KalNet Message Board

Geist pointed out that the prospect of thousands of P2P file sharing suits making their way to Canada makes him all the more grateful for Canada's Bill C-32. The copyright modernization bill makes the distinction between commercial and noncommercial infringers, and limits statutory damages on noncommercial infringers to a maximum of CAN$5,000 for all infringements. "This case confirms that mass lawsuits with the threat of thousands in liability is a real possibility in Canada and why changes to the law are needed," Geist wrote.

The 70,000 daily visitors to popular music site RnBXclusive.com were met with a purposely terrifying message on Tuesday and part of Wednesday. The UK's Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) took the site down, arrested its operator, and threw up a splash page that warned downloaders of "up to 10 years imprisonment." Thought statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringement in the US were ludicrous? SOCA warns that downloaders from the site could face an "unlimited fine under UK law."