Flashes of Panic

Yesterday I had to spend some time on a few “intelligent design” advocacy websites. We’d heard they were offering free downloads of a video we distribute, and I was to check out whether that was really the case.

Sure enough, 12:55-running-time .ram files of a 14:30-running-time video. I don’t think that’s really covered under the license. I see cease-and-desist letters in their future.

Even more fun: two sites allowed the file to be saved to disk, rather than just streamed. Both files had the same md5 hash, indicating a phenomenally high probability that the files were identical: in other words, one had copied it from the other, or they’d both copied it from the same source.

Not that this company is inclined to spend too much time engaging their arguments, but c’mon, guys. Being on the wrong side of current copyright law doesn’t really make your point.

Now Playing: One Down from Ben Folds Live by Ben Folds