Hollywood's Favorite Lawmakers Preparing Next Level Of Draconian Copyright Laws

from the because-ProIP-wasn't-enough dept

Because (of course) last year's ProIP bill that (once again) strengthened copyright laws wasn't enough, Hollywood's favorite lawmakers all got together outside of LA and complained about how copyright laws needed to be even more draconian. They once again quoted the same mythical stats about the damage done by infringement, and didn't hear from a single defender of the public or someone who could explain the basic fact that strengthening copyright law doesn't solve anything. Instead, they just complained, blamed pretty much every foreign country (other than France) and insisted "something must be done!"

Apparently changing their business models to adapt to a changing marketplace has yet to be considered. Not when all of these Congressional Reps from California have no problem swallowing made up stats and misleading fear mongering from an industry unwilling to embrace new business models. Instead, they blame everyone else, including apparently a major session blaming Canada. It's still not clear why Hollywood thinks Canada is such a copyright pariah. The country already has pretty strong copyright laws and doesn't seem to be a haven for piracy at all.

The only country they did seem to like? Apparently that would be France, which just sneakily (after most of Parliament had gone home for the night) passed a three strikes bill. The entertainment industry execs seemed to think this might be a perfect solution -- once again looking to kill off any opportunity to create a better business model, and instead piss off fans and drive them further underground. It's like seeing the same dumb horror movie over and over again, where we the consumers/audience keeps yelling out "no, don't go in there!" and yet they still go in there, make the same mistakes over again and end up only damaging themselves. Is it really that difficult for them to recognize that the business model is the issue, and no amount of increased copyright protection is going to change that?

In the meantime, it's pretty sickening that our elected officials would choose only to hear from one extremely biased side on the debate, and will now introduce legislation that bails out that one industry at the expense of the public. Clearly, these hearings were not to "hear" anything new -- but to put on a puppet show prior to already written (by the industry) legislation to be introduced.
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

Filed Under: canada, copyright, foreign countries, howard berman, legislation, piracy, three strikes


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 9:31am

    Ever seen the movie Ground Hog Day? I'll bet its available on a p2p netowrk somewhere.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    R. Miles, 7 Apr 2009 @ 9:32am

    Next stop, the United States of America

    it's pretty sickening that our elected officials would choose only to hear from one extremely biased side on the debate
    You write this as though you're no longer living in this country.

    Where the hell are you?

    This is the standard operating practice of today's government, which makes decisions based on who lined the contribution pockets with the most amount of cash.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Ima Fish, 7 Apr 2009 @ 9:36am

    I'm not sure how we could get a three strikes law passed in the US. The "problem" with the US is that we have this thing called due process. Thus, for each strike we'd have the right to fight it in court. Hollywood doesn't want that. They want a fast three strikes and you're out.

    However, ISPs could institute such a policy voluntarily. And only enforce it in areas without any broadband competition. That way they could get rid of their bandwidth hogs. But like I said, that would only work if there was no competition. In most areas there are at least two broadband providers in an area, cable and DSL.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:01am

    "I know I should not be downloading material that I know I should be paying for because it is against the law, but what the heck...what gives them the right to tell me I am breaking the law? All that does is piss me off! They have to adopt business models that let me keep doing what I am doing. Don't they realize they are the problem, and not me?"

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:07am

    I suspect the MPAA is targeting Canada because of a popular Canadian based torrent sight that actually sued them first.

    At this point, there are no signs of this site rolling over for the MPAA.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Felix Pleșoianu, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:07am

    Apparently changing their business models to adapt to a changing marketplace has yet to be considered.

    Of course, since changing the business models would completely eliminate the big studios and record labels. What's so hard to understand? Just sitting on a big leather chair and raking in money is much easier than actually doing something useful. That would require, you know, work. And we can't have that, now can we? *shudder*

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. icon
    Nick (profile), 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:10am

    Damn it! I should have ditched work to go. I was hoping the BB post would get at least one of us there.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:11am

    And you're doing what...?

    You're just ranting and raving with your same old same old at the same group of people who *already agree with you*, and yet you don't *do* anything about it. Buy your own lawmaker to get your own laws passed, for example.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Tgeigs, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:12am

    Sigh

    Only the French could give us a run for our money in the Fucking-Up-Democracy Race...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:17am

    Re: Sigh

    Only the French could give us a run for our money in the Fucking-Up-Democracy Race...

    Don't worry. We'll 'normalize' with them soon enough.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:24am

    Why would ISP's cooperate?

    I don't understand why ISP's would cooperate voluntarily with 3 strikes. A typical ISP in the US makes roughly $1000 to $1500 net per connection. Even someone who is downloading videos 24/7 does not cost that much to support. If the RIAA ends up getting it's three strikes and is at all aggressive about prosecution I would expect some serious push-back from the ISP's.

    The people that are expensive to support are the techno-challenged that require lots of time online with support or even worse, the ones that need to have a truck rolled out to their home to reboot their cable modems. The "bandwidth hogs" generally a savvy enough to keep their systems running and when they do have a question they can find their own solutions.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Johnny Canada, 7 Apr 2009 @ 10:51am

    I would down load movies for free if there was something worth downloading.

    Now if the had something worth while to watch I would even pay to download it (i.e. Dark Night, which I paid to see in the threater .... first movie in 5 years)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 11:13am

    Re:

    I see weird harold is posting anonymously now.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Weird Harold, 7 Apr 2009 @ 11:24am

    Re: Re:

    No, Weird Harold posts as Weird Harold.

    Canada is a haven for piracy. The taxes on blank CDs and combined decision by law enforcment and the courts to pretty much turn a blind eye to music sharing has turned Canada into a free for all.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 11:38am

    Blame Canada, eh

    times have changed our kids.
    Our Kids are getting worse!
    They wont obey their parents
    They just want to fart and curse!
    should we blame the government or blame society?
    or should we blame the images on tv?

    NO! blame canada, blame canada
    with all their beady little eyes
    an' flapping heads so full of lies
    blame canada, blame canada
    we need to form a full assault, its canada's fault

    don't blame me for my son stan
    he say that darn cartoon and now he's off to join the clan!
    and my boy eric once had MY picture on his shelf
    but now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself

    well, blame canada, blame canada
    it seems that everythings gone wrong
    since canada came along
    blame canada, blame canada
    they're not even a real country, anyway

    my son could've been a doctor or a lawyer it's true
    instead he burned up like a piggy on a barbecue

    should we blame the matches, should we blame the fire?
    or the doctors who allowed him to expire?

    HECK NO!

    Blame canada, blame canada
    with their hockey hullaballoo
    and their bitch Anne Murray too
    Blame Canada, shame on Canada!
    the smut we must stop
    The trash we must smash
    laughter and fun
    must all be undone
    we must blame them and cause a fuss
    before someone thinks of blaming us!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. icon
    mike42 (profile), 7 Apr 2009 @ 11:41am

    Re: Sigh

    The US is a Democratic Republic. A true Democracy is fucked up by nature, i.e.
    "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch." - Benjamin Franklin

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 11:45am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Yada yada yada...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. icon
    Coach George (profile), 7 Apr 2009 @ 12:24pm

    Re: Next stop, the United States of America

    It's the LEFT Coast!! What do you expect!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Eponymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 12:28pm

    Mike needs a thesaurus

    I like, no, love, getting digital media through torrents, to be clear. I just wish we could have a new adjective attached to the IP laws instead of 'draconian'. Draconian always makes me think it involves the Harry potter universe, and we Muggles think it best not to meddle in Wizards' business. I think 'Onerous' would be a better fit, as taken from Webster:

    "2 : having legal obligations that outweigh the advantages"

    I like that more. give Onerous a chance, Mike.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Eponymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 12:33pm

    In praise of 'Onerous'

    Also, I think that 'Onerous' carries more intellectual cachet than Draconian, so it makes me feel superior. Kind of like using 'Eponymous' outside of conversations regarding REM.

    Speaking of REM, anyone know where I can download "Daysleeper" in FLAC format on P2P?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Nathan, 7 Apr 2009 @ 12:41pm

    Re: Mike needs a thesaurus

    Seconded.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 1:06pm

    Re: Why would ISP's cooperate?

    Research the 1990s-- telcos received huge amounts of federal, state and local tax credits, taxpayer funding, and the like, to build and expand these networks.

    There is no loyalty to the end customer. The network has already been paid for and consolidated, with your tax dollars.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Tgeigs, 7 Apr 2009 @ 1:56pm

    Re: Re: Sigh

    As someone who appreciates a good quotation, Bravo!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    Tgeigs, 7 Apr 2009 @ 1:57pm

    Re: Re: Mike needs a thesaurus

    Thirdeded

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 2:06pm

    "Draconian" and "onerous" sound much too extreme.

    I believe a far better and more accurate term is "reasonable".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    Easily Amused, 7 Apr 2009 @ 2:24pm

    Re: Larry Lessig should be on speeddial.

    you win for longest effing hypertext tag...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 2:35pm

    How are these companies structured? Transparently? Why NOT?

    It's intentionally complex, because it isn't about market-based economics. It's about control. Hell, all the companies aren't even publically traded. Legally speaking, they are structured as subsidiaries, LPs or LLPs under the parent company.

    This is interesting because it shields them from the SEC, regulatory, and public scrutiny a publicly traded company would require. Transparency is not required, and they don't even have to produce a balance sheet, yet they all get together and want to overtake our intellectual property system.

    Something isn't right here.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2009 @ 2:55pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    So, doing what the entertainment industry wanted is law enforcement and the courts turning a blind eye? Umm... Wow.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. identicon
    Vincent Clement, 8 Apr 2009 @ 5:56am

    Re: Re: Re:

    If one pays a levy, then it isn't "a free for all". You forget that it was the music industry that wanted the levy.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. identicon
    Steve, 11 Apr 2009 @ 11:40am

    Canada

    They hate us because years ago the industry up here decided that a levy on blank CD/DVD's and MP3 players would be nice. The Supreme court went for it and we were all told that, we cannot make available, but we can download until our balls fall off because the levy is paying the industry.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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.