Kaneko Isamu (aka creator of "Winny") acquitted by Japanese court

[JFC]

Noice.  

Japan high court acquits developer of file-sharing software in copyright case

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – August 8, 2009

TOKYO — A Japanese high court acquitted the developer of a free file-sharing software on Thursday in a high profile case over copyright law, a court official said.

The high court reversed a 2006 ruling by a lower court that imposed a fine of 1.5 million yen ($17,000) on Isamu Kaneko, 39, said the court official, who declined to be named, citing department policy.

"Today's ruling helps not only myself but also other computer engineers in pursuing the development of computer technology," Kaneko told at a news conference at the court in Osaka, western Japan.

Kaneko's program, Winny, allows users to trade files without revealing their Internet Protocol addresses - the online equivalent of a phone number. Digital content providers say the software infringes on their copyright by giving users access to their material for free.
FULL ARTICLE - http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h_qc6kYXsz37lmnqQ1dO7gfgXEoQ


OTHER ARTICLES -
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009759.html?categoryId=22&cs=1
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsDP_5ygycPvRSCdXvLPQ-6KWKYA
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3542701

[RoyMoy]

A victory for common sense. The tool maker is not responsible for what people end up using the tools for. The fact that it had to appealed at all is rather disturbing.

[Amplifier]

It would have been bizarre to not drop the charges against him. Unless he specifically encouraged people to violate copyright laws, he did nothing wrong.

SHIVER MY TIMBERS

[RoyMoy]

*sigh* They are appealing to the supreme court.

http://techdirt.com/articles/20091027/1302086698.shtml

[maliciel]

Happens.

I doubt it will get any further, really. Well, there's better p2p software out there, anyway.

[RoyMoy]

Happens.

I doubt it will get any further, really. Well, there's better p2p software out there, anyway.

Hopefully they will refuse to have a hearing. Someone clearly has too much money to spend on legal fees. This guy must be pretty gutsy. There are probably a lot of people out there who would have just given up and settled because of the legal fees.

[rebornsoul]

i hope nothing happens to him, he's done nothing wrong IMO