Both Major Parties Are In 'Vigorous' Denial About The Need For Copyright & Patent Reform
from the meaning-they-want-to-please-legacy-funders dept
Last week we wrote about weaknesses in the Republican's platform on internet freedom, noting that the MPAA's endorsement of it showed that it wasn't recognizing the importance of fixing copyright law, rather than expanding it. And, of course, we've now been pointing out significant issues with the Democrat's platform as well. Once again, on internet and innovation issues it falls down completely when it comes to copyright and patent issues.Tim Lee has a perceptive piece (as per usual) noting that both party platforms appear to be in denial about the need for copyright and patent reform. He also mocks how both talk about "vigorous" enforcement of certain laws when they relate to the internet (porn for the Rs and copyright for the Ds).
But the reality is that neither party is willing to take a really principled stand on the need to reform copyright and patent laws in the name of freedom and innovation. That's not surprising, really. Doing so in either party would upset some of the "old guard" who tend to donate a lot of money to political campaigns. But, from the viewpoint of what really matters when it comes to internet freedom and innovation, it's yet another sign that the major parties don't want to deal with reality.
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Filed Under: copyright, democrats, internet freedom, patents, politics, reform, republicans
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Progress!
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Ahem
That's because politicians don't live in reality. They live in their cosseted existences paid for by those of us who do live in reality.
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Re:
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I hate them both.
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No making a silk purse out of sow's ear
Considering what's been happening with patent litigation lately, I'd actually like to see the law go even beyond killing patents -- I'd like to see severe penalties for anyone attempting to use litigation or the threat thereof as part of his business model.
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Jobs
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Most politicians, like religious leaders, are acting on faith, and have a limited view on freedom of speech, it is OK if it agrees with their viewpoint.
Politics like religion has a large component of belief, and a limited attachment to reality.
SOPA and ACTA were not defeated by reason, but rather because politicians feared that passing them would cost them their jobs. Therefore they see no reason to change copyright, but rather a need to educate the public until they agree with their viewpoint.
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Re: Jobs
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Re: Ahem
Think that might help?
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'Cthulhu 2012: At least he's honest about it.'
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Maybe we're not quite there yet, but soon (he said hopefully).
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I don't know what their positions are, but perhaps they offer better ideas than either Romney or Obama.
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Who?
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Non-corporate-owned politicians...
Go Libertarians and Greens...
www.lp.org
www.jillstein.org
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Go go social justice!
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Yeah, I guess the tech companies just don't have enough money to compete with the old guard.
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You certainly got that right!
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They're all pretty much hanging over the ledge into nuttyland. I'm sure they consider themselves the keepers of arcane knowledge but, I have to say, they'll fall and take us all down with them.
China already has American corporations trapped. Sloppy legislation and law enforcement is turning the public against all authority and when the politicians play the thug card, they'll be trapped too.
This is Machiavellian old news. Posting about their reindeer games is one thing. Getting the Proletariat, or whatever fashionable term you prefer, to act is yet another.
It's nice to have a few legal precedents to cite, but don't expect the judge or the lawyers to be interested in anything but money. The average Bohemian bootlegger knows this. The cats and dogs weren't listening to begin with.
(Pardon my metaphorical indulgences!)
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http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/09/youtube-flags-democrats-convention-video-on- copyright-grounds/
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America is near the top of the wage list and the "lifestyle" list, both of which are severely threatened by low wage countries. The US has such a head start of lifestyle that it is almost a given that other countries will work to catch up, and in doing so, continue to decimate US industry.
It's why your "American" cars are made in Canada and Mexico, and why the guy answering the phone at the call center is in the Philippines, not in Philadelphia.
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Principles for an Ethical and Sustainable Internet
http://thetrichordist.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/principles-for-an-ethical-and-sustainable-interne t/
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Re: Principles for an Ethical and Sustainable Internet
Seriously, hurricane head, if anything you should sink your money into grammar and punctuation lessons, not a website that people can't post on.
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Seems insane.
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IP cannot inherently grow, and the reason is in the name: it's imaginary/intellectual. There is no tangible property involved. So it is fundamentally flawed to attack people who are suppoosedly "stealing" intangible goods.
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Democrats, republicans... both are apparently doing their best to cause as much havoc and harm as possible, all the while claiming the exact opposite. With a madness inducing Elder god, you'll still have the havoc and harm sure, but at least he/it doesn't lie about it.
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Misuse of Copyright is Hurting the Health of America
We need a Fair-Use exemption in the copyright law to allow the free exchange of service manuals and other necessary documentation between end users.
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Animal cruelty! And I'm not referring to the bestiality angle, either. :D
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