So Many Similarities Between Copyright Law And Prohibition

from the time-to-deal-with-reality dept

Mon, Aug 20th 2012 7:16am — Mike Masnick

A few months ago, we pointed to a video by ReasonTV, which noted that the over-enforcement of copyright law today had become this generation's Prohibition. While that might be slight (or significant) hyperbole, law professor Donald Harris has put together a fantastic paper that compares the two situations and finds an awful lot of similarities. Harris was recently on Jerry Brito's Surprisingly Free podcast to discuss the paper, and it was a very interesting and thoughtful discussion. It won't surprise many to recognize the obvious parallels between the situations:

Alcohol Prohibition during the 1920s and 1930s provide an historical example of the dangers of attempting to enforce a public policy that is inconsistent with society’s values and attitudes. Alcohol Prohibition failed because the people effectively nullified the law through widespread civil disobedience. There, as here, increased enforcement efforts failed. Prohibition teaches that it is impossible to enforce broad social norms that are inconsistent with widespread human behavior. This is consistent with compliance theory, which posits that societal compliance with laws will occur only when society believes the laws are just and legitimate.

In the end, Harris appears to come down in favor of a similar solution to the way that Prohibition ended: legalizing the activity in question (and regulating it). For example, he suggests that clearly-defined non-commercial file sharing could be legalized. I'm not sure that I agree completely with the argument, but it's still quite an interesting paper to read and podcast to listen to, so check them out.

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Filed Under: copyright, donald harris, prohibition

156 Comments

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Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:20am

I've said that dozens of times before. I want my royalties please. /derp

That should be obvious by now but it seems our Governments refuse to learn from past experiences. Maybe it's the fact they last up to 8 years? lmao
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shawnhcorey (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:24am

In the military, the first lesson they teach young officers is to never give an order that won't be obey. Too bad they don't teach it to politicians.
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omgstopwritingaboutlaw, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:29am

Can you please stop writing about the law when you know nothing about it?
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- WysiWyg (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:36am
  
  Re:
  Ehm, he wasn't writing about any laws directly, he wrote about societal norms.
  
  But just out of curiosity; what exactly did he get wrong about the law?
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- Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:37am
  
  Re:
  Can you please stop living in society when you know nothing about it?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Karim, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:37am
  
  Re:
  Sarcasm?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike Masnick (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:39am
  
  Re:
  Can you please stop writing about the law when you know nothing about it?
  
  This wasn't about the law. This was about a paper and an interview by a law professor.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:42am
    
    Re: Re:
    No mercy!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:19am
    
    Re: Re:
    This wasn't about the law.
    
    Nah, it wasn't about the law. You just put "Copyright Law" in the headline to get attention, right?
    
    You're such a slimy, lying douchebag, Masnick.
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    - Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:25am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Are you retarded? "Copyright law" is in the headline because he is talking about a piece that features copyright law from a law professor.
      
      Actually, I shouldn't call you a retard, Down Syndrome people could be offended.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2012 @ 1:42pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Copyright law" is in the headline because he is talking about a piece that features copyright law from a law professor.
        
        But the piece wasn't about the law?
        
        You're a fucking idiot.
        
        Masnick has already run away from this, now you go do the same.
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- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:14am
  
  Re:
  Are you a troll, a bot, or a parody?
  
  As always It#s impossible to tell the difference.
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- SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:55pm
  
  Re:
  You first.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:30am

Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010 apparently means 2012 equals over-enforcement. LOL

You know nobody actually believes any of your bs, right Masnick?

You're whistling in an echo chamber.
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- Dark Helmet (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:33am
  
  Re:
  Yeah, Masnick! Plus, you STILL haven't engaged me on my question about why we don't have a Dark Helmet Techdirt Nudie Calendar! RAWR!!!! eNGAge mE HumAN!!!!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:38am
    
    Re: Re:
    You know, that might be a pretty effective way to drive about every1 away from TD. Marked funny ;))
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - G Thompson (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:53am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      But think of the positive knock-on effect that it could have on the market for black tape - to cover the "OMG My Eyes" bits - and the huge potential in dart sales.
      
      Please can't anyone think of the dart manufacturers and black censor tape sellers.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Dark Helmet (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:08am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I'll have all of you know that I keep in tip top physical shape with a daily workout regimine featuring nightly athletic endeavors of football, baseball, and sometimes basketball (all on a Playstation 3), the lifting of decreasing weight, starting at 12 ounces and working down to cut up my arms, and frequent aerobic face-palming sessions.
        
        As such, I am 165 lbs. of rippling, hardcore muscle. Now, I happen to weigh 190 lbs., but I'm still 165 lbs. of rippling muscle....
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:13am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        LOL! If you follow techdirt regularly you must be rather skilled in facepalming with all those shills.
        
        You could have said Wii or Xbox kinetic. I'd blindly believe you are athletic lmao
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:58pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Hmmm.... Where's the button to vote for support for the Dark 'Helmet Techdirt Nudie Calendar'?
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    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:04am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      marked insightful
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  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:49am
    
    Re: Re:
    I thought the standing challenge was "why a DH nude calendar is not Ok", yes or no.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Lowestofthekeys (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:53am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      If DH looks anything like Rick Moranis, I vote no.
      
      Otherwise the calendar may prove to be a useful kickstarter campaign.
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  - Demoliri (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:09am
    
    Re: Re:
    Which helmet in this calender would be the Dark one out of curiosity?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:20am
    
    Re: Re:
    and you wear funny shoes
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  - Vog (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:33am
    
    Re: Re:
    Either the only problem with the calendar is the nudity, or it isn't, Masnick! So which is it, yes or no? It's just one simple question.
    
    Answer the question Mike, why do you run away from it?
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- WysiWyg (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:38am
  
  Re:
  What do you mean "complete lack of enforcement"? Ever heard about something called The Pirate Bay? Whatever the name is of the poor people who ended up having their lives completely ruined by lawsuits? Or Dajaz1?
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- Mike Masnick (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:40am
  
  Re:
  Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010 apparently means 2012 equals over-enforcement. LOL
  
  Anyone who thinks there was a complete lack of enforcement from 2000 - 2010 was apparently in a coma from 2000 to 2010.
  
  Thanks for playing and proving you don't know what you're talking about.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:19am
    
    Re: Re:
    "Anyone who thinks there was a complete lack of enforcement from 2000 - 2010 was apparently in a coma from 2000 to 2010.
    
    Thanks for playing and proving you don't know what you're talking about."
    
    Don't re-write history.
    
    What enforcement did exist was very much low hanging fruit. The US legal system, slows as it is, is still trying to digest the Jammie Thomas fiasco. Enforcement has been spotty, and mostly left to the copyright holders to try to push things via lawsuits and not through criminal action.
    
    What really has happened in the last little while is that enforcement has been stepped up. Laws of countries have been toughened or clarified. The various law enforcement agencies around the world are becoming better at dealing with an opponent who often lives in one country, runs their business in another, hosts in the third, and uses file lockers in a fourth. Getting their arms around it has been difficult to say the least.
    
    Demonoid, Megaupload, and the whole file lockers losing processing have all been a result of improved enforcement and awareness - something that was almost non-existant in the previous decade.
    
    Considering the millions of people pirating and the tens of thousands of website owners making their money through these illegal sites, it's surprising how few have been taken down by legal actions.
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      Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Mike Masnick is far too intellectually dishonest to admit to facts like that.
      
      But everyone knows that by now.
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      - PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:46am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If only facts were presented instead of personal opinion and the waving away of anything that doesn't fit the AC narrative...
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      - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:55am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The only people dishonest is you people.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Buccaneer
        
        Raid locations
        Countries
        
        Australia
        Belgium
        Canada
        Denmark
        Finland
        France
        New Zealand
        Germany
        Hungary
        Israel
        Netherlands
        Norway
        Singapore
        Spain
        Sweden
        United Kingdom
        United States of America
        
        United States cities
        
        Atlanta, Georgia
        Austin, Texas
        Baton Rouge, Louisiana
        Boston, Massachusetts
        Charlotte, North Carolina
        Chicago, Illinois
        Cincinnati, Ohio
        Eugene, Oregon
        Dallas, Texas
        Durham, North Carolina
        Cocoa Beach, Florida
        Houston, Texas
        Miami, Florida
        New Haven, Connecticut
        New York, New York
        Newark, New Jersey
        Norfolk, Virginia
        Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
        Orlando, Florida
        Oxnard, California
        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
        Phoenix, Arizona
        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
        Portland, Oregon
        Rochester, New York
        San Francisco, California
        St. Louis, Missouri
        Washington, D.C.
        Wilmington, Delaware
        
        The US has been raiding pirates like crazy in the last decade, is just people won't stop doing it no matter what you do to them LoL
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:02am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        While I appreciate you trying to make it look bigger than it was by making a nice long list, the reality is that out of the millions of pirates out there, out of the tens of thousands of pirate sites operating today, only a very few have faced prosecution.
        
        I can't help but think it's funny that the prosecution of 62 people is worthy of a wiki entry. It sort of sums out how truly rare the event is.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:21am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Lets be clear here, the US has been conducting almost yearly raids on "pirates" everywhere, every single year there is at least one big operation against supposed "pirates" every year hundreds of people go to jail and every year pirates increase in numbers apparently.
        
        Face it, enforcement failed miserably, people don't care about IP law, they don't care if it is illegal or not, they will just do it and there is nothing you or any government can do about it, is that simple.
        
        So your claims that there was no enforcement is just not true born from ignorance or dishonesty which apparently is the case here, because you now know that there was a lot of anti-piracy operations in the US alone but you still try to claim that it meant nothing, it is something small, so the only thing someone can conclude is that you are a dishonest bastard that is what you are.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:48am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Lets be clear here, the US has been conducting almost yearly raids on "pirates" everywhere,"
        
        Yes, and new pirates come on a daily basis. So yearly raids address, what, less than a third of a percent of the issue?
        
        Can you imagine if police only investigated murders on the first monday of each month for an hour?
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        Dark Helmet (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:54am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Yes, and new pirates come on a daily basis."
        
        That's what she said.
        
        ZING!!!!!
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:54am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Can you imagine how murder rates would climb if all the effort of law enforcement where direct to address copyright infringement?
        
        IP law is dead, nobody respect it, nobody cares.
        
        It is not enforceable, you can't stop people from copying something and you can't stop people from sharing it.
        
        Crazy laws eventually get what they deserve and that is the public scorn.
        
        Nobody aside from the few likes monopolies or censorship. No one is going to rally in favor of those things, you can try all you want at the end of the day billions will just ignore you and your kind no matter what you do and if push comes to shove you better be prepared because at some point a wall of angry people will knock on your door, don't say you haven't been warned.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:23am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        IP law is dead, nobody respect it, nobody cares.
        
        Sorry, but it's nothing of the sort.
        
        And you will be paying whether you like it or not.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And you will be paying whether you like it or not.
        
        So you admit it's extortion. Again, very big of you.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:37am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "And you will be paying whether you like it or not."
        
        Ah I see, so you're a bit like a dictator/tyrant and want to impose your will on other's. Good to know that's the type on your side of the debate. Why let reason and compromise lead to more effective solutions? "IT'S MY FUCKING WAY AND THAT'S IT! RAWR!" (That's how you come off by the way.)
        
        Also, notice how threatening what you just said sounded? My, my. So not only are you one of those types who gets mad if others don't want to play with him, but you're also the type who might blow up the playground too. Sheesh. And I thought "fuck off and die" guy was bad. Or is that you? Wouldn't surprise me if it was.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:40am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Well, it appears I spoke too soon. It is you. As is evidenced by this little beauty, "Now go die in a fire."
        
        Way to come off as a rational person and not some sociopath. /s
        
        Just realized the "With A Unique Writing Style" part of my Name didn't get input automatically by Chrome last time. Odd.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:42am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No threat at all. Perhaps you're scared and took it as such.
        
        I was simply informing you that there will never be a world where all movies and music are free.
        
        You can accept that or not; I seriously couldn't care less.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:49am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "No threat at all. Perhaps you're scared and took it as such."
        
        Scared? Of you? Hardly. You're about as scary as the random people on the street/some religious nuts saying my eternal soul is damned for this or that.
        
        But you did very much make it sound like a threat.
        
        "I was simply informing you that there will never be a world where all movies and music are free."
        
        Really? Because you stated no such thing. Want me to quote what you said originally? That way you can show me the part where you specifically mentioned that there will never be a world where all movies and music is free.
        
        "You can accept that or not; I seriously couldn't care less."
        
        Well, if that were true you wouldn't be insulting people or telling them to go die, now would you? Me thinks the lady doth care a great deal, thus the insults and the responses telling people to go die.
        
        Definitely not the words of someone who could not care less. /s
        
        FYI sweetie, you care a great deal. But you've yet to present any evidence/facts to back up your wild allegations/assertions. And you saying so DOES NOT make what you say even remotely true/a fact.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        JMT (profile), 21 Aug 2012 @ 5:53am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "I was simply informing you that there will never be a world where all movies and music are free."
        
        You informing us of something everybody here already knows? How nice of you...
        
        I will always be happy to pay to see quality movies in a quality cinema. I will always be happy to pay to see a band I like, or buy their physical merchandise.
        
        But paying for infinitely copyable digital files? Probably never again.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        me65, 8 Aug 2013 @ 5:58am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Eventually, the media would be free anyway. It will eventually show on broadcast television, entirely supported by advertising, not a penny spent by the "consumer"
        
        Seems like the difference between seeing a movie in theatre and downloading it, is like buying tickets to see a professional sporting event, or watching it free on tv. One is free, one isn't.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:00am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Also one has to wonder, if the laws are wrong when millions are just ignoring it, just like millions ignored the prohibition law.
        
        Disrespect for IP law is massive, is not a few people doing it, because they want to stick it to the man, is the entire population of the planet and you think you can win this?
        
        LoL
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:24am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        People only ignore it if they think they can get away with it.
        
        Applies to everything.
        
        Duh.
        
        You people are about as sharp as a bowling ball.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:36am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        In what environment could it be easier to get away with something than if everyone is ignoring it?
        
        Applies to everything.
        
        Duh.
        
        You are about as dense as a bowling ball.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:53pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Specially when everybody is doing it, everyone not just a few people but people everywhere no matter what religion, sex, age, sexual preferences, color, ethnicity, social status they are in or are part of everybody including you do it all the time.
        
        This should give yo a hint of what you are going against here.
        
        You want to change human nature because of economic interests.
        
        I hate to tell ya, but unless you have the power to watch everyone and make everybody comply you are screwed.
        
        The fact that you keep bitching about how enforcement is lacking just shows that there is no way to stop sharing, because if there was you would have used already.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 5:38pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        That's a far cry from 'no enforcement,' you gotta admit. Oh, wait, you probably won't because that would make you a slimy lying bastard!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:25am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        By the way you can search for these others too.
        
        Operation D-Elite (2005-???)
        Operation Fastlink (2004-2007)
        Operation Safehaven (2003-2005)
        Operation Site Down (2005)
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:03am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The War on Piracy is so like the War on Drugs. It all reminds me of the War on Alcohol.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        So you admit it's insanely widespread? And if it is widespread (to the point the new generation thinks it's the natural course) then you do admit it's an useless law?
        
        Food for thought ;)
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2012 @ 2:41pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        How did Raids work out for the police during prohabition....
        
        Sure the 'took' a lot of liquor from the population, and causes a big hull-a-baloo and how did that end up working out again?
        
        Something about laws that go against what people believe in are not enforcable without a Hitler type figure in power (Yes I goodwin'd it....)
        
        So ALL HEIL OBAMA..... I guess, who knew ?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "Don't re-write history."
      
      "here, allow me to do it by stating my own opinion as though it were fact and pretending that the enforcement that's been utterly ineffective wasn't what was talked about, with a pile of bullshit to top it off"
      
      Meanwhile, the same factors that inspired people to pirate in 2000 - and which can very easily be rectified without legal action - are still in place in 2012... If only they'd bothered to look at those first.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - The eejit (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:47am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      There's no enforcement in shutting off a market's supply.
      
      That only encourages market forces to enable a supplier, regardless of legality. See also: War on Drugs, Prohibition.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Stop re-writing history man!
      
      Napster was what?
      Grokster?
      Limewire?
      Jamie Thomas
      The rise of copyright trolls.
      Thousands harassed and sued all over the world.
      Hadopi
      DMCA
      Bag searches in movie theaters
      Deployment of snooping equipment in theaters.
      Operation Buccaneer (2000-today)
      Operation D-Elite (2005-???)
      Operation Fastlink (2004-2007)
      Operation Safehaven (2003-2005)
      Operation Site Down (2005)
      
      You don't know what you are talking about do you?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Keroberos (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:15am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      What enforcement did exist was very much low hanging fruit. The US legal system, slows as it is, is still trying to digest the Jammie Thomas fiasco. Enforcement has been spotty, and mostly left to the copyright holders to try to push things via lawsuits and not through criminal action.
      This is not low hanging fruit. It has been the copyright holders job to find relief through lawsuits because non-commercial copyright infringement is a civil infraction, not a criminal one. Only through the twisting of existing copyright laws and the usurping of the criminal justice system by the media companies have we now started to see prosecution (persecution?) of what would have been civil claims as criminal ones.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:45pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      
      "there was a complete lack of enforcement"
      What enforcement did exist was very much low hanging fruit.
      
      complete: adjective. perfect - entire - whole - total - absolute - full
      
      Sorry, who is it that's trying to rewrite history?
      
      Or were you using some other definition of "complete" that nobody in the world has ever used?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:59pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Don't re-write history.
      
      ^ ^ ^ ^
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:08am
    
    Re: Re:
    "Anyone who thinks there was a complete lack of enforcement from 2000 - 2010 was apparently in a coma from 2000 to 2010."
    
    Bizarre logic.
    
    Here's the situation Mike.
    
    a) It is an absolute face that enforcement will stop online copyright infringement.
    
    If you disagree with a) then skip straight to b)
    
    Was online copyright infringement stopped between 2000-2010?
    No, it wasn't.
    So, logically, there was no enforcement because if there had been then copyright infringment would have been stopped.
    So what we need, is what we called for: enforcement.
    
    b) If you don't believe that copyright infringement will be stopped by more laws or enforcement of those laws, then you are a pirate and your view is irrelevant. When you change your mind, go back to a).
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    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:11am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Ahem, "face" should be read as "fact"
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:25am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        no, farce
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        martyburns (profile), 21 Aug 2012 @ 5:21am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Thats what I assumed he meant too.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Rikuo (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:11am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "Was online copyright infringement stopped between 2000-2010?
      No, it wasn't.
      So, logically, there was no enforcement because if there had been then copyright infringment would have been stopped."
      
      No, logically, it means there were ATTEMPTS at enforcement, and so far, they have been completely ineffective.
      
      What you're arguing is circular logic: there is enforcement but it is ineffective...therefore there was no enforcement?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Chris, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:14am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Uh huh... I assume you were giving an example of bizarre logic for everyone?
      
      So you stated your opinion, called it an indisputable fact without giving any support for it, then told anyone who disagrees to fuck off and die.
      
      Have I missed something?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:27am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Now apply that to all laws and see what it tells you.
      
      Welcome to reality.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "a) It is an absolute face that enforcement will stop online copyright infringement.
      
      If you disagree with a) then skip straight to b)
      
      b) If you don't believe that copyright infringement will be stopped by more laws or enforcement of those laws, then you are a pirate and your view is irrelevant. When you change your mind, go back to a)."
      
      Not going to lie, I laughed out loud at this. I think we might be getting our legs pulled.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:22pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Reading comments here is sometimes like reading The Onion then reading some of the actual news (e.g. the "legitimate rape" comment that's been reported on today). Sometimes, you just hope that someone has accidentally copied an Onion link or otherwise engages in satire, but you always fear that somebody is actually this stupid and - god forbid - might have more power than you.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Dionaea (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 3:02pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Actually I was thinking the same thing, voted funny too.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2012 @ 2:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "b) If you don't believe that copyright infringement will be stopped by more laws or enforcement of those laws, then you are a pirate and your view is irrelevant. When you change your mind, go back to a)."
      
      Complete broken logic. How would "If you don't believe that copyright infringement will be stopped by more laws or enforcement of those laws" simple opinion actually relate to "then you are a pirate". ANSWER THE QUESTION AC; RHHHHHAAAAAA !!!
      
      By the way why do you post as AC at all ? GOT SUMFING TO HIDE ? ANSWER THE QUESTIN, YES OR NO !! RHHHAAAAAA !!!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:40am
  
  Re:
  "Don't copy that floppy."
  "Home Taping Is Killing Music."
  
  And perhaps a dozen others.
  
  This isn't a problem that started yesterday. It has been ongoing for well over three decades, perhaps ever since portable radios/cassette recorders have been invented.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:26am
    
    Re: Re:
    the gramophone is killing the sheet music business. it goes back even further; the printing press is killing the scribe business
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:01pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Goes back further than that: Written word is killing the athlete business. Why won't kids stop reading those newfangled "story" things and throw a discus or two?!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Me65, 8 Aug 2013 @ 5:38am
    
    Re: Re:
    Actually, longer than that, really ever since the printing press was invented.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:41am
  
  Re:
  Oh so it means 1999 and back they enforced it? Was it some sort of experiment? Were Napster, Limewire, Newzbin, TPB etc just fake trials?
  
  Also, have you noticed he's talking about a piece from another guy?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - ahow628 (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:12am
    
    Re: Re:
    "Were Napster, Limewire, Newzbin, TPB etc just fake trials?"
    
    Yes, but not in the way you were implying.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:19am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      LOL.. Indeed. I didn't think about that facet. They were produced by the greed and money. But yeah they are good examples of 'enforcement'.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2012 @ 3:59pm
    
    Re: Re:
    The biggest difference is Napster, Limewire, and the like were DIGITAL FILES being shared, not hard copies like cds, dvds, vhs, and cassette tapes that could be tracked back to a single source making illegal hard copies...so it took awhile for "The Man" to catch on...lol
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 21 Aug 2012 @ 7:13pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      It took?
      You mean is taking right because, people keep doing it.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- silverscarcat (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:41am
  
  Re:
  "Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010 apparently means 2012 equals over-enforcement. LOL"
  
  Yes, because the DMCA didn't come into being until 2012, when it was signed by ex President Bill Clinton.
  
  And Napster didn't get hit with lawsuits in 1998 because it didn't exist until 2010, amirite?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Lowestofthekeys (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:51am
  
  Re:
  I think TD needs to incorporate a function that will not allow an AC to post until he has read reliable links related to specific keywords.
  
  It'd be like a forced education function.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:11am
  
  Re:
  "Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010"
  
  In which universe did this happen? Did I dream the shutdown of Napster and the moronically futile attempts to play legal whack-a-mole ever since that failed to magically stop piracy?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:21am
  
  Re:
  "Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010 apparently means 2012 equals over-enforcement. LOL"
  
  Let's play a game called "Educate the Troll". I'm not going to put too much effort into said game, but I'd like to open things up. If anyone wants to help me out, feel free to do so.
  
  Now, to refute your complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 200-2010 claim, I present the following:
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act#Notable_court_cases
  
  ( I'll save you time by listing some of the more relevant and notable cases.)
  
  IO Group, Inc. v. Veoh Netowrks, Inc. - 2006
  Viacom Inc. v. Youtube, Google Inc. - 2007
  Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. - 2007
  ReadlNetworks, Inc. v DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. - 2009
  
  Again, that's just DMCA related. Moving on.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_group_efforts_against_file_sharing#Actions_against_Interne t_service_providers
  
  Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) sues Eircom - 2007
  AFACT takes iiNet to court - 2008
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_group_efforts_against_file_sharing#Actions_against_file_s haring_services
  
  RIAA labels sue Napster - 1999
  RIAA sues Aimster - 2002
  MPAA sues Grokster (and other file sharing services) - 2003
  RIAA sues developers of LimeWire - 2006
  
  And that's just listing the suits, not the raids conducted on servers and server locations done at the behest of the RIAA/MPAA (one of which targeted TPB and took place in 2006). Nor too mention the other attempts to grant "amnesty" to file sharers or allow for "settlements" with said people as well (actions/programs which took place in 2003, 2004, and 2007).
  
  So, would you like to retract your statement about the complete lack of enforcement from the years 2000 - 2010? Or can I just go ahead and chalk this point up to myself?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:45am
    
    Re: Re:
    "oh boo hoo, the horrible riaa and the horrible mpaa sued some of those who broke the IP laws that protect their businesses".
    
    Shocking.
    
    SNORE.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:53am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You are aware some of those things listed were people suing groups (like Universal) for taking down content they had no right to take down, right?
      
      And I wasn't listing any of that to cry or anything. I was listing it to point out examples of enforcement. Which was done to prove the OP's point as being wrong.
      
      Way to contribute nothing to the conversation or refute what I said though.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:04am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So it is that people got sued and you're completely wrong about enforcement from 2000-2010. Thanks for manning up and admitting you were completely wrong.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:04am
    
    Re: Re:
    "IO Group, Inc. v. Veoh Netowrks, Inc. - 2006
    Viacom Inc. v. Youtube, Google Inc. - 2007
    Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. - 2007
    ReadlNetworks, Inc. v DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. - 2009
    "
    
    You realize of course that you didn't list a single crimnal case, right?
    
    prosecutions in that list? ZERO!
    
    Thanks for making the point and proving Mike wrong yet again.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:56am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "You realize of course that you didn't list a single crimnal case, right?
      
      prosecutions in that list? ZERO!
      
      Thanks for making the point and proving Mike wrong yet again."
      
      You realize I wasn't trying to list criminal cases/prosecutions, right?
      
      I was merely listing various methods of enforcement of IP rights.
      
      So I did very much make my point and prove you wrong. You said no enforcement between years X to X. I gave examples of exactly that. Of course, when you move the goal posts to "criminal cases" and "prosecutions", well then of course I didn't make the point that you didn't actually make clear as far as your definition of "enforcement" goes.
      
      Mike has been proved right and so have I. And the point, made quite clear, is that you said something that was proven wrong and rather than fess up and admit you were wrong, you change the argument.
      
      You trolls, those of you who claim to know the law (and this is a blanket statement, not necessarily aimed at you), are pretty ridiculous. The facts DO NOT get in the way of your views of reality. Evidence and citations be damned, right?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:58am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      so if is not criminal it didnt hapen, with that logic we can say that there is no piracy cause there hasnt been any criminal case
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:10am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      That's because there weren't any crimes involved...
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:33am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "You realize of course that you didn't list a single crimnal case, right?
      
      prosecutions in that list? ZERO!
      
      Thanks for making the point and proving Mike wrong yet again."
      
      This doesn't prove Mike wrong. It has zero to do with this post.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:27pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "You realize of course that you didn't list a single crimnal case, right"
      
      Because most of the laws being broken are civil, not criminal?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:56am
  
  Re:
  Sucky, low-accuracy, over-the-top, high-collateral-damage enforcement != no enforcement.
  
  That the two seem indistinguishable to you is, sincerely, nobody's business.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:28am
  
  Re:
  So The 2008-2009 Pirate Bay trial and Operation Fastlink weren't copyright enforcements, correct!?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Forest_GS (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:36am

Non-commercial file sharing IS legal. It's just the old gatekeepers are fighting so hard for control >.>
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:27am
  
  Re:
  "Non-commercial file sharing IS legal."
  
  One big difference between anti-file-sharing efforts and Prohibition is that Prohibition was established by the 18th Amendment, whose sole, explicit purpose was to ban alcohol. It didn't work as hoped, but our democratic process established it fair and square.
  
  No such explicit law has ever been passed regarding noncommercial file-sharing. There is MUCH LESS support for such a law then there was for Prohibition. And can you imagine a constitutional amendment that prohibits the sharing of someone else's speech?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:38am

Feels more like Sharia Law to me, considering they'd both love to stone you to death for unauthorized music.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
WysiWyg (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 7:40am

Wonder how long...
I wonder how long it will take before someone makes the connection "running a website with infringing material (or maybe linking to it or something maybe)" and "mobster"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:04am
  
  Re: Wonder how long...
  I wonder how long it will take before someone makes the connection "running a website with infringing material (or maybe linking to it or something maybe)" and "mobster"?
  
  The entertainment industry has been trying to place that false connection into the public's mind for years:
  
  http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090629/0154525394.shtml
  
  http://www.techdirt.com/arti cles/20091101/1818186751.shtml
  
  http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100129/0630057974.shtml
  
  http ://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111129/15095716926/white-houses-totally-clueless-response-to-copyrigh t-infringement-call-mcgruff-crime-dog.shtml
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:15am
  
  Re: Wonder how long...
  "I wonder how long it will take before someone makes the connection "running a website with infringing material (or maybe linking to it or something maybe)" and "mobster"?"
  
  Well in Britain, with their Serious Organised Crime Agency, set up to deal with terrorism and narcotics kingpins and the like taking down music link websites, I think the connection has already been made.
  
  With purported copyright infringers being accused and charged with conspiracy just like many people in organised crime were then it also suggests that connection has already been made.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:11am
    
    Re: Re: Wonder how long...
    SOCA has part of its funding coming from the private sector about 41 million pounds of it, guess who is the biggest philanthropic entity and got special privileges?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
MrWilson, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:42am

"For example, he suggests that clearly-defined non-commercial file sharing could be legalized. I'm not sure that I agree completely with the argument,"

Omigod, Masnick. You didn't accuse him of being a total pirate apologist for making such a suggestion, and even though you didn't say anything close to "piracy is awesome!", you're clearly a pirate apologist!

/sarcasm
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:18am
  
  Re:
  Shit, you got me. I hit report before noting it was a sarcasm! Nice job!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - MrWilson, 20 Aug 2012 @ 3:47pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I'll take that as a +1 internets.
    
    If I had to create a new persona here, I might consider the name "sarcasm tag."
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:05am

The analogy with prohibition in not particularly apt because the main problem with prohibition was the growth of violent criminal organizations.

A better analogy would be speeding.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:16am
  
  Re:
  Google advertises human trafficking.
  
  Seems violent and criminal to me...
  
  But hey, I know those that rip off actors and musicians are willing to overlook that too if means not having to pay for content.
  
  Google figured your sorry asses out a long time ago. It's a major part of their crappy business model.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - MrWilson, 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:32pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Ooh, "Big Search" FUD.
    
    No citations. No proof.
    
    Let me try: Anonymous Coward puts Codeine on his Cornflakes!
    
    Seems criminal to me...
    
    Why haven't the police looked into Anonymous Coward's Codeine habit?
    
    What? AC doesn't have such a habit? But it's true! I said so!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:17am
  
  Re:
  It is a normal human temptation for some people to speed.
  
  But it is normal human behaviour, to drink or take drugs in some other form and it is also normal human behaviour to share things they like with others.
  
  The analogy with prohibition is more apt.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:23am
    
    Re: Re:
    Cool, so you share your drugs and your drink and your music.
    
    Now share your money with me or you're just another hypocritcal freetard.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:14am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Pay me first than I share it with you.
      
      The thing is, I don't need to share my money with you, it is safe elsewhere and you don't have easy access to it, but you can copy my money if you like all you want.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:35am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "Now share your money with me or you're just another hypocritcal freetard."
      
      Counterfeiting is a criminal offense. It's ALWAYS illegal to copy money even for noncommercial use. Making copies of digital files is usually not illegal in any way.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:22am
  
  Re:
  The analogy with prohibition in not particularly apt because the main problem with prohibition was the growth of violent criminal organizations.
  
  Not so sure the public at large viewed organized crime as a "problem" during Probation. I'm sure they didn't really care for the violence and whatnot, but the crime organizations were providing what the people wanted the most - the booze.
  
  And yes, speeding is perhaps a slightly better analogy, but it is flawed too. Speeding laws are not trying to make something the public desires completely unlawful like Prohibition, or the Drug War or file sharing. Speeding laws are more akin to current alcohol laws if you ask me. They are only restricting the privilege of driving somewhat.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:27am
    
    Re: Re:
    Most people wanted to drink booze.
    
    Most people don't want to rip off actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
    
    The prohibition analogy is retarded and is just more of the completely stale recycled rationalizations freetards make.
    
    These rationalizations don't work. They convince no one. That's why you now have the shift in the landscape against them.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:05am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Most people don't want to rip off actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
      
      Wrong. If there wasn't a large swath of the population file sharing, we wouldn't even be having this discussion, would we?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:31am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Most people don't rip off actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
        
        But enough do that it has taken money away from actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
        
        So it is most certainly a problem and that's why it's finally being addressed.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:06pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        But enough do that it has taken money away from actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
        
        Has it? I would really love to see your evidence of this. You stating it like it's a fact isn't any sort of proof, really.
        
        Like I have stated before, I have been looking for hard, verifiable numbers from reputable sources with clearly defined methods that piracy actually hurts anyone, anywhere. Can you provide this?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:10pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Please don't be an idiot.
        
        Just the recorded music industry alone saw their revenue cut in half from 2000-2010. You realize that situation results in lost jobs and less money for musicians, producers, engineers, etc., right???
        
        Masnick is a sociopath and a liar, so he isn't going to inform you that the vast amount of people employed in the music industry suffered lost wages from the serial pirating of recorded music rather than purchasing of it. These people will tell you the same thing if you ever get a chance to talk to them.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward With A Unique Writing Style, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:23pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Please don't be an idiot."
        
        You first.
        
        "Just the recorded music industry alone saw their revenue cut in half from 2000-2010."
        
        Wait. Hold on a minute. You mean to tell me that in the years when FINALLY people were able to purchase just that one song off the album they want, as opposed to being forced to buy the entire album for only that one song, the revenue for the recording music industry dropped?
        
        Well I for one am shocked! Shocked I say! To hear such news.
        
        "You realize that situation results in lost jobs and less money for musicians, producers, engineers, etc., right???"
        
        Most of us are smart enough to realize that when industries change in monumental ways that some jobs will be lost. This is not quite as big news as you seem to think it is. Or did you get just as galvanized when a large amount of autoworkers lost their jobs?
        
        But, now the tools have evolved to where literally anyone can become a musician, producer, engineer, etc. You realize that, right?
        
        And in point of fact, there is now more of the pie to go around for everybody. You know this, correct? (I only ask because there are actual independent, non Google financed studies that show this.)
        
        "Masnick is a sociopath and a liar, so he isn't going to inform you that the vast amount of people employed in the music industry suffered lost wages from the serial pirating of recorded music rather than purchasing of it."
        
        Ad hom, followed up with a speculative opinion represented as fact. Ignored.
        
        "These people will tell you the same thing if you ever get a chance to talk to them."
        
        Yes, well, I'm sure these people will quickly start with the "they took 'ur jobs!", but that doesn't make it so. Nor is it actually proof of who or what took their jobs. Until such time as their is clear, empirical proof of such, the only one lying here is yourself.
        
        Oh, and just to help you out, the definition of a sociopath is as follows:
        
        "a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience."
        
        Hmm. Seems like the one who best fits that description is most definitely not Mike, but you. Antisocial behavior? Check. Lacks a sense of moral responsibility? Check. (As he places the blame for the shortcomings of a few industries on others, without any actual proof to support his claims.) Lack of a social conscience? Check. (Ad homs in nearly every other comment. Threats others. Decides for others what they can or can't do and what is or isn't good for them. Etc.)
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:51pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You mean to tell me that in the years when FINALLY people were able to purchase just that one song off the album they want
        
        Bzzt. Willful blindness. People didn't all just switch to itunes... lol
        
        Most of us are smart enough to realize that when industries change in monumental ways that some jobs will be lost. This is not quite as big news as you seem to think it is.
        
        Yeah, it is. Especially when it's a major industry and it's the result of illegal behavior.
        
        Or did you get just as galvanized when a large amount of autoworkers lost their jobs?
        
        Moronic analogy. The auto industry had lower demand. Recorded music didn't. The auto industry wasn't being affected by illegal behavior. The record business was.
        
        But, now the tools have evolved to where literally anyone can become a musician, producer, engineer, etc. You realize that, right?
        
        hahaha, yeah, sure they can. lol
        
        Oh, and I'm Batman.
        
        Ad hom, followed up with a speculative opinion represented as fact. Ignored.
        
        Nope. Proof below.
        
        I'm sure these people will quickly start with the "they took 'ur jobs!", but that doesn't make it so.
        
        Yes it does. Because, see, these people actually work in the business and you don't. You're an idiot freetard on a Google-finaced piracy apologist blog.
        
        Oh, and just to help you out, the definition of a sociopath is someone that exhibits at least 3 of the following tendencies:
        
        1.Callous unconcern for the feelings of others.
        
        2.Gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules, and obligations.
        
        3.Incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them.
        
        4. Very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence.
        
        5. Incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment.
        
        6. Markedly prone to blame others or to offer plausible rationalizations for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.
        
        Masnick clearly demonstrates at least 4 of these, in public no less.
        
        He is a sociopath.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:41pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No people switched to Youtube(free), to Spotify(free), radio(free), tv(free), personal sharing(free).
        
        They also stopped buying for a lot of reasons one very important one is the suing that started and was finally stopped because of the drastic drop in sales that it caused, that alone was responsible for half the loses in revenue for the music industry.
        
        Also of note is that "piracy" is only illegal in your disturbed mind dude, nobody believe sharing anything is criminal.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        RadialSkid (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 2:03pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        1.Callous unconcern for the feeling of others.
        
        "We don't care if she's a single mother who just swapped 24 songs that she liked online, we're going to destroy her life by forcing her to pay us millions of dollars! We have sympathy for her, she brought it on herself! How dare she like music! And if you disagree, then you're a FREETARD!"
        
        2.Gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules, and obligations.
        
        "We don't care if 500 million people worldwide engage in such acts, we won't allow it! Lock everything down! Everyone will just tolerate it if we cut off their internet connections, and they'll love us again!"
        
        3.Incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them.
        
        "Okay, we're going to pay your band $500,000 in advance, payable out of your royalties if you recoup at a normal 8% rate. You're really going places! Those other bands that have one hit and are never heard from again? That won't be you! You have a unique voice, just like every act we signed before you!"
        
        4. Very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence.
        
        "Why won't Mike debate me, that stupid piracy apologist freetard Google Big Search Cookies shill?"
        
        5. Incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment.
        
        "Why are hundreds of thousands of people DDOSing our official website right now? We never did anything wrong!"
        
        6. Markedly prone to blame others or to offer plausible rationalizations for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.
        
        "It's sad that the millions of people worldwide protesting us care more about THIEVES that the UNDENIABLE RIGHTS of our roster of ARTISTS and CREATORS."
        
        Any of that sound familiar?
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        SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:04pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Oh, hi Darryl.
        
        Just freetard pirate apologists? What? No broadbrush or job destroyers? I'm disappointed.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:51pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Just the recorded music industry alone saw their revenue cut in half from 2000-2010. You realize that situation results in lost jobs and less money for musicians, producers, engineers, etc., right???
        
        Something must be wrong with my browser because the links you provided to back up this assertion aren't showing up.
        
        And you are an idiot if you only look at losses in one small sector (recorded music) and come to your conclusion. Do you really think all those jobs just evaporate into thin air and aren't displaced into other sectors? Disruption by technology in a particular industry isn't anything new. I used to be a Draftsman, drawing with pencils and straight edges before the PC and AutoCAD. Now I am a sign maker because professional draftsman are pretty much extinct.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:48am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Wrong. If there wasn't a large swath of the population file sharing, we wouldn't even be having this discussion, would we?"
        
        They are, actually.
        
        Needless to say, file-sharing doesn't rip off anyone, which is why there is no conflict between supporting artists and file-sharing.
        
        The great recent change is that more and more people are becoming more entrenched in streaming and subscription services, which are usually just as free and also don't rip anyone off.
        
        I love TechDirt trolls but this one is partying like it's 2005.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:15pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        more and more people are becoming more entrenched in streaming and subscription services, which are usually just as free
        
        Big fan of those, as artists get paid.
        
        Just know tho, that they are no more "free" than commercial television. One way or the other you are paying for it in some part.
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    - The Logician (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:10am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You have yet to demonstrate with empirical, non-entertainment industry evidence that infringement causes any harm whatsoever, Lime AC. Until you do, every argument you make is invalid because they are based on a false premise.
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      - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:32am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You're an ignorant freetard, so of course you don't get it.
        
        Now go die in a fire.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:08pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Don't worry, everyone, I happen to speak his language. I'll communicate with him in his native tongue.
        
        *ahem*
        
        "NO U"
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:06pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Oh come on, freetard again?
        
        Hows about... Nickle-Nicker? Or Shit-Apple? Something new please, these insults are getting old.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 10:15am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Well I am convinced.
      Am I believe the only retarded here is you.
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    - Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:23am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Most people don't want to rip off actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc.
      
      Almost nobody wants to rip off any artist. That's why most people contribute someway (shows, kickstarter, donations, merchandise etc). The new generations completely disagree with you sonny, they value the artists, not the music.
      
      That's why you now have the shift in the landscape against them.
      
      I'll give you a unicorn so you can ride along with your friend Santa, Easter Bunny and your pet leprechauns. The landscape is not shifting, it's precisely that. The new generations couldn't care less about copyright.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Go tell that to Kim.com and the folks at Demonoid.
        
        LOL
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        Ninja (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:57am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        One example of a completely messed up case (that the US is in real risk of losing) and another that doesn't have clear details about it.
        
        Kim Dotcom and Demonoid have nothing to do with it. You go tell an entire generation that couldn't care less about copyright. I'll laugh while you try.
        
        And amusingly, as 1 service go down, several more come up. And they are more and more decentralized. I really wanna see you take down DHT and the search system within. GOOD LUCK ;)))
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:04pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        LOL
        
        Everyone saw the teeth-gnashing that occurred just a few weeks ago with the demise of Demonoid.
        
        The no-risk days of piracy are over.
        
        But if you want to keep pretending they aren't, maybe this guy can help you:
        
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Saeed_al-Sahhaf
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:26pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Everyone saw the teeth-gnashing that occurred just a few weeks ago with the demise of Demonoid.
        
        You realize that torrent technology has moved past central trackers and torrent indexes don't you?
        
        With BTDigg one can search for whatever is floating around in the swarm and connect with magnetic links. And if happens that BTDigg.org gets taken down (I try to never underestimate the legacy players ability to stretch the law to suit their whims) some other geek will create a decentralized DHT version of BTDigg.
        
        As always, such enforcement actions will be viewed as minor inconveniences to be routed around.
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        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:32pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Thanks! Didn't know about this.
        
        Just forwarded it to ICE and Ms. Espinel.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:02pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Just forwarded it to ICE and Ms. Espinel.
        
        Good for you! Tell Mort I said Hi!
        
        Not sure what good it will do though. They are not doing anything wrong. You might have to buy a few more Congressmen to make this illegal.
        
        From BTDigg:
        
        BTDigg is not a tracker and doesn't store any content and only collects
        torrent metadata (such as file names and file sizes) and a magnet link (torrent identifier).
        This means BTDigg is the entirely legal system.
        
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:21pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If you think facilitating infringement is going to be considered legal by the SC then you're crazy.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:36pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If you think facilitating infringement is going to be considered legal by the SC then you're crazy.
        
        Please explain how it is "facilitating infringement" in any way, shape or form.
        
        I guess you must think Google Maps is "facilitating criminal activity" because it has the address of every crack house in the world.
        
        You make me wish common sense was a bit more common.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 1:40pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Might not want to use Google when discussing "legal". lol
        
        They just got nailed for another 22 million dollar fine.
        
        I'm sure that type of behavior is going to be allowed to go on forever.
        
        Or at least until the election is over.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Gwiz (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 2:56pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Might not want to use Google when discussing "legal". lol
        
        They just got nailed for another 22 million dollar fine.
        
        Wow. First you spout crap off the top of your head like it's the Gospel truth and refuse to give any citations or links to back it up. And now you take a week old headline and contort it painfully to score some kind of point against some imaginary adversary you've built in your own head.
        
        Google's fine had nothing at all do do with anything illegal. It was about tracking cookies and the fact Google promised not to do that without disclosure. They forgot the disclosure part and got called out on it.
        
        And this was a settlement anyways, which is nothing more than a statement of nolo contendere as far as I am concerned.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        JMT (profile), 21 Aug 2012 @ 6:07am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "They just got nailed for another 22 million dollar fine."
        
        They just got "nailed" for a fine equivalent to less than 20 hours worth of their profit earnings. It's the equivalent of a decent speeding fine. Try to keep a little perspective.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        teka (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:35pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        marked funny, you are just hilarious.
        
        Tell you what, lets check on that "no-risk days of piracy are over" claim.
        
        Ok, now, since you know everything about everything (obviously) please check and tell me if I am infringing on someones monopoly reproduction privilege.
        
        Go ahead. Right now, don't dawdle.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Milton Freewater, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:41am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "These rationalizations don't work. They convince no one. That's why you now have the shift in the landscape against them."
      
      What shift are you talking about? Offer one example.
      
      "Most people don't want to rip off actors, directors, producers, editors, engineers, musicians, etc."
      
      If this is what you mean, it's not a shift ... this has been a constant from day one.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - PaulT (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:25pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I'll remind you that you can't have it both ways. Either the industry is in serious trouble because of the massive levels of piracy and lost sales they cause, thus requiring the draconian measures being pushed through, or it's not. You can't change your opinions depending on whether or not it fits the attack you're currently making. If most people aren't pirating, then most people are still paying for content and thus dropping sales have different causes. If they are pirating and it's civil disobedience of the law, then it's exactly like prohibition. Pick one.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- techflaws (profile), 21 Aug 2012 @ 5:43am
  
  Re:
  The analogy with prohibition in not particularly apt because the main problem with prohibition was the growth of violent criminal organizations.
  
  Like the MPAA, RIAA, ...?
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Overcast (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:35am

I'll DRINK TO THAT!!

*hic*
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Overcast (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 9:44am

Complete lack of enforcement on the internet from 2000-2010 apparently means 2012 equals over-enforcement. LOL

You know nobody actually believes any of your bs, right Masnick?

You're whistling in an echo chamber.

Law, no law - hasn't and won't do a damn bit of good. The 'law' never stopped anyone from copying a cassette tape and it's not going to stop the masses from copying digital music.

Sure, they'll bust a couple here and there - and likely waste 10 times what they *may* get in profits if every pirate paid what they could for media - because I suspect 90% of 'pirates' - can't afford what they are downloading - come hell or high water, they are likely just too poor.

Most of us that make enough to buy media - do so anyway, as we want the physical media.

I won't buy 'digital' - because it's too easy to get SCREWED by the companies - and I'll call one out, Blockbuster.

Blockbuster sells a friend of mine a 'digital movie' = and yes, he PAID for it. With real money, you know?

So Blockbuster takes their DRM crap offline and now he can't watch.. the movie... **HE PAID FOR**. Blockbuster 'doesn't offer it for streaming' and they won't ship him a copy - so basically, he's screwed. Sure, they offered to refund the money, to a card he hasn't had in two years... lot of good that does.

So - this is a case of a media company screwing a customer - we don't hear about this now, in regards to DRM do we?

This is WHY I only buy Physical media. If it's digital - and 'free' - I'll use it. Otherwise, I buy physical and rip to digital.

See - even when people pay - they get the shaft. So explain again why people should pay for digital media - please try to make a sensible argument, if there is one. Especially when the 'seller' can screw you at will because they decide to just take their DRM servers offline....

So sure, I buy the media I use - but that is very little. Most all I get now is Pandora, Satellite Radio and On-Demand. Hell, almost no reason to even 'buy' now anyway.

And yes, the blockbuster story is 100% true. Sadly.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Aug 2012 @ 11:01am

like drugs, it's the only way to successfully monitor and profit from it. restricting it like it is now makes no sense what so ever. the industries concerned are losing so much money in court costs, plus their own highly dubious and questionable practices have been more publicized than ever. be sensible over something and succeed. be greedy, then more likely to fail
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- SujaOfJauhnral (profile), 20 Aug 2012 @ 8:10pm
  
  Re:
  A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow footbridge, he happened to look down and saw himself reflected in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own.
  
  If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a stupid Dog he had been.
  
  Dog must be head of the MAFIAA.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rekrul, 20 Aug 2012 @ 4:47pm

The main difference is that Prohibition didn't have multi-billion dollar, multinational corporations bankrolling it.
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CK20XX, 21 Aug 2012 @ 12:46am

This would mean that torrent sites are modern speakeasies, except far safer because no one ever killed someone else in an accident after a torrenting binge.
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mw, 27 Aug 2012 @ 3:59pm

Copyright law
Copyright has gotten ridiculous over the years. I think it is almost to the point where most of the cases are just pointless.
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m375, 8 Aug 2013 @ 5:54am

Just what are the point of these huge lawsuits, suing file sharers for millions, and may never have millions.

No, I don't have millions, even if you took every asset I have, the worst you could do is put me in debt for the rest of my life, you'll never get your millions even after I'm dead.
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Me65, 8 Aug 2013 @ 6:03am

It's already legal, yes 100% legal, to share COPYRIGHTED material in Canada, but not to put such material up for download
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