Why Is Vodafone Spreading False Copyright Propaganda?
from the the-lies-we-tell-children dept
We've gotten used to various copyright industries spreading propaganda about copyright to school children. Nearly all the big copyright trade groups have "educational" curricula that are often not even close to accurate. They leave out things like "fair use" and they include blatantly false statements like "if you didn't pay for it, you stole it." Well, we didn't pay for your propaganda, so...Still, it's a bit surprising to see others get into the copyright propaganda campaign as well. The latest, apparently, is telco giant Vodafone. Glyn Moody points us to the news that Vodafone Italy has started a typically inaccurate copyright propaganda campaign that makes false and misleading blanket statements like:
"[Parents and teachers should] explain to students that downloading and sharing a file protected by copyright is a crime"Later on it repeats claims that all downloads without purchase or any download via P2P is illegal. But, of course, that's not true. It may be true in some, even many, cases. But that's not the same thing. If we're going to teach people copyright law, shouldn't it at least be accurate?
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: copyright, propaganda
Companies: vodafone
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
This is your brain
Any questions?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Let us not overlook the obvious
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oh, good.
"Parents and teachers should think what we tell them to think. If your children have any questions, gently remind them that jail is an awful place."
I half-expect to see the NBC shooting star arcing across the television accompanied by the words "The More You're Told."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Vodafone now has a very powerful card on their side, when the industry accuses them of making profits only because of copyright infringers, they can whip out their handy dandy lawyer approved information campaign and say see... we told them... sue them and leave us alone.
The politician will be faced with a public asking why they are picking on poor Vodafone who have gone above and beyond, and well the media industry just can not pay enough nowadays to get them to commit political suicide.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
So when Blizzard releases an update for World of Warcraft using P2P, the people downloading the update are breaking the law?
Of course they are, because the abstract concept of peer-to-peer filesharing is illegal. It's against some law... somewhere... probably... Better start seizing domains and throwing people in jail, just to be on the safe side.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It is not beyond the pale that infringement of copyright could be deemed a crime, though one would have to speak with a copyright in Italy to receive an accurate answer.
Perhaps there is a modicum of logic associated with AFTA if it is able to secure some measure of international uniformity that draws upon many of the concepts underlying US law, and particularly the concepts of fair use and the distinctions between criminal and civil infringement.
Fair Use is an accomodation to the First Amendment, the subject matter in the First Amendment not being entrenched in the laws of many foreign nations, icluding many in Europe.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Waiting for more volunteer-sponsored infomercials
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The 10th circle of hell -- for and by the non-living
USE IT, and go to jail!
-- This message sponsored by non-living limited liability corporate proxies protected Constitutionally in virtually all living ways.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
"Art. 5.2(b): “reproductions on any medium made by a natural person for private use” are allowed as long they are performed by the person herself (without the help of third parties), and as long as the reproduction does not imply the circumvention of effective technological measures. The “fair compensation” for right-holders has been implemented as a bill on devices such as blank CD-ROMs, hard disks, VCR equipment."
which ratehr blows apart your cooment.
Next time do the research first - then make your comment.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rant.
Copytards clearly think that any use of anything is unauthorized and it is a crime, that low bar if adopted stifles not only free speech but culture itself.
Clearly copytards don't think people deserve anything and forget they also are the people and will suffer the consequences of their idiocy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Italy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
A lie...
The corporate machines only care about the bottom line. To those ends, they lie, cheat, steal and trample others rights to bring in more of the (not so almighty) dollar.
Fight back with knowledge.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
My review of several resources discussing 663 did suggest that much more under Italian law is deemed a crime than is the case under US law. It also suggested that the concept of Fair Use under US law is embraced, if at all, on a much more restrictive basis.
I read the provision you focus on, but limiting your comment to one or more specific provisions is hardly a basis to cast aspersions and call a general comment FUD.
Next time I suggest you read an entire statute to get a "feel" for the concepts it embraces before jumping into the fray.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Note from the author of the original article
thanks for your interest in my story. Besides the ones here, I've got lots of comments directly or through other website about this story. Rather than pasting always the same, long answer/explanation, that also includes updates from Vodafone, in many different places, I just put it in Of Vodafone, Copyright, Fair Use and Italy". Thanks for your attention.
Ciao,
M. Fioretti
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]