FTC Starting To See Through Hollywood's Anti-P2P Excuses

from the waking-up dept

Not that long ago, lawmakers were showing their misunderstanding of file sharing by blaming the delivery mechanism for their concerns with the content. The entertainment industry still does this today in its attacks on file sharing networks and related technologies like BitTorrent, but at least some government types are starting to catch on. Among the conclusions of a report issued by the FTC today: The risks associated with P2P file sharing (viruses, spyware, porn, etc.) also exist with pretty much any other internet-related activity. Moreover, P2P opponents have not adequately shown that the hazards of file sharing networks are any different than elsewhere on the internet. Perhaps now Hollywood will fall back on the argument that file sharing is ruining its business. Oh wait, the FTC report said that's unclear too. Maybe the agency really is starting to get it.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    seth, 23 Jun 2005 @ 8:21pm

    It'd be nice

    It'd be nice if just once the government stood up for the people they represent and acted like the corporations didn't own them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2005 @ 12:15am

      Re: It'd be nice

      But your forgetting that corporations are people too. They have the same rights as a real person. I mean why shouldn't they? How is a for profit business any different from a thinking, breathing, feeling human being. Same exact thing if you ask me.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        johnsmith, 24 Jun 2005 @ 1:15am

        Re: It'd be nice

        First off it is lame to compare a 'living, breathing, human being' to a corporation. And even worse to suggest that a person is ?incorporated? That doesn't even make sense. The bottom line is no corporation or governing body can exercise control over the freedom of speech or the right to privacy which we are all entitled to (in the US). Moreover they want the WORLD to agree as well-lol

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Dave Lame, 24 Jun 2005 @ 7:37am

        Re: It'd be nice

        Well if corporations are like a "real person", then they can only be like the kind of real person who's only interest is in lining their own pockets, regardless of the effect of others. Yes, in that way they're a kind of giant sociopath, stomping on anyone who gets in their way, while desperately trying to appear nice and normal.
        Stomp, stomp, stomp....

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Jeff, 24 Jun 2005 @ 7:44am

        Only one difference

        Humans can be jailed for breaking the law. Corporations can't be.

        link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.