P2P Bits

yohaas writes "Two Op-Ed stories today in the NY Times address music sharing. In one Kembrew McLeod says that the lawsuits aren't working and gives some alternate suggestions. In the other Harvard Law professor William Fisher says that the industry is going about the situation in the wrong way, concluding that 'the record industry's response to file sharing--trying to block the technology altogether--would generate the worst of all possible results'. Neither article is comprehensive, but they are good read nonetheless." Reader Brill Pappin points out that Canadians aren't afraid of the music industry. And reader The Importance of Being Earnest writes "The INDUCE Act, which would make it a crime to 'induce' copyright infringement, such as by inventing things like the Betamax, has finally been officially introduced. The bill has been renamed the Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act [PDF]. In addition to the name change, there has been another slight modication: 'counsel' is no longer part of the proposed statute. Here is a line-by-line refutation of Hatch's introduction [PDF] to the Act. EFF has shown how broad the Act is by writing a mock lawsuit [PDF] suing Apple (for making the iPod), C|Net (for reviewing the iPod), and Toshiba (for supplying hard drives for iPods). Previous Slashdot coverage here."

Warning -

[calypso15]

If bill is passed, please INDUCE vomitting.

Re:You US'ians sure have a twisted law system

[Anonymous Coward]

Because we don't have enough money to get our government to listen to us. Don't worry about us, though, it's only a matter of time before enough people realize that guns are a hell of a lot cheaper than lobbying.

That proves it....

[Kenja]

File sharing is legal in Canada and its had no effect on the quality of music and art, just look at all the high quiality IP comming out of the land up north! I even hear that Shatner is back in the recording studio.

List of those to sue so far

[f0rtytw0]

I hope this passes since it could be great at generating income for me or at least be a great investment. First off I can sue Dell since I have a computer from them and it was really easy to get and they gave me no warnings on how easy it was to use a computer to commit fraud. Then I can sue Microsoft for making an operating system that allows for easy copy right infringement. Their "copy" and "paste" methods have cost trillions and trillions of lost sales and IP revenue. Then I am going to sue my ISP for giving me internet access. Finally I am going to sue the government for inventing ARPA Net which evolved into the IP stealing networks we have today. There are pleanty of others on this list but I think this is a good start. All I need is a couple hundred million dollars to start the lawsuits but the return on this inventsment is quite substantial.

Re:There goes ftp...

[Anonymous Coward]

Does this mean that I have to remove the CTRL and C and V keys off my keyboard?

If it passes, write this letter...

[k4_pacific]

Dear Senator Hatch,

In order to comply with the Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004, I am turning in my now illegal devices which can be used to infringe copyrights to you so that they can be properly disposed of.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Now, round up a bunch of broken VCRs and old 486 PCs (think thrift stores), and send them, along with your letter to:

Senator Orrin Hatch
104 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510

List of Outlawed Technologies

[Apocalypse111]

Assuming that this passes, here is a partial list of technologies that will shortly be outlawed, as they could be used to violate IP laws...

Portable MP3 Players (iPod, Rio, etc)
Tape Decks
Record Players
DVD Players
Camcorders
VCR's
Computers
Cell Phones
Voice Mail
Cameras
Typewriters
Pencils
Pens
Paint Brushes
Chalk

This list subject to change at will without notice.

Which Constituants?

[Anonymous Coward]

Exactly which of his constituants is Senator Hatch representing by introducing this bill? The Osmunds?

Re:Not my area of expertise (legal or IP)

[kfg]

And Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a trademark of Count Louis Zabrowski. Man, this inducing to infringe upon IP gets deep.

It's also obscene and promotes prostituion. A chit is military scrip and a bang is. . . well, I think you know. Yes, that's the actual derivation of the name of the car. It had a reputation for being, what is often called in the colloquial, a bit of a "crumpet collector."

I wonder if our erswhile student of Brigham Young University and Senator from Utah knows he's saying "I've just been paid, now I'm going to get laid"?

And the book is intended for children!

Please, won't he think of the children?

KFG

Re:yay for legalized bribery!

[cynic10508]

when do we start enforcing the constitution and putting a stop to legalized political bribery?

As a representative of the World Ethical Association of Salient Entrepreneurial Lobbyists (WEASEL), I must say that your statements constitute libel. Our attorney, Leonard "J" Crabs [somethingawful.com] will be in contact. For the legal proceedings may we suggest KY [lubery.com].