Violent Orginized Crime is really behind pirating !!!

[Don2050]

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-992468.html

do these guys ever quit ?

"Large, violent, highly organized criminal groups are getting rich from the theft of America's copyrighted products," Valenti said. "Only when governments around the world effectively bring to bear the full powers of the state against these criminals, can we expect to make progress."

The stigma just keeps getting worse and worse....maybe soon they will say pirates are really terrorist.

[Dubber]

Let's name those groups too.... Blockbuster and Rogers Video and alike ...

Actually, how come they are allowed to rent movies out for a fee, sell the used ones later and I cannot do the same thing as a private citizen? Is it just taxes related?

[spikeylikesit]

Just below the quote you have shown in the article, they pretty much do equate Piracy with Terrorists. At least as being monetary supporters of terrorists. Well, if that is the case- we support terrorism with every tank of gas (petrol) we fillup with. That argument actually is better supported, but little talked about.

"Organized crime syndicates are frequently engaged in many types of illicit enterprises, including supporting terrorist activities," Malcolm said. "All components of the Justice Department...will do everything within their power to make sure that intellectual property piracy does not become a vehicle for financing or supporting acts of terror."

[Mirror_Image]

Let's name those groups too.... Blockbuster and Rogers Video and alike ...

Actually, how come they are allowed to rent movies out for a fee, sell the used ones later and I cannot do the same thing as a private citizen? Is it just taxes related?

They buy the DVD/tape. They pay a mutually-agreed cut to the copyright owner for each rental dollar. They can sell the DVD/tape anytime they like.

What part of that is hard to understand? It seems pretty clear to me.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Better call Tom Ridge and move the alert status to red.
spikeylikesit made a good point about oil barons funding terrorist organizations,those so-called environmentalists protest the drilling of oil in Alaska and off-shore as they drive their Ford Excursions(SUV).The US Justice Dept.and Congress needs to get their priorities in order.

[pacmania_2001]

As much as I hate to agree with the MPAA their is substantial involvement in piracy from organised crime groups.

Silvers, the source of most movies in the 'cam' and 'telesync' formats come from these groups.

They also mass produce copies of games and software to sell on. Their was an article a couple of months ago that said the groups have actually moved their activities into international waters off Asia in large boats to avoid the recent crackdowns the Asian authorities have been doing.

[Gazorgan]

I've never seen a pirated movie for sale? I knew of someone in New York that would sell VCD's for $5, and M$ products for $50. Alas, he was pretty stupid, screwed someone over, and got busted. Lost his computers, his job, and got fined big time.

Personally I like the having the original, even if I usually watch the backup ( Scratches are bad ).

[Don2050]

It appears ArsTechnica got a look at the same article....here is thier take...

http://arstechnica.com/

Warez supports terrorism
Posted 3/14/2003 - 12:22PM, by Ken "Caesar" Fisher

In recent years, one of the best ways to push a cause before Congress has been to allege that activity x supports terrorism. Hence, smoking pot supports terrorism, vacationing in evil countries supports terrorism, driving SUVs supports terrorism, and now Microsoft, Hollywood et alia would like to point out that software piracy also supports terrorism. Oh, as does ripping MP3s and copying DVDs. And the government is apparently interested in this thesis, as well.

"Organized crime syndicates are frequently engaged in many types of illicit enterprises, including supporting terrorist activities," Malcolm said. "All components of the Justice Department...will do everything within their power to make sure that intellectual property piracy does not become a vehicle for financing or supporting acts of terror."

To be sure, there are criminal organizations that deal in software piracy, and chances are that they aren't the most friendly organizations in the world. But even as advocates admit, these organized activities (for the most part) happen outside of the United States, primarily in countries where illegal activities such as this often go unchecked. But you can bet that these advocates are primarily interested in restricting consumer freedom here in the US. Funny that. But it gets even better. In order to make sure that you don't mistakenly become a terrorist yourself, how about passing some laws that put you in the slammer for downloading an MP3? According to this article at IDG:

Representative John Carter, a Texas Republican, suggested that college students would stop downloading if some were prosecuted and received sentences of 33 months or longer, like the defendants in the DOJ's Operation Buccaneer. "I think it'd be a good idea to go out and actually bust a couple of these college kids," Carter said. "If you want to see college kids duck and run, you let them read the papers and somebody's got a 33-month sentence in the federal penitentiary for downloading copyrighted materials."

What an ass (pardon my French--I reserve Fridays for the use of French). So, we can't be sure if we're stealing profits (downloading for free), making profits (selling warez), generating profits (buying warez), or guilty of being "college kids," but it all supports organized crime, which is ipso facto criminal, and criminals are mean, and so are terrorist, and hoochie-mamma bad bad bad! Let's lock 'em all up and let Big Bubba sort 'em out with his Penal Theories of Criminal Justice. Thanks to G.Vasileiou for the heads up.