Kazaa: Happy In the Global Legal Briarpatch 262
Steve0987 writes "The Washington Post has an article on the entertainment industry's atempts to close down the file-sharing system Kazaa. I agree that copyrighted material shouldn't be freely distributed from an ethical standpoint. However, the entertainment industry has been acting in an arbitrary manner trying to impede anything remotely impinging on their industry. Go Kazaa."
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Just in case... (Score:5, Interesting)
But seriously, since
Anyone else find it strange? (Score:5, Interesting)
Civil Desobedience (Score:4, Interesting)
Is a way to protest against laws that you don't agree, usually associated with passive resistence.
This means keep doing whatever you have always done ignoring the law, and of course paying the consequences. It works as a colective form o protest.
Let's suppose that the speed limit becomes 20 mph at highways. If everybody ignore this limit then the police won't be able to fine everybody.
The same happens here, if a considerable number of citizens ignore the way copyright works today it will be impossible to sue everyone, and of course they won't sue none of us!
That's how it should work, passive resistence.
Notoriety (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Wow, I'm actually one of the first 20 posters.. (Score:0, Interesting)
Re:Just in case... (Score:4, Interesting)
I've tought about doing it several times, but couldn't find the time. It would not only help slashdotted websites, but anyone with large files (images, music or video).
And if you could setup a system where the server, while saving bandwidth, compensated an user who upload the content, it would be a success.
LEGITIMATE USE!!! (Score:4, Interesting)
PS: Anyone interested in a Star Wars Themed Mullet Hunting video(complete with rotoscoped duel) search KaZaA for Mullet Wars: Episode One the Phantom Mullet or star wars mullet or something of the likes, also feel free to e-mail me about it.
Couldn't you just scare folks? (Score:3, Interesting)
How long before they start doing something like this in the united states?
On a Quasi-Related Note... (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm just surprised the Linux community hasn't made more noise about this... or is everyone dual booting?
Re:Ethics and pirating (Score:3, Interesting)
As is, over time, through this economic model, standards of living have continued to increase. You can have instant entertainment of any kind at home for many years for the cost of a few hours or work (TV). You can speak to anyone on the planet at any time from anywhere for the cost of a few hours' work (cellphone).
Standards of living continue to increase. Anyone who says that scarcity doesn't work is a fool.
They should do what they say. (Score:3, Interesting)
A user should pay for the materials downloaded. Rather than the $500,000 tag for copyright infringement, they should eat their words and charge users the way they say what the users are doing. If I download a song, I should pay list price for a song. DOwnload a DVD ripped movie and I should pay 21.99. People should be charged exactly for what they download. $500,000 for copyright infringement is bull crap.
Unintended side effects of American property law. (Score:2, Interesting)
The article regarding Kazaa demonstrates that if our system of intellectual property law further ossifies, we are at serious risk of innovation going overseas.
True creativity is generally the result of the liberal borrowing and reworking of earlier ideas--and contemporary ones--in a new fashion.
Locking up mindshare may cost the US its intellectual leadership in the long run.
The problem is that our legislative leaders are driven by money and a lazy reliance on lobbyists, not principle. Howard Coble is a perfect example of this. I have to say I'm embarrassed that he represents my congressional district. How he became head of an important congressional committee on IP--when he represents a manufacturing district that is losing textile and tobacco jobs--is either an example of the Peter Principle in operation, or a testiment to the fact that those who have a vested interest in the continuing drive to own all information don't want anyone who really understands the issues overseeing legislation.
Responsibilities. (Score:3, Interesting)
A Matter of Motive?
The defendants, which in addition to Kazaa include Grokster and Morpheus, contend they are doing nothing wrong. They said their role is analogous to photocopy-machine makers, who aren't responsible for people who copy entire books, or to computer makers, who aren't responsible for people who use their machines for hacking.
"If you can be held responsible for everything your end users do with it, it becomes very hard to build any technology," said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which represents Morpheus creator StreamCast Networks Inc.
The entertainment industry argues that the Kazaa case is different because the key issue is motive. While some makers of technology truly aren't aware of or do not advertise the illegal aspects of what their technology can do, they say, the owners of these file-sharing systems do.
"Peer-to-peer services overwhelmingly are used for illegal copying and transmission of copyright material over the Internet, and actively encourage, assist and participate in this activity," said Allen N. Dixon, executive director of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents more than 1,500 music producers and distributors.
This was the part that I found really interesting. So, if this goes through, and the creators are responsible, does that mean that firearms manufacturers are in trouble? As we all know, a firearm has only one purpose, to shoot things. (Human, animal, or otherwise.) And what about those who manufacture the bullets?
Just food for thought.