't get anything because I'm broke. Beside a lot of the people that are downloading this movie are broke so just how do they pay if they don't have any money? Does the EFF still offer fine and lawsuit assistance?
Anything more than a $5.00 award per person sued is a ripoff, this movie just sucks that bad.
snapple00
September 05, 2010 at 10:21am
If they sued you they sure would get something. Or maybe you would rather just go to jail.
But you got to love people that love to spend the time to download and watch such a horrible movie. LOL.
Keith E. Whisman
September 05, 2010 at 12:46pm
You don't goto jail for anything related to copy right like downloading movies or music, thats the crazy thing about all this. The government needs to just out law piracy and make it a crime beyond the FBI notice that doesn't seem to mean dick. When was the last time someone went to jail for downloading a movie or some songs? See the government doesn't enforce the laws. The only thing that seems to work is lawsuits for cash. I think all the studios should have to do is to call the police and make a complaint and give them what evidence they have. But they wont make money doing that. That's the problem I have with these lawsuits. It's all about making money and nothing to do about the actual laws and paying for the crime.
Metalmorphasis
September 03, 2010 at 8:13pm
Thats why the call it the HurtLocker. You get hurt and then they lock you up.
Blaze589
September 04, 2010 at 3:22am
It depends on what success really means to them. They made $16 million at the box office (US) and are presently suing 5000 people at $2900 if they do an out of court settlement. So the maximum they could make is ~14.5 million if all goes as planned. They have to split that by an unknown amount between the lawyers and whatever other litigation services were used.
I personally believe they're using this as a test bed for more litigations as they have stated when this whole fiasco started. It was something along the lines of --"filing more in the future" from what I recall. If it goes well, expect more litigations. If that happens expect people to be pist as they're not going to stand for a second coming I assure you.
JohnP
September 03, 2010 at 4:42pm
That is what gets me. Lawyers and lawsuits are expensive! I know that may come as a shock to some of you, but it's true. The people that these lawyers are going after don't have very deep pockets (another shocker, I am sure). So WHO MAKES THE MONEY HERE?
If the money (GREED) is not the issue, what is? REVENGE? INTIMIDATION? PUNISHMENT? How does that add anything to the wealth or well being of the folks that made the movie? What do the backers think of their profits going up in smoke like this?
Hell, governments have gone after on line piracy (and lost- Pirate Bay is still on line). Can a indie movie studio expect to do better?
aviaggio
September 03, 2010 at 3:11pm
"...do you think the producers of The Hurt Locker have a better chance of success?"
Nope.
aaronj2906
September 03, 2010 at 4:25pm
I don't believe they will have success either.
I am not an atty, but to me "reasonable doubt" factors in heavily with things like multiple users, sourced IP addresses, spyware/virus infections that could impersonate a user, MAC address spoofing, unprotected/hacked wireless network + war-driving, etc.
There are a thousand network topology and computer security reasons why absolutely linking a download to a specific person (to charge with a computer crime) does not work.
crazitrain02
September 03, 2010 at 2:42pm
Why is the RIAA still around? I remember reading a report about how they spend like $20 million every year in lawsuits just to recoup $50k. I don't know about you, but I think Blockbuster might have a better business strategy then the RIAA.
cc3d
September 03, 2010 at 2:22pm
This is extortion by the film industry. If allowed, we will see more and more people attacked by groups of lawyers threatening huge legal fees. Don't think you're immune, this will hit home soon enough!
Biceps
September 03, 2010 at 3:58pm
You see, I don't steal things online, so I'm not going to be sued (or extorted from, as you put it). Not by these guys, or the RIAA, or by any other movie/music/film studio.
And, before we get into some stupid argument about the symantics behind my use above of the word "steal", let's just say you know what I mean and stop with that.
Don't pirate, and then you won't get sued. It's pretty simple and morally unambiguous, so I don't see what is so hard to understand. Considering I rented the Hurt Locker for $1 from one of those supermarket kiosks, I bet a lot of people are feeling pretty silly right now.
I wish the producers of the Hurt Locker success with this strategy... more power to them. I agree with the majority of what the EFF does, but I don't see any reason to oppose this one.
P.S. If you do-gooder pirates want some badass giant corporation to 'fight' against, go watch "Food, Inc." (just get it at the library, don't pirate it), and see how the Monsanto treats America's farmers - that, in my opinion, is a travesty and a real impingement on+ American rights and freedoms.
SEALBoy
September 03, 2010 at 6:29pm
The difference is when someone shoplifts a DVD from Best Buy, they don't have to pay $5000.
Peanut Fox
September 03, 2010 at 9:07pm
With shop lifting you only took one copy. With pirating, you not only took one copy, but you allowed others to partake in your affair many, many, many, many times over. So while a stolen DVD isn't $5000, with pirating you did quite a bit more than steal one movie. Even a crappy one.
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