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Ferreting out copyright scofflaws
News.com ^ | August 10, 2004 | David Becker

Posted on 08/11/2004 6:37:45 PM PDT by eno_

Just when you thought software licensing enforcement couldn't get any more fun, the copyright cops at the Business Software Alliance have enlivened the process with a spunky cartoon ferret.

The BSA--a trade group supported by Microsoft, Adobe Systems and other major software makers to enforce software licenses and copyrights--revealed the new mascot Tuesday as part of a national campaign to scare kids out of using peer-to-peer networks.

The "Play It Safe in Cyber Space" campaign will culminate with a four-page comic book, distributed in conjunction with tot journal the Weekly Reader, meant to impress kids with the idea that it's not OK to freely swap software, games, music and other copyrighted content.

The comic will feature the droopy-drawers ferret, who for now is referred to as the "Copyright Crusader." Kids are urged to help select his final name by submitting votes next month through the BSA's Web site.

[SNIP]

The campaign also includes an online game in which the ferret races to destroy pirated copies of software while collecting valid licensing agreements.

The ferret, by the way, does seem to be an odd mascot choice for an organization devoted to strict legal adherence, given that the weasel-like mammals are outlawed in California and several other states.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bsa; copyright; darl; orrinhatch; propaganda
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
1 posted on 08/11/2004 6:37:48 PM PDT by eno_
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To: eno_

I'd vote for "snitchy".

Those BSA ads are horrible. Basically they're inducement for disgruntled employees to get back at a company they don't like.


2 posted on 08/11/2004 6:40:35 PM PDT by flashbunny (Click on my name!!! I dare you!!!)
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To: flashbunny

Darl... Orrin...

The possibilities!


3 posted on 08/11/2004 6:42:01 PM PDT by eno_ (Freedom Lite, it's almost worth defending.)
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To: eno_

Lil' Heydrichie


4 posted on 08/11/2004 6:43:06 PM PDT by Petronski (Kerry doesn't have the courage to come forward and tell the truth.)
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To: eno_

From this site: http://www.rickbradley.com/rick/riaa_mp3.html

GIVE BACK THE MP3's

Those of us who have mp3's obtained by RIAA-unapproved methods
(particularly Napster/Gnapster/Gnutella/IRC/... but "I got it from my
friend Bob" is just as bad in their eyes) should of course be
conscientious and send them back to their rightful owners, the RIAA.

One could send them via e-mail -- I happen to think their "piracy
reporting" email address at cdreward@riaa.com is quite appropriate,
since this /was/ piracy we were engaged in, after all (the RIAA says
so, so they must agree with that at least).

One could send them on disc (floppy/zip/cd/hard disc :-) via the regular
post, their mailing address of course being:

RIAA
1330 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20036

[ I am personally seriously considering loading up an old 500Mb hard
disk with mp3's in a clunker 386 and mailing the whole machine to
them. ]

Of course, it might even be wise to call them up and tell them you
need to know where to send your mp3's so they can have their music
back. I'm sure there's a more than helpful operator there who'd
like to answer your questions at:

(202) 775-0101

Of course should that phone line somehow become busy with concerned
music fans doing the right thing, you could always send them a fax at:

(202) 775-7253

If you're an enterprising sort you can probably find a way to send
your mp3's back to them by fax, thus obviating their need to respond
to you -- and saving them valuable time :-)


5 posted on 08/11/2004 6:51:33 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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6 posted on 08/11/2004 7:02:59 PM PDT by yellowhammer
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To: Larry Lucido

I'd suggest printing them out and sending the resulting listings in.


7 posted on 08/11/2004 7:05:44 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Don't confuse disagreement with argumentation.)
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To: yellowhammer

That ferret looks more like a Weasel, IMHO.


8 posted on 08/11/2004 7:18:54 PM PDT by IncPen (Quality, not Quantity.)
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To: eno_
That's no ferret. It's a weasel.

How fitting.

9 posted on 08/11/2004 7:34:54 PM PDT by Prime Choice (The press is no longer free. Its bias exacts a heavy price with every report.)
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To: yellowhammer

morons.....maybe I will start pirating software instead of just downloading music now?


10 posted on 08/11/2004 7:36:43 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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To: Prime Choice

Yeah, I posted this with the headline "Name the BSA Copyright Weasel"

Who's screwing with my post! That's my interlectual property yer messin' wif! I ouhgta get 'em for copywrighting.


11 posted on 08/11/2004 8:31:12 PM PDT by eno_ (Freedom Lite, it's almost worth defending.)
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To: IncPen
That ferret looks more like a Weasel, IMHO.

I've heard the only difference is there's a little more white mean on a ferret.

12 posted on 08/11/2004 8:45:43 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS is a slap in the face to the USBP!)
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