Block the RIAA and MPAA

[Xesdeeni]

Techfocus(http://techfocus.org/) has elected to block the RIAA and MPAA from their site(http://techfocus.org/comments.php?catid=17&id=3662). While I disagree that the litigation against individual copyright violators is in any way wrong (this is precisely what any copyright holder is supposed to do to protect their property), the method of obtaining the information (using the unconstitutional DMCA) bypassed due process, and the penalties being cited are ridiculous. But above all, the RIAA and MPAA have been heavy-handed in every other approach they have taken (seeding P2P networks with bogus files, threatening to spread viruses, etc.). At some point they have to re-realize what book vendors realized when copy machines came out, what the RIAA realized when cassette recorders came out, and what the MPAA realized when the VCR came out: you can't stop progress through litigation, just work within the technology and profit!

To that end, and to send that signal, I suggest that blocking the RIAA and MPAA from this site could send such a message.

Xesdeeni

[BJ_M]

it could also send a message that we have something to hide - which we don't ...
plus do you think they don't know how to use a proxy and/or just get a dial up connection ?

this site has taken a very strong anti piracy position , and though many of the users here don't like the strong arm anti user policies they are adapting, nor they fact that that they don't seem to be able to work too well with what is clearly the "new world order" , we have to reconize that piracy is a very real issue ... though not to the extent or the area they are targeting ..

many of us are IN the film bussness and don't like piracy either -- but it hasnt seemed to hurt dvd rentals (which are way up) or theatre ticket sales (which are good even for some crap flicks) .

many theatre chains are losing money and in chapter 9 -- but yet it costs 100million to make some movie and they wonder why ?

btw -- theatres make next to or nothing on ticket sales -- they make thier money off popcorn and stuff .. really ..

This site may have to re-evaluate some of the tools posted in wake of some of the more recent laws in some countries (thats up to the owner of the site) - but its basic policy stands firm ... no warez , no pirate/bootleg movies.

[mysticgohan17]

:::edit dont think i needed to quote the whole thing:::

damn straight.

[Xesdeeni]

No-one said they supported piracy (in fact, quite the opposite). Just like we don't support illegal drugs. But if those attempting to enforce the laws against drug dealing bypassed obtaining a search warrant, threatened to replace drug supplies with tainted drugs, or forced adding drug detectors to every new home and automobile (at the buyer's cost), we would object. This is a method of objecting.

Another thing to consider is that, in all deference to the puriant intent of DVDRHelp.com, almost everything discussed on this site is technically illegal, since the enactment of the RIAA and MPAA's pet, the DMCA. Again, this is a method of objecting to the removal of our fair use rights.

Xesdeeni

[pacmania_2001]

Let me draw an analogy:

By blocking the RIAA/MPAA from this site is like not giving a voluntary DNA sample to the police to help solve a crime. We have done no wrong so why not give them the sample.

Like BJ_M said anyway, do you really think they can't bypass a simple IP address blockage. Let me draw another analogy:

By blocking them it's like being a smart arse when you get pulled over by the police. Do you think they are going to be more or less likely to let us off without giving us a ticket?

[MJPollard]

Another thing to consider is that, in all deference to the puriant intent of DVDRHelp.com, almost everything discussed on this site is technically illegal, since the enactment of the RIAA and MPAA's pet, the DMCA. Again, this is a method of objecting to the removal of our fair use rights.

Perhaps, and it's entirely possible that the RIAA and/or the MPAA will come after DVDRHelp.com at some point in the future. The point that others have been trying to make is that when you're in the crocodile pit, you can either lay low and avoid attracting attention, or put your privates into the beast's jaws and pray he doesn't bite down.

[mkelley]

Another thing to consider is that, in all deference to the puriant intent of DVDRHelp.com, almost everything discussed on this site is technically illegal, since the enactment of the RIAA and MPAA's pet, the DMCA. Again, this is a method of objecting to the removal of our fair use rights.

Xesdeeni

Um, I really don't want to get drawn into this, but I think it's always important to point out where people are mistaken -- here you are very mistaken. There has been no court in the US that has ruled on the legality of activities such are as discussed in this site. The 9th district has a case under consideration and may or may not issue a ruling soon but even then it will not be a definitive ruling, and it's sure to be appealed to the Supreme Court no matter what.

But even at that this case will only go a long way towards ruling what is and isn't legal *in the US*. Countries around the world make up their own mind, and since the internet is global I think a pretty good case could be made that even in a country where such activities were illegal having a site up talking about them is not in and of itself illegal. IOW, you can find sites on the net that talks about committing illegal sexual acts against minors (I am so disgusted by it I don't even want to mention the name of the site) but the U.S. courts have ruled it's completely legal to have the site up. If the U.S. can't even shut down this kind of pernicious site there is no way they could do this for DVDRHelp.

Now, suing is a completely different matter -- anyone can bring a suit against anyone for anything, and it's up to the courts to decide the merits. Such suits can have a chilling effect even when they are totally without merit, and some site owners may decide they do not want to expose themselves to this risk.

So, just to be clear -- no one really knows anything when it comes to fair use of DVDs in the states, let alone the world. Don't spread misinformation.

[thayne]

I say block them. I'm going to block them from all my sites, which have nothing to do with movies or music, and put up the silly little button just as a protest...