It's just an excuse to censor the Net. It's what they've always wanted to do. All they need to do is dress it up as a way to fight crime/terrorism or a way to protect "the children" and people will fall for it hook, line, and sinker.
I say once it's published, it's public domain. Copyright enforcement is just another example of government protectionism for incumbents, just like when taxi companies are able to get Uber and Lyft chased out of their territory.
It's so sad to see these tech companies just cave in to the demands of the legacy entertainment industry. The Internet is our future and should be given the nod rather than the tired, old industries that can't see that their time was up long ago.
All these mergers do is create an oligopoly with crappy service and high prices. Why doesn't the government do its job and break them up, as it did with Ma Bell decades ago?
The problem is the entertainment industry has millions of dollars and an army of lawyers at its disposal. Meanwhile, the tech industry has grown, but still lacks the clout the entertainment industry has. This is why governments and courts fall all over themselves to appease the entertainment industry, generally at the expense of the tech industry.
What's needed is for the Internet to have a lobbying group of its own to represent its interests in government. I despise lobbyists and special interests, but let's face it: that's how our government works. If you want to be listened to, you have to either be rich or be part of a large lobbying group.
It's time to form a lobbying group for the Internet that's big enough to take on the RIAA/MPAA head-on and have a decent chance at beating them at their own game.
It seems like the scope of ICE's work has gone far beyond securing the border. These jack booted thugs are now enforcing copyright and patent laws within our borders. There is no limit to their power.
I'm so glad I was a kid in the 80s before all BS hit the proverbial fan. We played dodge ball, kick ball, tag, etc. I wasn't particularly good at any of these games, but I still enjoyed them. We used a merry-go-round in kindergarten and it was great fun to try to jump on it while it was turning at breakneck speed. We had tall slides, see-saws and swingsets that seemed like they would catapult you into the air. We climbed on monkey bars that seemed as tall as Mt. Everest to our innocent eyes. Did injuries occur? Yes. I distinctly remember a girl falling and being hurt badly enough that an ambulance had to be summoned. But seeing that taught me that we were not invulnerable and I played carefully. If we were to have been shielded as today's children are, would we have learned those limits? Perhaps with time, or perhaps, like some of today's children, we would have to take incredible risks just to taste blood or feel pain.
School officials are trained to think with a "worst first" mentality, meaning they see threats where other people see humor. Air travelers will recognize this in the TSA, as they also are trained to think "worst first".
On the post: Austrian Government Wants To Outlaw Online Anonymity
Bad law
I hope this doesn't pass. The Net is supposed to be a bastion of unfettered free expression. The law would be completely unenforceable anyway.
On the post: Instagram, YouTube Face Full Block In Russia After Billionaire Wins A Privacy Lawsuit Over Pictures With An Alleged Escort
On the post: Anti-Piracy Video Masquerades As Anti-Malware Education And Is Filled With Lies
On the post: Internet Censorship Bills Won't Help Catch Sex Traffickers
Just a blind to censor
On the post: State Of Georgia Sues Carl Malamud For Copyright Infringement For Publishing The State's Own Laws
Re:
On the post: State Of Georgia Sues Carl Malamud For Copyright Infringement For Publishing The State's Own Laws
On the post: Music Licensing Groups Argue That A Homeowners Association Playing Music At The Pool Is A Public Performance
On the post: Aereo: Okay, Fine, If You Say We Look Like A Duck, We'll Quack Like A Duck
Re:
On the post: If Intellectual Property Is Neither Intellectual, Nor Property, What Is It?
On the post: Vimeo Pressured Into Setting Up Its Own Content ID
Sad
On the post: As Feared: House Guts USA Freedom Act, Every Civil Liberties Organization Pulls Their Support
Disgusting
On the post: Comcast Ignores 'World's Worst Company' Award, Misleads About Bogus 'World's Most Admired Company' Award
No more mergers
On the post: MPAA's Lawsuit Against Megaupload Is Yet Another Broadside Attack On The Internet
Imbalance of Power
What's needed is for the Internet to have a lobbying group of its own to represent its interests in government. I despise lobbyists and special interests, but let's face it: that's how our government works. If you want to be listened to, you have to either be rich or be part of a large lobbying group.
It's time to form a lobbying group for the Internet that's big enough to take on the RIAA/MPAA head-on and have a decent chance at beating them at their own game.
On the post: Chicago PD Believes It Can See The Future, Starts Warning Citizens About Crimes They Might Commit
On the post: Australian Copyright Reform Goes Into Reverse: 'Fair Use' Out, 'Three Strikes' In
On the post: ICE Starts Raiding Mobile Phone Repair Shops To Stop Repairs With Aftermarket Parts
ICE too strong
On the post: Schools Ban Tag, Cartwheels And 'Unstructured Play:' The Inevitable Outcome Of Unrealistic Promises And Expectations [UPDATED]
Childhood isn't what it once was
On the post: Tweeted 'Terroristic Threat' Lands Another Teen In Trouble
Worst First
On the post: Russians Censor Website About Russians Censoring Websites
On the post: Visa And Mastercard Ban Anonymizing VPNs... Just As They Allow Wikileaks
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