Taiwan's IP Office Proposes Blocking Foreign Sites Infringing Copyright 39
New submitter thomas8166 writes "The Taiwanese Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) recently proposed draft legislation that would empower it to block foreign websites that it deems infringing. The proposal has been likened to SOPA, and has drawn heavy criticism from website operators such as Wikimedia Taiwan. The TIPO stresses that it will only target well-known infringing sites, but Taiwanese netizens are concerned that this power can potentially be abused for political purposes."
Any blocking for any purpose (Score:3, Insightful)
Any blocking for any particular purpose is fit for any other blocking purpose too. And so there is no reason at all, at all, to keep the "but only for this, we pinky-swear with a cherry on top!" promises, especially not to other pressure groups who see the blocking thing and want it, too. Such promises are just words, the blocking is the real thing, of course.
So we cannot afford to have any blocking at all. For any purpose. Not for "noble" causes and not for plain greed, like here. If you have one, the other kinds will be sure to follow. As they have done elsewhere already. This is not surprising unless you choose to believe that your cause is somehow more special than other people's causes. It is not. You're just human, and have no right to tell other humans what access they should or should not have.
This is one of the clearest cases yet where we absolutely have the technology but absolutely cannot afford to let anyone have it so they can lord it over the rest of us. For if we let one have it, we let everyone have it. Maybe not right away, but in time, in time. So nobody can have it, not ever.
SOPA (Score:2)
The SOPA deals with IPs especially from America
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Taiwan is the name of the Island and the Republic of China is the name of the country.
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This is true. However, I would add that the name Republic of China is the name of the KMT government, and was brought from the mainland when they withdrew to Taiwan. At least half of the population of Taiwan has lived there for generations, arriving long before there ever was a Republic of China. In Chinese, aside from official statements, most Taiwanese people refer to their country simply as 'Taiwan'. (Yes, there is more to it that this.)
However, Taiwan is never referred to as simply "China".
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For international sporting events (etc.) it's called Chinese Taipei [wikipedia.org].
Cf. PRC [wikipedia.org].
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While they may share a language, a cultural history and a long term relationship, Taiwan and China differ in society, politics, economy, technology, and general development. Aside from silly politics, they aren't remotely the same country.
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Remember Famicom clones? (Score:2)
Re:Remember Famicom clones? (Score:5, Informative)
If I remember correctly, china wouldn't sign if they let taiwan sign, and taiwan didn't hold itself accountable for if china signed. If you wanted your IP protected in taiwan you had to do a release/production there (believe some Japanese artists and such would do a limited on just to get protection from companies like SonMay).
End result: it's only illegal if it is prohibited by law, and it (foreign IP) wasn't recognised there.
Netizen? (Score:3)
Netizen? I've always despised that word. I can't be the only one.
Oh, and Taiwan respecting IP rights? Snicker.
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It sounds so fucking dated, like a rich white guy wandering in to the projects, asking the kids: "hey, do you like the hip hops? Snoopy Doo is my favourite!"
Cybernauts! That's the proper name for those of us who surf the information superhighway.
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Call me Fred. It was definitely a Tuesday.
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I despise it too. Along with 'information superhighway' and anything using 'cyber-' as a prefix.
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1. I was hesitant to use the word 'netizen' as well; I think it's lame too. However, I went with this decision because currently only the Internet users who have a large presence on the BBSes (the ones you have to telnet into) have raised any audible concerns; I felt "Internet user" doesn't really cut it. If you have an alternative, I'll be happy to hear about it.
2. Unfortunately you're right about the general Taiwanese attitude towards IP. However, that's probably b
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1. Given the ubiquity of internet access these days, "Taiwanese people" would have fit just fine.
2. Your points about the ham-fisted nature of the RIAA I would not argue against, however I was not speaking about the recording industry, nor was I talking about individuals downloading the latest media or game.
What I was speaking to was Taiwan's attitude towards commercial "infringement" of foreign IP. I put "infringement" it quotes because it is (was?) lawful under Taiwanese law. I don't know if it's change
Re:Just make everything illegal (Score:4, Insightful)
You make a good point. The problem with making so much stuff illegal is that you water down the effectiveness of the law. When only a few things are illegal then laws are very important. When there is a law against every little thing then the law becomes a joke and everyone ignores it.
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I disagree, it become far more powerful.
With many laws you can prosecute and jail any undesirable you want, as we all break half a dozen laws everyday.
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Precisely. That is why we need more laws. And they have to be so complicated that only trained professionals can understand them. Oh wait...
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If it can, it will (Score:1)
You cannot put this kind of power into the hands of rulers and expect them to refrain from using it whenever and however it suits them. Just look at Australia, with censorship that rivals what we used to mock as "the great firewall of China"; their initiatives were begun under the guise of protecting children, and now the government has full control over what, when, and where grown adults consume information and media across the web.
I wait with bated breath for the Aussie government shills who will dispute
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There is one thing that ALL governments everywhere crave, and that is power, absolute power over their subjects and possibly others. All governments also know that information is power and that is why they keep wanting to censor the Internet, to keep their subjects as powerless as possible. That is also why governments want to prohibit ordinary people from having guns. Mao, one of many tyrants march across the stage of history said, "power comes from the barrel of a gun". He might have added that power als
Taiwan proposes a "China-style block"? IRONIC! (Score:1)
they will abuse these powers thats why they want t (Score:1)
i only write to be read. (Score:1)