XPost: alt.2600.warez, misc.consumers   
   From: gwelsh@spamcop.net   
      
   root wrote:   
   > In either case it seems a blow to "cloud" file storage.   
   > If the provider of the storage facilities can be held   
   > liable for the files that is a problem.   
      
   Based on the information I have seen so far, *diligent* online storage   
   services don't have a problem; the charge against this particular   
   organization is that they had been informed of copyright and illegal content   
   and chose not to do anything about it.  I understand that the prosecutors   
   have evidence in the form of internal email showing that the operators of   
   the site knew about the content.   
      
   In general, if a service provider acts to remove offending user-provided   
   content once notified, they are not held liable for it.   
      
   > I have heard of cases where a landlord has been found   
   > to have some responsibility for illegal activities   
   > in rented premises.   
      
   That's usually because renters have little if any savings and few if any   
   assets to sieze while landlords - whether individuals or corporations -   
   obviously have assets *and* an insurance policy.  This is why lawyers, when   
   suing for civil damages, sue everyone they can find connected to the matter   
   by up to six degrees of Kevin Bacon in hopes that their clients will receive   
   some compensation from someone: no, there was no way that the landlord could   
   possibly have known that the tenant was throwing a party that weekend, let   
   alone intervened to prevent a drunk guest from driving home and running over   
   this poor family's breadwinner... but he has money - he owns TWO houses,   
   after all! - and doesn't that young family deserve *something* to help them   
   through the dark and difficult days ahead?  And don't feel bad for him, it   
   will be covered by his insurance, anyway.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)