Posted on 04/24/2006 7:51:04 AM PDT by FewsOrange
For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Now Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.
The draft legislation, created by the Bush administration and backed by Rep. Lamar Smith, already enjoys the support of large copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America. Smith is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.
Smith's press secretary, Terry Shawn, said Friday that the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006 is expected to "be introduced in the near future."
"The bill as a whole does a lot of good things," said Keith Kupferschmid, vice president for intellectual property and enforcement at the Software and Information Industry Association in Washington, D.C. "It gives the (Justice Department) the ability to do things to combat IP crime that they now can't presently do."
During a speech in November, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales endorsed the idea and said at the time that he would send Congress draft legislation. Such changes are necessary because new technology is "encouraging large-scale criminal enterprises to get involved in intellectual-property theft," Gonzales said, adding that proceeds from the illicit businesses are used, "quite frankly, to fund terrorism activities."
The 24-page bill is a far-reaching medley of different proposals cobbled together. One would, for instance, create a new federal crime of just trying to commit copyright infringement. Such willful attempts at piracy, even if they fail, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.com ...
which people? the people who bought the DVD have (had) fair use rights to it, the developer can't take that away (unless they bribe congress for new laws of course).
Sure, but how many times have you actually had a problem? And if you did, that company has probably lost your business forever, or at least lost a lot? Isn't that fair enough?
this new law isn't going to be enforced against pirates in china - its going to be enforced against americans.
Well according to the reports to congress, they've found illegal copies of Microsoft Flight Simulator with pictures of Osama Bin Laden and the twin towers on there. That's NOT repugnant?
DVD discs don't come with the physical players. That is a seperately required product, that consists of both hardware and software to operate.
I think you're misunderstanding. The owner of the media is the media maker (MGM, Disney, Paramount, Universal, whatever), who insists they have only granted me a license to use the copyrighted material.
To be consisent with that legal theory, if the physical product on which the copyrighted material is contained becomes damaged, the media maker should provide me with a replacement at a nominal material charge (a dollar or three) if I return the damaged one. They don't. They are not even involved in such issues.
IOW, it shouldn't be a matter that depends on the charity of the retailer. It should be a requirement of the license the media makers claim to be granting. Either that, or I own the physical product with the media that is encoded on it, and should have the right to make a backup copy, as long as I don't sell the copy.
On junior's IPOD? I thought he just had too many Belle and Sebastian mp3s that he moved on there off of his cd. Well, no matter. If any one person has ever used a computer for terrorism, the law of punish the class means that we must throw your teen in jail for copying an mp3 just in case. He might be funding a terrorist by listening to that pirated Belle and Sebastian song.
And the US is infinitely more civilized than China is it not? Shouldn't we hold our esteemed position, rather than lowering ourselves to theirs?
And the US is infinitely more civilized than China is it not? Shouldn't we hold our esteemed position, rather than lowering ourselves to theirs?
Oh wait a minute. I see what you mean. Grandma's backup DVD copy of "Deep Impact" might be terrorism. In that case, I guess we better toss her in the klink, too. Unless she pays $3k to settle.
As I already said, some do, especially software vendors. Take your business elsewhere if you don't like the terms. But they set the terms, as owners,, and obviously the complaints of those like yourself were factored in.
Vote them out. Vote them all out on their asses.
Don't Re-elect Incumbent Politicians. They have failed and are no longer interested in looking out for the best interests of We The People.
Many of them are engaged in criminal activity on a daily basis and they conduct it with alacrity.
Some lessons of life are more painful than others, and some learn quicker than others. Hopefully everyone is learning the RIGHT lessons, as quickly and painlessly as they can. Unfortunately for others, only the hardest way will do.
Anyone who thinks their elected representatives are not venal whores deserves the two-party system.
Copying a cd is not terrorism by any definition or stretch of the imagination.
All of this technological bureaucracy isn't needed to find terrorists.
All anyone has to do is open a phone book, or go down to the local mosque.
Oh- but that's too direct- and it would work.
I'm sure glad those idiots don't have anything else to worry about.
If we could only get the RIAA involved with border security......
It is when terrorists do it for profit. And of course some of them do, just like other criminal enterprises. Don't want to suffer the same fate? Don't perform the same act. Simple.
Your sarcasm isn't funny. Where do you think the kazaa etc servers are hosted? Here in the US? Do you really think they give you all that music for free?
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