ICE Propaganda Film Pats Itself On The Back For Censoring The Web; Promises Much More To Come

from the walk-and-talk-john dept

Homeland Security's ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) group has put out a slickly produced video patting itself on the back for all of its work censoring the web in 2011, and promising much more of that kind of thing in the future:
It stars ICE Director John Morton, reprising his usual ridiculous refrain in which he conflates actual counterfeit goods with copyright infringement. But this time, he shows off his ability to stroll quickly through a warehouse while doing a walk-and-talk. I have to admit that it feels like a parody video most of the time. He kicks it off with a claim that he's explaining how to "steal an American job." Then he claims, "here's how to save an American job: IPR enforcement!"

He's wrong. First of all, the "job loss" from counterfeits is totally and completely exaggerated. As has been shown by multiple studies, most people buying counterfeits (hell, and downloading infringing works) wouldn't have bought the real thing instead. They know they're buying a fake good. So no "job" is lost there. And, as the government's own GAO noted last year, the idea that this all leads to lost jobs simply isn't supported by the data.

Second, enforcement does not "save jobs." It does put massive burdens on legitimate sites. Something Morton should know about since he's been taking down legitimate American sites with no legal basis for quite some time.

But before we get to that, he shows off some counterfeit products. There's a handbag, some fake drugs (they always have to show the fake drugs, despite it being a tiny issue, but they have to show some sort of "danger"). And then there's a video game mod chip. He says it "allows you to hack into video games and steal the game for free. That's illegal. That's IP theft." Of course, it's debatable if mod-chips are really illegal. They have substantial non-infringing purposes other than "hacking into video games to steal them for free" (do people steal stuff not for free?). But, you know, that's ICE under John Morton: declaring it illegal for you to modify products you legally purchased, like your gaming console. Thanks, US government!

Then we get to website censorship. And boy is he proud of that. You can see him gleaming as he says that ICE has "done a phenomenal job" and "every time they make a bust, every time they make an arrest, an American job is saved."

So, I wonder, can John Morton explain whose job was saved when his staffers incorrectly seized and censored Dajaz1.com for over a year? I'm curious. Because it sure seems like he actually hurt the ability of the Americans who run that site to make money. I'm curious whose job was saved when his staff deported a missing teen to Colombia (where she was not from). Is that the kind of "phenomenal" work under John Morton we should expect more of?

He then shows off "the news coverage" that ICE has gotten for seizing websites. Notice that he leaves out the stories about the mistaken seizure of multiple websites beyond Dajaz1. Like the seizure of 84,000 legitimate sites that were replaced with a statement claiming that they were all involved in child porn. Somehow those clips just didn't make the cut. Phenomenal work "saving American jobs!"

Morton goes on to talk up how "proud of the results" he is over the seizing of websites. Once again, no mention of the ones he seized by mistake, causing tremendous harm to those who he falsely declared as criminals. What's amazing is that he's never issued an apology over those false seizures. Instead, he's "proud of the phenomenal job" his team has done? What a joke.

Finally, he highlights the PSA that ICE put on the websites they forfeited. What he leaves out, of course, is that the PSA was both created by and owned by NBC Universal -- something ICE has never publicly admitted, but which we found out via FOIA requests. It's still shocking that a government agency would be using misleading propaganda from a private company and pretending that it's an official government production. Even worse, despite numerous requests, ICE has failed to show any proof that it properly licensed the video from NBC Universal, leading us to wonder if they "pirated" it.

ICE under John Morton has become a massive joke and a disgrace to American ideals of innocent until proven guilty and important things like free speech and due process. Rather than making this joke of a video (which certainly has Hollywood-style production... I wonder how that happened...), Morton should be issuing apologies for the mistakes that were made under his watch, and tendering his resignation. Instead, he's celebrating? Sickening.
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Filed Under: censorship, counterfeiting, domains, homeland security, ice, john morton, operation in our sites


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  • icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:40am

    The embedded video above

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1d4xjU8DpQ

    Does not allowing comments.

    That is always a sign that they are espousing a line of bull sh!t, and that what they are saying doesn't hold up to any scrutiny. Much like the MPAA blog ...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Jay (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:47am

      Re:

      They've had the ratings disabled since the July takedowns.

      You can tell how much they're pushing the bull and stepping in its remains.

      I kind of find it funny though... Morton seems to believe that SD cards are thieving devices. So when is he going to take down SanDisk for illegal theft of American jobs?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      :Lobo Santo (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:57am

      Re: Takedowns

      Hey, couldn't I falsely claim I own the copyrights to this video and get it taken down for like 12 days with zero repercussions to myself? Just like the big businesses!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      gorehound (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:34am

      Re:

      Bunch of krap ! I would of given this a down rating and would of commented my displeasure but you are right.
      If they allowed it they would be bombarded with negative responses.They think they can just go on and on and get away with what they do.
      In the end I have the feeling they will be in for some real issues from the Computer Literates around the World.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Suja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:53am

      Re:

      zzz just typical pro-copyright/IP behavior

      not falling in line and blindly worshiping their rules/agenda?

      say hello to censorship, where anyone who dares speak out against the god of IP is immediately silenced or prevented from speaking out in the first place

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        bongo houzi (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 2:42pm

        Re: Re:

        Someone should capture the video and upload it to youtube with rating and comments enabled. This would be interesting for two reasons; to see how the comments fall before it's taken down, and, that's the second thing, how long before it's taken down.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Rekrul, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:31pm

      Re:

      Not that it will do any good, but I sent a PM asking why they didn't list any of their screwups.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Just John (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 4:06am

        Re: Re:

        Funny, I sent a message asking them about DaJaz1 and why they are now involved in the human trafficking of 14 year old girls.

        Will let you know when they reply.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    SD (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:44am

    John Morton mentioned NBC as the creator of the PSA in a speech about a month ago:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9lSySWnVBs&t=32m49s

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Stig Rudeholm, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:46am

    Because all the genuine brand designer shoes, clothes and bags are made in America, right? By well-paid, proud American workers in American factories. Right?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:54am

      Re:

      "Made In China" is on everything. Pay attention every time you purchase something. You'll see it's true. It's all imported by proud Americans though. Does that even count? Some products will display the USA or Canadian flag prominently, but if you look closer you'll see they're trying to misled consumers who don't bother to read the fine print. Saving jobs my ass, but I guess ICE has to justify their pay cheques somehow. Otherwise they might see their own jobs go out the window and their budget reduced. Can't have that now, can we?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:18am

        Re: Re:

        Check the tag on your American flag...bet it was made in China.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        ChrisB (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:09pm

        Re: Re:

        > "Made In China" is on everything.

        That idea was already debunked. "88.5 percent of Americans' consumer spending is on things made in the U.S."

        http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2011/08/made-china-goods-only-small-sliver-us-consu mption-fed-finds/41233/

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          A Monkey with Atitude, 9 Jan 2012 @ 2:26pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          as someone that imports the stuff from China.. it makes up a much bigger slice than they let on... some products may be "assembled" in the USA, but the parts come from overseas...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Just John (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 10:30pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          After reviewing the source of that articles information, the FRBSF, I have to say, there are some important issues to highlight.

          One example is this:
          A total of 88.5% of U.S. consumer spending is on items made in the United States. This is largely because services, which make up about two-thirds of spending, are mainly produced locally.


          So, it is stating that a majority of the measured G&S purchased is Services, not Goods. Of course services are local. Please tell me how to outsource your Starbucks cashier. I want to know so I can figure out how to cash in on the remote service industry...

          The highlight is this part:
          The market share of foreign goods is highest in durables, which include cars and electronics.

          While it is difficult to outsource services (Outside of the call center scenario), it is easy to outsource physical goods manufacturing.

          If you take this as a whole, and remove the part that is almost impossible to outsource, then the numbers look very much different.

          12% of all durable goods (Highest in household goods)
          6.4% of all non-durable goods (highest in clothing/shoes).

          This honestly looks like at attempt to cover it all up by saying "Look, we spend more money locally then internationally", but if you look at the amount of money spent on good/services that can realistically be produced locally instead of internationally, it starts to get very one sided again (We import what we can, but many things that is not possible with).

          I mean, fuel? Of course that is at 0.1. China is one of the largest importers, they do not have surpluses to sell, and our biggest supplier of petrol products is South American countries.

          I am still wondering why services is even on this list, since it seems like an artificial prop to make the numbers look better.

          Housing: How can I buy a house in the US that is in China...

          Household operations: Once I can figure out how to get Chinese cleaning ladies to come over to your US house, and Chinese Plumbers to fix your US sinks, this could change too....

          Transportation: The MRT works great here, but I think getting from Xinzhuang to Donghu will not help people in LA...

          Medical Care: Just dial 1-800-mychinesedoctor?

          Recreation: Not everyone wants to go to that nice Chinese theater when their local cinaplex is just down the road.

          Other services: Just don't have any more jokes.


          So, basically, I cannot take this "study" seriously, when it lumps things that practically cannot be outsourced in with things that can in fact be outsourced.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Chosen Reject (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:40pm

        Re: Re:

        "Made In China" is on everything.
        That's not true. I've seen lots of stuff with "Made in Vietnam", "Made in Taiwan", "Made in India", etc.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:47am

    "So, I wonder, can John Morton explain whose job was saved when his staffers incorrectly seized and censored Dajaz1.com for over a year?"

    Well that should be obvious Mike, ICE saved jobs at ICE, by making themselves look like they were doing something! Congress can't cut the budget of department that's actually saving American jobs!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Pseudonym, 9 Jan 2012 @ 6:42pm

      Re:



      I'm going to be disappointed unless somebody does a parody of this video explaining how you can steal an American job by exploiting the legal system to remove legal American web sites for over a year with no institutional recourse.


      ICE: Stealing American jobs. Unless you've bought a congresscritter, of course.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:53am

    I own that mod chip. I use it to make portable movies of things i own. I also used it as an ebook reader. Found it most useful for movies though. Good way to keep my self entertained on long bus rides.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    :Lobo Santo (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:55am

    Police State

    Remember, our fascism is here for you!

    Man, thick thick propaganda... kinda chokingly stinks.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Loki, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:58am

    What I find most interesting, is that the bulk of the video pertains to trademark infringement (and fake drug as opposed to just cheap knockoffs). Trademark is about the only part of "intellectual property" that I see still has any real purpose/value, and abolishing copyright and/or patents doesn't really change much of what he talked about.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:59am

    A bit biased....

    While I have to say your tone is more than a little bit biased, I happen to agree with everything you've said.

    I wonder how much taxpayer money was used to make this propaganda PSA and if the entertainment or IP lobby contributed any.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:01am

    So by going after websites that employ people and stopping people from working they're saving jobs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Raphael (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:01am

    Another gross distortion by Masnick & Co.

    As everyone knows, jobs actually LOSE VALUE when people 'work' in them. Have you ever heard of 'used jobs' at all? Of course not--they're that worthless. What Morton is doing by stopping all of these legal, profitable businesses is in fact saving thousands, maybe millions, of brand-new American jobs--for later, when they will potentially exist. As Benjamin Franklin so nearly said, a job SAVED is a job EARNED.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:06am

      Re:

      "saving thousands, maybe millions, of brand-new American jobs" -- "Another gross distortion by" corporate shills.

      The only "new" jobs are low-pay. For example, the jobs that GE created were very low paying jobs with shit benefits. Yay GE created jobs in an economy where people need them, but forgot that a higher standard of living was established and these new jobs help AMERICANS barely make ends meet!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Robert (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:03am

    Jobs Gone offshore?

    Yeah, but that's the fault of a) the consumer wanting cheaper products b) the corporations providing NO OTHER OPTION for the consumer to choose (ie: cheaper or made in the USA) c) corporate profits of AMERICAN (aka "international" aka "untouchable because we bribed politicians around the world") corporations.

    Nice try to spin the facts. Too bad the public at large is not smart enough to see through this facade.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:44am

      Re: Jobs Gone offshore?

      "the fault of the consumer wanting cheaper products "

      What? Damn those consumers, choosing lower prices, trying to more efficiently spend hard earned money!!!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Robert (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:59am

        Re: Re: Jobs Gone offshore?

        I didn't say it was totally their fault, but yes, the consumer wants cheaper prices so they go to places like WalMart. That's a fact. If you want it made here, you have to pay more for the final product.

        Some do, some don't. So you can be sarcastic about it all you want, but it is still a fact that consumers themselves are partly to blame.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:13pm

          Re: Re: Re: Jobs Gone offshore?

          You're missing my point.

          Consumers want cheaper prices. All other things being equal, the cheaper product is superior. This is a "fault" or something requiring "blame".

          You're moralizing over something amoral (not immoral, amoral). What is it consumers are to blame for? Manufacturing jobs move to parts of the world with cheaper labour. You clearly view this as a problem, but "solving" this requires protectionist policies, bigger gov't and a less efficient market.

          Manufacturing jobs moving to parts of the world where labour is cheaper is progress. While unfortunate and sad for parts of North America like Detroit, etc... the only alternative is inefficiencies which result in a net loss.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:14pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Jobs Gone offshore?

            "This is NOT a "fault" or something requiring "blame"."

            Missed a word, dangit.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Robert (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:46pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Jobs Gone offshore?

            I don't clearly view it as a "problem" but merely stated it as a factor in job loss, which is true. I also never said that protectionist strategies were required either.

            You're going WAY off the deep end and putting words into my mouth.

            There are alternatives to these "inefficiencies" you refer to. For one, how efficient is it (think of it globally now, including the environment) to have your fruit grown in Canada, shipped to the US to be waxed, shipped back to Canada for a higher price? Would it not be more efficient to just transfer it from the orchards (much closer to their ripe-date) to the markets?

            If you actually have the means to do so, would it not be more efficient to buy from a local farmer who isn't trucking their produce all over and coating it will pesticides (or at least using less) then waxing it to make it look healthy?

            In terms of manufacturing in the Detroit area, the first problem is you need to change the mindset of a) the management and b) the workers (and obviously their union 'leaders').

            Once you give a few people a reality check, once you actually bargain for useful skill training, work pools, decent wages (not $24.53/hr with 4 weeks vacation to ride a floor sweeper -- Navistar, 1998) with some benefits provided by the company and some by employees themselves... Would that not be more efficient than building plants in Mexico where you struggle to produce 30 trucks a day while the Chatham plant turns out over 110 a day (and with far less defects)?

            So you see, there are inefficiencies, but these can be ironed out.

            The consumer does want cheaper items, and I agree with that, but it comes at a price; products manufactured in foreign countries, not here!

            As to your "which result in net loss" you are missing some information. In 1996 Chrysler waiting lists 6 months long for their minivans and every 42 seconds $7000 PROFIT (not revenue) rolled off the lines in Windsor (see Droullard Road plant).

            So, people want cheaper vehicles, companies want higher profits with cheaper labour, the result is simple, foreign manufacturing.

            So consumer choice does play a factor in the decision for companies to reduce costs. Try to build computer components here for close to the same price as those made in Taiwan and China? You can't. Should you blame the customer? NO, and I never said to. But the fact that even if you did build components here and assemble them here, you would struggle to make sales compared to the cheaper stuff in China. Is the customer choosing cheaper items a factor, absolutely, should they be blamed and SOPA used to punish them, NO. I emphasized that so you don't try to inject words or change context.

            Cheers!

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dave, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:09am

    ICE

    Time to melt ICE down!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:09am

    The children!

    Come on, Masnick, are you some sort of pedophile? It's all for the children. How can you support child pornography?

    /troll

    To be employed in the ICE you have to:
    1- be able to stick your head into your ass for a lifetime;
    2- be technologically impaired;
    3- have a hugely inflated ego;
    4- take it up your arse from the big corporations.

    Actually I think that applies to be in politics with a few additions but that's for another article.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Suja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

      Re: The children!

      wait a minute...

      if they have to have their head up their 24/7 for the rest of their life... how can they take it up the ass? it's already occupied with their head

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Suja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:33am

        Re: Re: The children!

        **up their ass

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:54am

        Re: Re: The children!

        When you have a full stomach and you see some tasty sweet, your stomach suffers some dilatation to make space for the sweet stuff. Scientifically proven.

        When big corporations rub money on the politicians their arses suffer a lot of dilatation in order to receive the extra money. Empirically proven.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Suja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:38pm

          Re: Re: Re: The children!

          so pretty much that means they can fit both their head and a cock up their ass at the same time?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Machin Shin (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:18pm

        Re: Re: The children!

        Well you see that just makes it easier for them to give the corporations blow jobs as well.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Suja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:41pm

          Re: Re: Re: The children!

          so they... while it's up their...

          oh god... i always suspected that the MAFIAA would stoop to this level of disturbed depravery

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Ninja (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 4:13am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: The children!

            Sorry, it's confusing.. I know it's mentally damaging to even try to imagine how they do it but they do. Sometimes it takes a little bit of faith to actually believe to what lengths they go for the monies =(

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:08am

      Re: The children!

      The correct tag is "/AJ"

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Gwiz (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:10am

    Parodies..

    Can't wait for the parody videos of this one. Should be fun.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 3:31pm

      Re: Parodies..

      Are you KIDDING?! I'd give any parodies of this video a day, MAX, before they get taken down due to 'copyright violation' or something along those lines.

      Mind, I'm sure they'd be hilarious, because when the original video is already such a joke, you can only go up from there, I just highly doubt ICE would allow people to mock their propaganda like that.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Machin Shin (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:16am

    It is kind of funny if you step back and look at things. Like what about all the jobs they are destroying? Those people here in America selling these goods? Those people on the streets selling these goods have a job selling them. It is not a "legal" job but still an American job. All of this is about protecting the "blessed" few. It is not really about jobs so much as it is about control over those jobs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Spaceboy (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:17am

    Reminds me of the propaganda pushed in Robocop and Starship Troopers.

    Would you like to know more?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Eric Goldman (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:22am

    Morton will be lucky if he can save his own job after so brazenly breaking the law with the Dajaz1 debacle. Eric.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Machin Shin (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:31am

      Re:

      Ah but you forget, the government is not subject to these laws of which you speak. They are impossible to get into court and even if you do get them there they will just sweep it under the rug.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:44am

      Re:

      Mr. Goldman,

      Perhaps it would help if you used a disclaimer that what you say is your personal opinion based upon third party hearsay, and not based upon a legal analysis using objective facts (a necessary condition that I am certain you impress upon your students on a daily basis).

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:01am

        Re: Re:

        Perhaps it would help if you noticed we are in a comment section of a site an thus it's implied that it's an opinion? And perhaps you should go study the law in order to see what we all know already and understand that the ICE broke the law when it failed to give back the domain after the deadline for the forfeiture process expired? Don't let the fact that Dajaz1 lawyers never got a word about the process because everything was secret bother you.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:09am

          Re: Re: Re:

          I do not know if the Dajaz1 lawyers got a word in edgewise, but my experience before courts of law lead me to question the veracity of such a statement. I do not discount, inter alia, the fact that in many instances lawyers attempt to try their cases in the court of public opinion, and not before a judicial tribunal.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:14am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Well, read about it before posting such comments then. It's not the case.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:47am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            "I haven't read any of the particulars, but will still show up in comments and act like a condescending prick and try to call out other people for concocted improprieties where none exist in other to further the agenda of my bosses"

            FTFY

            link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        techflaws.org (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:05pm

        Re: Re:

        Disclaimer, my ass. Unless he explicitel states his opionion is based on legal analysis why should a moron in a hurry (read: you) assume so?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:25am

    I wasn't aware that (proper, non-counterfeit) ibuprofen would "make me healthy."

    Kids! Put down those imported FlintstÖnes vitamins and take a handful of Tylenol! Let's see... yep... it's got the official "kid-tested, Morton-approved" logo on it. Safe for consumption and easily twice the price of its competitors!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:48am

      Re:

      Tylenol is acetaminophen, I think you mean Advil.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Rob, 10 Jan 2012 @ 8:22am

        Re: Re:

        Yes. It'd be a damn shame if the kids took the Tylenol to make them big and strong, only to find they should have had an Advil.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Machin Shin (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:27am

    Free markets

    The other funny thing they dont seem to realize is that consumers are not as stupid as they like to pretend we are. When someone goes online to buy a $1000 bag for $45 they know they are not buying the real bag.

    I look at things like these bags and shoes the same as art. Someone who buys a copy of a famous painting to hang in their home knows it is not the real thing. They could never afford the real one so they settle for the copy. Now there are always those though that will settle for nothing less than the original and will pay millions to own originals. No amount of cheep copies will make the original worth less. The same is true of these products.

    So long as the true manufacture makes a quality product they will always have people willing to pay for it. The cheep made in China or whatever products will have flaws and not be of the same quality. If the knockoffs are of same or better quality then the maker needs to look at their production and fix the problem.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Gwiz (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:28am

    [tinfoil hat]

    Wait a minute. Did Mike actually embed a DOJ video on his site?

    Based on DOJ's other law-stretching legal theories, wouldn't they consider Mike aiding and abetting criminal infringement for embedding this? (Fair use? That's just a fairytale that wasn't created by Morton's boss Disney - so it can't possibly exist.) The users are viewing it and Mike has ads on his page.

    Maybe this whole thing is a honeypot scheme to silence Mike without having to pay $100,000,000.00.

    [/tinfoil hat]

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:36am

      Re:

      *claps hand*

      The $100,000,000.00 link is just priceless. You, sir, are doing it right.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:52am

      Re:

      I'm just waiting with bated breath for Average Joe to show up and insist that the $100 million link is proof that Techdirt is just a scheme to blackmail honest american Trade Organizations like the MPAA.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Robert (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

    No Comments on Youtube channel

    That says it all right there.

    And while everyone here is aware of ICE's mistakes, no one else is any the wiser!

    You can't like or dislike or comment on their video, which proves they know they are full of shit and want single-direction communication (not even half-duplex).

    That shows you what ICE is really about, along with the US Gov's integrity and accountability.

    You worry about Romney lying to win votes? Even if Ron Paul were to win, he'd either be assassinated or just as bad as Bush/Obama for making changes the people want, and I actually would vote for Paul (despite not agreeing with cutting EPA/Education/etc.. funding).

    You want change? It won't come from a leader. Until the masses demand change in a unified voice that any idiot could understand (OWS isn't unified enough and you need to GET THAT MESSAGE OUT), you won't see change.

    Too bad overriding signals like they did on UHF wasn't possible. That was a great way to show-up corporations. I don't know how to do it, but those who do should definitely do it. Don't just hack one news site, hack them all! Have all of them expose everything at once. Hack the cable stations and broadcaster stations and display truths instead of BS.

    Maybe, just maybe, it would cause enough people to question to maybe make some change.

    But until you wake people up from their daily slumbers they call "life" you won't see that change.

    ICE is slippery like the frozen water item sharing from which the Gov composed its name.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    gorehound (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

    ICE are a bunch of Arses !!!
    SOPA/PIPA = WAR and so does the antics of ICE.I am waiting for millions of people to all join in and hack n crack.
    And I also really want to see a real Boycott of all things RIAA & MPAA NOW !

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

    Dajaz1: Neither censored nor due process denied, but if censorship and denial of due process is repeated enough within the blog-o-sphere people will start to believe it.

    Deportation: Perhaps people should provide their real name.

    GAO: To be accurate, what the GAO did say was that the economic effect could not be quantified. It did not say the data was "false" or that it was "true".

    84,000 sites: IIRC, rectified within about 24 hours.

    PSA: So what? Perhaps they should have simply had some for hire ad agency create the same thing. Would that make you happy?

    PSA licensed: Tempest in a teapot. Does anyone seriously believe it was used without the consent of the author? BTW, under federal law it could have been used even if author screamed "foul" at the top of his/her lungs. See: 28 USC 1498. I follow litigation associated with this section of law quite closely, and no suit for recompense by the author of the PSA has been filed with the Federal Court of Claims. I find this rather telling.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Jay (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:39am

      Re:

      You forgot one.

      Immigration - Destroying American families

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Adam V, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:42am

      Re:

      > Dajaz1: Neither censored nor due process denied, but if censorship and denial of due process is repeated enough within the blog-o-sphere people will start to believe it.

      "Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body." - WP

      Dajaz1 (i.e., a public website) was taken down (i.e., suppressed) for a year by a government entity. Sounds accurate to me.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:46am

      Re:

      Anonymous Coward, Jan 9th, 2012 @ 10:32am: Troll.

      But just in case..

      Dajaz1: the correct seizure and forfeiture process were not followed, legal deadlines not respected, site owners and lawyers denied details and information to proceed properly. Not direct censorship indeed. But a huge denial of due process. But you know that, you are just trolling.

      Deportation: UNDERAGE TEEN RUNNING FROM HOME. Because teens always know what they are doing. Thank you for your trolling.

      GAO: if it can't be quantified then any quantification is false. But you are twisting the facts. Troll.

      84k sites: I'll put a banner in your Facebook and an auto-reply in your e-mail redirecting ppl to an official notice that you are a pedophile for 24 hours. Sounds good? Trollolol.

      PSA: You fight copyright infringement telling ppl it's easy to identify and with all zealotry then you disregard copyright when yourself infringe it. If everything was fine why so secret? Trololilolol.


      I rate your trolling 3/10 because you are trampling with children. Bad boy.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:55am

        Re: Re:

        The correct "civil seizure" process was followed. As for everything else that appears to rile others, it is based exclusively on third party hearsay...which is one of the reasons why we have rules of evidence pertaining to hearsay given its inherent unreliability.

        PSA: Pray tell, where is it shown that copyright was infringed? As I noted, the total absence of any action before the Court of Federal Claims is quite telling indeed.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Gwiz (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:03am

          Re: Re: Re:

          The correct "civil seizure" process was followed.

          Was it? Doesn't even look like that is remotely true.

          "Secret" extensions (so secret the defendant's lawyers weren't even notified) by the Government beyond the normal time frames is not following the process, it's abusing it.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Ninja (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:06am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Trollie troll! You replied! And failed to address any of the points as usual!

          The correct "civil seizure" process was followed.

          Keep telling that to yourself. Might become true!

          Still, you didn't reply me. Would you like to spend 24h being redirected to an official notice telling others you are a pedophile?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:13am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            It would be poor manners to deny you your right to righteous indignation, and I am not inclined to deny you your right.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              techflaws.org (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:09pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Still not answered if being branded as a pedophile for just 24 hours would be fine with you. I wonder why that is.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Mike Masnick (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:53am

          Re: Re: Re:

          The correct "civil seizure" process was followed. As for everything else that appears to rile others, it is based exclusively on third party hearsay...which is one of the reasons why we have rules of evidence pertaining to hearsay given its inherent unreliability.

          Your level of dense stupidity is really incredible sometimes.

          Here are THE FACTS: (1) domain was seized. (2) DOJ had 60 days to notify, followed by 35 days for domain owner to ask for it back... at which point DOJ has 90 days to either return or file for forfeiture. That means a MAXIMUM of 185 days in which one of 2 things MUST HAPPEN: domain goes back or forfeiture is filed. (3) Neither thing happened in 185 days.

          None of that is "hearsay." The domain was returned after 380+ days. There's 200+ days in there that's pure denial of due process and you know it or you're totally full of shit yet again.

          I have to say, you've gotten worse over the years. You used to sign your name and you used to have intelligent things to say. Now you're just purely full of shit, purely in support of anything that goes against what we say.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 2:47pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            The USG went to court and secured a court order authorizing seizure of the site. My question is "Did Dajaz1, through its counsel, go to the court that issued the order and request that the seized property be returned?" Nowhere is this question answered, and it is a pretty important one at that.

            Courts issue order all the time, and parties effected by such orders file motions challenging the orders. What makes Dajaz1 any different since the same procedural rules of law apply?

            All you know is what is attributed to its attorney in a news article (i.e., hearsay). News is informative, but it is not necessarily definitive about what actually transpired. You seem inclined to accept the information in the news article as the gospel truth. I tend to be more circumspect, and particularly when it involves judicial matters.

            You have many intelligent things to say, but in this matter there is a logic fail that falls short of the mark.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Jay (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 4:00pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              A one sided court order that kept getting extended...

              Dear gods, why are you being so obtuse about this?

              Everytime Dajaz1 tried to see the court order or figure out when the hearing would be, ICE stone walled them. And here you are, supporting the 1 year censorship of a blog that had authorized links on it.

              You're still full of it.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 5:44pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                I am not supporting anything. All I am saying is that just because something appears in a news article does not mean that what was written is "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".

                In the case of this specific website it seems to me that far too many are unquestioningly accepting what was contained in the news article. Perhaps I am mistaken, but experience suggests to me that there is much more to this story than simply "they kept me in the dark".

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Jay (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 6:57pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  It's been explained to you over, and over, and over. You still don't get it. That's your issue, not mine.

                  How you can't figure this out, I have no idea.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 8:59pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    I am most certainly not saying that I am right and everyone is wrong. Mine is merely an issue associated with quantum of objective proof.

                    If I am wrong then the data allegedly in the hands of Mr. Masnick may very well prove this to be the case.

                    Perhaps he will be kind enough to provide it as I have asked.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Mike Masnick (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 4:27pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The USG went to court and secured a court order authorizing seizure of the site.

              Ok. Let's try this again, for those who can't comprehend basic math:

              1. USG secured a court order which had specific rules to it.
              2. Among those rules: if the property owners requests return of the property, that property MUST be returned within a 185 days or a case for forfeiture must be filed.
              3. Neither of those things happened.

              Due process was absolutely denied. And since this involved a blog with tons of non-infringing speech, it was clearly censorship as well. This isn't even debatable at this point.

              My question is "Did Dajaz1, through its counsel, go to the court that issued the order and request that the seized property be returned?" Nowhere is this question answered, and it is a pretty important one at that.

              You've asked this question at least 4 times, and I've answered it each and every time. Why you continue to pretend it hasn't been answered is something that perhaps only you understand.

              dajaz1 followed the exact procedure prescribed under the seizure and forfeiture law. You know who did not? The USG.

              Courts issue order all the time, and parties effected by such orders file motions challenging the orders. What makes Dajaz1 any different since the same procedural rules of law apply?

              Must we do this again. DO THE MATH. Dajaz1 did exactly what the procedures state -- and under that law one of two things HAD to happen by day 185: domain returned or forfeiture begun. Which one of those two things happened? That's right! Neither.

              Look, dude, just admit that you're totally full of shit. It would make life easier for everyone.

              All you know is what is attributed to its attorney in a news article (i.e., hearsay).

              False. I know the gov't had 185 days to return the domain. I have confirmation FROM ICE & confirmed by a US Senator, that Dajaz1 followed the proper procedure for asking for the domain to be returned -- at which point it NEEDED to be returned by 185 days, or forfeiture procedures begun. I also know -- CONFIRMED BY DOJ -- that no such procedure was started, and the domain was not returned for over 380 days.

              Care to admit that you are FULL OF SHIT yet?

              I have spoken to tons of people related to this case, including representatives of the US government. What I know is not hearsay. What I know is you are full of shit. Yet, in your desperation to believe that the government didn't totally fuck up here, you have put such incredible blinders on that you look like a ridiculous and completely clueless moron.

              No wonder you don't put your name on shit any more.

              You seem inclined to accept the information in the news article as the gospel truth

              No. I know what happened.

              Want to admit that you are completely full of shit yet?

              You have many intelligent things to say, but in this matter there is a logic fail that falls short of the mark.

              You would make me laugh if you weren't so completely full of shit.

              Seriously: you're so completely wrong on this it's not even funny. Stop digging. Admit that you are 100% completely full of shit and let's move on. If you choose not to do so, please be aware that I will highlight your full of shitness at every opportunity from here on in. Because, honestly, I can handle the lobbyists and whatnot who speak here and say ridiculous stuff. They're just kind of funny. But you come here every day -- with the most pretentious attitude while still being so totally full of shit. You never back up your statements. You just say stupid shit like "it might help to read the bill." Yet when called to respond to those who actually quote the language, you chicken out.

              Because you are full of shit.

              Same thing here. You insist it wasn't censored and due process was followed. You are wrong.

              You insist my statements are based on hearsay from an article. You are wrong.

              You are full of shit.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 6:17pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                If you have all of the substantiating data you claim, then provide it here so that others, myself included, can see what really happened.

                There is one thing at this point in time that is crystal clear. No one has come forward with anything showing that counsel for Dajaz1 went into court and requested that the property be returned. Counsel is quoted as saying the USG was requested to return the property. Ok, by what instrument was this done? A phone call? An email? A letter? An office visit? Other?

                In the ordinary course of legal matters associated with a court order, a request would be in the form of a motion filed with the court that issued the order. Surely counsel entered an appearance before the court on behalf of his client and has a copy of such a filing. The seizure request having been filed with the Federal District Court for the Central District of California (basically L.A.), I would expect that any relevant court documents reside there.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  lucidrenegade (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 7:07pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  You are so full of shit.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Mike Masnick (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:06pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  There is one thing at this point in time that is crystal clear. No one has come forward with anything showing that counsel for Dajaz1 went into court and requested that the property be returned. Counsel is quoted as saying the USG was requested to return the property.

                  We've explained this to you. Four times now. I can't believe you want to go through this again.

                  Are you honestly that stupid?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • icon
                    Ninja (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 4:25am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    He is that stupid. I'm amazed you actually took your time to reply the trolling Mike. But then again it might be necessary because this sort of self-righteous and grandiloquent troll actually gets less informed ppl to believe his bs. So while they get annoying and repetitive at some point we too have to keep debunking all his trolling to make the message go across clear and loud for the masses.

                    I take my hat for your patience, Mike. Even though you were clearly at your limit in your last post lmao

                    Cheers man, let us ignore trollie troll next hahaha

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2012 @ 7:37am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    In view of your response, I have to wonder if you read the entirety of my comment.

                    You say you have data that backs up what you say. If so, then provide it. I am troubled by the lack of objective backup for the actions allegedly undertaken by counsel for Dajaz1.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  techflaws.org (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:18pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  I would expect that any relevant court documents reside there.

                  "The government told him no and that the papers were filed under seal and could not be released, even in redacted form."

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:36pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                Mike, this guy is full of shit but you are also lacking something in your timeline. Where is the evidence that the government didn't receive extensions to file the forfeiture action from a court in the district where the domain names were seized? Lack of activity on the original docket? Lack of dockets with the domain names in the title? The government should be able to produce case numbers if they received a FOIA request at the most or possibly by a casual phone call or email at the least. Even if the cases are "sealed" the case numbers would not be.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  Jay (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:19pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  If the attorney can't access these, how can anyone else outside of the government?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              techflaws.org (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:10pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              You have many intelligent things to say, but in this matter there is a logic fail that falls short of the mark.

              You neatly summed up your posting style. Except for the intelligent part, of course.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:47am

      Re:

      But for those 24 hours the damage was done?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:47am

      Re:

      Dajaz1: Neither censored nor due process denied, but if censorship and denial of due process is repeated enough within the blog-o-sphere people will start to believe it.


      Sorry, but most normal thinking people consider having a blog taken down for over a year on bogus charges, and then denying them their day in court with secret "extensions" they were never allowed to see and in contradiction with the law under which the domain was seized both censorship and a denial of due process.

      We know that you like this kind of censorship, but that doesn't make it any less censorship or denial of due process.

      Seriously: standing up for ICE against Dajaz1 is beyond the pale. It's disgusting.

      Deportation: Perhaps people should provide their real name.


      No, perhaps ICE should do some freaking research. Your willingness to defer to law enforcement because their law enforcement is also disgusting.

      GAO: To be accurate, what the GAO did say was that the economic effect could not be quantified. It did not say the data was "false" or that it was "true".

      There are tons of studies that claim job losses. GAO could not find a SINGLE credible one. That tells you all you need to know.

      84,000 sites: IIRC, rectified within about 24 hours.


      48 hours, actually, but I'm not sure how that's any better.

      PSA: So what? Perhaps they should have simply had some for hire ad agency create the same thing. Would that make you happy?

      Yes. I don't think that the government should be running inaccurate propaganda created and owned by corporations -- especially without disclosing this fact.

      PSA licensed: Tempest in a teapot.

      Potentially. But kinda gets to the point. It's not always so easy to know, is it?

      Does anyone seriously believe it was used without the consent of the author?

      No. But I also don't believe Dajaz1 posted works without authorization (and I've seen the actual evidence there), but it didn't stop ICE from censoring them for over a year.

      That's the point. Which apparently is so far above your head that you can't see it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:08pm

        Re: Re:

        Not even close to being as "disgusting" as your daily piracy apologism here; like dajaz for instance- a website that had thousands of links to infringing material.

        You're such a lying, slimy sociopath, Masnick.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Rikuo (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:38pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          WHERE'S THE PROOF? If Dajaz1.com had thousands of links to infringing material, was a piracy haven, was so evil as you clearly seem to think...then WHY WAS IT NEVER CHARGED? Why did it never get a trial? Why are you advocating a system of punishment upon accusation, of being guilty before being declared innocent?
          Until Dajaz1.com has a fair and open trial, it is completely innocent. At least, that's what should have happened. It should have had its day in court before being blocked for over a year, but instead, it was blocked and its own lawyer never received any information about the secret seizure extension orders. That is a complete denial of due process.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Just John (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 4:42am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I think you and the others are the victim of a trollby. I could be wrong though. He pulled off his part quite convincingly.

            Of course, if I am wrong, the drugs did more damage then we thought, since DaJaz1 was returned with no charges filed.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Gwiz (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:45pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          ...like dajaz for instance- a website that had thousands of links to infringing material.

          Really? How come the four instances DOJ/ICE used in it's affidavit were all sent to them by the artist, the label or their agent? You'd think if there was "thousands of links to infringing material" it should have been easy as pie to find actual infringing material, but that didn't happen did it?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:47pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Care to link to the proof "thousands" of material found?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          ChrisB (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:16pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          > Not even close to being as "disgusting" as your daily
          > piracy apologism here; like GOOGLE for instance- a
          > website that had thousands of links to infringing material.

          ftfy

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          average_ioe (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 2:16pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          his 'apologism' is far tastier than the gism you cant seem to stop swallowing.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:55am

      Re:

      You lost me at "deporting an minor to a foreign country without even knowing her real name is a reasonable circumstance we should all be happy with."

      Although to be fair I did manage to read the next point where you claim that saying "it cannot be quantified" is in no way the same thing as saying that previous claims of quantification were false even though that's logically impossible.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Rikuo (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:40pm

        Re: Re:

        Check back a few articles on Techdirt. ICE picked up a teen who had run away from home, and she gave a false name. They ran this name against their database, found it matched a Colombian criminal and deported her. All without bothering to check if the name she gave was her actual real name.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:03pm

      Re:

      "Dajaz1: Neither censored..."

      Their domain was seized for a year.

      "...nor due process denied..."

      Their domain was seized for a year with no warrant, no chance to challenge the action, and no charges filed.

      "Deportation: Perhaps people should provide their real name."

      Perhaps our law enforcement people should be required to check facts. Apparently you feel that we should deport anybody we don't like, on a whim, without due process. Oh right, you don't understand what due process is.

      PSA: it's a sign of blatant hypocrisy.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Trails (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:08pm

      Re:

      "Dajaz1: Neither censored nor due process denied, but if censorship and denial of due process is repeated enough within the blog-o-sphere people will start to believe it."

      So seized with no trial, hearing, etc... for 1 year and then returned means what?

      "Deportation: Perhaps people should provide their real name."

      Perhaps ICE should add two and two before deporting minors to third world countries.

      "GAO: To be accurate, what the GAO did say was that the economic effect could not be quantified. It did not say the data was "false" or that it was "true"."
      So they said that some data someone else asserts every chance the get was produced using flawed methodology and the values are unquantifiable, but they didn't call it false? That analogous to you saying "the world was created by a slug" and I reply "well, there's no way to know that and no supporting evidence" and you assert that I didn't call your slug statement bullshit.

      "84,000 sites: IIRC, rectified within about 24 hours."
      So they only infringed huge amounts of speech for a day? Awesome, I feel so much better.

      "PSA: So what? Perhaps they should have simply had some for hire ad agency create the same thing. Would that make you happy?"
      This is so intellectually dishonest as to be almost laughable. I'll restate the obvious just so it's here for the unfortunate googler. The point of the discussion around those PSA's is that they are incredibly one-sided, inaccurate ads produced by a corporation and presented as though created by the gov't. Further, given that the PSA's wax with moralistic falsities about copyright infringement, the ambiguity of them being licensed is ironic to say the least, and belies the complexities of trying to navigate arcane copyright rules in this modern age.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Rekrul, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:29pm

      Re:

      <>Dajaz1: Neither censored nor due process denied, but if censorship and denial of due process is repeated enough within the blog-o-sphere people will start to believe it.

      I assume that you have verifiable sources that show that official due process was followed every steop of the way, and which you can post here?

      Deportation: Perhaps people should provide their real name.

      So you believe that it's perfectly fine for a government agency to endanger someone's life, based on the word of an underage girl, without doing any further checking? Perhaps you should be held accountable for everything said by every "Anonymous Coward" on the net...

      84,000 sites: IIRC, rectified within about 24 hours.

      So you wouldn't mind if I stuck a banner on your home saying "A Child Molester lives here!" for 24 hours?

      PSA licensed: Tempest in a teapot. Does anyone seriously believe it was used without the consent of the author? BTW, under federal law it could have been used even if author screamed "foul" at the top of his/her lungs. See: 28 USC 1498. I follow litigation associated with this section of law quite closely, and no suit for recompense by the author of the PSA has been filed with the Federal Court of Claims. I find this rather telling.

      Sure, why should anyone care if ICE follows the same laws it claims to be upholding? After all, the government is above the law, right?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      btrussell (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 3:13am

      Re:

      So if a person I know, who has drug charges, wants to go to the states, all he has to do is say he is John Morton?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:46am

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Violated (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:58am

    ICE ICE BABY

    Looks to me like John Morton has been under too much stress with a few too many sleepless nights. He should take a holiday... a really really long holiday.

    I can't say I know much about counterfeit goods, beyond the rare adverts for "replica" products through my door (at least they are honest). I do know though that many women buy replica handbags because they cannot afford the originals. So little gain for the original sales by stopping the fakes.

    I have a better idea about their doggy drugs when other poorer countries produce their own versions instead of paying the owner some super high change. So cheaper medicine floods the poorer country and then some bright spark gets the idea to export them for profit. Now I am not saying that their are not some totally fake drugs around but the vast majority are simply patent enforcement. They are lawful in the poorer country but not outside it.

    What I find most interesting is that in this video one section reads "Piracy Doesn't Work". That is a totally wrong statement seeing how since 2003 piracy has helped to totally reshape the markets. Years ago there were many delays to maximise profit but now DVD/Bluray sales, and lawful on-line screening, can quickly following the cinema release. So piracy and 3D are the two biggest causes of market progressions since 2003.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Overcast (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:03am

    If anything is kill US jobs - it's the government.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Watchit, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:17am

    Steal for Free

    An adapter that lets you "hack" into a video game and "steal it for free." Is he saying there's someway to steal that cost money... I kinda thought stealing already kinda implied that... oh and how could you "steal" a game you already own?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Machin Shin (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 12:35pm

      Re: Steal for Free

      Well what is really kind of funny is that you have to buy that mod chip. So in a way you have to pay to steal. So it was not even stealing for free. If you stop and look at it most of the pirating of movies, music, and games actually cost money. Rarely is theft really cost free, it is just the money does not go to the person who made whatever it is you are stealing.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:34pm

        Re: Re: Steal for Free

        "If you stop and look at it most of the pirating of movies, music, and games actually cost money."

        Unless you are counting the cost of paying for internet I call Horseshit.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DogBreath, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:29am

    ICE Director John Morton

    ICE Director John Morton is a clueless sycophant, who will never come to the realization that American companies have "stolen" more jobs from the American worker by shipping them overseas, to make products in foreign countries by the lowest bidder. Companies did not do this to provide lower cost items to American consumers, they did it to increase their own profit margin and to beat any and all competition into submission, anything else is a bold-faced lie. Those are the "real" jobs that are lost, not "magic numbers" based on cooked up statistics.

    Now there is your real "counterfeit" product, John. I expect you to not do something about that, because then your overseers would be angry with you. No, not the American people, who you claim to serve, but your "company" masters. Now go back under the rock you crawled out from under, and never speak to us again.

    I'm sure we'll end up hearing about him eventually working for some MPAA / RIAA type outfit after his "Public Service" job is over like many other so-called "government" servants.

    /end rant

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:31am

    How Does Protecting Foreign Companies Help America?

    Several of the examples of counterfeit goods were not even made by American parent companies, much less American workers.

    For example, early in the clip they show a website selling presumably-counterfeit Manolo Blahnik shoes, a Spanish designer that has its headquarters in the UK.

    Then in another clip there is a news clip talking about counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags, but that's a French company.

    I doubt any of these foreign companies manufactured products in America, ever, so the only American jobs involved in their distribution and sale are the guys unloading freighters, driving trucks, and manning cash registers, and Americans can still do that whether they are selling counterfeits or knock-offs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rikuo (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:03pm

      Re: How Does Protecting Foreign Companies Help America?

      And yet, most, if not all, of the highest profile tech companies are American and headquartered in the US. The very same companies (Google, Facebook, Yahoo et al) that have created tens of thousands of jobs, but are being threatened by SOPA censorship.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        TtfnJohn (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:53pm

        Re: Re: How Does Protecting Foreign Companies Help America?

        You forget that they're enabling and linking to piracy, some how and some way that no one's quite acceptably explained get other than whinging on about Google ads.

        Curiously all of this is happening to web companies.

        Then again, everyone knows that if you SERIOUSLY want to infringe just watch usenet places like, oh, say alt.sex.fetish.copyright.sopasucks.whileweinfringeaway
        but that's not the Web so they don't notice.

        By that way as far as I know no such usenet group exists. Well, it may shortly after I hit the enter key here but to a bundle of AC's we're all about IP theft anyway.

        And, no, protecting foreign companies does little to help America or Canada. But the big fashion guys who can fill campaign warchests are all European anyway. It's da money again.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Ninja (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 4:38am

        Re: Re: How Does Protecting Foreign Companies Help America?

        Actually, Google, Apple et all do not create as much jobs as they could. Apple latest huge server hub generated 50 jobs (I'm gonna have to dig for this link). And they move a big load of their operations overseas to reduce costs. This 'costs American jobs' is somewhat of a fallacy, a baseless argument used to push for idiotic legislation.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    cennis (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:51am

    commenting disabled?

    I wonder why these douchebags felt they needed to disable commenting on Youtube. Oh wait, I know, because it is all BULLSHIT.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:53am

    A bag for $1000? That should be illegal... As usual, protect the rich so they get richer and the thieving banks and oil companies are left to rape the USA... It is so hard to be a patriot these days.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      TtfnJohn (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:55pm

      Re:

      Actually the rich buy the $40 knock off. They didn't get rich by paying massive amounts of money for something when most of the fakes do just as well.

      /sarc off

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      btrussell (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 3:19am

      Re:

      It is already equipped to "powder your nose."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Al Bert (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 1:49pm

    mirror that shit

    I second the anticipation of a parody video, or more necessarily, a point-counterpoint disassembly of the video and the bullshit contained therein. Hell, simply mirroring the video and allowing comments may suffice.

    It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the DMCA axe to fall. It'll also be interesting to see if it's actually the content owner doing the swinging.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Rekrul, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:09pm

      Re: mirror that shit

      It was created by the government, so it's automatically public domain. You can do what you want with it, even sell copies of it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Al Bert (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 12:55am

        Re: Re: mirror that shit

        i was mostly poking at the whole sub-topic which was the fact that the PSA was owned/produced by NBC/Universal.

        That said, i would assume they'd be quick with the axe if they felt that the truth harmed their policy campaign(s).

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    TN, 9 Jan 2012 @ 3:06pm

    ha! no comments allowed over at youtube for that clip
    pffft what a crock

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    ZeeBat (profile), 9 Jan 2012 @ 3:43pm

    pfft

    Lying fucking public financed corporate fucking cunts.

    Yeah, fact this... Whatever.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 4:09pm

    Without comment or rating this video will be very soon forgotten.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 5:43pm

    Everyone working for ICE needs to be tried for treason and imprisoned. The country has been flooded with mexicans and yet they are wasting time with these revenue generating crimes.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    miguel, 9 Jan 2012 @ 9:35pm

    ICE & WHAT EVER TENDS 2 B FREEDOM

    Just cant believe mostly all the retarded that defend ice or home land security or the police for the matter their there for one purpose to shut up to prevent any compitition to hollywood, sony timewarner, etc! just last week the u.s. government threaten spain to pass sopa which they did. just think of that & whats going on! spain film industry is doing good but hollywood does not want any competitors. its really mediocor & sad that hollywood tells our president what to do & hypicritical threating bulling other nations for hollywood sake! oh but the retards like max kennedy the minute men idiots fighting wasting time & life foolishly on immigrants crossing the border oh yea how that turn out for you! sorry to say it but americans have been suckered poision to hate their very own destruction becuz they cant figure out but just look in a mirror that your very worst enemy! not to say the endless divisions of im texan in democrat, derepublicans, christians vs jew,sheeit vs musslims, christians vs atheist and vice versa oh his gay whites vs hispanic black vs white the bullshit goes on & on! while rockafeller & company our just watering their mouths to see all of us idiots fighting! they declair marshal law & step in under national security or what ever shit they make up make one world government, one army,one currency they sucseed in their scam thanks to all the idiots. WAKE UP CAN YOU SEE IT! IF YOU STILL DONT WELL THEY JUST PASSED NDAA COMING TO UR COMMUNITY NEAR YOU!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Earl, 9 Jan 2012 @ 10:43pm

    The worst you are going to get is profits moved from one Chinese factory to another(or in many cases, its the same factory). American people selling the goods, so american jobs there. And a lot of money saved by the consumer, more money to spend on other things that keep Americans in jobs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2012 @ 11:16pm

    I stop watching once it was implied that the businesses that produce the counterfeit thing are the ones setting up sweatshops overseas.

    It is completely ignoring how the makers of the original things also rely on sweatshops anywhere they can lobby for weaker worker protection laws.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Violated (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 3:54am

    The Loophole

    While it is true that any media the US Government makes from tax payer funds is public domain there is one massive loophole in this concept.

    That loophole happens to be that these Governmental departments can hire another company to make the video for them and it is that company which holds the copyright... even if your taxes paid for the entire production!

    I would term that "theft" myself.

    Now since ICE are rather slippery and have a history of avoiding accountability then what do you think they did? Proof is in the rip and reupload when I expect that copy to soon DMCA vanish.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael, 10 Jan 2012 @ 6:58am

    Pathetic propaganda, that's all this video is. If they were really concerned about losing jobs, they would have done something long ago about the rampant outsourcing (which continues to this day). This is a sleazy, transparent attempt to justify incriminating more Americans and further censoring the internet.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2012 @ 7:24am

    ....Cut to child playing in sand next to two US flags stuck in sand. Anytime I see the US flag in a PSA, red flags go up. So much damage has been done in the name of "patriotism". A true patriot would have no part of this government.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2012 @ 9:32am

    As an example of the dearth of information concerning what actually transpired between counsel for Dajaz1 and the DOJ, we have the following dated 12/08/12 from TorrentFreak:

    "After initially ignoring requests from DaJaz1 lawyer Andrew P. Bridges to return the domain, the U.S. government indicated it would begin the necessary forfeiture procedure. Bridges said he would submit a forfeiture challenge, but the deadline for the government to file apparently came and went with no visible action."

    My comments are based upon the fact that "requests" is nowhere defined in either this or the wealth of other articles that discuss this matter. In a civil matter (in this case a judicial seizure, as opposed to a nonjudicial seizure) counsel for a defendant files an appearance before a court and files a motion with the court to either modify or dismiss the order. Is this what counsel did, or did he use extra-judicial means? "Requests" provides no clue since it can mean many things.

    The comment attributed to counsel that he would wait until a forfeiture action was instituted seems a bit off the mark. It is counter-intuitive to simply bypass the opportunity to force the government's hand at the earliest possible opportunity, i.e., when the seizure was made, than to enter the fray at a later date. The former provides counsel in real time important information and the opportunity to truncate further proceedings immediately. The latter provides the government leeway to delay the institution of a forfeiture action by petition to the court.

    It is on this basis that I have asked for clarification, and to be met with derisive comments instead of an attempt to try and answer a question posed in good faith does nothing to further an understanding of what was actually happening. Importantly, as an attorney I look at matters before a court in the context of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the provisions of federal statutes. I do not look at them in the context of a news article that provide no more than top-level, general comments that are not documented elsewhere.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Drew (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 9:41am

    The thing I thought was the funniest is that it said "American Innovation is lost", and showed an Incandescent light bulb going out. Smugglers & counterfeiters didn't do that, nor did patent infringers. The US Congress did that.
    Oh, and now that they've closed down every single US-based incandescent light bulb factory, now they've changed their minds and made them legal again.
    Sorry, off-topic, I know, but it still bugged me =-P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    monkyyy, 10 Jan 2012 @ 9:51am

    reported as "promotes terrorism"
    sadly youtube didn't give me a space to explain my reasoning

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Just John (profile), 10 Jan 2012 @ 5:48pm

    Ice video, with comments!

    For all of us out here in the free world, who want to leave the government a message, I posted the ICE video, with comments enabled, at this link, so please feel free to stop over and post your comments.

    I hope it will bring attention to ICE and let them know what real people think about this stupid, highly misleading video.

    Please also remember, I reposted so people could let their feelings be known, not because I believe their message, so feel free to shoot ICE, not me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tommy, 10 Jan 2012 @ 8:18pm

    Video with comments

    Speak your mind on the comments

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tLPoj9FVfs

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tommy, 10 Jan 2012 @ 9:39pm

    Nice John

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    gpg16580 (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 5:03am

    ICE IDIOT

    Let this Chimpanzee search me! I have a Rottie that will make short work on this fool!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    D., 26 Feb 2012 @ 10:24am

    WUT

    Regarding the video at exactly 2:27, where the magical flat TV complains about Baseball (or football or basketball, whatever) jerseys... wut? You mean it's not okay to buy a T-shirt with your favorite team's logo at 10 bucks instead of the official one that's marked at, what, 100 dollars at least?
    And let's not be kidding ourselves. A shirt is a shirt. I've bought awesome T-shirts at 10$, and even stronger ones at 50.
    Plus the official seal of approval is nothing more than "so, uh, boss..." -> "yeah sure whatever stick my head on a T-shirt and call it official".

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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