(FYI) Movie industry gives parent's SPYWARE to look for MP3s

[sp_100]

"Family values"

By Nick Farrell: Monday 31 January 2005, 06:18

THE US Movie Association for America (MPAA) is sending out free Parent File Scan software that lets mom and dad in a wholesome US family sniff their kid’s computers for peer-to-peer programs.

It will also list all movie and music files the kids have on their hard drive. The software will tell you if the computer has copyrighted material and will instruct you to delete it.

The big idea is that all good parents will instantly delete the kid’s files before the MPAA releases the hounds on the family.

Dan Glickman, MPAA chief said that the MPAA’s ultimate goal is to help consumers locate the resources and information they need to make appropriate decisions about using and trading illegal files.

However, according to the BBC, the software has a few bugs in it. It said that Vole’s Windows default wav files are listed as copyrighted material and the software wanted to delete them.

Since most parents have not got a clue when it comes to deleting things, chances are that the poor kid will be sent to his room without his supper for ‘stealing’ that Windows opening music. There could be other problems. There will be at least one clever kid that hires a brief to force his parents to get a court order before they are allowed to look at his computer. It will all end in tears.

Original:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=20998

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4216697.stm