'Pirate Act' Would Shift Copyright Civil Suits To DoJ 440
mammothboy writes "News.com.com has a story about the new so-called Pirate Act, which seeks to allow federal prosecuters to file civil suits against file swappers. These lawsuits can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, and if you guessed that the RIAA is lobbying for it, you're right. What's scary is how fast and how quiet its march through the legislative process has been. In '97, the No Electronic Theft Act allowed for criminal lawsuits, but none have been filed, so isn't it clear that the Justice Department has better stuff to deal with?" There actually have been some prosecutions filed under the NET Act, but not many. Update: 05/26 18:51 GMT by T : Declan McCullagh (author of the linked News.com story) writes to clarify: "FYI there have been prosecutions under the NET Act, as you say. But
there have not been any of P2P users. That's why the Senate is doing this."
A good day for starving artists. (Score:5, Funny)
As a member of Citizens United against Network Thievery, let me be the first to jump for joy. For too long musicians and movie moguls have resorted to smaller mansions, some with empty garage spots, as wanton piracy has hurt sales of their reasonably priced products. This rampant hooliganism must be stopp... ed.. whoa... what's this square of blotter paper doing in my coffee?
Re:your tax dollars at work... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A good day for starving artists. (Score:5, Funny)
Arrr! (Score:5, Funny)
"Pirate Act" to be highly inaccurate.
It's copyright infringement.
Piracy is a different matter altogether.
Anybody can download a song, but it takes
quite a bit more daring to pilage at a professional
level.
Arrr.
Re:A good day for starving artists. (Score:3, Funny)
I am the master of the C.L.I.T. Remember this ficking face. Whenever you see C.L.I.T., you'll see this fucking face. I make that shit work. It does whatever the fuck I tell it to. No one rules the C.L.I.T like me. Not this little fuck [referring to Silent Bob], none of you little fucks out there. I AM THE C.L.I.T. COMMANDER! Remember that, commander of all C.L.I.T.s! When it comes down to business, this is what I do. I pinch it like this. OOH you little fuck. Then I rub my nose with it.
From Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back [imdb.com]
hmm... (Score:2, Funny)
My business plan (Score:5, Funny)
2. Become president of the SIAA (Software Inudstry Association of America).
3. ???
4. Profit!!!
I think #3 has something to do with lawsuits...
Re:Arrr! (Score:2, Funny)
We need Falafel (Score:5, Funny)
Federal Assistance for Limiting the use of Acronyms For Evil Legislation.
Looks like the US Government... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Arrr! (Score:3, Funny)
quite a bit more daring to pilage at a professional
level.
They all end up in elected government offices.
Re:Time to call your Congress Critter (Score:3, Funny)
They are not Pirates... (Score:0, Funny)
DMCA them (Score:3, Funny)
1- create an encripted P2P network
2- make sure it's easy to decrypt
3- create a user licence saying that if you're DOJ/RIAA/MPAA you can't decrypt
4- wait for them do break in and tap the network
5- sue their ass based on DMCA
6- profit
Good thing (Score:2, Funny)
It will be *much* cheaper to devote our govt forces to pursuing file swappers, than drug smugglers and terrorists.
Plus, file swappers don't shoot back.
So this is all good...
Re:Figures it involved Orrin Hatch (Score:3, Funny)
Windows IS the destructive system for filesharing. Sad, yet eerily true.
.NET Act? (Score:2, Funny)