Movie industry sues companies that aid downloads on Usenet
By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff
An obscure data network technology called the Usenet has become the newest battleground between the entertainment industry and digital music and movie pirates.
Late last month, the Motion Picture Association of America filed its first-ever lawsuits against Internet companies that help people download illegally copied films over the Usenet. The association says that the companies, NZB-Zone, BinNews, and DVDRS, provide a Google-like search service for Usenet, one that lets its users find thousands of pirated films, including recent hits such as 'King Kong', 'The Chronicles of Narnia', and 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin.'
The three companies did not respond to e-mail messages requesting comment. Their websites do not list physical addresses or phone numbers, and one of them, DVDRS, has apparently been shut down. Even the lawsuits filed against the companies identify them as John Does, and do not include contact information.