Broadcasters Ask Brazilian Government To Protect Them From Interesting Foreign Content On The Web

Yahoo Dumps US Chamber Of Commerce Over Its Extremist Position On PROTECT IP

from the join-the-club dept

Thu, Oct 13th 2011 11:50am — Mike Masnick

We've been covering the intellectually dishonest extremist position of the US Chamber of Commerce (once again, a lobbying group, not to be confused with the federal US Department of Commerce) when it comes to the PROTECT IP Act. The US CoC has been creating a variety of astroturf groups, and putting out ridiculous statements and videos trying to shove through PROTECT IP before Congress realizes what a dreadful, job-destroying, innovation-hindering bill it is. There was the video that conflated counterfeit drugs with copyright. Then, my favorite, was the video of four content creators who were "hurt" by infringement -- but when we dug into the stories of all four, none of them checked out.

We honestly couldn't understand the US CoC's extremist position on this particular topic. Sure, the entertainment industry legacy players are members of the US CoC, but so are plenty of big tech companies that would be hurt by PROTECT IP. Of course, that may be changing. The news came out this morning that Yahoo has quietly left the US Chamber of Commerce over its extremist position on PROTECT IP, and it appears that others are thinking of following suit. At the same time, the US CoC's other major extremist position, concerning fighting against anything that results in reduced greenhouse emissions, has already made Apple leave the US CoC, along with a few other companies as well. At the same time, many various local Chambers of Commerce -- who often do help small businesses -- are disassociating themselves from the US Chamber of Commerce.

As this kind of thing continues, our elected officials are going to finally begin recognizing that the US CoC is an extremist organization that clearly does not represent the business interests of today's innovators and job creators -- but instead represents a few increasingly obsolete legacy organization whose unwillingness to adapt leads them to demand dangerous protectionist policies.

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Filed Under: copyright, extremism, lobbying, protect ip
Companies: apple, us chamber of commerce, yahoo

42 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 11:55am

" Yahoo has quietly left the US Chamber of Commerce over its extremist position on PROTECT IP"

Do you know this as a fact, or is it only opinion? The story says it the one area they don't agree, but without statements from either party, it would appear to be only an opinion or an assumption, not a fact.
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fogbugzd (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 11:57am

I would love to see the companies that leave the CoC join up to form a new organization that tries to create a favorable climate for forward-thinking and job-creating industries.

Of course, in thirty years we would probably be writing articles about how the F-TJ-C is just about protecting legacy industries, but at least they would have a decade or two of productive work before that happened.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:03pm

Re:
Yes, yes, we know you don't like to read and only come here to comment blah, blah, blah...
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Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:07pm

Re:
From the link in the article...

SPLITSVILLE FOR YAHOO, U.S. CHAMBER � Yahoo has quietly left the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, MT has learned. For Yahoo�s part, a spokeswoman would only say to MT that the company �has memberships with numerous trade associations and belongs to a number of organizations that promote a free and fair marketplace which enable Yahoo! to innovate on behalf of our more than 700 million users. As our membership renewal time neared and we reviewed our membership, we decided not to renew."

As the gentleman above me pointed out... Reading is Fundamental.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:08pm

Re: Re:
No, I'm a lady actually. But thanks anyway :)
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Mr. LemurBoy (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:22pm

Lobby groups feel the same to me as home owner associations... there's gotta be a few good ones out there, that help people out, but I'll be danged if the ones that make the news don't just leave a bad taste in my mouth.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:23pm

Re: Re: Re:
Dear lord, there are WOMEN here!!?? In that case, I apologize for nearly every comment and/or story I've ever posted....

;)
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:23pm

Re: _Notably_
Note to self: Do not taste lobby groups or home owner associates; they taste bad.

Thanx!
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

:Lobo Santo (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:25pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:28pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
And now I remember why I hate to read comments.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:29pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
What a coincidence! Me too!
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:31pm

Re: Re:
All that and it still didn't say why they left CoC.

You guys (and girls) are reading things into it that they did not explicitly say.
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out_of_the_blue, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:49pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"Lobo Santo": "There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site."
WOW. That's a massively stupid needless comment. You guys must actually be /trying/ to drive women off the site. You get my vote for most senseless sexist jerk of the quarter.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:50pm

"As this kind of thing continues, our elected officials are going to finally begin recognizing that the US CoC is an extremist organization that clearly does not represent the business interests of today's innovators and job creators"

Once the innovators and job creators are gone then the RIAA, MPAA and Authors Guild of this world get another lobby group.

Made of those grassroot organisations that the elected officials already listen to.

Are we sure they're going to notice?
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Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:52pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"Lobo Santo": "There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site."
Yeah, I'm all for crude humor, but that probably wasn't the best choice of jokes. Oh well, down the hatch....
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hothmonster, 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:53pm

Re: Re: Re:
"Yahoo didn�t elaborate any further, and the Chamber said it does not comment on membership changes. But we know one thing for sure: The two didn�t see eye to eye on at least one issue. That�s the PROTECT IP Act, which the Chamber strongly supports and Yahoo greatly opposes. We�re following."

it seems to be the general consensus. Especially considering Yahoo has been very vocal in opposing protectIP (do your own damn google search). So, we know Yahoo dislikes protectip and coc is pushing for protectip. Then yahoo leaves COC(k) and says its because they only participate in groups that promote a free and fair marketplace and innovation. That is pretty explicit.
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Richard (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:54pm

Re: Re: Re:
You guys (and girls) are reading things into it that they did not explicitly say.

Ahem further down the link - if you bother to read.

"Yahoo didn�t elaborate any further, and the Chamber said it does not comment on membership changes. But we know one thing for sure: The two didn�t see eye to eye on at least one issue. That�s the PROTECT IP Act, which the Chamber strongly supports and Yahoo greatly opposes. "

Now it's not an explicit causal connection but - put together with the comment above that "the company �has memberships with numerous trade associations and belongs to a number of organizations that promote a free and fair marketplace which enable Yahoo! to innovate ""

It does not require a brain the size of a planet to deduce why they are leaving.
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aguywhoneedstenbucks (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 12:59pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"Lobo Santo": "There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site."
Dammit! I don't want to agree!

At least I haven't seen a "There's no womenz on teh interblags!1!!" yet.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:03pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"Lobo Santo": "There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site."
There's no womenz on teh interblags!1!!

hope you are happy now :)
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The eejit (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:14pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Forgive our dear :Lobo, he doesn't get out much. He's too busy scaring the trolls away.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:17pm

Congress and PROTECT IP, DHS and domain name seizures, VeriSign and its proposed domain suspension policies... Why are so many different entities working toward basically the same goal? Something is missing in this equation.

Is there any way to fight it, other than complaining?
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:24pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
lol, I'm not mad at Lobo or anyone here. I'm not new to the internet you know.
I laugh at jokes aimed at men all the time on reddit.
I'm just tired of the same comments when I mention my gender, so I rarely do.
Despite the myth, girls are on teh interwebs. We just pretend not to be.
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RD, 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:33pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Despite the myth, girls are on teh interwebs. We just pretend not to be."

This is true. I know several women (real ones, not the other 98% who are really guys pretending to be women) who essentially have to lurk on forums and chat rooms or be bombarded by the lunkheads that make up most of the interwebs. The needle has not moved much from "a/s/l?" of about 15 years ago, unfortunately.
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Rich (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:38pm

Re:
Step 1: Become a multi-millionaire
Step 2: "Dontate" to PACs
Setp 3: Wait
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
...
thank you
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Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:44pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Oh, the a/s/l days. "You've got mail!"
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Mike42 (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 1:53pm

Fixed
Step 1: Become a multi-trillionare
Step 2: "Dontate" to PACs
Setp 3: Wait

Inflation, dude. Yer still trippin' in the '60s.
You got a lot of multi-billionare's to outbid.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 2:09pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Richard, (and hothmaster) you are making a minor mistake here. Yes, "conventional wisdom" might suggest this is the case, but there is nothing from Yahoo or CoC saying this is directly true. The part quoted is the writer's OPINION.

You have to be careful here, you are falling for the conclusion that is drawn and treating it as fact, when the "fact" has not been established.

Yes, it's a logical conclusion, but it isn't a fact.

Perhaps they are leaving because the fees are too high, or they are paring back their memberships, etc. We don't have all the facts, do we?
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hothmonster, 13 Oct 2011 @ 2:19pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
this is an opinion blog not journalism, so unless it says FACT: you can assume its not. Even then its would be best to double check yourself. Having read the source material I came to the same conclusion myself. While you propose legitimate reasons for them to leave the agency they are not reasons I would infer from their statement.

They were asked very directly why they left, if it wasn't for political reasons, something like fees, I would imagine they would come right out and say that. However they gave this indirect but pointed response. Until I have a reason to believe otherwise I am going to stick with what I believe to be the most likely and logical meaning they hid between the lines.

But semantically you are correct, they have not confirmed this as the reason, it is not a fact. Just the highly probable and likely meaning they veiled in that statement.
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Richard (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 2:48pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, it's a logical conclusion, but it isn't a fact.

If you insist on that level of confirmation before you beleive anything I guess you must be a solipsist!
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Digitari, 13 Oct 2011 @ 3:08pm

Finally someone linked to my wiki entry, Thanks :)
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Aaron, 13 Oct 2011 @ 3:52pm

Re: Re:
actually im inclined to agree with anonymous coward. as much as i want this to be true, i don't see in facts, or links to a site or post. and understandably the writer said quietly, but still. i can quietly shoot my boss doesn't mean it really happened.
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Aaron, 13 Oct 2011 @ 3:54pm

i apologize, i take back my comment, i didn't bother to notice the hyperlinks :-P
although i would like to see something from yahoo.com. as opposed to anywhere else...
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Lao Zee Phuk, 13 Oct 2011 @ 5:13pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
There's no way it's really a female human; Unless she's killing time on techdirt between 'private shows' on her webcam site.

Well, us male humans here are mostly killing time between web enabled polishing sessions of the one-eyed gopher. Sometimes one needs a break to reload, that's when techdirt comes in handy (no pun intended).
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Moron In A Hurry, 13 Oct 2011 @ 5:43pm

"the US Chamber of Commerce (once again, a lobbying group, not to be confused with the federal US Department of Commerce) "

Ya know ... when I'm in a hurry, I really do not read every word - I just skim over them.

Why are these charlatans allowed to continue with their charade?
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 6:33pm

Re:
It's the templars. Don't you see? They control all the (big) corporations and the governments. They will deprive us all of our rights, and eventually, our free will.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Oct 2011 @ 9:07pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
All the logical conclusions in the world say that is why they left, but it isn't a fact, it's still an opinion.

I make a point of it only because while in this case it is narrow, it is a common problem. "near facts" presented as facts tend to cloud many discussions here.
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The eejit (profile), 13 Oct 2011 @ 10:09pm

Re:
Because they give big moolah tot he government to avoid taxes. Um, yeah, i got nothin'.
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Karl (profile), 14 Oct 2011 @ 7:44am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"near facts" presented as facts tend to cloud many discussions here.

It is an opinion from the original source, not Mike.

And that source is hardly alone in thinking this:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/Yahoo-Quits-US-Chamber-of-Commerce-209457-1.html

There are lots of other sources who are also saying this (Daily Kos, ThinkProgress.org, etc) but they mostly link to either the Rollcall story, or the Politico story.
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BearGriz72 (profile), 14 Oct 2011 @ 10:01am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
/facepalm
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Bob, 14 Oct 2011 @ 12:19pm

Yahoo!
Right, because Yahoo!, being the tech leader it is, made huge waves "quietly" leaving the CoC.
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rxrightsadvocate, 14 Oct 2011 @ 1:31pm

PROTECT IP will shut down legit online pharmacies
I'm glad to see that Yahoo and other businesses and organizations are distancing themselves from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The PROTECT IP Act would not only hinder innovation, it would also take away Americans� access to legitimate international online pharmacies (and thus, affordable medicine).

PROTECT IP's definition of what constitutes a rogue site is far too broad. It doesn't distinguish between the �good guys�--the licensed, legitimate pharmacies that require a doctor�s prescription--and the �bad guys� who sell everything from diluted or counterfeit medicine to narcotics without a prescription.

International online pharmacies sell brand-name prescription drugs for roughly 50 to 80 percent less than U.S. prices. Americans can't afford to lose access to this virtual lifeline.

RxRights is a national coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting and protecting American consumer access to sources of safe, affordable prescription drugs. The Coalition is encouraging consumers to send letters regarding PROTECT IP's threat to affordable medicine to Capitol Hill and the White House. For more information or to voice your concern, visit www.RxRights.org.
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