Action Alert - Don't Fund the War on File Sharing

[JohnnyCNote]

Don't Fund the War on File Sharing - Ask Congress for a Real Solution!

You may not agree with the recording industry's war on file sharing, but under the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act (PDEA, HR 4077), you'd still have to pay for it. The PDEA would create the first criminal copyright penalties for people who aren't engaged in willful criminal conduct. Under the law's murky "negligence" standard, a person with 1,000 legally obtained songs could be sent to jail for three years if she fails to lock them up tight enough - and that's only for the first offense. In addition, the PDEA would force the government to push a lopsided "education" campaign that demonizes P2P while failing to mention your rights to use copyrighted material. To top it off, all of this would be funded with your tax dollars. Tell Congress to reject the PDEA and explore solutions that pay artists rather than punish people.

[flaninacupboard]

unbeleivable. 1,000 songs is three years in prison. a woman who stole £3,000,000 from her employer (who didn't actually notice the money was gone) was imprisoned for six years, so 1,000 songs are worth £1,500,000? worse was a guy who while banned from driving and steaming drunk ran down and killed three people, who got three years.

so 333 songs is worth £500,000 or a persons life. sometimes i think we should have the death pentalty back

[Ironballs]

Flan,

Calm down, it's the yanks (stupid law) But I've gotta agree with you mate, crime here in UK definatly pays. 6 years for £3000000. I could be tempted myself. Esp since we all know she's be out in a couple of years.

Mate did you see her? What a minger, she should of used some of that wonga for plastic surgery!

Ironballs

[flaninacupboard]

Classic!

[JohnnyCNote]

I just got this reply from my Congressman:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opinion regarding H.R. 4077, the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this matter.

The vast majority of software products, including peer-to-peer technology, do not pose an inherent risk. Responsible people making software products should be encouraged and commended for the due diligence and reasonable care they take including by providing instructions, relevant information in the documentation, disseminating patches, updates, and other appropriate modifications to the software. It is the massive volumes of illegal activity that need to be adequately addressed. This includes distribution of child pornography, viruses, and confidential personal information, and copyright infringement that occur on publicly accessible peer-to-peer file sharing services every day. Some publicly accessible peer-to-peer file sharing services expose consumers, particularly children, to serious risks, including legal liability, loss of privacy, threats to computer security, and exposure to illegal and inappropriate material.

The full potential of peer-to-peer technology to benefit consumers has yet to be realized and will not be achieved until these problems are removed. To date, the businesses that run publicly accessible file-sharing services have refused or failed to voluntarily and sufficiently address these problems. Many users of publicly available peer-to-peer file-sharing services are drawn to these systems by the lure of obtaining "free" music and movies. While some users use parental controls to protect children from pornography available on the Internet and search engines, not all such controls work on publicly accessible peer-to-peer networks.

Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced H.R. 4077 on March 31, 2004. This bill would enhance criminal enforcement of the copyright laws, to educate the public about the application of copyright law to the Internet, and for other purposes. This legislation was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. Rest assured that I will keep your views and thoughts in mind should this legislation come to the House floor for consideration.

Again, I want to thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please feel free to contact me again if I can be of any further assistance on this matter. I also invite you to visit my Web site at Crenshaw.house.gov for additional information on issues facing Congress.



Sincerely,

ANDER CRENSHAW
Member of Congress

[Nilfennasion]

Maybe you should inform your congressman that the sales of underground music (which is almost all I will buy) has exploded since the advent of MP3, and it only hurts the RIAA's cause to go running and crying to momma/the legislature about it.

No label that is actually interested in making real music fears MP3.

[leebo]

What a waste of a stamp. You can tell which way this ass is going to vote by the line "This bill would enhance.."


At least now we know that the record industry is just looking out for us:

"It is the massive volumes of illegal activity that need to be adequately addressed. This includes distribution of child pornography, viruses, and confidential personal information..."


And to finish:

The full potential of peer-to-peer technology to benefit consumers has yet to be realized and will not be achieved until these problems are removed.


In other words, don't worry your little pea brain. Let us grown-ups take care of things.

[Nilfennasion]

There must be something that can be done. Were I not in Australia, I'd be organising protests, but there you go.

It's like society has thrown in the towel against the real outlaws and just decided to go after the little guy.

[Mr anderson]

so what, the yanks have got the law in place! But if you look through all of this, they have not said anything about winmx or napster?

[Capmaster]

so what, the yanks have got the law in place! But if you look through all of this, they have not said anything about winmx or napster?

I think the laws would apply to all P2P services. Napster is legal though. At least they claim to be.

[Mr anderson]

yeah true, but its like all of these speed cameras, just a easy way of making money without getting their hand dirty or to much head work

[Capmaster]

yeah true, but its like all of these speed cameras, just a easy way of making money without getting their hand dirty or to much head work

Where can I sign up?

Seriously, in the current legal climate I don't think I'd want to start up a P2P service. Easy money maybe, but with all the legal hassles and stomach acid ...no thanks.

[Snakebyte1]

I can't see governments being much of a help to the consumer. Not only are most politicians in bed with the lobbyists, they are also after the Sales Tax.

It must irk them that each time someone watches/listens to a downloaded movie/music, they are missing out on that tax. So you bought a CD but want to listen to it on a MP3 player? - too bad they say, buy it again in MP3 format and pay the industry and the tax!

And the same goes for backing up music/movies. If Junior destroys his Disney DVDs, so what, they say! Buy new ones and the industry gets its money and various governments get there sales tax.

[lordsmurf]

I just got this reply from my Congressman:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opinion regarding H.R. 4077, the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this matter.

Sincerely,

ANDER CRENSHAW
Member of Congress

I'm of the opinion your congressman is an ******* after seeing that letter. Luckily, mine are not as dense as this.

[indolikaa]

I wonder how much money Congressman Crenshaw accepted from the 'parties in question?' for his last campaign. Or this one, for that matter, since they're all up for election this year?

Follow the money.

[gitreel]

I have said this numerous times b4

We have the best government money can buy

Government philosophy: If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

[indolikaa]

If it ain't fixed, go and **** it up some more!

[JohnnyCNote]

I wonder how much money Congressman Crenshaw accepted from the 'parties in question?' for his last campaign. Or this one, for that matter, since they're all up for election this year?

Follow the money.

He comes from a long line of northeast Florida politicians. He's "ideological", and has enough money that he doesn't need to take bribes. On a personal level he's a nice guy, but then, he is a career politician....

[leebo]

has enough money that he doesn't need to take bribes...

And as we all know, once you get a "lot of money", you're no longer money hungry. Just ask Mr. Gates.

Of course, some people with money like power as well. And all those downloaders can really help a campaign. Oh wait, thats big business that can help a campaign, isn't it?

Nevermind.

[indolikaa]

And as we all know, once you get a "lot of money", you're no longer money hungry. Just ask Mr. Gates.

Of course, some people with money like power as well. And all those downloaders can really help a campaign. Oh wait, thats big business that can help a campaign, isn't it?

Nevermind.

ROTFLMAO!