Share movies, go to prison

M

Madison

good to see that despite the geopolitical distractions, the honourable members of the Senate are working hard on what really matters:

A forthcoming copyright bill backed by key U.S. senators would place file swappers in prison for up to three years if they have a copy of even one prerelease movie in their shared folders.

In addition to the prison term, the Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act would punish making such movies available on a public "computer network" as a federal felony with a fine of up to $250,000. It would not require that any copyright infringement actually take place.

Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., plan to introduce the legislation at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Joining them at the event will be actress Bo Derek, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) President Jack Valenti, and Mitch Bainwol, chairman of the Recording Industry Association of America.

...

MPAA spokesman Rich Taylor said "this legislation will go a long way toward targeting one of the most serious contributors to piracy right now, which is the practice of camcording motion pictures. It's the first time the U.S. Senate has had legislation that specifically addresses the threat of camcording."

...

The Cornyn-Feinstein bill also creates another federal felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, for using "an audiovisual recording device" in a movie theater to make a copy of a film and boosts civil penalties available to MPAA member companies when suing over prerelease movies placed on the Internet.

Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are co-sponsors of the bill.
More...

http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-5106684.html
 
Lets put aside it is the law. Should we really be protecting copyrights for more than a year or two for artistic endeavors?

What about the fact that this is just a bunch of 0 and 1s. Whey should they get any protection at all. Did painters get paid by all the people who viewed their paintings?

Just food for thought. I have usually argued for the copyrights holders but just wondering what other people thought.

Should exchanges get to charge for data that customers help make. Should I get paid to make that data point instead of paying commissions?
 
the fat cats in hollywood want more and more and more. and "actors" want more and more and more. yea so you get more mr. actor, more millions, what will you do with them? get yourself in rehab?
 
Quote from jem:

Lets put aside it is the law. Should we really be protecting copyrights for more than a year or two for artistic endeavors?

What about the fact that this is just a bunch of 0 and 1s. Whey should they get any protection at all. Did painters get paid by all the people who viewed their paintings?

Just food for thought. I have usually argued for the copyrights holders but just wondering what other people thought.

Should exchanges get to charge for data that customers help make. Should I get paid to make that data point instead of paying commissions?
More...

I think you make some excellent points. They would want to put you in jail for looking at paintings over the internet. And Iagree about the exchange data. What did they do to create that?
 
Quote from traderkay:

the fat cats in hollywood want more and more and more. and "actors" want more and more and more. yea so you get more mr. actor, more millions, what will you do with them? get yourself in rehab?
More...

You're so right. I can understnad Diane Feinstein supporting this. Hollywood is her constituents, but what prompts the Republicans to support one of the industries that is most vocal in attacking them and backing those attacks with a lot of money? I think it is pretty clear that someone needs to replace Orin Hatch. He can't get judges confirmed as Chairman of Judiciary, but he's got time to sponsor stuff like this and join with Ted Kennedy on a hate crimes bill. He is a great argument for term limits.
 
So basically if someone puts a movie file on your computer without your knowledge, you are now liable to several years in jail, even if you never watched it or knew it was there?

America, land of the free!
 
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