Absolute must-read in the copyright wars

[Greg Anos]

You may be in favor of strict copyright enforcement or hoist the Jolly Roger with pride, but here's a legal case (in Canada) that is a wonderful description of the MAFIAA in action.....


http://www.michaelgeist.ca/

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

You may be in favor of strict copyright enforcement or hoist the Jolly Roger with pride, but here's a legal case (in Canada) that is a wonderful description of the MAFIAA in action.....


http://www.michaelgeist.ca/

Joy to the world!! You just made my whole christmas. The MAFIAA Canada branch is about to have its collective, whining, copyright-moaning arse bitten by the very same laws it's been using against individual filesharers! Oh Joy!!!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Joy to the world!! You just made my whole christmas. The MAFIAA Canada branch is about to have its collective, whining, copyright-moaning arse bitten by the very same laws it's been using against individual filesharers! Oh Joy!!!

i certainly hope so. the hypocrisy is enough to turn your stomach.

[kjk]

After years of claiming Canadian consumers disrespect copyright, the irony of having the recording industry face a massive lawsuit will not be lost on anyone

...except the recording industy

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by kjk

...except the recording industy

Couldn't agree more. Now when are these dinosaurs going to die, I'm still waiting for theirs and the publishing industries complete and total collapse.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Joy to the world!! You just made my whole christmas. The MAFIAA Canada branch is about to have its collective, whining, copyright-moaning arse bitten by the very same laws it's been using against individual filesharers! Oh Joy!!!

60 billion plus putative damages constitutes a little more that a bite on the bum...

This sure isn't going to help their copyright lobbying in Canada....

May the "legal ghost" of Jammie Thomas haunt them for Christmas....

[Kali Yuga]

I have to say, while I appreciate the irony and exposure of hypocrisy, I really don't see how this is a criticism of copyright per se. If anything, this is an argument in favor of copyright, as the aggrieved artists are using copyright laws in order to redress numerous contract/copyright violations by the music industry.

True, the recording industry frequently cites copyright as the mechanism by which they protect artists' content, has pushed for excessively punitive laws, and has flailed blindly during the transition to digital. But even if copyright laws were significantly relaxed, there's a good chance the record companies would find some other loophole to exploit. The root issue is the record companies allegedly violating their contracts, not abusing copyright. I see no particular indication that whatever system replaces the record labels will necessarily result in artists being treated any better, or that the people involved will act in a more ethical fashion.

Originally Posted by RSE

May the "legal ghost" of Jammie Thomas haunt them for Christmas....

What does she have to do with this?

I mean, she's not a great poster girl in the "copyright wars" anyway. She did nothing to support the artists whose work she distributed in an infringing manner; two juries have concluded that she egregiously lied in her denials of culpability. She also had numerous opportunities (and still does) to settle for a smaller sum, and apparently refuses to settle. The laws may be too strict and the judgment outlandish in her case, but she's not exactly an innocent victim who is pure of heart or intent.

By the way, it's pretty well known that the record industry (and labels both large and small) frequently indulges in shenanigans like this -- and apparently the movie industry is even worse. AFAIK this type of conduct is far less prevalent in book publishing though.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I have to say, while I appreciate the irony and exposure of hypocrisy, I really don't see how this is a criticism of copyright per se. If anything, this is an argument in favor of copyright, as the aggrieved artists are using copyright laws in order to redress numerous contract/copyright violations by the music industry.

You don't see the problem with their liability being twice their global yearly turnover? This has the possibility to break them, just as they've used statutory damages to break people.

And at this point, let em burn.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

You don't see the problem with their liability being twice their global yearly turnover? This has the possibility to break them, just as they've used statutory damages to break people.

And at this point, let em burn.

I will be there roasting marshmallows on the fire!

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I will be there roasting marshmallows on the fire!

Then they'll taste like lawyers. Ewww.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I have to say, while I appreciate the irony and exposure of hypocrisy, I really don't see how this is a criticism of copyright per se. If anything, this is an argument in favor of copyright, as the aggrieved artists are using copyright laws in order to redress numerous contract/copyright violations by the music industry.

True, the recording industry frequently cites copyright as the mechanism by which they protect artists' content, has pushed for excessively punitive laws, and has flailed blindly during the transition to digital. But even if copyright laws were significantly relaxed, there's a good chance the record companies would find some other loophole to exploit. The root issue is the record companies allegedly violating their contracts, not abusing copyright. I see no particular indication that whatever system replaces the record labels will necessarily result in artists being treated any better, or that the people involved will act in a more ethical fashion.



What does she have to do with this?

I mean, she's not a great poster girl in the "copyright wars" anyway. She did nothing to support the artists whose work she distributed in an infringing manner; two juries have concluded that she egregiously lied in her denials of culpability. She also had numerous opportunities (and still does) to settle for a smaller sum, and apparently refuses to settle. The laws may be too strict and the judgment outlandish in her case, but she's not exactly an innocent victim who is pure of heart or intent.

By the way, it's pretty well known that the record industry (and labels both large and small) frequently indulges in shenanigans like this -- and apparently the movie industry is even worse. AFAIK this type of conduct is far less prevalent in book publishing though.

The Corporations involved have had both the time (over 20 years) and the resources to have prevented this situation. They want more and more Draconian controls, lobby left and right to get longer and longer copyright extensions, litigate people with no hope of meaningful recovery (because they have nothing to seize) - all in the name of "protecting the creative artists", whom they are cheerfully robbing of their small royalties. These are the people to whom we should look to for fair and equitable answers to copyright issues?

Life + 50 to Life + 70 doesn't benefit one creative artist - by definition. Dead people don't create! But corporation keep milking and milking and milking....

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Then they'll taste like lawyers. Ewww.

I love the taste of lawyer in the morning....wait...no..that came out all wrong

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Then they'll taste like lawyers. Ewww.

Feed 'em to the lobbyists. They'll eat anything.....

(I'll offer 1000 liters of petrol (gasoline)....)

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Feed 'em to the lobbyists. They'll eat anything.....

(I'll offer 1000 liters of petrol (gasoline)....)

I'll bring the matches, the sparklers and the warm hats!!! It'll be like Guy Fawlkes night again! Whooppee!!

[Jaime_Astorga]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I will be there roasting marshmallows on the fire!

And I will be dancing around their grave! If this works, it shall truly be a joyous day.