Terrorism is the new Eurasia/Eastasia... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

KnifeMissile · 04-27-2006, 03:08 PM

Ever since 1984 was written, the US has known that an invisible war in a far off land is a good way of sedating a population with fear and passing whatever oppressive laws you want. Case in point:

Quote:

Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill
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.

A new bill in Congress would expand restrictions on software that can bypass copyright protections and would grant federal authorities greater 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, a Texas Republican, is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.

A spokesman for the House Judiciary Committee said Friday that the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006 is expected to "be introduced in the near future." Beth Frigola, Smith's press secretary, added Monday that Wisconsin Republican F. James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the full House Judiciary Committee, will be leading the effort.

"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.

It also represents a political setback for critics of expanding copyright law, who have been backing federal legislation that veers in the opposite direction and permits bypassing copy protection for "fair use" purposes. That bill--introduced in 2002 by Rep. Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat--has been bottled up in a subcommittee ever since.

The article goes on to explain how oppressive the super DMCA is but that's not exactly my point here and was left out for brevity. My point is that Congress is using the threat of terrorism to pass oppressive copyright enforcement laws. I mean, really, does anyone believe for a moment that P2P funds terrorism? I bet we can make a good guess as to who funds their campaigns, though!

And is 1984 not required reading for a high school curriculum? I wonder why...

dksuddeth · 04-27-2006, 03:13 PM

anyone finding that the second amendment might come in handy sometime soon?

aceventura3 · 04-27-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnifeMissile

Ever since 1984 was written, the US has known that an invisible war in a far off land is a good way of sedating a population with fear and passing whatever oppressive laws you want. Case in point:

The article goes on to explain how oppressive the super DMCA is but that's not exactly my point here and was left out for brevity. My point is that Congress is using the threat of terrorism to pass oppressive copyright enforcement laws. I mean, really, does anyone believe for a moment that P2P funds terrorism? I bet we can make a good guess as to who funds their campaigns, though!

And is 1984 not required reading for a high school curriculum? I wonder why...

I agree that intelectual property rights have nothing to do with the war against terrorism, but on the otherhand our war is not invisible and on 9/11 it was not in a far off land. The war is very real to those who have lost loved ones to terrorism.

analog · 04-27-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

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."

What a bunch of horseshit. NOBODY MAKES MONEY FROM COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

People downloading the latest South Park episode, or a copy of a movie from a torrent site- who the hell are they insisting is making money? The torrent sites, on advertising banners? Yeah, they're funding terrorism at $0.02 a click. I've never heard of someone making any money at all trying to mass copy movies to sell at reduced prices. It just doesn't happen- and certainly not enough to fund anything. Copyright infringement doesn't put money in ANYONE'S pockets, let alone the pocket of a "terrorist".

Oh wait! *Tinfoil hat* The companies that make DVD-R's and CD-R's are behind it all! That's it! They sell the blank CD's you all use to download your pirated booty, and make a ton of money which is then funnelled right to Osama himself!! [/sarcasm]

Paq · 04-28-2006, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksuddeth

anyone finding that the second amendment might come in handy sometime soon?

huh?

and gotta agree with analog, nobody makes money off pirated software..unless you pirate something, then use it for commercial use (photoshop for a photographer or graphic artist, etc), but on the whole, yeah, nobody makes money off pirated software..businesses may lose money which makes the gov't lose money (taxes) but on the whole, torrents, etc do not profit anyone...ok, maybe the people in chinatown, nyc, who sell copied dvd's for $5/movie, but they could just as easily rent it and do it themselves instead of downloading the movie..

Zyr · 04-28-2006, 02:20 AM

Quote:

anyone finding that the second amendment might come in handy sometime soon?

huh?

I think he's refering to the one about having guns so you can have a militia. I don't know, I don't know the constitution of another country off by heart.

Hmmm, I may go see V for Vendetta again.

dksuddeth · 04-28-2006, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paq

huh?

what i'm saying is that if the government can justify new laws because it funds terrorism, soon anything can fund terrorism, then anyone who breaks the law can be aiding and abetting terrorists, and then eventually we'll all be terrorists.

I'm sure it's just me and my *tinfoil hat*, but doesn't anyone else think that we've long passed the point where the people are ruled by the government instead of the other way around?

eh, maybe america is a lost cause.

flstf · 04-28-2006, 07:33 AM

The polititians who get campaign contributions from content providers realize that eventually people will get fed up with lawsuits brought against grandmothers and children. Now they can say that they have to support this activity in order to fight terrorism.

As I recall when the first DMCA was passed they were trying to use terrorism as one of the reasons as well. Must of us laughed at them but it seems to be working.

gotekix · 04-28-2006, 02:25 PM

This is complete bullshit. The government uses any excuse possible to take away the "liberty" of it's constituents. I never trusted the government but lately I've really started to see the through all the lies they tell. I'm reading 1984 now and it makes more sense than ever.

04-27-2006, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
dksuddeth Junkie Location: bedford, tx	anyone finding that the second amendment might come in handy sometime soon? __________________ "no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

04-28-2006, 07:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	The polititians who get campaign contributions from content providers realize that eventually people will get fed up with lawsuits brought against grandmothers and children. Now they can say that they have to support this activity in order to fight terrorism. As I recall when the first DMCA was passed they were trying to use terrorism as one of the reasons as well. Must of us laughed at them but it seems to be working.

04-28-2006, 02:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
gotekix Upright Location: Seattle	This is complete bullshit. The government uses any excuse possible to take away the "liberty" of it's constituents. I never trusted the government but lately I've really started to see the through all the lies they tell. I'm reading 1984 now and it makes more sense than ever.