Man charged for illegal downdloading using WinMX

[p2p-sharing-rules]

Tech News
Man who can't switch on computer faces illegal downloading suit
By DPA
Mar 19, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Hong Kong - A single parent who claims he doesn't know how to switch on a computer is being sued by seven record companies for illegally uploading music on to the internet, a Hong Kong news report said Sunday.

Yeung Chun-choi, who lives off welfare benefits, has been issued with a summons alleging that on numerous occasions before November 7 2005 he illegally uploaded, downloaded and stored copies of copyright music.

But the 54-year-old widower and father-of-four says he doesn\'t know how to switch the computer on, let alone use it, according to a report in the Sunday Morning Post.

He claims the computer was donated to his family by social services and was used by his youngest daughters aged 15 and 16 to do their homework. He believes the girls may be responsible as he often heard music coming from the computer.

If the court says I've done something wrong, I've probably done something wrong. But I hope they will understand that I don't know what my children are doing on the computer,he told reporters.

I don't know anything about computers. I don't even know how to switch it on.

The writ was filed in the High Court Friday on behalf of Cinepoly, Emperor Entertainment; Go East Entertainment, Gold Label Entertainment, Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Universal Music and Warner Music Hong Kong.

The companies are claiming unspecified damages alleging Leung infringed copyright by making recordings available to the public without the record companies consent using WinMX file-sharing software.

The music is said to include songs by canto stars Joey Leung and Andy Lau.

Yeung's case stems from an investigation last year which was part of a crackdown on internet piracy by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

The action is the first of its kind in Hong Kong and follows the world's first criminal conviction for uploading movies in Hong Kong.

In that case, a 38-year-old man was sentenced to three months in jail in November for uploading three Hollywood movies using BitTorrent software.

tech.monstersandcritics.com
Another news report about him on p2pnet.net.
another one at news.tmcnet.com.
It looks like it's his children's fault not his. why are they going after him?
Plus he's on welfare.How do they expect to get any money from him?
Here we go again the cartel are picking on the poor again.

[tunebud]

I don't think it is right that anyone picks on the poor. I do think anyone who lets there children access the internet has a responsibility to know what they are doing.

To say you didn't know what your child is doing internet or whatever is wrong and irresponsible period..

[nesman]

I agree with you, Tune. On the other hand, I have to wonder if parents that know nothing about computers really have an idea of how dangerous it can be for their kids to be on there unsupervised.

[garmabeaneth]

I agree with you, Tune. On the other hand, I have to wonder if parents that know nothing about computers really have an idea of how dangerous it can be for their kids to be on there unsupervised.

ignorance isnt bliss when it comes to children and the internet. i keep my pc in the living room.. so shoulder checks are done often. granted my children don't do anything more then pbskids.org .. but still

[threewing]

The music is said to include songs by canto stars Joey Leung and Andy Lau.

Worth going to prison for?

[garmabeaneth]

The music is said to include songs by canto stars Joey Leung and Andy Lau.

Worth going to prison for?

[p2p-sharing-rules]

Good news the cartels dropped their civil action lawsuit against Yeung Chun-choi.

Web music piracy case dropped

Hong Kong record companies are dropping their first civil action against a man who illegally shared music files on the Internet after he expressed regret and agreed to pay compensation.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Hong Kong record companies are dropping their first civil action against a man who illegally shared music files on the Internet after he expressed regret and agreed to pay compensation.
Yeung Chun-choi, who said he was a computer novice and his daughters spent much of their time on the machine, had been served with a writ by seven record companies earlier this month alleging that he uploaded music onto the Internet, making it available for illegal sharing.

However, following two rounds of negotiations with the senior management of the companies, Yeung vowed not to infringe copyright again and the companies would drop the case against him, the trade organization International Federation of Phonographic Industry said.

Ricky Fung, chairman of IFPI Hong Kong, declined to disclose the amount of compensation the 54-year-old man paid.

"This will hopefully serve as an important message to other parents in Hong Kong to check what their children are using the family computer for," the IFPI said.

The suit was the first to emerge after a local court in January ruled Internet service providers must hand to authorities details of users who upload copyrighted material.

The IFPI is also taking legal action against a second person who allegedly shared music files on the Internet. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

source:thestandard