We won this round! But it's not over yet... (SOPA/PIPA update)

[Iphinome]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Nope. But its the mentality of many who search the net for music and other forms.of downloadable media.

Regardless of what the music and movie industries could abuse. Something has to be done to curb piracy. Again as long as there are firm rules against abuse from the corporations, I am all for it.

Why must something be done?

Why is it you place more tools supposedly intended for stopping copyright infringement over abuses of the system?

There are already laws, those laws are already abused.

What exactly makes those abuses worthwhile to the people of the world? Is not the public interest served with the free and open exchange of ideas and the risk that some people might get away with a few mp3s they may or may not have paid for in the same way that we have justice system that says it is better for a guilty person to avoid punishment than to convict an innocent?

There's my argument. better for the common people to not be censored. Now what's yours for a law that will almost certainly be abused based on the number of documented DMCA abuses that have not only happened but gone unpunished?

[Tony1988]

Originally Posted by Iphinome

Why must something be done?

Why is it you place more tools supposedly intended for stopping copyright infringement over abuses of the system?

There are already laws, those laws are already abused.

What exactly makes those abuses worthwhile to the people of the world? Is not the public interest served with the free and open exchange of ideas and the risk that some people might get away with a few mp3s they may or may not have paid for in the same way that we have justice system that says it is better for a guilty person to avoid punishment than to convict an innocent?

There's my argument. better for the common people to not be censored. Now what's yours for a law that will almost certainly be abused based on the number of documented DMCA abuses that have not only happened but gone unpunished?

I dont see how policing the piracy of music,literature, film and trademarks, prevents the common people to not be censored.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Nope. But its the mentality of many who search the net for music and other forms.of downloadable media.

Regardless of what the music and movie industries could abuse. Something has to be done to curb piracy. Again as long as there are firm rules against abuse from the corporations, I am all for it.

Yes, action should be taken to prevent copyright infringement; that's not at issue.

The problem at hand is that the amount of effort that is being expended by the media corporations and their lobbyists is not only out of proportion to the harm generated by casual copyright infringement, but often causes more damage to paying customers and the economy as a whole than the infringement they're trying to stop.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

I dont see how policing the piracy of music,literature, film and trademarks, prevents the common people to not be censored.

Too bad that the bills are not actually describing a means to apprehend and
prosecute Pirates, but do provide the force of law to the media industry so
that they can harm internet operations that they feel might threaten their
potential profits. They do not require any due process to establish that any
"piracy" has even occurred, their is no effective penalty for a "mistake" that
destroys the internet operations of a potential competitor.

Look at what the bills DO not how the title is worded. Or the claims
of those promoting the bill.

Just as the digital product is easier to distribute, digital money transfers are
observable and can be traced and intercepted. The "Digital Pirates" are not
getting their money in bundles on the backs of returning migrant workers.
The bills that say they are after those kind of pirates, the paid kind, are not
really needed. The FBI already has all the tools it needs to go after that
kind of criminal enterprise, some (like me) would say perhaps too many such
tools. They are not being asked to actually do the work to catch the
pirates. They are encouraged to go after the internet as a criminal
infrastructure, a much easier task for them.

Luck;
Ken

[JoeD]

This TED talk is worth a watch, whilst it's about why SOPA is a bad idea, the points made are much more general and apply just as well to future legislation

http://www.ted.com/talks/defend_our_..._bad_idea.html

[Barcey]

It looks like the CEO of the MPAA forgot that he wasn't supposed to admit how the back room deals work.

“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake," Dodd told Fox News. "Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake.”

I think they paid plenty of attention to them but they just didn't blindly vote like they were bought a paid for. More interesting times ahead.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01...n_white_house/

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Barcey

I think they paid plenty of attention to them but they just didn't blindly vote like they were bought a paid for. More interesting times ahead.

"An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought."

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

"An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought."

While an honest politician may stay bought, part of the deal is that the paymaster doesn't mention the bribes in public.

[Iphinome]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

I dont see how policing the piracy of music,literature, film and trademarks, prevents the common people to not be censored.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invinci...orance_fallacy

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Yes, action should be taken to prevent copyright infringement; that's not at issue.

In places like the US Congress, it's not at issue. As far as I can tell, SOPA opponents like Sen. Wyden genuinely oppose piracy and want, consistent with civil liberties, more effective action taken against it.

On this thread, however, some posters do seem to oppose almost any action to prevent infringement, except if you consider lowering the price charged by copyright holders being a way to prevent infringement.

Yes, if the price of legitimate purchase is low enough, somewhat fewer people will go to the darknet, but it still will net out to less money for authors. I'm afraid that prevention does require fear of being caught.

The six strikes approach sounds about right to me. Penalty does not have to be high to make most people afraid of being caught.

[Dylrob]

Since when has the fear of being caught ever been a truely effective deterrent?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Since when has the fear of being caught ever been a truely effective deterrent?

It works with the speed limit and at red lights where cameras have been installed.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

It works with the speed limit and at red lights where cameras have been installed.

Only because the threat is immediately apparent. Humans are generally short sighted creatures. Especially teenagers.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Since when has the fear of being caught ever been a truely effective deterrent?

Because it is done in seeming privacy, I don't expect that eBook piracy will ever be quite as rare as shoplifting is or was. But moderately effective is good enough.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Because it is done in seeming privacy, I don't expect that eBook piracy will ever be quite as rare as shoplifting is or was. But moderately effective is good enough.

Morality deters shoplifting more than legality. The problem is that many don't consider copyright infringement as morally reprehensible as theft. Though it's in part because of how the media corps treat their legitimate customers.