Chris Dodd: Bogus Facebook 'Copyright' Declaration Proves Everyone Loves Copyright

from the and,-of-course,-they-really-don't dept

Over the past few days, a post concerning copyright claims began making the rounds on Facebook, presumably written in response to the news that Facebook would no longer be letting its users vote on site policies. This announcement arrived with the news that Facebook would also be combining profiles across various other services like Instagram.

The message was a convoluted wordpile of misinformation that referenced non-applicable laws, when not misspelling potentially applicable terms ("BerneR Convention," anyone?). It read like a bad chain letter (is there any other kind?), encouraging Facebook users to repost it as their status in order to "protect" their "copyright" on their uploaded content. Here's the my-stuff-is-mine! post in all its glory:
In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention).

For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!

(Anyone reading this can copy this text and paste it on their Facebook Wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws, By the present communiqué, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook’s direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.
Needless to say, the above statement does nothing to keep Facebook from using uploaded content according to its existing terms of service. Not only that, but the legal terminology thrown around like so much careless set dressing is all wrong. For one, the Berne Convention makes it unnecessary to "declare" your copyright. It makes that protection automatic. The privacy law referenced has nothing to do with privacy and the Rome Statute established a world court in Hague. All in all, it's a lot of words that do nothing but sound important and vaguely threatening.

The simple fact that this semi-viral post is completely wrong shows how colossally screwed up our current copyright system is. People are still under the impression that copyright needs to be "declared" (usually with the © symbol). Many also seem to think that if they "declare" copyright and trot out a million limitations, everyone approaching their copyrighted content is obliged to follow every stipulation. Facebook users are picking up the clues that maximalists are dropping and cobbling together legal-sounding threats with nothing behind them. What Facebook users really want isn't the same thing maximalists want. Behind this flawed statement is the feeling that Facebook "gave" users a place to share their photos, etc. with friends and family, but now it wants to turn uploaded content into marketing tools.

Leave it to a maximalist to misunderstand what's really going on here. MPAA chairman Chris Dodd has cranked out a response to this bit of malformed Facebook-jamming that completely misses the point.
At a time when personal and artistic content is just a click away, copyright protection is more important than ever.

The Facebook incident demonstrates that the average Internet user recognizes this fact, especially when they feel their personal content -- photos, videos, ideas, etc. -- is in jeopardy. But it also provides average Internet users with some insight into the point of view of the creators of movies, music or other artistic endeavors whose work has been subject to online theft.
But this has nothing to do with what Dodd calls "theft." The mangled, defensive cry of "copyright" has become the default response to any situation someone doesn't like. Its misunderstood power is waved around desperately like a talisman in an attempt to ward off bad things.

Dodd wants to make this about file sharing, but it's not even in the same city, much less the same neighborhood. Facebook users aren't worried that other users will download their creations and spread them around the internet. They're worried that their uploaded content will be used to push products and services, which definitely isn't why they uploaded photos, movies, etc. to Facebook.

File sharing is non-commercial infringement. The stuff that Dodd wants shut down isn't comparable to Facebook's actions. Someone can make the argument that file lockers are profiting, but it's not the individual users. What Facebook users were doing with photos, artwork, etc. has more in common with file sharing than it does with Dodd's overreaching attempt to tie his industry into the equation. Someone uploads a photo. Someone else clicks "Share." It spreads. Potentially millions of people see the photo, but it still resides safely in the originating user's account. That's file sharing. That's the same thing Dodd calls "theft." And that same thing (sharing) is what Facebook users want to continue doing without worrying that they're just generating content for a marketing machine.

He continues:
The livelihoods of these innovators depend on strong copyright protection policies so they can benefit from their work and continue to create more of it. Without robust intellectual property protections, innovation has no incentive to thrive.
This again. "Without blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah." Whatever. More innovation and creation has occurred during this Age of Piracy than in any time previous. Give it up. There's some talk about collaborating with the "tech community," but that's been offered before with all the enthusiasm and sincerity of the limp handshake that accompanies a shot-down sales pitch.

Dodd sums it all up by dragging in the "little people" and attempting to equate the motion picture industry with Facebook users.
Intellectual property and copyright policies are, of course, important to the movie set designer, the lighting assistant, and the costume designer whose paychecks depend on these protections -- but they're also important to the millions of Facebook users around the globe, too. This latest viral post is a great reminder of that.
This "copyright protection" you speak of, Dodd? Facebook users don't want that. They don't want other Facebook users to stop sharing their stuff or ask permission first or hold long discussions about licensing. They just want to share with each other. What they don't want is to see their stuff being used at the whim of a public corporation. This outcry, as misguided as it is, isn't about "stealing." It isn't about "getting paid." It's not even about "control." It's about sticking it to The Man. It's poorly thought out and badly worded and not even remotely close to an actual legal document, but that's what it is: a push back against perceived overreach.

Everyone who uses a "free" service knows they'll be paying for it one way or another, but when the piper starts collecting, people get upset. And, thanks to the copyright culture that pervades the US, the knee-jerk response is to shout "copyright" at the offenders until they back down, because they've seen the tactic used before. Just because you recognize the tactic, Chris, doesn't mean they're talking about the same thing. Facebook is all about individuals sharing content with each other, the same sort of behavior the MPAA frequently calls "theft." They don't want "strong copyright policies." They just want to feel it's their stuff, rather than Facebook's.
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Filed Under: chris dodd, copyright, declaration
Companies: facebook


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  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    out_of_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:16am

    Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

    You are NOT required to enforce your right to copy that which you've created. Put it out for free, no one stops you. Facebook is irrelevant.

    It's only Monetizing Mike and his band of 1% grifters such as the blob who ran Megaupload who want to profit -- at commercial scale -- off someone else's work who want to tear down copyright.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      identicon
      out_of_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:17am

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      Heh, heh. Inb4 the fanboy-trolls were done cheering Letter-writing Mike in the last piece!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        weneedhelp (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:21am

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        You.... are sooooo...... cool. /s

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:33am

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        ib4? okay, now I know you're 14.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:29pm

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        Thanks for proving that you're only here to vandalise. When your sympathists start pouring in support for you I'll remember this as the pinnacle of your insight and contribution to the site.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:29pm

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        Heh, heh. Inb4 the fanboy-trolls were done cheering Letter-writing Mike in the last piece!

        Useful citizen: So... what do you for a living?
        OOTB: I press F5 all day long. I haven't figured out how to monetize it yet, but...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          PaulT (profile), 30 Nov 2012 @ 1:13am

          Re: Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

          "I haven't figured out how to monetize it yet, but..."

          ...I know it has to be something to do with those damn pirates so I'll scream like a 4 year old in every thread! That'll teach 'em...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rikuo (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:25am

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      http://www.steamcalculator.com/id/RikuoAmero

      Out_of_the_blue, have a look at that link. Look at it, study it, look at the values presented. That is my Steam library, and what it is worth, although sadly it doesn't count DLC.
      In case you don't wanna, it says that my games, without counting DLC, are worth a total of €826.
      Get it...round it up, factor in DLC, and let's just say that on Steam alone, I've spent a thousand euro.

      I also download games for free, but when I feel the value is right, I do pay.
      Now, want to call me a 1% grifter again? Whatever the hell that is?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:32am

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        Isn't it interesting how, if you downloaded those games from the pirate bay instead, they are suddenly worth millions of dollars?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Rikuo (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:30pm

          Re: Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

          Precisely. With 71 games, and at a maximum statutory damages at $150,000, we get...$10,650,000!

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:08pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

            What's really hilarious is that you probably spent less than half of that in actuality. That's because Steam's sales are hard on the wallet.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 5:10pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

            So really, if you've only paid EUR1000 on products demonstrably worth EUR8 million, then you're actually a 0.01% grifter!

            How can you live with yourself?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        PaulT (profile), 30 Nov 2012 @ 1:23am

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        It's no use. I'd not seen the Steam calculator before, but in the past I've posted my Spotify login (proving I'm a paid subscriber), my former eMusic profile (proving I'd bought hundreds of albums back before the RIAA raped and destroyed its worth), blog posts about my regular film festival attendance in foreign countries at great expense, even links to photos of my massive vinyl, CD, DVD and games collections that I'd posted elsewhere.

        These idiots ignore those then reject me as a "pirate" who doesn't want to pay for content in the very next thread. It's great to prove them wrong to lurkers and other posters here, but don't think for a second that these obsessed fools will ever get it through their skulls that they're wrong about the very basis of their arguments.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:28am

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      Indeed, every gangster who benefits from government enforced monopoly protection does love it. But here is the question Bob: why do YOU love it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:50pm

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        But here is the question Bob: why do YOU love it?

        $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DannyB (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:28pm

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      > You are NOT required to enforce your right to copy that
      > which you've created. Put it out for free, no one stops you.


      Just for the record, are you saying it is okay for me to use a Creative Commons license for material that I create?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      silverscarcat (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:37pm

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      Hey, ootb, Look up the story of Sigurd/Sigfried and King Arthur.

      Just look it up.

      If copyright existed back then, one of the two stories wouldn't exist today.

      No one made money off of either story.

      Yet it's still told and retold and both are famous.

      Understand how the Public Domain works and maybe you'll start to understand.

      Oh wait, you can't.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:54pm

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        "No one made money off of either story"

        I bet they were stock in trade for many story tellers, and made them a living, in kind if not money.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 30 Nov 2012 @ 3:03am

          Re: Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

          But at no point did they require or see the need to stop other people telling the same stories.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:44pm

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      oh shutup ya wee wanker, i just want to be able to upload my NON-PROFIT youtube videos in peace

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:51pm

        Re: Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

        or god forbid make a non-profit mod that has music from another game or show or whatever and upload it without droves of brainwashes morons having it removed or harassing me for doing so!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:10pm

      Re: Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!

      "Everyone who benefits from it DOES love it!"

      Actually, not true. In fact, many people who benefit from things like copyright and patents and trademarks, while loving all those things to an extent, also have many issues with them and the way they are used by others. Or better said ABUSED by others.

      Also, "Monetizing Mike" is most definitely not one who wants others to profit off the works of others. He has this website, you may have heard of it, called Techdirt. Where he routinely writes about the various methods through which artists, you know, those people who create the various works, can monetize their own content, and do so without having to turn over their content to others. Like studios, publishers and labels. Who technically better fit what you just said, people who want to profit off of the work of others.

      Also, note that Mike has never said he wants to tear down copyright. What he has discussed, and I believe (based on what he's written), is for COPYRIGHT REFORM. Not abolishment. There is a huge difference between the two, however I could see how a copyright maximalist like yourself might not be able to distinguish between the two. What with perceiving anything less than further strengthening and expansion as a direct attack on copyright. But of course that's in conjunction with your inability to read (and comprehend) anything on this site, and more specifically anything that Mike personally writes.

      And there is nothing wrong with profiting on a commercial scale off of someone else's work. Or do you have a problem with Netflix? Spotify? Pandora? Heck, Amazon? Ebay? Walmart? Want me to go on?

      Because at the end of the day, there are numerous corporations who achieve huge financial profits from finding ways to monetize their positions in various service industries by selling the products, or better said WORKS, of others. But again, I wouldn't expect you to understand the difference before launching your "first" post/rant. Hell, if you did I expect I'd get a visit from the devil asking if he could borrow a sweater as hell unexpectedly froze over.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:24am

    The maximalists will spin anything they can so that it supports their position, and deny anything that doesn't.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    fb39ca4 (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:36am

    Because reposts from reddit and 9GAG are innovative and deserve copyright protection.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    A Dan (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:36am

    Funny post from a Friend

    One of my Facebook friends posted this:
    In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that I am a pure retard for allowing myself to be trolled by this. My copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention. I don't know what this means, but whatever). I am arrogant enough to think that my work is worth stealing. Being a citizen of our highly litigious society, I will sue you for everything you have. (Anyone reading this can see what a gullible lemming I am, and can join me in ignorance by posting it on their facebook wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws.) I don't have the intelligence to realize that this is a hoax, and posting this is as effective as using a Swiss cheese condom.

    By the present communiqué, (check me out using big words) I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to sell my info. I am ignorant to the fact that when I signed up for this account, I agreed to Facebook's TOS, and I don't have the common sense to simply not post if I'm so afraid of having my stuff stolen. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook's direction or control. (That means YOU, Zuckerberg) The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute). I don't know what this means, but I'm posting it because everybody else is doing it. Also, if I was so concerned with my privacy, I guess I shouldn’t have created a facebook account in the first place.

    Facebook is now an open capital entity, and because of that, advanced alien civilizations laugh at us, and refuse contact with Earth. Allowing everyone to use it was a poor decision, and it is well on its way to becoming the next Myspace. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you are smart enough to know not to buy into a hoax. If you do post this, you are proving that not only do you not deserve a facebook account, but you are unworthy of an internet connection, and you should just go back to making cave paintings with your fellow neanderthals.

    My news feed shows me a lot of your "intellectual property" Who would want to plagiarize most of you anyway?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rikuo (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:58am

      Re: Funny post from a Friend

      Slow clap. Tell your friend, well done.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Aaron *Head* Moss (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:24pm

      Re: Funny post from a Friend

      Just so you know A Dan, I'm a dirty pirate... what's the other thing, oh yeah Freetard (or something like that).

      I'm going to steal this and post it on my FB.

      LOL

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Mike C. (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:46am

    You missed a point too...

    It's obvious most of the people posting that drivel were NOT looking to protect creative work, but instead trying to prevent the use of their personal info for marketing purposes. They used copyright because they are starting to realize just how massive and scary weapon it has become. In their panic over the fear that Facebook might do something "evil", they jumped on a bandwagon. Too bad it was full of crap... lol

    Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:38pm

      Re: You missed a point too...

      Not "missed." "Glossed over." There's an imperceptible difference. It looks exactly the same from the outside, but from the inside, where I'm hastily rewriting the narrative, it's like night and... late evening. ;)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shmerl, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:47am

    This is a really far cry for Dodd, to attempt to obfuscate users' concern for their privacy with concern for copyright.

    As history shows, copyright lobbyists are very privacy hostile, with pushing all kind of nasty snooping activities to ISPs for the sake of copyright enforcement. So it's completely hypocritical for Dodd to pretend that common users have the same interests with the copyright lobby. No, interests are diametrically opposite - copyright lobby wants to become the Big Brother and to know everything that users do. Common users on the other hand want their privacy and don't want any Big Brothers to interfere with their on-line life.

    As far as Facebook users go, it's quite surprising for them to complain, while still using it. Facebook was never designed to be controlled by users. It's a for-profit business, built on exploiting users' profiles. You can't escape it. Those who quite reasonably don't like such tradeoff and want "for people, by the people", should not use Facebook altogether, and should use privacy respecting / open / decentralized social networks (like Diaspora, Friendica and etc.). Otherwise such complaints don't sound sincere enough.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:56pm

      Re:

      aye

      it reminds me of those morons who complain about "OMG MAFIAA DOESN'T LET US USE whateverpopular MUSIC IN OUR MODS" but yet they use/support the same system that controls them

      dont like it dont support it, im still trying to convince somebody to boycott hollywood movies but they keep wanting me to see them because "IT LOOKS COOL" - ugh!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:55pm

      Re:

      There is probably a difference between "want" and "think they need", when talking about copyright industry and the big brother future.

      Facebook is not the place to be for anyone but most "think they need" to be there (social pressure, business, information, to spam their message or whatever they think they get out of it).

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Chris Brand (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:49am

    The main thing it shows

    ...is that everyone knows that copyright affects everyone, but very few people actually know how it works. Copyright law is way too complex to affect people's everyday lives - it needs to either be vastly simplified or moved back into the business world, where it's reasonable to expect to have to consult a lawyer before doing something.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    out_of_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:59am

    You're flat LYING here:

    'Potentially millions of people see the photo, but it still resides safely in the originating user's account. That's file sharing. That's the same thing Dodd calls "theft." '

    Nope. The "file-sharing" that's in controversy with Dodd and the MPAA is the data of someone else's $100M movie put on a file host for anyone to download. The copyright owner in NO degree agrees to that: quite the opposite. It's nothing like Facebook. -- COMMERCIAL SCALE INFRINGING is why you fanboys yell about the Megaupload case: you can't use it to steal highly valuable content any more. The grifters yell about the shut-down because they can't "monetize" someone else's property.

    Since you're flat out lying, not just slanting to a view, I'm taking note of your name -- for the first time -- and putting you on my list of pirates.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:06pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      The "file-sharing" that's in controversy with Dodd and the MPAA is the data of someone else's $100M movie put on a file host for anyone to download.

      Why are you making $100 million movies? WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION?!?!?!?!?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 8:09pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        Because the US is a first-world economy and everyone has to be paid decent wages. Some of India's most expensive films cost $20 million! Can you believe it? That's just not possible in America.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 30 Nov 2012 @ 3:46am

          Re: Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

          I blame them thieving actors and musicians! Who want's to get paid int his economy is just BEGGING to be called thieves!

          /s

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 30 Nov 2012 @ 8:33am

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        Black Bart.. check
        Dread Pirate Roberts .. check
        Edward Teach .. check
        Mike The Terrible.. check
        Jack Sparrow... che..wait, he's Dizknee

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Lowestofthekeys (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:11pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      OOTB ego: + 1

      OOTB's imaginary representation of Mike Masnick's ego: - 1

      The ego of everyone else who reads OOTB's posts: ...the amazing amount of Schadenfreude broke the scale.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Larry, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:19pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Oooooh. Everyone look out. ootb is making a list. Don't want your name being sent to Herr Dodd now, do we?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Shadow Dragon (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:27pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        I doubt he'll do anything with it.He's all talk.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Dark Helmet (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:35pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        You know who else made lists of people to be persecuted? Hitler, that's who. OOTB = Hitler.

        /Godwin

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:02pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        You better watch out
        You better not cry
        Better not pout
        I'm telling you why
        OOTB is coming to town
        He's making a list
        And checking it twice;
        Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice
        OOTB is coming to town
        He sees you when you're sleeping
        He knows when you're awake
        He knows if you've been bad or good
        So be good for goodness sake!
        O! You better watch out!
        You better not cry
        Better not pout
        I'm telling you why
        OOTB is coming to town
        OOTB is coming to town

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:10pm

          Re: Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

          Throw some copying==theft blargha-flarg (and a 'Pirate Mike' for good measure) in there and we'll have Christmas gold.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:27pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

            You better watch out
            You better not cry
            Pirate Mike
            I'm telling you why
            OOTB is coming to town
            He's making a list
            And checking it twice;
            Gonna find out Who's infringing and nice
            OOTB is coming to town
            He sees you when you're torrenting
            He knows when you're online
            He knows if you've been a pirate or not
            So don't steal for goodness sake!
            O! You better watch out!
            You better not cry
            Pirate Mike
            I'm telling you why
            OOTB is coming to town
            OOTB is coming to town

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:25pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Feel free to add my name, because it'll make you look just as foolish as Dodd.

      You seem to pretend those who stand up against copyright abuse are pirates.

      Arrg! Avast ye, matey! We've a white whale on yonder! Man the cannons, boys! This be ugly!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:16pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        White whale? White elephant, more like: an extremely expensive and worthless mistake.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 30 Nov 2012 @ 12:39am

          Re: Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

          But not a White Snake?

          ...seems odd.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Shadow Dragon (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:33pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Ok,Then what's my IP? What's my real name,My SSN,My disability,my first grade teacher,What's my birthplace,What's my pets' names? What's my lovers names? Etc. Go ahead out of boobs,I have nothing to hide unless if want to be doc dropped to I bet anyone of the people you accuse of being pirates can find everything about you ij blink of eye.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Dark Helmet (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:34pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Speaking of lying, I have yet to get your response to my request regarding your un-instigated and massively hypocritical ad-hom attack on me in an earlier thread? Do you wish to demonstrate any kind of credibility, or are you refusing to respond (as you've accused Mike of doing)?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:12pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        "Do you wish to demonstrate any kind of credibility, or are you refusing to respond (as you've accused Mike of doing)?"

        Oh man, I just have to say it.... OotB you just got burned!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Ruben, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:27pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        LOL.

        We both know he has neither the balls to respond, nor the intellect to formulate anything coherent.

        To quote another post here, don't hold your breath, lest OOTB be responsible for murder.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Machin Shin (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:41pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      You really are a fool if you think all of us are upset about Megaupload because we lost our movie downloads. Megaupload was a mega pain in the ass for large files like that.

      What I am mad about is loosing all the custom Android roms that I kept trying to download only to find they were hosted on Megaupload.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:15pm

        Re: Re: You're flat LYING here:

        "What I am mad about is loosing all the custom Android roms that I kept trying to download only to find they were hosted on Megaupload."

        Ugh. You're not alone in that sentiment. And what's worse is a surprising amount of tools used in conjunction with various ROMs and Android in general were also hosted on Megaupload, some of which are no longer being developed by the developers. Meaning they are completely lost to us.

        The only good thing to come of that was now there are cyber lockers/hosting sites dedicated solely to Android and the various developers putting our tools, toolkits, ROMs, etc. Meaning we won't lose too many things the next time this happens.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:00pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      I'm taking note of your name -- for the first time -- and putting you on my list of pirates.

      blasphemy! and just in time for christmas do we get a lump of coals in our stockings? i am on that list?? make sure you put "THE BIGGEST YOUTUBE PIRATE EVAR" next to my name, oh and a picture of a retarded cat because retarded cats are cool

      I WANT MY COAL DAMMIT

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:28pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Oh, gee, a list? Newflash, dumbass. You don't need a list because existing laws and practices already treat everyone as a pirate. Why are you even doing this? You already treat everyone like a pirate, out_of_the_asscrack.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:06pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Oooo. I love lists!

      Can I be on it? Please?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      weneedhelp (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:25pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      You on list... you name name.


      He's making a list. He's checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice. OO-TB is an insane clown.

      LOL fucking idiot.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:35pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Since you're flat out lying, not just slanting to a view, I'm taking note of your name -- for the first time -- and putting you on my list of pirates.

      A list? What are you, Nixon's head?

      P.S. Please post The List ASAP. I'd like to see who else has been declared a pirate by this esteemed vicarious-producer-of-$100M-movies.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      [citation needed or GTFO], 29 Nov 2012 @ 3:12pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      I'm taking note of your name -- for the first time -- and putting you on my list of pirates.

      [citation needed or GTFO]

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Just John (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:09pm

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      G Thompson (profile), 30 Nov 2012 @ 6:40am

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Seeing that I definitely now think you are an ubiquitous ignoranus better add my name too (my real twitter and G+ info is on my profile)


      Oh and commercial scale infringing needs to be for COMMERCIAL purposes and also needs to be proven.. I'll state that again PROVEN in court otherwise people like yourself and Dodd are just spouting unproven allegations and false rhetoric that people like myself (Non-American citizens) find offensive and if you are making a list.. better make it private otherwise I will find you, I will sue you (and the US 1st Amendment holds no water for me...think "Gutnick" for case law), and I will make you suffer equitably and make a public mockery of you using every single one of your incoherent ramblings on TD and other places to further drag you down the rabbit hole you so badly want to go!

      Oh and that's not an idle threat either. Now fuck off and go play with the traffic

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      silverscarcat (profile), 30 Nov 2012 @ 8:51am

      Re: You're flat LYING here:

      Oh noez! A list of pirates!

      I hope it's got enough room for 4-6 billion people.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    kleuske (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:18pm

    Nitpick... Bern

    The 'Berner Convention' may be a relic from German (where it's 'Berner Konvention'. Perhaps English is not the authors native language?

    An additional question would be "which one?"*) The german wiki lists five.

    *) 1886, of course.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shmerl, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:18pm

    And to illustrate how some other social sites approach the copyright issue, here is an interesting excerpt from Identica TOS:

    https://identi.ca/doc/tos

    you have, in the case of Content that includes computer code, accurately categorized and/or described the type, nature, uses and effects of the materials, whether requested to do so by Operator or otherwise.

    By submitting Content to Operator for inclusion on your Website, you grant Operator a world-wide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, modify, adapt and publish the Content solely for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting your notice stream.

    By submitting Content to Operator for inclusion on your Website, you grant all readers the right to use, re-use, modify and/or re-distribute the Content under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      dude man, 10 Dec 2012 @ 12:53pm

      Re: Shmerl

      yeah but what it ISN't saying in that is the reason for why...but then again, IT does say why....By submitting Content to Operator for inclusion on your Website, you grant Operator a world-wide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, modify, adapt and publish the Content


      >>>>>>solely for the purpose of displaying, distributing and promoting your notice stream.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    John Fenderson (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:44pm

    Wait, what?

    Dodd said "it also provides average Internet users with some insight into the point of view of the creators of movies, music or other artistic endeavors whose work has been subject to online theft."

    There's so much fail here...

    First, does he really think that nobody understands the point of view of the maximalists? I think their perspective is widely and clearly understood. But understanding a point of view does not necessarily mean agreeing with it. Perhaps that's where he got confused.

    He also seems to think that people who agree that there is value in the idea of copyright must necessarily think that the current implementation of copyright law is a good thing. That's obviously wrong.

    Also, does he really think that all, or even most, artists share the same point of view regarding copyright law? If he does, then I think that it's he who has a severe lack of understanding.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:09pm

      Re: Wait, what?

      Dodd said "it also provides average Internet users with some insight into the point of view of the creators of movies, music or other artistic endeavors whose work has been subject to online theft."


      He should know, as the MPAA robs them blind via their accounting practices. However accounting is the ONLY creativity he is responsible for.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      in_to_the_blue, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:09pm

      Re: Wait, what?

      does he really think

      no



      (if he did he wouldn't be one of the MAFIAA's mouths)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    NA Protector, 29 Nov 2012 @ 12:48pm

    I wouldn't call ....

    Out-of-the-blue:
    I thought it would be best to never respond to a troll whining because like bullies, all they want is attention along with the thought that they can get someone riled up. This apparently gives them some kind of warm feeling. (Where? I don't know, care, and I don't want to know.) But, you are clearly not a troll and calling you one would be an insult to trolls.

    You are obviously a paid flunky, a typing monkey, or some form of corporate yes man whose job is to lurk here and post negative remarks against your corporate practices. I write this because no sane person walks into a lion's cage and says, "Eat Me". If you can't get the analogy, don't bother.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Just John (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 11:19pm

      Re: I wouldn't call ....

      Does he pass the turing test?
      I am doubting he is human, since he just says the same thing over and over again, with different words.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    alanbleiweiss (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:07pm

    Chris Dodd is an Asshat©

    "Chris Dodd is an Asshat" copyright 2012 Alan Bleiweiss All rights reserved. Any reuse, retransmission, sharing, copying or other replication of "Chris Dodd is an Asshat" expressly forbidden without prior written consent of the copyright holder.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 1:55pm

    I love the fact that the comments section on this blog has now devolved to a jr. high level.

    When I first came here, the goal was to expose Masnick for what he is (a piracy apologist), and effectively neuter this blog.

    I am very proud to say: Mission Accomplished.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:10pm

      Re:

      So... would you like to explain exactly how the above article epitomised piracy apologism?

      If your "mission accomplished" was to have a bunch of trolls publicly and consistently derail discussion with no intent to contribute aside from calling everyone else a pirate, and you consider said occurrence a significant achievement, you are an extremely miserable individual with an extremely miserable axe to grind.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      weneedhelp (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:32pm

      Re:

      "Mission Accomplished."

      Ha ha ha just like Bushie huh?


      FAIL

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:56pm

      Re:

      You know what's sad, that your own sentence makes little sense. What you meant was that your goal was to effectively neuter this blog by exposing Mike for what he is (a piracy apologist).

      The jr. high level however has little to do with the site and more to do with people taking things down to YOUR kind of level, and OotB's and bob's and AJ's and the other merry band of miscreants/trolls. But the discussions are still there as well as the logical and reasonable and respectful back and forth conversations/comments.

      In fact, it could be said that your mission has failed spectacularly. You and yours have gone out of your way to paint this site in a bad light, which has caused others to come "check out this Techdirt site", then actually stick around and listen to the reasonable points that Mike (the non-piracy apologist) and others have made and been making for some time now. Heck, SOPA alone generated a vast influx of new readers to the TD community, thanks largely to the actions of trolls like you coming here and attempting to discredit the site and make things seem like they were being blown out of proportion.

      I've found it telling that some articles garner more trolls posting than others. And it's almost possible to tell how scared the trolls and lobbyists and what have you are by how many people there are attempting to derail the conversation. The worse they are, the better TD is doing and the more people actually listen to what's being said here.

      You fail. Your fellow trolls fail. And we're starting to see many people seriously consider the need for copyright reform due to the actions of people like yourself. So yeah, mission accomplished. Your doing Mike's job for him.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Shadow Dragon (profile), 29 Nov 2012 @ 5:35pm

      Pot Kettle

      Seems like the most people who cry "pirates" do more of pirating.Just like anti-gay preacher caught with a male escort.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lord Binky, 29 Nov 2012 @ 2:43pm

    That's horrible logic. That's like saying because lots of people get cancer, it shows that it is good and people understand and love it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • In a way, this does show a point...

    The comment from Chris Dodd might have been completely biased, but at least it did show a good point: most people on the internet wouldn't fear to be "stolen" of their ideas if there were no copyright laws. In the not-so-ancient times of about 250 years ago, retransmission and derivation of works were seen as completely normal within the artistic circles. Shakespeare, to put a famous example, would have done little without drawing ideas from the works of other artists and writers, both contemporary and ancient. And nobody treated him like a thief, more like a very creative writer of what we would name today as fan-fiction.

    But now, just check any online gallery. DeviantArt, YouTube, SoundCloud to give just a few examples. A sizeable quantity of artists decide to slap a copyright notice that explicitly prevents anybody else to copy, reupload, sell or remix any part of the work in any shape of form (sometimes with almost those literal words). Why do they do that? Fear of having their work plagiarized? Fear of not being able to earn money out of their works (even though most of such artists never profit from them anyway)? Whatever the reason, they wouldn't fear if the artistic circle promoted derivation and sharing instead of repressing it as vehemently as possible.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    John85851 (profile), 5 Dec 2012 @ 5:41pm

    Sorry to go a little off-topic, but I've seen a number of my Facebook friends post that "copyright" notice, even though it should be fairly obvious that they agreed to the exact opposite by joining Facebook and agreeing to the Terms of Service.

    I'm also friends with a number of professionals in the comic book business and it always seems like the lower the professionalism of the artist, writer, whatever, the higher the chance that they'll post something like this. In other words, artists who post comic book pages they've worked on (which would be ripe to steal) don't post these "copyright" notices. Yet people who are barely above the level of hobbyists take great pains to make sure their copyrights are enforced... and like the post above says, these kinds of people rarely have anything worth sharing/ stealing in the first place!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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