Senator Leahy Wants To Give At Least $5 Million To State Department To 'Combat Piracy'

from the spread-the-money-around dept

Tue, May 29th 2012 7:11am — Mike Masnick

Last week, we wrote about a proposal in Congress to give ICE (part of Homeland Security) at least another $10 million for the next year to continue its program of censoring websites in the name of "stopping piracy." Of course, when Congress and Hollywood get together, they never put all their eggs in just one basket. So, it should come as no surprise that in another appropriations bill, this time for the State Department, and put forth by Senator Patrick Leahy -- who also introduced PIPA -- there's another chunk of "anti-piracy" cash. The bill sets forth $899,600,000 for "civil judicial and security programs." But, amazingly, the only program that is specifically called out with a specific amount is to "combat piracy."

CIVILIAN JUDICIAL AND SECURITY PROGRAMS.—$899,600,000 for assistance for rule of law, justice, corrections, anti-crime, cyber crime, civilian police, and security sector reform programs, of which not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available to combat piracy of United States copyright materials, consistent with the requirements of section 688 (a) and (b) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008

If you're curious about sections 688 (a) and (b) as mentioned in this bill, you can see them here. They just authorize the State Department to "provide training" to foreign judges and prosecutors on intellectual property law. That is, it's part of the US's official IP propaganda program to convince foreign judges and prosecutors that strict interpretations of IP laws are the only way to go.

A couple years ago, we wrote in more detail about how the State Department spends these funds, and it's not pretty. Basically, we send copyright maximalist lawyers to other countries -- countries that have their own copyright laws -- and tell judges and federal prosecutors there that they need to enforce US-style copyright maximalist laws.

I'm really not sure how that's an appropriate use of taxpayer money.

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Filed Under: homeland security, ice, patrick leahy, pipa, propaganda, state department

47 Comments

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The eejit (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 7:22am

1) Make imaginary problem up
2) Advertise that you will deal with imaginary problem
3) ???
4) PROFIT!!!!
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:10am
  
  Re:
  3.) Receive campaign contributions
  3.5.) Benefit from the revolving door
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silverscarcat (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 7:26am

So, who does Leahy represent and what party is this moron a part of?

I wish to know so that I can contact people in that person's state and tell them the truth.
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- ComputerAddict (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 7:51am
  
  Re:
  Unfortunately, My State of Vermont, and he calls himself a democrat.
  
  Also unfortunately he did enough early in his career (before Entertainment industry funding) to help the elderly / medicare / and farms. because of that Seniors and farm owners love him and will always vote for him... no matter what he does to "those computer thing-a-ma-jigs" He's been in office since 1974... and until either the seniors expire or he does, it doesn't look good for replacing him anytime soon.
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  - ltlw0lf (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:23am
    
    Re: Re:
    Unfortunately, My State of Vermont, and he calls himself a democrat.
    
    I get pork barrel politics. I don't like it, but I get it. When a politician pushes for pork barrel for their constituents, to win favor and votes, I get it. What I don't get is that Vermont isn't known for Copyright Industries. Is this really what the Vermont constituency wants their elected officials doing or is this just another example of corruption?
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    - Ruben, 29 May 2012 @ 9:14am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      What I don't get is that Vermont isn't known for Copyright Industries.
      
      Well, neither is Connecticut, whose loins spawned the evil Chris Dodd.
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    - Almost Anonymous (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 9:46am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      It doesn't matter what state you are from, if a lawmaker scratches the Entertainment Industry's back, the industry will scratch the lawmaker's back with a high-paying cushy job when they leave public* service.
      
      *where all values of public = corporate interests
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    - Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 11:32am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "What I don't get is that Vermont isn't known for Copyright Industries."
      
      That's part of the point. Get politicians from states that don't care about copyright to support you. That way when the politician votes to screw up copyright, no one cares and will still vote them in.
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  - robin, 29 May 2012 @ 9:56am
    
    Re: Re:
    Also unfortunately he did enough early in his career (before Entertainment industry funding) to help the elderly / medicare / and farms. because of that Seniors and farm owners love him and will always vote for him... no matter what he does to "those computer thing-a-ma-jigs" He's been in office since 1974... and until either the seniors expire or he does, it doesn't look good for replacing him anytime soon.
    
    my state as well, pretty much sums up the situation. really just an embarassment to us all, The Senator For Big Content, what a legacy.
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- Amazed, 29 May 2012 @ 8:20am
  
  Re:
  http://www.leahy.senate.gov/
  
  Democrat
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- Mike, 29 May 2012 @ 8:29am
  
  Re:
  Leahy is a democrat from Vermont. And don't ask me how he keeps getting elected. I always vote for the other guy.
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TheColorArmy, 29 May 2012 @ 7:29am

With other nations on the rise...
With other nations on the rise (Brazil, China, India, et al) the US is going to have to get used to other nations telling them "no", particularly on issues like copyright.

Of course, that doesn't mean ICE will ease up on us citizens...
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:31am

Ah, poor whiny Pirate Mike. I picture him stomping his feet like my toddler, saying, "I don't like it!" And then he falls on the floor crying.

God, you're an insufferable whiner.
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:36am
  
  Re:
  God you're an idiot.
  Trampling of any civil rights of the public in favor of any one group is wrong.
  
  I do not want to be in the Draconian world you so seem to favor.
  
  There are other solutions. Open yourself up to other profit ideas.
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:39am
  
  Hey now, trolling obviously is a patented process
  Obvious troll is obvious... pay up
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- PaulT (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 7:43am
  
  Re:
  You'd be taken more seriously if you had an actual point or rebuttal. The level of whining in your post eclipses any that might be detected in the article, if there is any at all.
  
  Just saying.
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- The eejit (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:31am
  
  Re:
  There are fart more important things to worry about than "piracy". Like, oh I don't know, not spending many billions and billions on wars you can't really afford. Or, maybe, fixing medical care for everyone. Or, maybe, just maybe, actually running the country.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Almost Anonymous (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 9:48am
    
    Re: Re:
    There are fart more important things to worry about than "piracy".
    
    I see what you did there...
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    - Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 11:35am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Honestly, I think The eejit's use of the term "fart" is far more important then "piracy".
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  - Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 11:12am
    
    Re: Re:
    Let not your farts be muffled
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    - The eejit (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 2:16pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      OR infringed upon, lest ye be made to pay extorbitant fees.
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- The Groove Tiger (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:58am
  
  Re:
  "Ah, poor whiny Pirate Mike. I picture him stomping his feet like my toddler, saying, "I don't like it!" And then he falls on the floor crying.
  
  God, you're an insufferable whiner."
  
  Copypasta trolling, LOL. This could be posted about anyone in any article on the internet ever without mattering what the article is about. Just change the name!
  
  The days of trolling madlibs are coming.
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 11:11am
  
  Re:
  More childish attacks from the pro IP crown.
  
  And you wonder why people flag your posts.
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- DC, 29 May 2012 @ 9:45pm
  
  Re:
  Ah poor whiny *IAA shill. When SOPA got shit canned, I picture him stomping his feet like my toddler, saying, "I don't like it!" And then he falls on the floor crying.
  
  God, you're an insufferable whiner.
  
  FTFY.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:34am

Mouthpiece for Corporate-run Police State wants more money for policing Corporate interests.

In other news" water wet, fire hot.

Film at 11.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:40am

so yet again, the US tax payer has got to fund the 'fight against illegal file sharing' when the industries that produce the files do absolutely nothing themselves except continuously complain about the imaginary amounts of money they are losing! jeez, Senator Leahy must be getting a hell of a kick back for promoting this shit, just like Mary Landrieu last week!
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- Machin Shin (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 7:47am
  
  Re:
  Well now look tax payers are about to loose $5 million to piracy! Something needs to be done to stop these pirates stealing from our poor economy!
  
  Oh wait, I'm sorry these morons who are actually TAKING MONEY are the good guys while those making copies are the evil bad guys. For a second there I got confused.
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 7:56am
  
  Re:
  This seems like a terrible plan. The US was/is already having major economy problems and now they want to spend more money? How about we put that money back into the public debt instead.
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MrWilson, 29 May 2012 @ 7:41am

I agree with Leahy that we need to fight piracy. Although I think $5 million is a low budget projection and the State Department is the wrong agency. The military, specifically the Navy, is the agency that has the training and experience and equipment for taking on pirates. They do a decent job on the Somali variety.
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- silverscarcat (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:00am
  
  Re:
  Well, if the seas weren't fished out and there was a somewhat respectable government, that is, not a warlord in power, maybe we wouldn't have any piracy these days.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:03am
    
    Re: Re:
    Maybe they are going to try and combat the future of piracy:
    Crimson Permanent Assurance
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    - ltlw0lf (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:27am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Maybe they are going to try and combat the future of piracy:
      Crimson Permanent Assurance
      
      +1 for the Monty Python link...
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Mega1987 (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:02am

10 million US dollars to combat piracy?

I think It's better to put that $10M to charitable donations or at least help those homeless people at least have a decent home and livelihood....

rather waste them in a global wack-a-mole...
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- silverscarcat (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:19am
  
  Re:
  You'd think so, but...
  
  Just look at Prohibition...
  
  And the War on Drugs...
  
  War on Terror...
  
  ETC...
  
  If there's ONE thing governments know how to do...
  
  It's waste money.
  
  Well, at least they're not spending it on toilet seat covers this time.
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  - The eejit (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:33am
    
    Re: Re:
    No, they're just spending it on things that go down the toilet.
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  - BeeAitch (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 10:52am
    
    Re: Re:
    You forgot CYBERWAR...
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David (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:08am

Can we Please...
...stop spending public money on protecting the business interests of private companies?
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- Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:18am
  
  Re: Can we Please...
  No!!! How else are politicians supposed to get their campaign contributions and revolving door favors??? Please, do tell.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:22am

All the American banks infiltrated every single countries banking system. LOL we're really are globalized now.
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Thomas (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 8:29am

Big reason..
is that the Senator is owned by the entertainment industry and is giving them what they want.

Why Homeland Security should give a rats tushie about "piracy" is beyond me.

The government has become a government of the businesses and rich, by the businesses and rich, and for the businesses and the rich. The 99% are not worthy of consideration.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:40am

Gasp, you mean the very same people who rail against US judges referencing, or even mentioning, foreign law in their rulings have no problem with influencing foreign law through 'education'?

Who would have ever known they're all such hypocrites?

Oh wait... we already did.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 8:51am

Just imagine if the Somali pirates in addition to taking boats and crew hostage distributed crappy cam versions of movies! The US would probably invade and occupy Somalia at that point.
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izzitme101, 29 May 2012 @ 9:17am

its the economic hitmen in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbdnNgqfs8
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Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2012 @ 9:33am

Everyone would be better off if Leahy just gave the $5 million directly to Disney. The same amount of piracy would occur either way, plus by not sending more stupid demands to other countries, their citizens wouldn't be as angry at us.
I'm sure he could pass it off as a "jobs bill". Go for it, Leahy!
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- PaulT (profile), 30 May 2012 @ 2:15am
  
  Re:
  "Everyone would be better off if Leahy just gave the $5 million directly to Disney."
  
  "I'm sure he could pass it off as a "jobs bill"."
  
  Call me optimistic, but surely even the most knuckle-dragging fool on the electorate would understand that giving $5 million to a company that's currently grossing $1.3 billion on a single one of its current releases would not create any jobs? Then again...
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Almost Anonymous (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 9:56am

A simple point
Senator Leahy, you've missed a very simple point: you could devote the entire $899,600,000 to "combat piracy of United States copyright materials" and you still wouldn't stop, or likely even dent, piracy.

Oh, and by the way Senator, since when has slang become acceptable when crafting a bill? Please grow up. I cannot believe that a U.S. Senator used the word piracy to refer to copyright infringement in a bill that he wants to become law.
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- The eejit (profile), 29 May 2012 @ 2:17pm
  
  Re: A simple point
  I can -0 yay for metatextual contextisation.
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