ExtortionLetterInfo Forums

Retired Forums => P2P/BitTorrent Lawsuits Forum => Topic started by: Matthew Chan on February 03, 2012, 09:35:40 PM

Title: Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letters
Post by: Matthew Chan on February 03, 2012, 09:35:40 PM
MSBNC has picked up the story of the ongoing battle by adult video copyright trolls against peer-to-peer network users.

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/20/7113220-porn-piracy-wars-get-personal

http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/03/10312840-internet-piracy-suit-asks-can-you-even-copyright-porn

These stories has revealed copies of the Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letter, similar in many respects to those used in the stock photo industry. Two examples can be found here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/80437326/Steele-Hansmeier-Settlement-Demand-Letter-First-Time-Videos

http://www.scribd.com/doc/80436331/Steele-Hansmeier-Settlement-Demand-Letter-Wong-case

What is interesting is that it includes settlement agreement attachment not normally done by the stock photo industry.

As always, our friends and allies at the Electronic Frontier Foundation is at the forefront fighting this.

We would also like to do a shout-out to our brother-in-arms  http://fightcopyrighttrolls.com for their ongoing efforts on this front.
Title: Re: Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letters
Post by: Lettered on February 04, 2012, 07:49:39 AM
Is this the same Steele mentioned here: ?
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110430/00274114096/judge-slams-copyright-troll-lawyer-john-steeles-latest-fishing-expedition.shtml

I particularly liked the following quote from the judge that I think fits many of the stock photo situations:

". . . The embarrassment of public exposure might be too great, the legal system too daunting and expensive, for some to ask whether VPR has competent evidence to prove its case . . ."
Title: Re: Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letters
Post by: Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi) on February 04, 2012, 08:16:27 AM
It's the same, he's been playing this game for a longgggg time
Title: Re: Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letters
Post by: Matthew Chan on February 04, 2012, 03:23:53 PM
There are many articles on John Steele's extortion scheme. It has far more public awareness and coverage than the stock photo extortion letter scheme because John Steele has, in fact, filed lawsuits.

Take a look at some of the more interesting articles....

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110425/00365314021/even-as-copyright-trolls-legal-strategy-appears-to-be-failing-shakedowns-are-working.shtml

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110430/00274114096/judge-slams-copyright-troll-lawyer-john-steeles-latest-fishing-expedition.shtml

http://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-lawyers-rip-off-work-from-competitor-110727/

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110718/10420515147/copyright-troll-john-steele-insists-that-70-year-old-is-responsible-porn-downloads-even-if-someone-else-used-wifi.shtml


Title: Re: Steele-Hansmeier Settlement Demand Letters
Post by: Matthew Chan on February 04, 2012, 04:24:36 PM
A series of voicemails from Steele-Hansmeier to listen to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXFpN2VYZs