Video Detailing How US Chamber Of Commerce Deceives The Public In Its Support Of SOPA & PROTECT IP

from the lies,-damned-lies,-and-the-us-chamber-of-commerce dept

Thu, Dec 22nd 2011 11:11am — Mike Masnick

A few weeks ago, we did a step-by-step detailed debunking of the claims by the US Chamber of Commerce's Steve Tepp. He had gone on PBS News Hour to defend the illegal domain name seizures, as well as the plans for SOPA and PROTECT IP. He made claims about how "huge" a problem "rogue sites" are, and quoted some big sounding numbers in a very serious voice. We went through the details for where those numbers came from and discovered (spoilers!) that he was being extremely disingenuous in presenting the numbers. The details actually showed that he was conflating a few different issues, using ridiculously shoddy methodology, and mixing in a few dodgy assumptions on top of that. In fact, the actual numbers suggested the real problem -- that of dangerous counterfeit goods being sold, was a fairly tiny problem.

Techdirt reader Nick Dynice thought that the post would work well as a short documentary, and took it upon himself to use the post as a script to create the following video about how Steve Tepp and the US Chamber of Commerce mislead with statistics in a dishonest way to garner support for the illegal domain seizures, as well as the unconstitutional proposals for SOPA and PROTECT IP. Thanks to Nick for putting this together.

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Filed Under: copyright, domain seizures, misleading, sopa, stats, steve tepp
Companies: us chamber of commerce

36 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:14am

It's so slanted that the video ran off my desktop.

Deception, indeed. WTG Team Techdirt!
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:22am

Re:
That used to happen to me too until I switched to Firefox.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:27am

The Chamber of Commerce is attempting to burn as many bridges with their supporters/ex-supporters as they can. The national group just goes the bidding of one to two dozen giant corporations. The local/state chamber of commerce groups tend to actually represent small businesses and the rest that the national chamber claims to represent.

Some Local Chamber of Commerce groups have been forced in recent years to completely disassociate themselves from the national group, because of a revolt from the small businesses they represent over stuff like environmental issues & the stimulus package. Now the Chamber is burning bridges with all the big tech companies. Who will they burn bridges with next?
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:31am

Re: Sith != this
The shill is strong with this one...
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Anonymous Poster, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:33am

Re:
Bridgemakers?
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:41am

Why bother going through the trouble when you have lots of money?
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anonymous, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:42am

lets face it, the bigger the piece of (bull) shit a person is peddling, the more chance there is of it being believed, especially by those that WANT something believed, simply to champion their cause.
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Cowardly Anon, 22 Dec 2011 @ 11:58am

I think it was a fairly good video, but I feel that Nick could have done a few things to make it more engaging.

First, your voice sounds very restrained and monotone for most of the video. It also sounds like you are reading from a script. It would have been better if your voice sounded more natural and put in some more emotion so that we could tell this is something you care about.

Second, for your key points, add some text to head them off. Right now, it all seems to just mesh together. I think you made some really good points in this video that could have been highlighted so that they stood out more.

Third, when you go to prove your point about Rapid share, don't show the TechDirt and TorrentFreak articles, show the actual news articles that your stories were based off of. Showing your own site when saying something has been proven doesn't give your audience much faith in what you're saying. Especially if those people aren't normally Techdirt readers.

And fourth, citation needed. Have a nice 10sec splash at the end showing where you got your number. Include actual links in the the description of the video as well so that people can go and see for themselves if they wish.
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crade (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 12:23pm

"have been estimated to do at least [blah blah]"
It has also been estimated that pigs fly south for the winter and unicorns can speak. People think "has been estimated" by an unknown random person is something worth mentioning?
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Jay (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 12:39pm

Re:
Hmmm... That sounds like a good business model... Take research points, transform them into youtube presentations, ???, profit!
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 12:41pm

Re:
It only looks slanted because you've got your head permanently cocked to one side which also explains why it ran off your desktop: you leveled you desktop by eye.
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Nick Dynice (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 12:49pm

Re:
So you are saying I don't have a future in voice-overs? ;) Sorry, it was the only voice I had lying around. If anyone has a nice voice and a decent recording setup hit me up and next time I have an idea for one of these I'll let you know.

You can find links to the papers and posts by following the links in the previous posts.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:07pm

Good fact busting however was that a robot speaking. :D
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Mike C. (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:13pm

Re: Re:
It also explains what happened to his intellect... it slipped out his ear with the rest of his brains..

/sorry, had to... it was just so easy.
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Trails (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:14pm

Re:
Indeed, the slanted way he looks at sourced reports, the slanted way he points out logical fallacies. So slanted! Like a bowling alley floor!
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:14pm

Re: Re: Agreed with the constructive criticism but...
Comparing this to the local news program that I watch, this has more detail, is more enlightening, and explains the concepts well enough that my wife would be engaged with the story. (none of those adjectives apply to the cute puppy of the week type stories that end up on the news here)

I for one would pay for a subscription to a weekly roundup of articles -> mini-docs like this.
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Cowardly Anon, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:28pm

Re: Re:
Not what I meant I swear! Near the end of the video your voice became more animated and I could tell that you were angry at the blatant lies that had been told.

But, for the most part, it seemed like you were reading from a script or giving a power point presentation you were nervous about giving. If you make your voice less monotone and more lively, you will gain a wider audience with the video. Public speaking (even if it is with a youtube vid) isn't easy and something that needs to be practiced to get right. :)

As for the links being int he previous posts, I appreciate that. I read techdirt daily and follow all the posts on SOPA and Protect IP. A random person who might be searching youtube to gain some more info on the topic won't have that background knowledge and might not be willing to come to this site to dig around to find your references.

Please don't take my criticism the wrong way. I really did like the vid :)
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Cowardly Anon, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:29pm

Re: Re:
I'm pretty sure that is what news does right now...only not on network television and not on youtube. :)
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Jay (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:30pm

Re: Re:
I'm actually interested in running a series. I have the details laid out, but I don't know enough of the technology used to make this work for what I want. What did you use?
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Cowardly Anon, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:31pm

Re: Re:
This debate has no time for things like facts and logic! They get in the way of doing the right thing damnit!
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Krusty, 22 Dec 2011 @ 2:41pm

Looks good...all 0:36 seconds of it.
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TtfnJohn (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:05pm

Re: Re:
but not counterfeit bridge makers!
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TtfnJohn (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:13pm

Re:
Another hint, speak a bit more slowly or cut back on the words and let the supporting pictures/video to the talking for you. And cut back on the pictures of Tepp. I mean 3/4 closed eyes is almost enough to convict him of lying in and of itself. He doesn't look at the camera or the interviewer and most of us, face to face, would come to the conclusion that this guy isn't to be trusted. That reaction will come very early in the video.

Between what Cowardly Anon suggests and my very few additions many mean another 30-60 seconds, if that, but it's time added that's well worth the end result. For the most part the evidence you present and your editing, so far, are good enough to draw a viewer in,

Great work!
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TtfnJohn (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:16pm

Re:
Pigs fly east in winter so they can enjoy the fine cooking in Beijing and Shanghai all winter long. ;-)

Obviously, given the trolls here, some people do think that "has been estimated" without citation is not only valuable but highly accurate information regardless of what others and the GAO in the US have to say on the same subject.
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TtfnJohn (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:24pm

Re: Re:
I used to read news for a living before I found out I could become wealthier doing real work. Today I use that skill as a lay reader, intercessor and reading the lessons in church. ;-) (Bass-baritone speaking voice by the way.)

Beyond that I'd suggest you need a better microphone not a better studio. You can have the most wonderfully acoustically perfect location in the world but if the mike sucks the sound sucks. ;-)

I've also been known to edit video from time to time, one of the reasons I bought Adobe Creative Suite to start with. NOTE: bought not pirated! (I did test it out first of a so called pirate site to see if it would do what I needed though. You bet I did for the kind of money Adobe wants for it.)
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The eejit (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:45pm

Re: Re: Re:
No, the USCOC is what happens when you have counterfeit bridge-makers!
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Nick Dynice (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:48pm

Re: Re: Re:
Please don't take my criticism the wrong way.

None taken ;) Thanks for the critique.
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Nick Dynice (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 3:51pm

Re: Re: Re:
I am using Pro Tools 10, Mbox 2 Mini, SM58, dbx compressor. Overkill, I know, but I am also a musician and mix engineer in my spare time.
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TheBigH (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 8:08pm

Re:
Your fear and desparation are amusing.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Dec 2011 @ 8:47pm

The second set of facts "debunking" is actually citing the wrong study. Do a little more research...
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Mr Big Content, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:18am

Shame To See Tepp Pilloried Like This
Whatever your opinions about so-called "evidence" and "arguments", the broad thrust of his points still stand, of course: Intellectual Property is so important that, if it were to be somehow abolished (heaven forbid!) the world you live in would instantly disappear in a puff of piracy, and yet it is suffering shameful neglect in the current climate of lawlessness.

So he was off in his numbers by a teentsy-weentsy decimal point or two, here and there. But the detailed sums are not important--only some logic-obsessed, math-manic anal retentive would worry about those. The overall trend is still there, and the outlook for our precious Intellectual Property looks dire unless something is done soon.
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Joseph A., 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:34am

Nearly great
If you plan on doing more in the future, contacting the appropriate organizations press department would make the video excellent.
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Jay (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:44am

Re: Shame To See Tepp Pilloried Like This
So he was off in his numbers by a teentsy-weentsy decimal point or two, here and there.

No, he wasn't off a decimal point. He was off by ten thousandths of a decimal point. Big difference.

But the detailed sums are not important--only some logic-obsessed, math-manic anal retentive would worry about those.

Damn straight. The nerds are doing much better than an inept lobbyist that only knows how to be a slime ball.

The overall trend is still there, and the outlook for our precious Intellectual Property looks dire unless something is done soon

Yeah, pass SOPA. See the US revolt. Something will be done.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 3:16pm

Re:
If you believe so, please indicate which study is correct and which is incorrect.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 7:45pm

Re: Shame To See Tepp Pilloried Like This
Sure something needs to be done. But something needing to be done does not justify anything and everything being acceptable.

SOPA undermines the functionality and security of the internet and places undue burdens on anyone and everyone except the pirates that it is allegedly written to protect. You can't punish everyone because an individual or two (or a thousand for that matter) is breaking the law. This is America, not a first grade classroom.

The stink of entitlement and arrogance is overwhelming. This nation is not built on whatever intellectual property you think you might be entitled to. It is built on a set of principles and checks and balances and I for one would rather see you wiped out completely than offer up a single set of checks and balances that keep this nation stable and free.

Actually since you and others seem so set on acting against the people of this nation and you are so eager to side with traitors like the MPAA and RIAA, I would love to see you out of business period.

Thieves are thieves and traitors are traitors. Guess which group I want taken care of first.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 6:16am

The US Chamber of Commerce is a criminal cartel.
Their entire purpose of existence is to thwart any consumer rights enforcement whatsoever, and to make everything and anything businesses desire to do legal and moral, so long as it benefits them. They are the one percent, and they want to keep the rest of us in the ninety-nine percent permanently, hopefully at the bottom end of the financial spectrum. As George Carlin said, "It's a big club, and you're not in it!"
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