MPAA Sues Grandmother for $150k
In another brilliant PR move, the MPAA is suing a Brooklyn grandmother for $150k because she allegedly downloaded a copy of Adam Sandler's The Longest Yard.
"How can they charge me with something I didn't do?" she said. "The movie they're talking about is absolute garbage anyway. I don't even like Adam Sandler as an actor."In civil suits filed this week in Brooklyn Federal Court, the Park Ave. lawyers for Paramount and Columbia Pictures are threatening McBride and two other defendants with fines of up to $150,000.
via Digg
"I don't even like Adam Sandler as an actor"
You tell'em Granny!
Posted by: cmmsml | February 24, 2006 at 09:47 AM
$150,000 for "The Longest Yard"? That's a laugh. They should pay her for downloading that piece of crap.
Posted by: Scott | February 24, 2006 at 11:36 AM
There's more to the story: "She acknowledges that her 16-year-old grandson lives with her and has access to the computer. He was not home, but McBride said he "swore to her" he didn't download the film."
Uh huh.
In any event, the reporter gets the story wrong as they often do. She is not being sued for "downloading" the movie, but offering it for sharing.
Posted by: khisel | February 24, 2006 at 06:26 PM
"Spokeswoman Michelle Greeno said MPAA investigators subpoena the suspected pirates' Internet service providers to make their case.
"We don't have evidence that they downloaded the films, but we do know they have these films on their computers," she said."
Oh now I get it. I can be sued without evidence .Thats like saying since I got a five dollar bill in my pocket, I must have robbed a bank..
Posted by: thecrow | February 24, 2006 at 08:03 PM
"She acknowledges that her 16-year-old grandson lives with her and has access to the computer. He was not home, but McBride said he "swore to her" he didn't download the film."
That wouldn't even matter, since the USA will hold parents responsible for the actions of their kids. Screw you if you work full time and come home each day exhausted. It's your fault if your kids go out breaking the law. You should have installed hidden cameras and software to monitor their computers...
Posted by: NetflixShill | February 24, 2006 at 10:21 PM
Wow, NetflixShill, I thought you couldn't sink any lower, but I was wrong.
"That wouldn't even matter, since the USA will hold parents responsible for the actions of their kids. Screw you if you work full time and come home each day exhausted. It's your fault if your kids go out breaking the law. You should have installed hidden cameras and software to monitor their computers..."
Damn right you're responsible for your children! That's the responsibility of being a parent. As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your children right from wrong, and, on the same token be responsible for their actions, good or bad, until they become adults. There's an all too common trend in America today, and that is, parent's refusal to take responsibility for their childs actions. So, if you aren't willing to take responsibility for your children, then please do the rest of society a favor and sterilize yourself before you have any. And, if you already have children, God help them.
Posted by: BeefJerky | February 25, 2006 at 04:01 AM
NetflixShill makes a good point, however inarticulatedly expressed, that one is totally responsible the actions of any minor under his/her care. The MPAA is correct to go whoever is responsible for the kid, apparently the grandparent in this case.
Guess it does make "good copy" in news media parlance to dramatically say it's little old grandmother...
Real glad my kids are all adults, but do worry about one 7 year old grandson. He's already skated once - he managed to break into a "secure" server - because he was only 5 at the time. Last I heard he had very restricted internet access...
Posted by: CJ | February 25, 2006 at 10:29 PM
"because she allegedly downloaded a copy"
Mike,
Fix that text. Se is not being sued for downloading. No such term is in the suit.
She is being sued for uploading.
It is literally impossible to be sued for downloadng and neither the RIAA or the MPAA ever, EVER have.
A site like hackingnetflix which pre-supposed some expertise more than a reporter at the New York Daily News repeating the press release of the MPAA.
Posted by: murphyslaw | February 26, 2006 at 09:44 PM
As the stepfather of a serious problem child who is now a teen, it is always funny to me when people insist that it's always the parents' or guardians' fault when a kid gets in trouble.
Granted, when kids are young and parents' neglect causes them to get hurt mentally or physically in some way, I agree that it is the parents' fault.
But how would you suggest that a parent stop a teen from doing exactly what the hell they want to do when they put their minds to it? Quit their jobs and follow the kid around 24/7? Even THAT would not work, trust me. The kid WILL find a way to do whatever is on their minds. You people are the same ones who call spanking 'abuse', but I say moderate spanking (NOT beating) when a kid is small, and when it is absolutely called for, is a great tool in a parent's arsenal.
The ONLY way you can guarantee a kid will stay out of trouble (besides not having any) is to lock the kid in a room from the outside and feed him/her under the door. Aside from that, kids have their own minds and WILL find a way to do something if they really want to. You can lead a horse to water, but if it wants to bolt and take off across the desert, good luck in stopping it.
Posted by: Y.T. | March 01, 2006 at 02:01 AM
I always thought netflix was going to kill the mpaa anyway, but this is just reduclous.
Posted by: Jim Robert | July 30, 2008 at 05:45 AM