More Details On The Hollywood Hacking Bill
from the encouraging-vigilante-justice dept
Declan McCullugh over at News.com got his hands on a draft copy of the new bill from Reps. Berman and Coble that would let Hollywood hack your computer. From the description in the article, the bill is scarier than expected. Basically, it gives Hollywood an exemption from any sort of hacking laws (I guess they won't have to spend the rest of their lives in jail, unlike some other hackers), so they can target anyone they think might be distributing copyrighted works. Then, if they did damage to your computer, you would have to (get this) apply for permission from the U.S. Attorney General, before you could sue - and you could only do that if you proved $250 or more in monetary damages. There are so many things wrong with this proposal it's tough to know where to start. It's scary, however, that a specific industry group suddenly gets a full exemption to do (for their own profit) what individuals could get a life sentence for, even when not done for profit. I guess, that's our corporate lobbying system at work.
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Good God!
How, from a logical, legal, or ethical standpoint is this any different from a law exempting retailers from liability related to detaining, beating or killing shoplifters? I used to work for a large discount retail chain and we lost insane amounts of money (actual, quantifiable loss, not this "piracy" crap) but I can't imagine the gales of laughter that would have resulted if we had ever pushed for this type of legislation for our industry.
Incredible. Simply incredible.
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This all comes down to a point right now in every major business in the US (and most likely around the world) where they have all overextended themselves and tried to push up prices. They are all hurting and Actors, Baseball/Basketball players should all take huge pay cutsl, otherwise history will show them as the downfall of the 21st century.
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Grrrrreat!
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Re: Grrrrreat!
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