Biden Convenes 'Piracy Summit' That Appears To Be Entirely One-Sided

from the of-course dept

Vice President Joe Biden has long been known to be a supporter of Hollywood when it comes to making copyright laws more draconian (and, not surprisingly, Hollywood has been a strong monetary supporter of Biden campaigns). He doesn't even try to hide that he's willing to do Hollywood's bidding on copyright law. And, I don't believe I've ever heard Biden ever publicly recognize concepts like fair use or the rights of individuals. Unfortunately, it looks like the Obama White House has given Biden control over IP issues, which is why a bunch of former "anti-piracy" lawyers -- including a former Biden staffer -- are now in the Justice Department. So, I guess it should come as no surprise that Biden is convening a "piracy summit" at the White House (via Michael Geist) and the guest list appears to be entirely one-sided:
Among those expected are Sony's Michael Lynton, Warner Bros.' Barry Meyer, Viacom's Philippe Dauman, NBC Universal's Jeffrey Zucker, Warner Music Group's Edgar Bronfman, Harper Collins CEO Brian Murray, Universal Music Group's Zachary Horowitz, the MPAA's Dan Glickman, the RIAA's Mitch Bainwol, IATSE's international president Matthew Leob, AFTRA'S Kim Roberts Hedgepeth, DGA president Taylor Hackford, DGA exec director Jay Roth and SAG's David White.
Notice that there aren't any consumer rights representatives. No one from technology companies. No one representing a viewpoint from outside of these industries of how they might be abusing claims of "piracy" to prop up obsolete business models. Instead, it's just the echo chamber. The same folks who have been misleading politicians for ages. And, of course, whenever you get a summit like this, expect some sort of misguided "action" to follow. Update: Public Knowledge has put out a statement, noting how one-sided this gathering is, and questioning why politicians are attending what appears to be an industry gathering on how to prop up a business model. Update 2: In the press release (pdf) about this, Biden's office has the gall to claim this "will bring together all of the stakeholders." Ha! It's 100% entertainment industry interests. No tech. No consumer advocates. No ISPs. This is a complete joke. Update 3: This just gets more and more ridiculous. Reporter Ryan Reilly was covering the "summit," posting the seating chart and quoting Biden as saying that "piracy" is "flat unadulterated theft" but it looks like Reilly has now been kicked out of the summit. Openness and transparency apparently doesn't apply when it involves propping up one small industry's obsolete business model.
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Filed Under: copyright, entertainment industry, joseph biden, piracy, summit


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  • icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 11:17am

    misguided actions ....

    "expect some sort of misguided "action" to follow."

    hmmm .... wondering what it could be .... here are some of my guesses ...

    -Searching peoples iPods and cell phones at airports
    -Educating our children on the horrors of piracy in school
    -Criminal penalties for copyright infringement (jail time)
    -Criminalizing P2P software
    -A Federal Fee added to your cable bill
    -Forcing ISP's to police their networks looking for piracy, with little or no compensation from the Labels for this service
    -Implementation of a Three Strikes Policy
    -A government bailout of the industry
    -An increase in the size of Joe Bidens presidential election fund
    -Further Violations of the Constitution

    That sounds alot like ACTA

    Anyone have any others???

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:00pm

      Re: misguided actions ....

      That sounds alot like ACTA

      Anyone have any others???


      secret tribunals to try accused pirates without all that commie 5th amendment BS.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:24pm

        Re: Re: misguided actions ....

        If you're not a communist then you have nothing to hide. Papers, please, licensing papers, please. Do you have the proper licensing papers? This is a recording-free zone. Licensing papers, please.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 6:19am

      Re: misguided actions ....

      Thinking about this on the drive home last night the realization struck me, this meeting was more than likely about keeping ACTA "Secret" and a "State secret" and not about new laws in the US. To open ACTA up to public scrutiny would in effect be its demise. This meeting is the counter push to the EFF's and Public Knowledge's suit to open up the ACTA negotiations, the public's outcry, and to Consumer Groups wanting to halt the negotiations.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Hephaestus's Ugly Rug, 16 Dec 2009 @ 6:41am

      Re: misguided actions ....

      It's a nice list, but totally out there. Almost every one of the items you list would violate privacy rights.

      HOWEVER...

      the airports: if you are coming through customs, everything you bring through is subject to inspection, including inspections for smuggled or illegal content on your computer and other electronic devices. This is not new.

      I think there is a very strong potential that laws will be passed for "grand theft of IP" or something similar, where an individual in possession of a significant amount of pirated material would be subject not only to civil penalties (lawsuits) but criminal actions (essentially making "infringing" into theft, as it should be).

      You cannot criminalize P2P software, as it does have legitimate uses. However, I could see moves made to again criminalize operating a tracker for illegal materials, or operating a "pirate" site. Essentially, I could see ignoring DMCAs (ala pirate bay) turned into a criminal offense, not just a civil concept.

      I think in many ways this war is already being won. In Sweden, the IPRED laws and similar have made a major shift in how people are getting their music and such, and I could see other countries following down the same lines. I think that the grand time of internet anonymity is quickly coming to a close. I wouldn't be shocked to see ISPs required to keep much more accurate records of who is on which IP at what time, and perhaps a fast track for indentifying users from the IP address. IPv6 is likely to be a big government push in the next little while, and ISPs would likely be the first ones forced into action.

      You want net neutrality? Fine - but that would include not being able to hide.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        chris (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 7:57am

        Re: Re: misguided actions ....

        I think in many ways this war is already being won. In Sweden, the IPRED laws and similar have made a major shift in how people are getting their music and such, and I could see other countries following down the same lines.

        all IPRED in sweden did was create a market for anonymous VPN services. you thought selling ads on a tracker raked in the bucks? think about how much money could be made for selling subscription services for $15 a month.

        that's a strange definition of victory: not stopping piracy, AND making your enemies richer by creating a market for new services.

        the pirate bay is still up and still serving up torrents AND has paying subscribers to its IPREDator beta. great job guys! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 10:22am

        Re: Re: misguided actions ....

        "It's a nice list, but totally out there. Almost every one of the items you list would violate privacy rights."

        The only one that violates privacy rights is "-Forcing ISP's to police their networks looking for piracy, with little or no compensation from the Labels for this service". The searching digital devices at airports was implemented on the grounds that it would help prevent terrorism, not to search for infringing content. When that rule-laws creation had input from the media industry everyone knew what it was actually for.

        "I think there is a very strong potential that laws will be passed for "grand theft of IP" or something similar, where an individual in possession of a significant amount of pirated material would be subject not only to civil penalties (lawsuits) but criminal actions (essentially making "infringing" into theft, as it should be)."

        Here are the problems and questions with any "grand theft IP" law. What do you consider illegal content? Is it a format shifted content that someone legally purchased, after all we do have the ability to make copies of CD's, DVD's, and Blu Ray's. Is it a video the someone DVR'd off the TV and then moved to a moble device? Is it a computer full of DVR'd TV shows? What about digitally recording the radio and putting that to your iPod, computer, or mobile device? Each and every digital copy in each of these cases would have its own unique CRC checksum as even a one bit difference changes the checksum.

        Where does the burden of proof lie? with the content owner who would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the content is pirated. Or does the person being accused need to prove a negative? Accusation: this content is Illegal, Prove to me its not or I will arrest you. In this case proving a negative is Impossible the person will always be arrested.

        "You cannot criminalize P2P software" On that I do agree with you, there are legitimate uses.

        "I could see moves made to again criminalize operating a tracker for illegal materials, or operating a "pirate" site. Essentially, I could see ignoring DMCAs (ala pirate bay) turned into a criminal offense, not just a civil concept."

        I can already tell you that it just doesn’t matter that it’s made illegal. As Mike Masnick has pointed out it’s a game of whak-a-mole. Pirate bay has pretty much shut down it operations because of Bit torrents DHT protocol which is a decentralized tracking system.

        "I think in many ways this war is already being won. In Sweden, the IPRED laws and similar have made a major shift in how people are getting their music and such, and I could see other countries following down the same lines."

        The shift in music being consumed differently was due mainly to more spending on advertising rather than a shift from pirated music to purchased. "The law certainly seems to be having one effect, albeit not one that helps its aims: demand for anonym zing proxy services, which mask the IP address of users, is reportedly heavily increased this week with some providers struggling to cope."

        More reference material for you read the "undetectable" section

        "I think that the grand time of internet anonymity is quickly coming to a close. I wouldn't be shocked to see ISPs required to keep much more accurate records of who is on which IP at what time, and perhaps a fast track for indentifying users from the IP address. IPv6 is likely to be a big government push in the next little while, and ISPs would likely be the first ones forced into action."

        This is why people are developing software for anonymity that uses IP forwarding, encryption, proxy servers, and VPN, this "meta" internet will make tracking people almost impossible.

        "You want net neutrality? Fine - but that would include not being able to hide."

        See the above response ..... because it make the net neutrality rules all but obsolete. If your service provider can’t tell what you are transferring data wise because it’s all encrypted then throttling of a specific protocol is impossible.

        "Hephaestus's Ugly Rug" - You should read this techdirt article.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 10:24am

          Re: Re: Re: misguided actions ....

          Sorry about the length ..... his name should have been ...

          "Live From Under a Bridge"

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Another AC, 15 Dec 2009 @ 11:24am

    Pure Corruption

    This is simply our political landscape, he who has the gold makes the rules.

    This is the change we voted for.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      deadzone (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 11:54am

      Re: Pure Corruption

      I feel sorry for you - under the mistaken notion that our Government still works for us and in our best interests.

      Corporate interests is what directs our Government now and it's what dictates policy.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Krusty, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:01pm

      Re: Pure Corruption

      WE?
      You have a mouse in your pocket?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        AC, 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:05pm

        Re: Re: Pure Corruption

        Yeah, he alone got the current administration into office... with a mouse.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    fogbugzd (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 11:52am

    Blind to consumers at their own peril

    The media companies should have learned from how Kodak changed from a film company to a picture company. It is really too bad the record companies have tried to stay record companies and fought to avoid becoming music companies.

    Media companies have been blind to consumer desires for a long time. The industry has been fighting basic economics for decades and winning. They have been able to do it because they have controlled the legal system and the distribution system. That type of regime can only be propped up artificially. Eventually, attempting to hold back economic forces always fails. The Internet and home computers create many more chinks than the industry. This generation's music habits are different than their parents, and I don't think the industry has even noticed because they are trying so hard to cling to the past.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hephaestus (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:26pm

      Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

      "have been able to do it because they have controlled the legal system and the distribution system."

      "Eventually, attempting to hold back economic forces always fails."

      You are correct about that, they will fail, the damage they inflict to our civil liberties, privacy, and society is what frightens me. We have politically connected corporations that are on the verge of failing, the laws they lobby for in a desperate attempt to fight the tide are going to be detrimental to society as a whole. These new laws and regulations will most certainly cost consumers and tax payers many multiples of what the record labels stand to loose.

      I really have to do something about this ...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        chris (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:09pm

        Re: Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

        We have politically connected corporations that are on the verge of failing, the laws they lobby for in a desperate attempt to fight the tide are going to be detrimental to society as a whole. These new laws and regulations will most certainly cost consumers and tax payers many multiples of what the record labels stand to loose.

        the point to emphasize is that these laws will continue past the death of the industries they were enacted to protect.

        hollywood profits are not eternal, our civil liberties should be.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 6:57am

          Re: Re: Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

          "the point to emphasize is that these laws will continue past the death of the industries they were enacted to protect."

          Why should we worry about that it’s just a new tool for government to use for surveillance, oppression, and control. We know how the government always looks out best interests. After all its all for our own good and our childrens safety.

          / sarcasm

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            chris (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 7:12am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

            Why should we worry about that it’s just a new tool for government to use for surveillance, oppression, and control. We know how the government always looks out best interests.

            i hate the police state as much as any good anarchist, in this case, we probably shouldn't attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

            i don't think that any individual deliberately intends to create a police state or a nanny state, but those same individuals are easily bribed into making decisions that are not well thought out from a constitutional standpoint.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 7:40am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

              "i don't think that any individual deliberately intends to create a police state or a nanny state, but those same individuals are easily bribed into making decisions that are not well thought out from a constitutional standpoint."

              IMHO, you are right ... There will be no great leader pushing for a 1984 type police state. There will be a slow steady level of greed, laws created in panic, and stupidity that lead to the erosion of civil liberties. With small changes over time, people grow accustomed to the way things work and dont notice how bad things have become. Thats the way to a police state ....

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Hephaestus (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 7:29am

          Re: Re: Re: Blind to consumers at their own peril

          "the point to emphasize is that these laws will continue past the death of the industries they were enacted to protect."

          I always talk about unintended consequences, and that’s the really big one. Once laws are put in place they are extremely difficult to get removed. The laws in the US build on the previous Laws, they are extended, reinterpreted, and used for things they were never designed for. If you push this out to the most extreme and most oppressive level it could lead to the banning of books deemed hazardous to society, censorship based on the current political parties agenda, corporations using it to suppress unwanted criticism. Most of this has already been seen in limited ways as a result of the DMCA.

          Now let’s add some new things into the mix. The removal of due process, if you are "ACCUSED" a crime, not found guilty you can have penalties accessed against you. Criminal instead of civil penalties, forget the fines, you go to jail for having $80,000 (one un-licensed song) on your iPod. Having all your communications monitored, with the ISP's doing deep packet inspection on behalf of the entertainment industry. Of course the deep packet inspection and monitoring will be abused by the government with how lax law enforcement oversight has become.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DaveMD, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:09pm

    Why invite the 'pirates'?

    As has been said before, the whole notion of digital media sharing as 'privacy' is flawed. I mean, why WOULD you invite the 'pirates'?

    A better term really is 'digital rights management,' but recognizing that under the law citizens, not just media companies, have rights. And like it or not, the internet and digitization has crumbled outdated distribution models. However, if this same brain trust was willing to listen, they'd be able understand the myriad of ways technology has opened up new markets and possibilities.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Lobo Santo's Ugly :, 15 Dec 2009 @ 7:45pm

      Re: Why invite the 'pirates'?

      For the most past, aside for some very narrow "fair use" rights, the rights that you have to music, movies, and other entertainment are the rights they grant you, not anything else. To imply you have rights over someone else's product is just wrong.

      It's still back to 'rights', and you aren't the one to dictate the terms.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 11:56pm

        Re: Re: Why invite the 'pirates'?

        Let me educate you on something. When I purchase something, it's fucking MINE. NO ONE is going to tell me what I can and cannot do with it. I don't purchase 'rights' when I purchase a physical good. You don't like it? DON'T SELL IT YOU STUPID TWAT!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Yano (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:19pm

    we all heard about the shitstorm in the UK after Mandelson convened with a media company personality, now multiply that by the number of studio representatives attending this meeting.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Yano (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:21pm

    oh and btw how does that fit with this administration's push for net neutrality?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:24pm

    Two words; 'pirate party'

    If you/we want to have any influence at all, you/we have GOT to get some asses into seats in the government.

    Except that with New Zealand's pirate party having a grand total of four members after a month (me, two friends and some other ) I am starting to think that most of the population are a bunch of apathetic who deserve everything coming to them.

    You don't agree with me? Have YOU done anything other than bitch and moan on techdirt?

    And no, bitching and moaning on twitter doesn't really count either.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      nasch (profile), 16 Dec 2009 @ 8:29am

      Re:

      That's almost impossible in the US with our two-party system. You have to get a plurality of people in one district or state to vote for the third party candidate there. Getting 5% of the votes nationwide does nothing.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Bob, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:27pm

    Hummmmm

    Nothing in the Administration has been open, above board, honest or anything but one sided. Why would anyone expect more than a one sided debate in this so called summit?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Frantz, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:31pm

    My view on what Hephaestus says

    -Searching peoples iPods and cell phones at airports
    --Possibly, broad powers at airports
    -Educating our children on the horrors of piracy in school
    --Could do that
    -Criminal penalties for copyright infringement (jail time)
    --Possibly (would prompt outcry, I imagine)
    -Criminalizing P2P software
    --Very unlikely, it would fall under free speech, might take the form of reverse engineering
    -A Federal Fee added to your cable bill
    --Possibly, maybe likely?
    -Forcing ISP's to police their networks looking for piracy, with little or no compensation from the Labels for this service
    --Maybe
    -Implementation of a Three Strikes Policy
    --Unlikely... outcry, also could run into rights issues
    -A government bailout of the industry
    --Maybe
    -An increase in the size of Joe Bidens presidential election fund
    --Definitely :)
    -Further Violations of the Constitution
    --No... because the constitution has fewer protections than most people pretend... and everyone pretends that the constitution is on their side. Most things are decided by law and allowed by the constitution. We should learn to deal with it not being unconstitutional.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:36pm

    "There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country
    the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out
    of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts
    are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future,
    even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest.
    This strange doctrine is not supported by statute nor common law.
    Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court
    and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back."
    o Life Line, 1939 - Robert Heinlein

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    interval, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:47pm

    In hind site it should really come as no surprise that denial of free speech wasn't the kicker when it came to curtailing those pesky "constitutional rights" like trial in front of peers, free speech, political affiliation, etc, no, that would be too obvious. It was media piracy and copyright law that was the lynch pin in turning the West into a right and proper tool for the Corporations.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    The baker, 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:17pm

    The rise and fall of ...

    Great civilizations rise and fall throughout history. Some for political reasons, some for environmental reasons some for greed and envy. Will history recognize big corporations like AEG, EXXON, GE, Goldman Scahs ... and companies like Sony, EMI, Disney, Columbia, universal and their mercenaries the RIAA and MPAA were the barbarians at the border who eventually brought down our civilization and enslaved the population?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:29pm

    Frightening concept

    It has to be one of the most frightening concepts to the US industrial governmental complex. The concept that the consumer has the right to choose. The right to choose what to buy and when to buy ... or even to buy at all.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    btr1701 (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 1:55pm

    Oh, the irony...

    > This just gets more and more ridiculous. Reporter Ryan Reilly
    > was covering the "summit," posting the seating chart and
    > quoting Biden as saying that "piracy" is "flat unadulterated theft"

    Behold the irony, considering Biden had to drop out of a previous presidential campaign because of a huge controversy when he got caught plagiarizing other peoples' speeches.

    I guess like most politicians, it's only "flat unadulterated theft" when someone else does it. When he does it, it's okay.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lee, 15 Dec 2009 @ 2:09pm

    hmmm

    hmmm... Taking note.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lee, 15 Dec 2009 @ 2:21pm

    Though Entertainment Mass Media is a Commerce Product...

    There is a major difference between issues of theft and counterfeit in the commerce sector versus legitimate use in an educational and personal (non-economic) environment.

    YOU STILL FAIL TO MAKE CLEAR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE CONSTRAINTS, CHOOSING TO SUPPORT ORGANIZED CRIME OVER THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLDS' POPULATION.

    I strongly suggest you fix your policy and approach immediately, this is not the first time I've had to call you directly.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      CastorTroy-Libertarian, 15 Dec 2009 @ 2:33pm

      Re: Though Entertainment Mass Media is a Commerce Product...

      LOL - Enough said..
      though good use of CAP's Lock...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 4:39pm

      Re: Though Entertainment Mass Media is a Commerce Product...

      I've said this the last time you've trolled your line but I'll re copy and paste it again.

      If given the chance to vote on the subject I bet the majority of the population would eliminate intellectual property altogether. The biggest reason intellectual property exists is to serve the rich and the powerful and to enable them to exploit the public.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    fred specktor (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 4:53pm

    Biden is doing the right thing ....Piracy has to be shut down.....period

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Dec 2009 @ 4:57pm

      Re:

      Yes, because we all know that intellectual property is more important than our civil liberties and rights and it's more important than our freedom and than the benefit of society. Who cares about all the harm it causes society, who cares about the fact that our intellectual property laws are ridiculously one sided, who cares about the fact that no one owes anyone a monopoly, who cares about all the innovation that intellectual property hinders, intellectual property allows the rich the exploit the public and that's all that matters.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 15 Dec 2009 @ 5:05pm

      Re:

      Biden is doing the right thing ....Piracy has to be shut down.....period

      Two questions, that I would appreciate serious answers to:

      1. Why?

      2. How?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    TFP, 16 Dec 2009 @ 2:53am

    Slavery

    Civilisation rises, the masses are enslaved to the few, the masses rebel, rights are reinstated, rights are eroded: Rinse and repeat until boredom sets in.

    Stupid human race.

    We should be colonising Mars now, but actually we're watching X Factor celebrity, get me out of here faux reality shows and pirating a remix of a song / film / idea that was probably original 1000 years ago.

    When a child is allowed to shoot someone in the head thru' a computer game, but is not allowed to see the beauty of a naked human body, it tells me there is something intrinsically wrong with the human race.

    What has this to do with copyright, mafiaa and ip? everything.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Bob, 16 Dec 2009 @ 11:40am

    This isn't the "hope & change" we asked for. :(

    Yeah, this is the "hope & change" that people voted for. I was so disappointed when I saw supposedly pro-rights/pro-fair use Democrats lining up to vote for Obama, knowing full on that his VP has consistantly received an "F" from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and dozens of other tech groups. Then when Obama was elected, it took him mere days to stack the DOJ with ex-RIAA lawyers.

    Hollywood has been pouring tons of money into the D party, and the obvious bias is more present now than ever.
    That was one thing about the Bush Administration - they didn't seem all that concerned about Hollywood.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    edward mckay, 20 Dec 2009 @ 6:14pm

    downloading 'illegal' movies

    This is more of a question than a comment. If the movie industry has hired a company to put false 'movies' online with the same name as the movie that others want, is it illegal to want to download those 'movies' that that third party company is putting out? and how can we be sure that is the correct 'movie' until we download it?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jose_X (profile), 1 Jan 2010 @ 6:00am

    It's up to us

    When more people (eg, artists) start leveraging open licenses and learn the joys of experiencing and being a part of what can be created when you work in concert with others, then we will be creating such a high volume of interesting material that we will be using these draconian laws against these very companies as they try to "leech" of us and "pirate" us and "steal" from us etc etc etc. We already know that they employ a double standard when it suits them.

    It doesn't take a super person to create something interesting. With modest determination and collaboration much can be achieved even with modest "talent".

    The industry still has the ability to tap into expensive productions and marketing, but the little person is getting close because of the low costs of the Internet, of free open source software, and of sophisticated cheaper hardware.

    It's also important that people creating also include the source material to the works and not just the finished product. This way value can be added throughout the various parts of the production by different contributors with different talents.. and so that the secrets get spread faster.

    People, if you don't want to share your secrets with the public (the "public" will include like-minded peers you never knew existed), then you won't learn the benefits of leverage.

    In short, to humble the large industry players down, we need to create more things through inexpensive tools and through collaboration and through share-alike licenses (see Creative Commons share-alike licenses and GPL license). Also, we should try to rely 100% on legally licensed material in order to really gain the leverage we want. Today, people adding value frequently are starting off with material already copyrighted and owned by these titans.

    Also, the open source software movement will have to reach out because most artists don't know how to create their own tools and many (inexpensive) tools today are digital tools that can or have been created using open source and would be /are available for $0.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Concerned person, 28 Jan 2011 @ 7:24pm

    Police state

    These days are truely terrifying, we must join together and stop this tyranic state from occuring. Find out more about the police state at infowars.com. Take action, tell your neighbors even the ones you don't like, tell everyone, this needs to be heard. We need to act now before it is too late!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    ronnieguardian (profile), 26 Jul 2018 @ 11:25pm

    I really liked it

    I really liked this article "Biden Convenes 'Piracy Summit' That Appears To Be Entirely One-Sided"

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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