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Fat Abe · 03-26-2010, 05:12 PM

Wow, this thread is already nine pages deep, and based on the thoughts and opinions posted, we could be in for another nine pages.

Those who download from the darknet, or acquire ebooks from a library, friend, or offshore realize that they are doing something morally wrong, but have figured out some way of rationalizing the behavior. Some claim the book is out-of-print, or too high priced, or they own a paper copy, or whatever. Here is a new excuse to add to the list. Congress's recurring extensions of the copyright period are a form of ex-post facto law. Not in the strict sense, but in the sense that prior to the update in the law, many end users were under the assumption that after N years, the book or publication would be in the public domain. At year N-1, let us say that a hypothetical user scanned a number of books to redistribute after these books became PD. Then, wham, the period of the copyright went to N+20 (for the sake of argument). The rules of the game change, the user gets very upset, and retaliates by posting the books on the darknet. Chalk this up as another form of rationalization.

Let's skip the process of coming up with more reasons for going down the slippery slope of darknet. The real reason people commit a crime is that the probability of prosecution or punishment is extremely low. Theft of copyrighted material is not new. The very same problem that book publishers are having now already happened with VHS, DVDs, and Blu-Ray movies. Copyrighted VHS tapes had their copy protection circumvented by Macrovision busters. DVDs became rippable with the introduction of SmartRipper and DvdDecrypter. The author of the second program used the nickname LighningUK. I won't divulge his real name. I do not believe he has spent a single day in prison. Have there been any end users (not re-distributors) who have been prosecuted in the US? Other than some show cases with the RIAA, probably not. Ripping and rent n' rip surely costs the movie industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

I side neither with the end users or the publishers. But until there are consequences, people will do what is convenient and self-serving. If you can drive at 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, why not? Well, where are we headed? First the publishers need to not only takedown the cabbages fellow, but prosecute him. Wouldn't it be funny if cabbages were a woman? LOL. Second, Amazon, B&N and Sony can modify their readers to look for copyrighted material with missing DRM. The reader can then send back this information either through the 3G network or through the PC/Mac interface. Third, the companies can brick the readers, as Microsoft has done with the Xbox 360 game console. Imagine sending back your reader, having the FBI unlock it, and then being charged with copyright violation- prima facie evidence, if ever there was such a thing. So beware, Darknet followers. Big brother is watching you. Read the Amazon terms and conditions. The path is there for the government to compel them to spy on you.

03-26-2010, 05:12 PM	#133
Fat Abe Man Who Stares at Books Posts: 1,826 Karma: 10606722 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 50th State, USA. Also, PA, NY, CA, and elsewhere. Device: All of the Above	Wow, this thread is already nine pages deep, and based on the thoughts and opinions posted, we could be in for another nine pages. Those who download from the darknet, or acquire ebooks from a library, friend, or offshore realize that they are doing something morally wrong, but have figured out some way of rationalizing the behavior. Some claim the book is out-of-print, or too high priced, or they own a paper copy, or whatever. Here is a new excuse to add to the list. Congress's recurring extensions of the copyright period are a form of ex-post facto law. Not in the strict sense, but in the sense that prior to the update in the law, many end users were under the assumption that after N years, the book or publication would be in the public domain. At year N-1, let us say that a hypothetical user scanned a number of books to redistribute after these books became PD. Then, wham, the period of the copyright went to N+20 (for the sake of argument). The rules of the game change, the user gets very upset, and retaliates by posting the books on the darknet. Chalk this up as another form of rationalization. Let's skip the process of coming up with more reasons for going down the slippery slope of darknet. The real reason people commit a crime is that the probability of prosecution or punishment is extremely low. Theft of copyrighted material is not new. The very same problem that book publishers are having now already happened with VHS, DVDs, and Blu-Ray movies. Copyrighted VHS tapes had their copy protection circumvented by Macrovision busters. DVDs became rippable with the introduction of SmartRipper and DvdDecrypter. The author of the second program used the nickname LighningUK. I won't divulge his real name. I do not believe he has spent a single day in prison. Have there been any end users (not re-distributors) who have been prosecuted in the US? Other than some show cases with the RIAA, probably not. Ripping and rent n' rip surely costs the movie industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I side neither with the end users or the publishers. But until there are consequences, people will do what is convenient and self-serving. If you can drive at 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, why not? Well, where are we headed? First the publishers need to not only takedown the cabbages fellow, but prosecute him. Wouldn't it be funny if cabbages were a woman? LOL. Second, Amazon, B&N and Sony can modify their readers to look for copyrighted material with missing DRM. The reader can then send back this information either through the 3G network or through the PC/Mac interface. Third, the companies can brick the readers, as Microsoft has done with the Xbox 360 game console. Imagine sending back your reader, having the FBI unlock it, and then being charged with copyright violation- prima facie evidence, if ever there was such a thing. So beware, Darknet followers. Big brother is watching you. Read the Amazon terms and conditions. The path is there for the government to compel them to spy on you.