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Senate May Ram Copyright Bill

C

conjur

No Lifer
http://wired.com/news/politics...0.html?tw=wn_tophead_2
WASHINGTON -- Several lobbying camps from different industries and ideologies are joining forces to fight an overhaul of copyright law, which they say would radically shift in favor of Hollywood and the record companies and which Congress might try to push through during a lame-duck session that begins this week.

The Senate might vote on HR2391, the Intellectual Property Protection Act, a comprehensive bill that opponents charge could make many users of peer-to-peer networks, digital-music players and other products criminally liable for copyright infringement. The bill would also undo centuries of "fair use" -- the principle that gives Americans the right to use small samples of the works of others without having to ask permission or pay.

bill lumps together several pending copyright bills including HR4077, the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act, which would criminally punish a person who "infringes a copyright by ... offering for distribution to the public by electronic means, with reckless disregard of the risk of further infringement." Critics charge the vague language could apply to a person who uses the popular Apple iTunes music-sharing application.

The bill would also permit people to use technology to skip objectionable content -- like a gory or sexually explicit scene -- in films, a right that consumers already have. However, under the proposed law, skipping any commercials or promotional announcements would be prohibited. The proposed law also includes language from the Pirate Act (S2237), which would permit the Justice Department to file civil lawsuits against alleged copyright infringers.

Also under the proposed law, people who bring a video camera into a movie theater to make a copy of the film for distribution would be imprisoned for three years, fined or both.

The groups that lined up against the bill include the Consumer Electronics Association, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the American Conservative Union and public-interest advocacy group Public Knowledge, which hosted a press briefing on Friday as the opening salvo of its campaign to stop passage.

The groups are calling for the Senate to postpone consideration of the bill until at least next year, when there would be more time for hearings and debate.

In addition, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairmanship of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) will expire next year, with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) in line to take over the committee. Bill opponents hope Specter would take a different approach to copyright law than Hatch, who has been an advocate of several bills that have rankled public-interest, technology and consumer-electronics camps.

The entertainment industry has been lobbying hard for quick Senate passage during the lame-duck session, with opponents gearing up for a tough fight.

Hollywood's involvement has even irked the American Conservative Union, which holds considerable sway with conservative Republicans in Congress. The ACU plans a major print ad campaign this week to oppose the bill, mainly because some provisions would require the Justice Department to file civil copyright lawsuits on behalf of the entertainment industry.

"It's just plain wrong to make the Department of Justice Hollywood's law firm," said Stacie Rumenap, ACU's deputy director.

The Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America weren't immediately available for comment.
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Prohibit skipping commercials?? WTF?
 
OMFG!! And you thought a$$croft was bad? This draconian measure will make all of us outlaws. You can't even borrow a cd or cassette tape or you'd face the fine.

I'm fine with the cameras in the theatre's fine and imprisonment...that stuff is so very wrong.

I feel that the music industry needs to stop trying to flex and find ways to innovate. Same with the mpaa. Innovate and evolve and quit trying to do it the old way.
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
OMFG!! And you thought a$$croft was bad? This draconian measure will make all of us outlaws. You can't even borrow a cd or cassette tape or you'd face the fine.

I'm fine with the cameras in the theatre's fine and imprisonment...that stuff is so very wrong.

I feel that the music industry needs to stop trying to flex and find ways to innovate. Same with the mpaa. Innovate and evolve and quit trying to do it the old way.
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I agree on the videocameras in theaters issue. That's just pure theft.

And, there's still hope this won't pass.
 
What annoys me about these measures is not really the substance as much as it is the fact that it shows how corporations dominate our politics. The American people would not want this legislation to be passed. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. It's too draconian. This legislation mainly serves corporations and last time I checked they shouldn't be able to vote.
 
Originally posted by: cjchaps
So Tivo's and Replay's would become illegal to use because you can skip commericals with them?
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This bill was bought and paid for by Hollywood. They're trying to outlaw the commercial skipping features that are built into DVRs.
 
Originally posted by: Infohawk
What annoys me about these measures is not really the substance as much as it is the fact that it shows how corporations dominate our politics. The American people would not want this legislation to be passed. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. It's too draconian. This legislation mainly serves corporations and last time I checked they shouldn't be able to vote.
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I don't want to admit that I agree with Infohwk......dam!!!
 
I warned you guys 2 years ago about this.

I actually sat in meetings with the "Lawmakers" pushing this as they are being pushed by the Corporations that own them.

The response here in P&N was that it wasn't going to happen.

No everyone can eat crow for all I care.
 
Originally posted by: Tom
can i get up and go make a sandwich ?
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Yes, but you must remain within earshot of all commercial advertisements. In fact, it would be best if you just carried a portable TV around in order that you never miss a commercial.
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Tom
can i get up and go make a sandwich ?
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Yes, but you must remain within earshot of all commercial advertisements. In fact, it would be best if you just carried a portable TV around in order that you never miss a commercial.
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Don't forget, you'll need to pay the 'multiple connections' surcharge from some cable providers for this privilege😉
 
Originally posted by: cquark
Public Knowledge makes it easy for you to contact your Senator to tell them to vote against this insane bill.
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and if you really want to change their mind and actually make a difference, write them a fatter check then the one the lobby groups do.

until then, go ahead and call your senator and let their staffer know how you feel, then youll fell better.

Because thats the only reason that staffer is employed, to answer phones of whining citizens to make them feel someone actually gives a Sh!t
 
Originally posted by: smashp
I pledge alligence to the Flag of the United Corporations of America, and for the Products for which it markets, one nation, under Ceo's, consuming, with Suv's and tv's for all
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This is what the Country wants, this is what they get.
 
They aren't even pretending they are on our side anymore. Not the government in general, but corporate whores like Hatch. I'm glad to hear he'll be stepping down from his chairman position though, he's a wack-job.

You know, if the government wants to step into civil affairs on the side of companies, I think it's only fair that they sue companies on my behalf. After all, I'm "the people" who don't stand a chance against he big guys...who is it again that needs the help here? And skipping commercials? What's next, I can't get up to take a piss during commercials?
 
Originally posted by: Rainsford
They aren't even pretending they are on our side anymore. Not the government in general, but corporate whores like Hatch. I'm glad to hear he'll be stepping down from his chairman position though, he's a wack-job.

You know, if the government wants to step into civil affairs on the side of companies, I think it's only fair that they sue companies on my behalf. After all, I'm "the people" who don't stand a chance against he big guys...who is it again that needs the help here? And skipping commercials? What's next, I can't get up to take a piss during commercials?
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What's next, I can't get up to take a piss during commercials?

That has already been addressed.

The answer is you are breaking your contractual aggreement to watch those commercials so if you electronically or physically get up and leave therefore skipping the commercial and then come back and watch the rest of the show you have broken the Law.

I suggest you keep a piss bottle with you when watching TV.
 
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: Rainsford
They aren't even pretending they are on our side anymore. Not the government in general, but corporate whores like Hatch. I'm glad to hear he'll be stepping down from his chairman position though, he's a wack-job.

You know, if the government wants to step into civil affairs on the side of companies, I think it's only fair that they sue companies on my behalf. After all, I'm "the people" who don't stand a chance against he big guys...who is it again that needs the help here? And skipping commercials? What's next, I can't get up to take a piss during commercials?
Click to expand...

What's next, I can't get up to take a piss during commercials?

That has already been addressed.

The answer is you are breaking your contractual aggreement to watch those commercials so if you electronically or physically get up and leave therefore skipping the commercial and then come back and watch the rest of the show you have broken the Law.

I suggest you keep a piss bottle with you when watching TV.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, since I am not a lawyer and all that, but aren't there consumer protections that say contractural agreements can't control what you do with a product in your own home? I realize this would not seem to be the case a lot of times, but it doesn't make sense that a company can tell me what I can do with their product other than prohibit me copying it. Aren't there limits on what contracts can and can't cover?
 
Just in case nobody bothered to read the bill, here's the text that you're talking about:

`(11) the making imperceptible, by or at the direction of a member of a private household, of limited portions of audio or video content of a motion picture, during a performance in or transmitted to that household for private home viewing, from an authorized copy of the motion picture, or the creation or provision of a computer program or other technology that enables such making imperceptible and that is designed and marketed for such use at the direction of a member of a private household, if--

`(A) no fixed copy of the altered version of the motion picture is created by such computer program or other technology; and

`(B) no changes, deletions or additions are made by such computer program or other technology to commercial advertisements, or to network or station promotional announcements, that would otherwise be performed or displayed before, during or after the performance of the motion picture.'; and
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Feel free to make your sandwich and take your piss. Just don't use a computer program to record a broadcast, then edit out the commercials and make a fixed copy of the show.
 
Originally posted by: AntiEverything
Feel free to make your sandwich and take your piss. Just don't use a computer program to record a broadcast, then edit out the commercials and make a fixed copy of the show.
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Whew, I was worried for a moment. At one point a year or so ago, I sarcastically speculated that we would all be required to have metal implants in our posteriors, with electromagnets implanted in the couch or chairs, such that no one would be allowed to leave for the commercials. Although this isn't quite as bad, that doesn't mean it's not totally freaking insane to begin with.

I never signed - or even clicked yes to - a contract with you idiots in the motion picture business to watch your damn commercials, so therefore I have no fvcking contract that requires such idiocy! So keep pulling this sh!t out of your ass, but no one except the senators that you've brib... er, contributed to will care. :|
 
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