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RIAA Wants Right To Hack

An Anonymous Coward writes: "According to Wired, the recording industry wants the right to hack into your computer and delete your stolen MP3s." From the article: "It's no joke. Lobbyists for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) tried to glue this hacking-authorization amendment onto a mammoth anti-terrorism bill that Congress approved last week. A copy of an RIAA-drafted amendment obtained by Wired News would immunize all copyright holders -- including the movie and e-book industry -- for any data losses caused by their hacking efforts or other computer intrusions 'that are reasonably intended to impede or prevent' electronic piracy." Does this give you the right to crack RIAA systems to make sure no one there is selling copies of your term paper?

651 comments

  1. THIS IS GREAT!!! by TheMMaster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If this won't help bringing linux to the desktop, what will?? you can give them every right you want... For them to enforce it, you'll HAVE to be running windows! ;-)

    --
    Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
    1. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by viking099 · · Score: 1

      Assuming everyone stores their mp3's on their local machine.
      Personally, if I considered this a threat, I would continue to use Windows at the desktop, and use Linux as my server storage solution (using Samba to map drives).
      I haven't kept but about 5% to 10% of my total number of mp3's on my local machine since '98 or so, when hard drives started getting nice and cheap (especially the slower ones... who needs 10K RPM when you're pulling mp3's over a network connection?)

    2. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by DrDeaf · · Score: 1

      And the way you'll "HAVE to be running..." is that they'll just make it illegal to run any OS they can't crack.

      --
      Reports of my deaf have been greatly exaggerated.
    3. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Jaysyn · · Score: 4, Funny

      They would have a hell of a time deleting my MP3's of of the 20 or so CD-Roms I keep them on....

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    4. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by dragonfly_blue · · Score: 1
      Not to mention the fact that you can now buy DVD-R's holding 5.2 GB for around $3.00.


      Do you think just making the files read-only would work just as well? I suppose then they'll come up with some nefarious RPC exploit, or just use Windows XP's built-in C.O.P.S. (Copyright Organizer/Procurator System). *sigh*

      --
      Free music from Jack Merlot.
    5. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
      This comment is copyright © 2001 by Anonymous Coward, all right reserved. You may not store this comment on your system, period.

      Ahem. I sense that some of you may have violated my copyright by caching this article on your hard drive. I'll be exercising my rights to hack into your systems shortly.

    6. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by whopis · · Score: 1

      Actually, reading over the article it seems that they would not be responsible for any inadvertent damage caused to your system while trying to delete your mp3 files. So having the mp3s on CD or DVD wouldn't help all that much. Sure, you would have your mp3s... but that might be it.

    7. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sounds like time for a honeypot system with lots of "popular" MP3s on it and a few original recordings on MP3 format. Since they'd hack the system and delete all the MP3, you'd be justified in hacking their system to look for any copies of your stuff they might have taken before wiping the honeypot out.

    8. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      $666,000 the salary of the Beast

      I heard it's more like $400,000

    9. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by jrockway · · Score: 1

      Oh fuck them. It's only illegal if you get caught :)

      --
      My other car is first.
    10. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I read this law proposal right, wouldn't that mean that any programmer who developed security software would have the right to try to crack the RIAA (or anybody for that matter) to see if they were using software for commercial use when they weren't suppose to, ergo, breaking copyright laws. Just think that would be an interesting backfire for them.

    11. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Computer+suck! · · Score: 0

      URL please...
      Plus howmuch are the drives?

    12. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Computer+suck! · · Score: 0

      or just download legal MP3's.

      No problem then...

      I wounder how they check(I could have a MP3 called Monster Magnet - God Says No, but thats not to say its THE Monster Magnet's - God Says No), and what about MP3's you own the CD for?

      CS! (Has no illagel MP3's, all prase http://www.mp3.com )

    13. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by Computer+suck! · · Score: 0

      linux can be hacked...

      (it's just harder, unless it's a newbie box, then
      telnet in with 'root' no password/'password'/'root')

    14. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! by kaimiike1970 · · Score: 1

      A common mistake. You need to factor in the benefits and assign them a 'cash value'. Like for instance, you get to 'corrupt' virgins. This is easily worth $100K.

      --


      Do a google search before posting.
  2. Farenheit 451 is here early. by dave-fu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If this story is true (and I doubt it is, as seen with The Register's recent retraction) then it's the scariest freaking thing I've heard of in a long time. Don't want people surreptitiously going behind my back and torching my legitimate (some of us rip our own CDs, thankyouverymuch) music collection on my hard drive.
    Running with the possibility that this is true, hopefully the folks who would hack into peoples' computers will be tried as terrorists under the US's spankin' fresh new bills.

    --
    Easy does it!
    This comment has been submitted already, 276865 hours , 59 minutes ago. No need to try again.
    1. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      hopefully the folks who would hack into peoples' computers will be tried as terrorists under the US's spankin' fresh new bills.

      And if they aren't, maybe we can send some white powder to the RIAA head offices... Would server them well!

    2. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Drizzten · · Score: 5, Informative

      From the Wired article:

      The RIAA's interest in the USA Act, an anti-terrorism bill that the Senate and the House approved last week, grew out of an obscure part of it called section 815. Called the "Deterrence and Prevention of Cyberterrorism" section, it says that anyone who breaks into computers and causes damage "aggregating at least $5,000 in value" in a one-year period would be committing a crime.

      If the current version of the USA Act becomes law, the RIAA believes, it could outlaw attempts by copyright holders to break into and disable pirate FTP or websites or peer-to-peer networks. Because the bill covers aggregate damage, it could bar anti-piracy efforts that cause little harm to individual users, but meet the $5,000 threshold when combined.


      I'd call this "circumventing" wouldn't you? Those intrusive bastards want carte blanche to do whatever they want, while ordinary people get screwed.

      --

      "All mankind is at the mercy of a handful of neurotics". - Norman Douglas
    3. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
      Some version of this story is true. Check out the articel in the LA Times:

      Music Firms Fail to Get Anti-Piracy Proposal on Bill

    4. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Misch · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, according to the article, this is already legitimate. The article cites US Code, Title 18, Section 1030

      The real news in this is that the USA Anti-Terrorism bill includes language to prevent this, whereas RIAA is trying to open this loophole back up.

      --

      --You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
    5. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by WalterSobchak · · Score: 5, Funny

      Excuse me, I must be halluzinating...

      A dark cellar, somewhere in the world. One man - 1 - is examining goods in the cellar. A second man - 2 - enters...
      2: FREEZE, thief! What mischief are you up to?
      1: No mischief, Sir. My biclycle was stolen yesterday, and I am just looking to see if it is in your cellar.
      2: You smashed a window to do this!
      1: I had reasonable cause. I saw bicycles in your cellar, and you, Sir, look pretty thieverish yourself ...

      Coming to think of it, I want this law to be passed. The nights would be exiting again!

      Alex

      --
      Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder
    6. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      I really really hate trying to read US Code... Lisp is so much nicer

    7. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by SnapShot · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, your honor, it was self defense.

      I know I was in his basement, but under the RIAA's bill, I caused less than $5000 damage while entering his basement.

      I only fired after the homeowner refused to allow me to search his basement for my bicycle and threatened me with a handgun.

      I'm sorry that his wife and kids are starving, but maybe the homeowner should have read up on the laws of our country. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

      --
      Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex Bud.
    8. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Interesting
      The first thought that came to my mind was "Unreasonable search and seizure." After reading the article I see what the RIAA is on about; covering their own assets if they devise their own worm or such to go out and wipe MP3's (just another good reason to burn them onto CD's, eh?) Proving $5,000 aggregate damage to a site, which just happens to be hosting such files (how do they prove that it was actually a pirate site, hmm? Consider the Japanese trick for harvesting whales in the name of "scientific research" and use your imagination)

      The more of this crap I see the more inclined I am to seek work arounds for anything they come up with. They'll never win and in the end it will have cost them more than their lost revenues.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    9. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      say hello to the nice people with the FBI badges for me, k?

    10. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Spoo+Rancher · · Score: 1

      So would McAffee or Symantec be guilty of copyright circumvention if they provided protection against this theoretical RIAA MP3-destroying virus? I mean, under the DCMA, would it even be legal for people to defend themselves against this sort of nonsense?

    11. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm not sure what would have been worse: What the RIAA would have done with it, or what the Cthurch of $cientology would have done with it.

      $cientology has already (ab)used the DMCA to hassle critics and their ISPs. (Including claiming copyright on things written by other people.) They know that it's easier to comply than mount a defence against an army of lawyers with unlimited funds. (Sounds like the RIAA, don't it?)

      I shudder to think what Cof$ would have done with this piece of legal shite.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    12. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What, it's a crime to offer to send someone some nice instant pudding mix, now? Maybe some pudding would make the RIAA play a little nicer.

    13. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Given that Linux has so many security systems, they'll probably just outlaw Linux to avoid having to write a worm that can use a security hold that gets patched only hours after it's discovered...

    14. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by rhadamanthus · · Score: 1, Troll
      Long ago I gave up trying to be "legal" with reagrds to mp3s and "copyright". Copyright was a good thing, until corporations got greedy and listened way TOO much to there lawyer-types. Now it is a joke. If a company wants to control all access to a service (music in this case) and them overcharge for it, disable it unless you use their system (hello copy-protected CDs) etc. I see no reason to not rip them off in return. Add in to this now that they want to help me be "legal" by deleting and editing my personal computer for me and i say to them:


      a) go ahead and try (laff)


      b) oh jeez, now my mp3 box is off the network...


      c) ever heard of backups


      d) go jump off a cliff


      well anyhow, it is like Scott Adams said in regards to sales in the dlibert principle. "The optimal group to market to is the stupid rich. They will buy anything no matter what the price. Overcharge the smart rich and they will buy your company and fire your ass, overcharge the stupid poor and they cannot buy your product, overcharge the smart poor and they will find a way to steal it."


      ----------rhad the college student


      oh yeah--RIAA, you can BLOW ME

      --
      Slashdot needs to interview Natalie Portman.
    15. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by psychalgia · · Score: 2, Funny

      in my case i wonder if smith and wesson would be found guilty. yeah, thats right, dirty hairy style, RIAA punks.

      --

      ________________________________________________

    16. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by hebertrich · · Score: 0

      When the bill was introduced .. i really thought this could be to the users advantage.
      I am more convinced now than ever.See the fact that one is not allowed to cause damage,might be in our favor.The companies that track us,plant spying software etc can be held responsible for terrorism ... before long we will see test cases of supposedly legit companies brought to justice for this type of action.The act might help us along.As for the RIAA see in their threats their fear of technology.When time comes artists wont need them anymore.They will be obsolete soon and they try to make the most money while they still are alive.
      The end is near for their industry and they know it.

    17. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, if it is legal for them to attempt to crack a system to prevent sharing of MP3s, then it must be legal to launch a massive denial of service attack against them for infringing on free speech, right?

      A

    18. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by NumberSyx · · Score: 4, Interesting


      The more of this crap I see the more inclined I am to seek work arounds for anything they come up with. They'll never win and in the end it will have cost them more than their lost revenues.



      If this legislation passes, I plan to put up a honey pot system for the sole purpose of setting them up for a billion dollar law suit. Once the drive has been corrupted or wiped, how does the RIAA prove the MP3's were illegal copies of songs, instead of recordings of my children singing silly little ditties and also on the drive were irreplacable pictures and videos of my GrandFather, the day before he died. No $$$ value, but tons of sentimental value. Any decent litigation Lawyer could convince a Judge this was worth way more than $5000.


      --

      "Our products just aren't engineered for security,"
      -Brian Valentine,VP in charge of MS Windows Development

    19. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by aonaran · · Score: 1

      What part of the above mentioned code allows them to do this now? I see where it allows law enforcemnt officials to be exempt, but not copyright holders.

    20. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 2

      Well all they have to do is get the case tried in Judge Kaplan's court. He isn't averse to making up new law right on the spot.

      --
      Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
    21. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Xoro · · Score: 1

      The proposal in itself is unbelievable, and I'm sure there'll be plenty of posts pointing that out. But what really gets me is that they tried to tack it on to the anti-terrorism bill.

      At some point (Sept 12? 13 maybe?) someone in the RIAA looked at the smoking crater filled with 5,000 dead people in my town and said, "You know, this could really work for us..."

      Bastards.

      --
      Kill, Tux, kill!
    22. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      What give the RIAA more rights than police ? Even if the police suspec someone had comitted a crime, they would still have to go to the court. They just can't go to the suspect's house to steal stuff.

    23. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by MidnightLog · · Score: 1

      What part of the above mentioned code allows them to do this now?
      That's what I wondered when I read through the "current law" link in the article. Most of the language of the bill refers to "protected machines" (machines belonging to the government or financial institutions), however. I can only guess that the RIAA believes that its okay to hack "unprotected" computers. That doesn't seem right to me, though, so I welcome clarification.
      --

      To understand what's right and wrong, the lawyers work in shifts ...

    24. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Asikaa · · Score: 1
      "yeah, thats right, dirty hairy style"

      What does this have to do with CmdrTaco? ;)

      --

      Asikaa
      Come in, twenty-seventy-seventy, your time is up.

    25. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If this legislation passes, I plan to put up a honey pot system for the sole purpose of setting them up for a billion dollar law suit.

      Fuck that shit. Pick up the gun.

    26. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by parliboy · · Score: 1

      "No, your honor, there were no MP3's anywhere there. I just renamed that file to '$tàirway to Heàven.mp3' because I didn't want the kids to find my goatsecx pictures."

      --
      "You're never ready, just less unprepared."
    27. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by liquidsin · · Score: 1

      The RIAA is already known to put destructive code on cds to protect copyright (and degrade music quality as well...and remove our ability to play the music on computers, and new car stereos...) so why should we think it's beneath them to write a little code to search and destroy mp3s on your windows box, add an autorun.inf, and distribute cds like that? I mean, they're not liable, or so they claim, and if you ripped the mp3s yourself, you can just rip them again...a little inconvenient for you, but they have to protect their copyrights.

      --
      do not read this line twice.
    28. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by IronChef · · Score: 2


      Around here there is a vocal minority that is always saying "if you have nothing to hide, what's the problem?"

      I haven't seen any of those posts in this thread. Interesting. Where are all the security camera lovin' posters today? I bet they are busy burning their MP3s to CD, or reading up on firewalls.

    29. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes they can. If they have reasonable suspicion that a crime is in progress, (say hearing screams and gunshots), they can enter, and confiscate stuff as evidence.

    30. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Catbeller · · Score: 2

      The whole point of the RIAA amendment was to exempt RIAA from the terrorism definition.

      BTW, the "hacking==terrorism" meme is not being discussed enough. Class assignment for tonight: let's read the U.S.A. act.

    31. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by Winged+Cat · · Score: 1

      I shudder to think what Cof$ would have done with this piece of legal shite.

      Abused it until even Congress (at the pleas of their big donors, having come under fire from Co$ for doing any kind of business with those on Co$'s blacklist) could no longer ignore reality? One can hope, anyway...

    32. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by kubrick · · Score: 1

      I shudder to think what Cof$ would have done with this piece of legal shite.

      I'm thinking that the Co$ isn't exactly known for its adherence to legality in its pursuit of those it sees as enemies anyway. One suspects that they would hack into your computer with or without this law, and then do anything possible to avoid being caught and punished.

      --
      deus does not exist but if he does
    33. Re:Farenheit 451 is here early. by AndroidCat · · Score: 2

      I'm thinking that the Co$ isn't exactly known for its adherence to legality in its pursuit of those it sees as enemies anyway. One suspects that they would hack into your computer with or without this law, and then do anything possible to avoid being caught and punished.

      That's okay, I reserve the right to shoot eBurglers.

      And 146.57.160.113 (University of Minnesota) is currently tempting me with his 30 minute check to see if I'm running kazaa.

      As for Co$, been there, done that. Flakey Nutbar SP5.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  3. Question for the RIAA + Justice dept. by Rob.Mathers · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Under the proposed anti-terrorism laws, wouldn't this make the RIAA a terrorist organisation?

    --

    My other sig is funny!
    1. Re:Question for the RIAA + Justice dept. by robvasquez · · Score: 1, Interesting

      The government would be Nazis if they allowed this. These people come up with crazier shit each new day.

    2. Re:Question for the RIAA + Justice dept. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah kidder. They're reported as specifically wanting an exemption. Cart; horse.

    3. Re:Question for the RIAA + Justice dept. by Djaak · · Score: 1

      That's the point, man. They want the new anti-terrorism laws
      amended so they can do it WITHOUT being charged for
      terrorism. (reading the article is good for you)

    4. Re:Question for the RIAA + Justice dept. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought they already were. Then again, I suppose the MPAA calls them "Freedom Fighters."

  4. Encrypt access to your system by ZenJabba1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    and when they try to break into it, sue them via DCMA and tell them to take a fly f*ck and leave my personal property alone!

    I don't have pirated stuff on there, and I don't want them snooping around my system

    --
    `find / -name "*your_base*" -exec chown us:us {} \;`
    1. Re:Encrypt access to your system by drnomad · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Doesn't this "right" to hack, imply "the right to violate the DMCA"??

    2. Re:Encrypt access to your system by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I don't think it's the DMCA they're interested in violating, it's more like your rights. Or your anus, whichever is most convenient. Right after they violate the artists who produce the music they're making their money with.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Encrypt access to your system by k-rad · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What I want to know is if they plan on deleting any/all MP3's they can find on my system. If I'm an artist, and I have my own music in MP3 format, and they just deleted it I'd certainly hope I could sue the hell out of them for violating my copyright. Not every MP3 I have is material copyrighted by some record company.

      --
      --->----
    4. Re:Encrypt access to your system by rtscts · · Score: 1

      does the right of fair use imply the right to violate the DMCA?

  5. Making your own MP3s for hacking by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If this got through then in theory a hacker could create their own 'tune', copyright it and let it wander the net. Then after a couple of months claim that the reason they were breaking into the FBI computer was to check that they didn't have any illegal copies of your MP3.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    1. Re:Making your own MP3s for hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is a trojan in itself, the perfect trojan.

    2. Re:Making your own MP3s for hacking by einhverfr · · Score: 1

      stolensong.mp3.exe...

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
    3. Re:Making your own MP3s for hacking by BinxBolling · · Score: 2
      If this got through then in theory a hacker could create their own 'tune', copyright it and let it wander the net. Then after a couple of months claim that the reason they were breaking into the FBI computer was to check that they didn't have any illegal copies of your MP3.

      Ah, but see, that's where the clever $5000 limit comes in. The FBI or any other large organization can almost certainly come up with some evidence (real or otherwise) that you cost them $millions with your action. Then you're screwed.

      OTOH, Joe Schmoe will have a much harder time proving damages when the private "copyright enforcement" company hired by the RIAA wipes his hard drive.

    4. Re:Making your own MP3s for hacking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Couldn't you include a licensing term thay says continued posession of the MP3 after 30 days will incurr a one-time $5001 charge, payable to the author?

  6. They can have my MP3's by hAkron · · Score: 3, Funny

    As long as they don't delete any of my porno they can have my MP3's

    1. Re:They can have my MP3's by Tim+Doran · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, the RIAA may not care about your pr0n, but the owners of those copyright images and movies may. Imagine waking up every few weeks to find that another sex site operator has broken into your computer, conducted a search and deleted some images it (summarily) decided infringed on its rights.

      Imagine every few months waking up to find one of these sites screwed up and wiped your harddisk... and there's nothing you can do about it...

    2. Re:They can have my MP3's by tcc · · Score: 2, Funny

      > As long as they don't delete any of my porno they can have my MP3's

      Yeah let the MPAA take care of the porn... but they won't use that law, they will need to rewrite the proposition so they can have the right to download "to be sure it's porn" before deleting it off :)

      --
      --- Metamoderating abusive downgraders since my 300th post.
    3. Re:They can have my MP3's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As long as they don't delete any of my porno they can have my MP3's

      But then the sound may be gone, too.

    4. Re:They can have my MP3's by bigbadwlf · · Score: 1

      ...either they wipe your hard disk or fill your screen with popups. I'm not sure which is worse.

  7. Are we really surprised? by spacefem · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We all saw this coming, but that's beside the point, you know what my main thought is today?

    Who are these people?

    They have that much time on their hands that they're willing to hack into individual people's computers to look for their files?

    At dinner parties, do they go off about mp3's and how every college kid is going to kill the record industry?

    Movements like this say "passion" to me, they're passionate about their copywrites, it's what they eat, sleep, and breath. Do they have nothing better to do? Are there this many idiots in the world?

    Maybe I just haven't seen enough corporate America yet, but I can't believe people make their lives out of something this petty.

    1. Re:Are we really surprised? by Green+Aardvark+House · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I discussed these types of issues ad infitum on The Napster Forum.

      I wish my post was still there, but I came across some evidence that the economy was mostly to blame. I found statistics on income and record sales and found that incomes fell, so did record sales. This makes sense, since music is a "luxury item" and is one of the first things to go off personal budgets in an economic slowdown.

      They have a convenient scapegoat in "piracy", even though the economy is in the crapper, and the quality of the product is such that it should just follow the economy.

    2. Re:Are we really surprised? by cavemanf16 · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Wrong. They're not passionate about their copyrights. They could care less if a million people copied the tunes, as long as they all paid their $2.00/mp3 for doing so. This whole copyright business with the DMCA is specifically about making the heads of recording studios richer, not about making the actual creators of the music rich, or even given credit for their works.

      And yes, once you've been in corporate America, you'll see that this shitty money grabbing politics happens all the time. Enjoy college while you can.

      And besides, the only computers they'll end up cracking into to delete files from will be the Britney Spears and NSYNC teenie bopper fans of the world, which just means that they'll be pissing off little teenage girls and boys, who will in turn cry to their parents, who will then go ballistic on the RIAA. Just another wonderful way to alienate their user base even more than they already have.

    3. Re:Are we really surprised? by Kalabajoui · · Score: 1

      While they're at it, why don't they just ask for the right to break into people's cars and homes physically. Then they can search for and destroy 'pirated' copyrighted materials all day. The massive and unrelenting assualts on the freedoms us Americans have come to take for granted make me sick and disillusioned with our government and society in general. I suppose that is what happens when most of us have already lost our fundamental freedoms. Following this link- http://come.to/foundation , should prove very interesting and enlightening on the subject of Americans and our relationship with our government. Though such beacons of hope offer me encouragement, I'm increasingly discouraged and dismayed by most of my fellow American's ignorance and hostility to true notions of freedom. Politics seem like a surmountable barrier, where as the ignorance and apathy of the people seems equally insurmountable in the cause of effecting positive change.

    4. Re:Are we really surprised? by dadragon · · Score: 0, Troll

      If they delete Britney Spears and N'SYNC it will be the teenage girls they piss off. If, on the other hand it's Korn and Limp Bizket that they delete, it'll be the boys.

      --
      God save our Queen, and Heaven bless The Maple Leaf Forever!
    5. Re:Are we really surprised? by xZAQx · · Score: 1

      Are there this many idiots in the world?

      No.

      There are (2^1024)*idiots in the world.

      or approximately
      1.797693134862315907729305190789e+308 idiots in the world.

      Jeez, didn't you know that?

      --

      We dance to all the wrong songs.
      --Refused.
    6. Re:Are we really surprised? by unformed · · Score: 2

      Are there this many idiots in the world?

      Yes, as Homer put it, "Everyone is stupid except me."

    7. Re:Are we really surprised? by Oliver+Wendell+Jones · · Score: 1

      And as Einstein is rumored to have said: "There are two things that are infinite - The Universe and Human Stupidity, and I'm not completely sure about the universe..."

      --
      A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
    8. Re:Are we really surprised? by Dexx · · Score: 1

      Who are these people? They have that much time on their hands that they're willing to hack into individual people's computers to look for their files? More importantly, how do I become one of them?

      --
      Feel the fear and do it anyway.
    9. Re:Are we really surprised? by compugeek007 · · Score: 0

      Just another wonderful way to alienate their user base even more than they already have.

      all your base are belong to us

      --
      Jesse Wolfe Sr. Manager Systems Integration
    10. Re:Are we really surprised? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      [...]who will then go ballistic on the RIAA.

      Will they? Or will they just buy their kids the CD instead?

    11. Re:Are we really surprised? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "They could care less"


      Idiot, I was just about to read the parent post, due to its high karmic rating, at which point I stopped dead in my tracks, having seen the above phrase. Stupid Americans! Idiot Americans! I've seen clever coders and hackers say it, I've seen presidents say it ... it's wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong! You could NOT care less. Sheesh. Just missing the point a bit there, wouldn't you say, matey?

    12. Re:Are we really surprised? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." At least get the quote right if you're going to put quotation marks around it. There's one thing worse than no information, and that's misinformation.

    13. Re:Are we really surprised? by Glytch · · Score: 4, Funny

      Now there's a business idea. Hire yourself out to the RIAA as a mercenary-style "Copyright Enforcer". In the process of making lots of money, you get the extreme pleasure of wiping out N'sync and Britney Spears and Limp Bizkit mp3s.

      As for more talented artists, hey, anyone can make mistakes and accidentally miss a few songs, right? Nudge nudge wink wink.

    14. Re:Are we really surprised? by Ogerman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And yes, once you've been in corporate America, you'll see that this shitty money grabbing politics happens all the time. Enjoy college while you can.


      Then don't work for 'corporate America,' silly. There's no law saying you have to. What's more important? -- living in a giant-box two story house in the suburbanite jungle with two cars and an SUV or fighting for freedom and goodness and doing your best to help make the world a better place by helping others. That's not to say all corporate jobs are bad or that all big business is corrupt, but in the areas geeks gravitate towards (in which 'intellectual property' is the focus), you really have to weigh the ethical pros and cons with who you work for. Money and success matter not. PEOPLE matter. Don't waste your life. Enjoy college while you can, then go make a difference.

    15. Re:Are we really surprised? by naasking · · Score: 1

      Are there this many idiots in the world?

      If that's not a rhetorical question, I'll just say: you'd be surprised.

    16. Re:Are we really surprised? by No-op · · Score: 3, Insightful

      For some people, we don't have the choice of throwing away money just to help people. not everyone comes from pristine beginnings and has the luxury of an all expense paid visit to collegeland.

      I busted my ass working 2 jobs to get through school and I sold my soul the minute I could. that paid for things like a working car, a clean house, good food, and other things I never had until then.

      I'm all for helping people and working to better the community but please realize that the lower on the food chain you are, the less idealistic your goals tend to be. homeless people don't worry about your MP3s or your digitally-encrypted whatever. they care about food, warm places to sleep and other basics.

      sometimes there's a certain degree of perspective to be gained.

      --
      EOM
    17. Re:Are we really surprised? by livewirevoodoo · · Score: 1

      Are there this many idiots in the world?

      Yes

      --
      If its stupid but it works, its not stupid.
    18. Re:Are we really surprised? by cavemanf16 · · Score: 1
      I agree. The reason doctors get paid so well is because they usually have tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars in debt by the time they actually make it out of their residency. And I'm sure no one would advocate doctors taking a pay cut so that it only takes their entire life to pay off those debts! Personally, I'm paying off $15,000 of school loans that I accumulated in only 3 yrs (still haven't finished college), so having a good paying job is an important step in supporting the family I hope to one day have.

      I was simply saying that love of money is a powerful motivator in a capitalistic society, so enjoy not having any while you can, because it frees you up from bending your will and desires to make that almighty buck for your boss, company, etc. College is a good time for such freedom.

    19. Re:Are we really surprised? by Ogerman · · Score: 2

      For some people, we don't have the choice of throwing away money just to help people.

      This isn't about 'throwing money away' or solely altruistic goals. It's a matter of choosing an ethical employer, even if that means giving up a larger salary. I'm not advocating poverty, just reasonable lifestyle.

  8. ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by fjordboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ok, something like this begs several questions: First of all, how would they determined that the mp3s and whatnot on my computer aren't legal? I happen to own cds for almost every single mp3 on my computer.

    Second of all, how would they go about hacking into our computers? If these guys are stupid enough to come up with such an idiotic proposal, how can we expect them to be able to hack a 386 running windows 3.1 on a network running win NT with no patches applied?

    To get to the point, this is the stupidest idea I think i've ever heard in my life.

    1. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by GreenJeepMan · · Score: 1

      If microsoft has their way with WindowsXP and Passport, it won't be very difficult.

    2. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by Dimensio · · Score: 1

      And don't forget that with the SSSCA or whatever it's called, you won't be legally allowed to run anything but WinXP or an "approved" OS -- so securing your linux boxes to prevent such a hack is a no-no.

    3. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They can suck my SSSCA

    4. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Emulate Windows... Government officals can't tell the difference, if it's done right... You'd have to simulate crashes, too, though...

    5. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by ichimunki · · Score: 2

      Just so we're not basing our opinions on complete hype, the SSSCA does not prohibit running "non-secure" software. It aims to prohibit manufacturing new "non-secure" devices/software and then selling those. Your legacy systems will still be legal to use, buy, and sell as long as they existed prior to the enactment of the "security" standard.

      Please note that while I am being exact about the nature of the law, I think it's the stupidest f*cking thing I've seen in recent history. The use of the word "security" is a complete misnomer, and more importantly a smokescreen. The law does not implement any security measures whatsoever, except for financial security on the part of those holding copyright restrictions. If the law were serious about security it would include massive liability sections, outlining just how much consumers are allowed to sue Microsoft for every time the Outlook mailer sends a document off their hard-drive to a total stranger.

      --
      I do not have a signature
    6. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or running IIS, or running unpatched-for-share-passwords 95/98/ME, or running with NT administrative shares and no password, or running 2K upgraded from either, or running an FTP server with buffer overflows, or dumb enough to run Back Orifice, or a sucker for one of the many social engineering tricks through ICQ...

    7. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      From what I have read on DMCA, (and Jessia Litman's book, Digital Copyright, is very good) it is a copyright violation to create mp3's from the CD's you own. The laws allowing fair use and such are very narrowly defined. While you can make a tape of your CD, using a computer (now, thanks, to the DMCA) to change the media format of anything is a copyright violation, unless the copyright holder gave you permission.

    8. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by pmz · · Score: 1

      how can we expect them to be able to hack a 386 running windows 3.1 on a network running win NT with no patches applied?

      It doesn't matter. I'll be running <an OS the RIAA has never heard of> behind <a firewall the RIAA wouldn't know what to do with>.

      I really don't see how they could get to my files without a legal warrant and physically entering my home. I believe that there is a burden of proof before a warrant can be obtained, where, perhaps, the RIAA could cite sniffer logs or web server logs (how obtained without more warrants???). It seems innocent until proven guilty is still intact.

    9. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by einhverfr · · Score: 2

      Actually, one needs to find ways to make trojans like telnet servers that exploit bugs in telnet clients, or actuveX controls, etc. Or Access Databases with the on_open macros set to format the hard drive... Can the RIAA sue you if, in the course of hacking your system, you wipe our THEIR data? Of course, it would have to be carefully controlled, but it WOULD be possible to do so without collateral damage...

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
    10. Re:ROFL! oh wait...its not april fool's day. by BJH · · Score: 1

      Maybe in your country it's a copyright violation...

  9. Hacking? by Green+Aardvark+House · · Score: 1

    What about the people who didn't download MP3's off Napster? How would the know the difference between "pirated" MP3's and MP3's you ripped yourself?

    This is a heavy-handed "guilty until proven innocent" approach. There are a lot of privacy rights issues at stake here.

    Firewall sales will go through the roof if this comes to pass.

  10. Time to get active by the_rev_matt · · Score: 1

    The time for action is now. Call your congressweasel and let them know what a severe violation of civil rights this is. More important, let them know that this will affect EVERYONE, including huge businesses that may lose hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars from lost data when the RIAA's "experts" trash a hard drive (their technical experts have, from what I've seen of them in action, fewer technical skills than my cat). Sure, some will go for the rights issues, but if you also point out how many of their corporate sponsors stand to lose craploads of money, it's a nice added incentive.

    Furthermore, STOP SUPPORTING THE RIAA!!! Don't buy albums from RIAA members. There's a lot of great music that isn't issued on major labels, go out and find it! Support indie artists and labels, and show the RIAA that if they want to create an entertainment police state, you will not be participating.

    --
    this is getting old and so are you

    blog

    1. Re:Time to get active by egriebel · · Score: 1

      Don't buy albums from RIAA members. There's a lot of great music that isn't issued on major labels, go out and find it!

      Easy to say, difficult to do. The RIAA has become such a monopoly because the represent (indirectly through their labels) all major artists and most "minor" ones. I doubt that this form of protest would amount to much.

      --
      ACHTUNG! Das computermachine ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei das dumpkopfen.
    2. Re:Time to get active by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      It's not that hard, I haven't bought a RIAA cd in TWO years, and if I did, it came from a used record store, so they don't see a percentage of the sale. It's a little harder with the MPAA, but it's also possible (you just can't rent many movies)

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    3. Re:Time to get active by fjordboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "STOP SUPPORTING THE RIAA"

      Unfortunately, this is what Joseph Heller would call a Catch 22. One of those damned if you do, damned if you don't scenarios. If people stop buying stuff from RIAA members...then the problems would be even more dire. Then they would have "proof" that piracy is increasing because their sales are going down and people are obviously pirating the music they want. See? Either way is inefective. Sorry. I wish that would work...it would be a somewhat easy solution...get your way through economic pressure.

    4. Re:Time to get active by Flower · · Score: 2
      More like buy your music second hand, rip it and share it with the world.

      That way the RIAA and the artists associated with them won't see a dime of your money. If Metallica and the rest want my cash they can form an indie label and tell the RIAA to stuff it. You don't get to price a CD at $20US only to put it on sale for $15US when I can get it on the Internet for $11US (are we seeing a trend as to how much a CD is actually worth?) and then treat me like a thief.

      Even asking for the right to hack into my PC is too much. I've never been a big napster fan but I will certainly make sure that any way I get my music now will not benefit the RIAA.

      --
      I don't want knowledge. I want certainty. - Law, David Bowie
    5. Re:Time to get active by DickPhallus · · Score: 1

      Unless of course you only into to indy music. Learn how here

      --

      --
      Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.
    6. Re:Time to get active by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think the movie industry gets a dime from rentals, other than the sale of the movie to the rental place, and they probably get a deal on the price. Rent all you want, just don't buy (excpt for used DVDs).

    7. Re:Time to get active by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The sound you just heard was a point whizzing over your head.

    8. Re:Time to get active by gspeare · · Score: 0


      Donate the money you would have spent on the RIAA Trojan Horse Delivery System (aka "CD") to the EFF instead...

    9. Re:Time to get active by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The other part of this is encouraging musicians to never never never sign over copyrights of your music. The problem is, that someone who does that usually has to give up a large sum of money to do so. Remember, its the Recording Industry association, not the musicians union. So buying direct from the artist will be a better deal for both the artist and the customer.
      If it is more profitable for a musician to sell directly without going through a record company, I think most would in a heartbeat. Maybe mp3s can be used to distribute music without using a company whose job is to make CDs, market them, and steal 99.9% of the profits. The current system is bad for consumers, resulting in overpriced CDs, and far far worse for musicians who see a penny for every 8 or so CDs you buy.
      [putting on asbestos suit] Would people be willing to pay for mp3s if they were assured that all of the money was going to the musician who created it?

    10. Re:Time to get active by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. I'm pretty sure the movie industry does get money from the rental fees. IIRC there was a fight between blockbusters and the movie industry about a year or so ago, over how much they needed to pay. Blockbuster thought it was too much so they refused to rent the appropriate videos.

    11. Re:Time to get active by Sebby · · Score: 1
      He's right. The call to action should go to the artists - they're the ones that shouldn't be releasing stuff under RIAA money-grabbers.


      How likely is this to happen? Not sure, but boycotting RIAA will only result in them spreading more of their propaganda

      --

      AC comments get piped to /dev/null
    12. Re:Time to get active by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1

      I don't think the movie industry gets a dime from rentals, other than the sale of the movie to the rental place, and they probably get a deal on the price ----> Actually, I believe that they pay a substantially HIGHER price than the "home-user retail" price. Several times higher, in fact. It's not for "home use" you see, so the purchase price is far more.

      And yes, the MPAA will get your "dimes" from renting movies. Indirectly. "Hey Joe, this tape (dvd) is really moving - it's out every night. Tell Carol to purchase thirty more of these, please."

      --
      If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    13. Re:Time to get active by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1

      If Metallica and the rest want my cash they can form an indie label and tell the RIAA to stuff it. -----> Too late. All (or at least the vast majority) of the "famous acts" are signed up on multi-year contracts and are not in a position to tell the RIAA anything, other than "Yes sir!" that is.

      --
      If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    14. Re:Time to get active by Zerth · · Score: 1

      Having worked for a few rental chains before, I can assure you that many of the larger production companies have profit-sharing agreements w/rental companies. If they don't they just charge a 100-200 dollars for the "rental license".

      As someone else mentioned, blockbuster(who practically pioneered this idea) got screwed and had a big hissyfit a few years back.

    15. Re:Time to get active by elefantstn · · Score: 2

      If it were as simple as you suggest - loss of profits = court attacks and legislation - your Catch-22 would be right, but it's not. The RIAA does not need the "evidence" of lower sales to push draconian "anti-piracy" legislation through Congress or to shut down "piracy" sites through legal action. During the entire Napster ordeal, sales were up. That didn't stop them from going after Napster and succeeding. They don't need any kind of evidence. What they do need is money - money to pay lobbyists, money to pay lawyers, and money to dump into Congressional members' reelection funds.


      For the love of God, stop listening to and buying their crap. It's as simple as that. Turn off MTV, turn off the radio. Their are myriads of great indie artists out there on small labels who write music because they love it, and there are thousands of people who buy that music and t-shirts and go to their concerts because they love the artists back. You don't need to financially back the RIAA's efforts to shut down the music-loving community to listen to music. Just stop giving them your money!


      This goes for the movie industry as well. The Slashdot editors always complain about how evil the Disney corporation is, and then when they release a new movie gush over how "revolutionary" the animation is. Give me a fucking break.

      --
      If it ain't broke, you need more software.
    16. Re:Time to get active by LionKimbro · · Score: 2

      Moooooooooooooooooood it up!

  11. Take a leave ? by XPulga · · Score: 1

    Isn't it about time to move to Humorixia ?

  12. Ah, now I understand! by RedOregon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I get it now... according to the RIAA, I'm guilty until proven innocent. They want to be able to crack my system in order to prove me innocent. Oh, and if they fry my system, sorry, but I can't do anything about it.

    --
    Skivvy Niner? Email me!
    HEY! Look left just ONE MORE TIME!
    1. Re:Ah, now I understand! by ronmon · · Score: 1

      Heh, as the saying goes:

      Justice if for those who can afford it.

    2. Re:Ah, now I understand! by FnordX · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You know... I happen to remember something a lot like this happening back in the dark ages... Something about floating or sinking in water being a proof of guilt or innocence, in that if you floated, you were a witch, and burned. If you drowned, you were innocent, and with god.

      So, should we now be calling them Grand High Witch Hunter RIAA?

      --
      ____________________
      Clouds in the Sky,
      Water in a bottle
    3. Re:Ah, now I understand! by TheMightyZog · · Score: 1

      Assuming that you have some proof that the RIAA was involved, take them to small claims court for damages caused by a loss of productivity and time/money needed to get your system to a working state again. Most likely your case won't even be a blip on their radar and, if I remember correctly, if they don't show up in court you win the case automatically.

  13. So let me see by haplo21112 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hacking is terrorism, but Hacking to defend copyrights is legal if you have enough Cash to by a Congressman, and get him to make legislation that says so? Have I got that right?

    --
    Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
    1. Re:So let me see by imadork · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Hacking is terrorism, but Hacking to defend copyrights is legal if you have enough Cash to by a Congressman, and get him to make legislation that says so? Have I got that right?

      Remember, one man's Terrorist is another man's Freedom Fighter.

    2. Re:So let me see by jgerman · · Score: 2

      Remember, one man's Terrorist is another man's Freedom Fighter.


      Bullshit it is. Terrorism involves the murder of innocents, terrorism is for cowards who have no respect for human life. A Freedom Fighter, regardless of whether you believe his cause is right, is an entirely different thing.

      --
      I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.
    3. Re:So let me see by Twylite · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Terrorism involves the murder of innocents, terrorism is for cowards who have no respect for human life.

      Innocence is subjective. As is terrorism.

      America is bombing a nation that has supported terrorism against America. It does this after imposing sanctions against a country allied to that nation, sanctions that are causing slow death as millions starve. This act forms part of the motive for the terrorism against America. In bombing Afganistan, America is inflicting further civilian casualties.

      Where is the respect for human life? America is as much to blame for murdering innocents as Bin Laden or the Taliban. Yet few people see it this way: economic sanctions, although often more crippling than all-out war, are socially acceptable. Bin Laden struck at the heart of America's economic power; an 'appropriate' response to abuse of that power.

      Terrorism comes in many forms.

      --
      i-name =twylite [http://public.xdi.org/=twylite], see idcommons.net
    4. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And US soldiers dropping bombs to kill Osama, who accept a few civilian casualties along the way... that's freedom fighting right? Because they kill civilians who aren't you.

    5. Re:So let me see by legLess · · Score: 2

      Frank Herbert said (and I agree), "It's not true that power corrupts. The truth is that power attracts the corruptible, and absolute power the absolutely corruptible."

      --
      This isn't as much "normalization" as it is "don't take so many drugs when you're designing tables."
    6. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to President Guliani (thinking ahead to 2004...), "the era of moral relativism [regarding terrorism] is over". This makes it easy to distinguish between a terrorist and a freedom fighter--there is no difference! This means that the I.R.A. members are terrorists, and anybody else trying to free themselves from British tyranny is a terrorist, like those pesky American revolutionaries for example.

      Side note: stop being such a fucking fascist. A coward is too cowardly to kill anyone, see? A coward would dodge the draft and have a rich relative pull some strings to get him into the Texas Air National Guard during the height of the VietNam "Police Action" and ahead of a 2 1/2 year waiting list. A coward would probably order troops to bomb the shit out of a country that #may# be harboring a terrorist but #definitely# sits smack-dab in the middle of the shortest possible path between the oil-rich *Stans and the Indian Ocean. The same coward is probably seeking out a good puppet government to install there when the dust settles. Maybe he is so cowardly that he thinks his dad's estate wouldn't be worth so much without America's dependence on oil...

    7. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Terrorism is a method used to incite fear into a population. This is what AlQueda tries to do. A terrorist is a person who utelizes terrorism as a method to increace their power. This is what Osama Bin Laden tries to do. I acknowledge what you are trying to say. Nonetheless, I think it's bullshit. Terrorists do what they do for themselves (So they can go hang out with Allah with 1000 virgins all to themselves -- selfish bastards), not to help the position of their fellow man. Freedom fighters may be fighing for thir own personal freedom, but, more often than not, they are fighting for the freedom of others.

      Who is better: Martin Luther King Jr., or Osama Bin Laden?

      *Raspberry*

    8. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I had my way your ass would be in an internment camp. You are a threat to this great nation.

    9. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's spelled al-Qaeda.

    10. Re:So let me see by SubtleNuance · · Score: 3, Insightful

      After having bombed 15 seperate countries, in less than the last 30 years, killing 3,000,000 civilians (yes civilians), Id say that *America* is a rogue nation run by terrorists and tyrants.

      Your being an American might feel that every one of those acts was justified, honourable and morally defensible. (why you think this way is a much bigger issue...)

      Now, one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist starts to seem a little more clear.

      Religion is a simple matter of geography - as is politics - when people assume absolute positions tainted by ethnocentrism and ignorance you see conflict like what is happening now, afterall, who many americans think that the 'founding fathers' that gave birth to the American REVOLUTION were not "TERRORISTS" to the Brits? USofA has a short memory and is a perfect example of why 'one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist.'

    11. Re:So let me see by jrockway · · Score: 1

      Lots of innocent people died for the RIAA. Think about all the people that were killed while listening to N'SYNC and the Backstreet Boys. It's atrocious!

      --
      My other car is first.
    12. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats why we call Israeli terrorists "COMMANDOS" and Palestinian commandos "TERRORISTS." Afghan war criminals "FREEDOM FIGHTERS" and American soldiers "PEACE KEEPERS."

      Isn't modern language wonderful?

    13. Re:So let me see by mpe · · Score: 2

      Hacking is terrorism, but Hacking to defend copyrights is legal if you have enough Cash to by a Congressman, and get him to make legislation that says so? Have I got that
      right?


      Anyone got a copy of 1984 to check the details. Or is this a slightly different type of "doublethink" from that Orwell had in mind...

    14. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Check your premises.

    15. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A George Carlin quote is the best reply:
      If firefighters fight fire, what do Freedom fighters fight?

    16. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you make very good points, it's too bad that so many people can't see things this way, and too bad that people would say that you should be sent to an internment camp. I personally thought about moving away from this country after seeing my governments reaction, and the reaction of people who only get their informatin from NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. But, if everyone left who knew that war was wrong, no matter what the cause, then this country would be left weith only people who would like to throw you in an internment camp. That would be a scary thing!

    17. Re:So let me see by farnham · · Score: 1

      No you are spouting crap

      The United States imposed sanctions on Iraq, ruled by Saddam Hussein who dosen't give a rat's butt about his people. He gasses his ethnic minorities by the thousands while living richly off of oil sales. Yes sanctions are imposed against countries that invade their neighbors, have active chemical and biological weapons programs, suppourt terrorism, and kill their own people.

      I personally believe that such actions require much greater action than just sanctions but there is not a political will to invade Iraq. Plus we might accidently kill some people if we did.

      There are programs to provide food and medicine to the Iraqui people. Saddam Hussein is not letting UN Arms inspectors do their job and has consistently played hide and go seek withthem when they were there. The death of ANY people in Iraq is on the shoulders of It's leadership. I'm completely certian that if the government of iraq were different the countries of the civilized would would welcome it with open arms.

      This year we were to give upwards of 40 million to Afganistan. What would we give to a free, rationally acting Iraq?

      --
      pending committee review
    18. Re:So let me see by elmegil · · Score: 2
      So what about those innocent UN workers we blew away with a cruise missle then?

      Simple definitions are always wrong.

      --
      7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
    19. Re:So let me see by jgerman · · Score: 2
      There is a huge different in intent to kill civilians and accidental deaths as a result of military action. Our intent is not to kill civilians over there and it's a shame that some civilians have to die, but weapons aren't perfect. We wouldn't even be there if they had not attacked us first, or protected those who had. The civilians of Afghanistan have no one to blame but their own government.


      And in any case I don't consider what we're doing freedom fighting, I consider it protection. I'm all for saving human life where possible, but when it comes down to me or them, I choose them.

      --
      I'm the big fish in the big pond bitch.
    20. Re:So let me see by alernon · · Score: 1
      > Terrorism comes in many forms.

      Can you just post something about America being to blame for terrorist acts against ourselves and automatically get a +1 insightful?


      Anyway in an attempt to steer this thread back onto track: If you extend this logic far enough, couldn't you make a case for the record industry?


      Let me take a shot, since terrorism is so subjective.


      Lessee, mp3's allow you to take music without paying for it. If enough people do it, some people in the recording industry could lose their jobs, they fall into deep depression and end up commiting suicide rather than try to rebuild. An innocent life lost. Guess mp3's are terrorism after all. ;> Guess they did have a right to tack on that ammendment in an effort to stop this terrorism. ;)


      (the following is inserted to get +1 insightful)


      Well, you know we are imposing sanctions in Iraq, and we are kinda friendly with Isreal, and we're killing innocents in our attack on Afganistan, so really we probably kinda did some of this to ourselves. and uhhh. We should learn the error of our ways, and uh even though I've heard this argument on every post since sept. 11 and I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't just one big communal slashdot brain. I'm going to say it again, cause I'll get +1 insightful.

    21. Re:So let me see by codingOgre · · Score: 1

      Last time I checked there hasn't been a single war in the history of mankind that hasn't had a civilian casualty! It is called war. Read up sometime.

      --
      Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement. --Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication
    22. Re:So let me see by The_Rook · · Score: 2, Interesting

      between the fbi and government trying to stomp on civil liberties and the RIAA and MPAA trying to stomp on free speech and civil liberites, and all the multitude of laws they're trying to pass, it's not surprising that they're starting to stumble into each other.

      --
      when religion is no longer the opiate of the masses, governments will resort to real opiates.
    23. Re:So let me see by kel-tor · · Score: 2, Insightful
      American REVOLUTION were not "TERRORISTS" to the Brits?

      Yep, English newspapers of the time even used the word terrorists.

      --

      ---

    24. Re:So let me see by btellier · · Score: 1

      I'd LOVE to see where you get these numbers, because they're obviously spouting garbage.. post a link that doesn't point to some leftist.org and I'll give you a cookie.

    25. Re:So let me see by ksheff · · Score: 2

      40 million? That was in one month alone. It was more like 125 million and it's been bumped up over 300 now.

      On the Iraq side of things, if they are starving then why are the leading causes of death in that country heart disease and diabetes? IIRC, those are fat people diseases. IMHO, the people whining about the Iraqi sanctions should either shut up or do something to try to get Hussien out of power. Or are they in favor of letting a bastard like that stay in place

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    26. Re:So let me see by Pedersen · · Score: 2
      After having bombed 15 seperate countries, in less than the last 30 years, killing 3,000,000 civilians (yes civilians), Id say that *America* is a rogue nation run by terrorists and tyrants.

      Would you mind giving me a list of those 15 countries? In the last 30 years, I can recall Vietnam, Libya, Iraq, and now Afghanistan. I know we invaded Grenada, but I don't know why, nor do I know if we bombed anything. I know we invaded Panama (something I, personally, do not agree with), but again, don't know if any bombs were done. So, would you please name these 15 countries?

      --

      GPL made simple: What was my stuff is now our stuff. If you improve our stuff, please keep it our stuff.
    27. Re:So let me see by ShortedOut · · Score: 1

      Isn't this just a tad offtopic?

    28. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      "When it comes down to me vs them, I choose them"

      Ditto. It's very commendable. Anything else is suicidal and indicates a mental disease.

      But, it doesn't always come down to us vs them, and even if it does, who is them?

      In the US, 55.3% of the population voted (in '96, last year I could find numbers for). If we pretend that it was only Bush and Gore, and assume the same turnout, Bush got the support of 27% of the voters. Now, if the US does something, can I blame you? Or are you going to say "I didn't vote for him!"

      Then consider afghanistan where nobody voted for the Taliban, and except for a few people who gain power from them, they seem universally despised by the people they claim to represent. Now, to blame them for the actions of Osama, who isn't even part of that government...

      If the US people weren't calling for blood and Dubya wasn't a jingoist prick, they'd have gone in, assasinated a few key people, snatched a few others, and it'd be done.

      The "us vs them" isn't the only choice and it's unfair to represent it as such.

    29. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      Gotcha. Osama (and how the US is k-rad to opposing him) is on-topic anywhere, but to suggest that to the civilians getting bombed that the distinctions between terrorist and freedom fighter might be of little comfort. Oh no, that's off topic.

      If you actually cared about avoiding uselss posts you'd have skipped on by. The fact that you feel it necessary to post about this means that you in fact are interested in censoring a non-PC view.

      Grow up.

    30. Re:So let me see by Brian_Ellenberger · · Score: 1

      Its called the difference between an intentional act and an accident.

    31. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      So?

      Osama declared war against the west, so by your logic we should just accept civilian casualties as "part of war" and deal with him as an honorable enemy?

      Or not? Was it really bad when he killed our civilians, but okay when we kill ones who just happen to be in the same country as him?

      Why is a glorious war justified when we want it, but never when the enemy wants it?

      Your blanket justification of everything done in "War" is very convenient. I'm gonna stop by your place tonight, shoot you, rape your sister, and steal your stuff. But don't worry, it's a war, it's acceptable.

    32. Re:So let me see by roystgnr · · Score: 2

      afterall, who many americans think that the 'founding fathers' that gave birth to the American REVOLUTION were not "TERRORISTS" to the Brits?

      Would you care to enlighten this ignorant American with some specific examples of American Revolution terrorism? I thought that "London Bridge is falling down..." was just a song.

    33. Re:So let me see by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2
      You said:
      If the US people weren't calling for blood and Dubya wasn't a jingoist prick, they'd have gone in, assasinated a few key people, snatched a few others, and it'd be done.
      I think you misspelled "If we lived in an alternate universe where it was actually possible,"

      You try to figure out how to go in and assasinate "a few key people" with the Taliban in control and not have your operatives get caught. You make it sound so easy.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    34. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      That's what we have operatives for.

      There're certainly more than two ways "send in operatives, they all die" and "bomb the country for a few weeks".

      Plenty of foreigners managed to live in Afghanistan until we started attacking them, if we has tried I'm sure we could either have gotten a sniper and some backup, or a spotter for laser-guided bombs into the country and in position to take out almost anyone we wanted.

    35. Re:So let me see by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2
      The revolutionaries were fighting guys all wearing red coats. Know what that means? They were British soldiers.

      That's the difference between freedom fighters and terrorists - whether the intended target is military or civilian. The attack against the USS Cole, for example, was NOT terrorism. The attack on the Pentagon (assuming that was the intended target, which is still in question), was NOT terrorism. The Pentagon and the USS Cole can be considered military targets. The WTC and the embassy bombings are not. THAT is the defining difference.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    36. Re:So let me see by e_n_d_o · · Score: 2

      It's called war. People die in war.

      Two things that you might want to understand:

      1.) Its quite possible (probable, even) that a lot of Americans are going to die from retaliation to these attacks. This really sucks, and while we all hope it doesn't happen, it probably will.

      2.) In this war, which was declared on September 11, we have lost far more civilian casualties than they. Unless they attack us with chemical/germ/nuclear methods, it will likely stay that way.

    37. Re:So let me see by the+gnat · · Score: 2

      I'm getting pretty sick of these arguments. Millions are starving in Iraq because Sadaam would rather build up his army and palaces than feed his people. The sanctions have been a humanitarian disaster, yes, but that's ultimately his fault, not ours.

      Get the facts straight, dickhead. bin Laden used civilian aircraft as bombs to take out civilian buildings, with the explicit purpose of causing civilian casualties. The embassy bombings of '98 weren't even directed at US power, and killed mostly innocent African civilians. The US has merely created obstacles to Iraqi trade, but unfortunately Iraq's people suffer while its bioweapons and nuclear projects continue. All you wannabe activists need to direct your "Food not bombs" whining at Hussein, not the US gov't.

    38. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      There's a big difference between being to blame, and understanding that your actions influenced those of the attacker.

      Rape victims are not to blame, yet we counsel women against wearing mini-skirts and walking through dark alleys. When they get raped we don't blame them, but we explain that until the world is perfect, their exercising certain freedoms will make them victims more often.

      In such a way, America did encourage the attacks.

      Were they justified? Did the 6000 people who were killed deserve it? etc.

      Probably not. But, do the Afghani people who get in the way of the falling bombs deserve it?

      And, who deserves to suffer more, an American who might have *voted* for Bush, or an Afghani who likely is completely against their government?

      Really, I don't think either deserves to suffer, but you must realize that Osama is simply fighting for what he believes in, the same as we are.

      Now, this isn't to say that we should roll over and give in. But we need to understand that the other side sees us exactly as we see them. This should give us insight into handling the situation. If we respond with what they see as terrorism, we encourage them to respond similarly. We probably do "need" to kill a few people here, but despite what's adequate proof in our eyes as to Osama's guilt, we'd get a lot farther if we could capture him and the UN could try him for war crimes than if we blow him and a bunch of civilians up.

      If we go the UN Trial way, we show we've got world support. People also make bad martyrs when their crimes are detailed and they're shown kicking limply at the end of a rope. However, if they die from a terrorist bomb, they become the perfect martyr.

    39. Re:So let me see by curunir · · Score: 1

      Well...at the time, there were certain rules of engagement which everyone followed during wartimes. Armies would line up, face each other, and start shooting until one side felt the need to run away. The revolutionary Americans employed guerilla warfare tactics. At the time, these were considered terrorist acts.

      As times and military equipment change, so do tactics. Just as the American revolutionaries realized that they could not win a war with Britain if they played by Britain's rules, so does Osama Bin Laden realize that he cannot win a war with the US military. But he does realize that he can hijack a couple of planes, crash them, and incite enough fear that the country will destroy itself (or at a minimum, the ideals on which it was founded).

      History is full of the powerful complaining that their weaker opponents are not playing by the rules. Think about it...could you beat Kasparov in chess...no way. But if you changed the rules, with you creating new rules as you went along, you'd stand a much better chance.

      America needs to drop this "holier than thou" attitude that we seem to have. Someone hurt us, and we want so strike back...fine. But as for this righteous indignation that anyone should do something we don't like...please...we play the bully far more often than we play the victim.

      --
      "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!"
    40. Re:So let me see by WNight · · Score: 2

      Well, American criminals destroyed property belonging to the East India company... Tea I think. Much the same as Palistinians destroying a KFC during a riot.

      And then there's all the armed terrorists killing to legally appointed authorities. Those red-coated British soldiers were sent there by the same country that sent many of the settlers in the first place.

      The winners write history, the US won, so they became freedom fighters. If they'd lost, they'd have been cowardly terrorists destroying valuable property and killing innocents from hiding.

    41. Re:So let me see by the+gnat · · Score: 2

      So many morons, so little time. . .

      1. Can you provide a citation for the 3,000,000?

      2. The revolutionaries fought to liberate their homeland from what they perceived as foreign occupation. They did not blow up babies.

      3. bin Laden *was* a freedom fighter; we trained him for that, remember? Now he's a terrorist. The attacks on US military abroad can be regarded as "freedom fighting", I suppose; we do have sizable forces in Saudi Arabia. The WTC can not.

      4. Keep in mind that most of bin Laden's victims previous to Sept. 11th were the unfortunate African civilians in our embassies- very few Americans died. It was an attack on us (the USA), but we suffered the least overall.

      I find it disturbing that so many leftists have been looking for justification for the WTC attacks and decrying the US retaliation while ignoring the embassies. We (rather, Clinton) fucked up afterwards by bombing Sudan, but bin Laden still deserves to die for what he did in Tanzania alone. The idea that the deaths of US civilians somehow equate to the deaths of civilians at the hands of the US military is simply disgusting, but the idea that all those African civilians don't matter in this debate is disgusting and racist.

    42. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is there any way to filter out the knee jerk "Blame the US first for all of your pathetic problems" postings like the one above? You want to be a puss sucking apologist for murderous, blapheming psychopaths like bin Laden, that's your business. I just don't want to read your pathetic, sophomoric drivel. Especially when it is so completely off topic. Incidentally, even if your propaganda numbers were accurate and meaningful they would still be hopelessly tiny compared with your heroes, Stalin and Mao.

    43. Re:So let me see by DeanT · · Score: 1
      Where is the respect for human life? America is as much to blame for murdering innocents as Bin Laden or the Taliban. Yet few people see it this way: economic sanctions, although often more crippling than all-out war, are socially acceptable. Bin Laden struck at the heart of America's economic power; an 'appropriate' response to abuse of that power.
      Let me frame this as an analogy to see if I have this right.

      I see my brother breaking the rules of some card game. I tell others that I won't play with him and why. I tell him that while I won't let him starve, I won't co-sign any loans with him.

      You see, I can hold him to certain behavior in order to gain my support. I'm under no more obligation to help him than he is to comply with my wishes.

      ... or you could do a minimal amount of research. Basic human needs are specifically excepted from any sanctions. I'm not saying the U.S. is a shining example in all international matters, but I'm not buying this 'It's your own fault' pabulum either.

      DeanT

    44. Re:So let me see by JimFromJersey · · Score: 1

      Ummm... no, if you are too stupid to see the difference between blowing up a bus load of children or detonating a car bomb in a shopping district and organized military resistance then you are a pathetic loser. By the way a coward is not to cowardly to kill, they just won't do it in such a way that they themselves may be killed.

      --
      between the greater and lesser infinities sleep the dreams undreamt
    45. Re:So let me see by JimFromJersey · · Score: 1

      oh yeah, here we fucking go again with your bullshit numbers and don't point back to that crap webpage either, as it seems to have just pulled those numbers out of thin air.

      --
      between the greater and lesser infinities sleep the dreams undreamt
    46. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      ksheff enlightened us with:
      On the Iraq side of things, if they are starving then why are the leading causes of death in that country heart disease and diabetes? IIRC, those are fat people diseases


      Absolutely right. Fat people diseases. Indeed


      Of course, heart disease can also be the result of malnutrition. When your body is hungry enough, it will eat itself from the inside. The heart is one of the parts that suffers. Often in situations like the one in Iraq people don't starve to death in one go. They starve for a while, then food is available again for a time, then they starve again, then food is available again. This wreaks havoc on the body.


      As for diabetes, the above doesn't exactly improve the health of diabetics, who tend to get hypoglycemic when they don't have regular meals. Do you even know any diabetics? The scarcity of insulin to treat their condition doesn't exactly help much either.


      Are you one of those people who also insists that homeless people are just running a scam and that they go home at the end of the day in Porsches? Just curious, because you sure sound like one of them.

    47. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      DunbarTheInept wrote:
      The Pentagon and the USS Cole can be considered military targets. The WTC and the embassy bombings are not.


      Hang on. Hang on. When the United States bombs a country they go after military installations, bridges, communications centers, power plants, pharmeceutical factories, and, on occaision, baby food factories. If those are legitimate military targets, then why isn't the world trade center, which was certainly something of an economic hub, a legitimate target?
    48. Re:So let me see by cyberformer · · Score: 1

      Iraq isn't allied to Afghanistan, at least not yet. (Perhaps they'll team up to fight the Americans, who knows?) In fact, bin Laden's original grievance with America was that he wanted to fight the Gulf War and force Iraq out of Kuwait. Instead, America came in to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and never left.

    49. Re:So let me see by loraksus · · Score: 2

      Yeah, off topic. I know.
      I'm not going to give my thoughts on american foreign policy, just facts.

      The List.

      1 Vietnam
      2 Cambodia (we sent tanks in too)
      3 Libya
      4 Iraq, and again, and again, and again.
      5 Grenada
      6 Panama
      7 Yugoslavia (A B-52 caught two Yugoslavian battalions out in the open and dropped cluster bombs on them)
      8 China (The Chinese embasy in Kosovo was "legally" on Chinese soil.)
      9 Somalia (Restore Hope)
      10 Hati (Uphold Democracy)
      11 Lebanon ("Peacekeeping")
      12 Dominican Republic, ok, fine, we didn't bomb them, but dropped in 14,000 fully armed marines.
      13 Kosovo
      14 Afghanistan (once before, now again)
      15 Wherever America trains, we dropped bombs, etc in germany doing cold war preparations.

      web1.whs.osd.mil/mmid/casualty/table12.htm
      Is the table for US military dead. Quite a few dead in training, interesting to see some of the statistics.

      --
      1q2w3e4r5t6y7u8i9o0pqawsedrftgthyjukilo;p'azsxdcfv gbhnjmk,l.;/
    50. Re:So let me see by ShortedOut · · Score: 1

      Why did I call a post about our "New War" off topic in a thread about the RIAA hacking into computers? Don't you see a difference here? Why don't you try to express your feelings about the war in a different forum? How about one that is discussing those issues? Calling anyone immature and a censor for no reason sounds immature and censor-like. Don't you think?
      I'm tired of seeing these types of posts everywhere I look, everyone trys to get their viewpoint in at any time they see fit. Quite honestly, I don't care what your viewpoint is. Just as you could care less what mine is. Let me read about the dumb ass RIAA, and you discuss your views in a more appropriate thread.

      Thank you!

    51. Re:So let me see by HobophobE · · Score: 1

      Regardless of personal perspective or opinion on the situation, we see the Taliban as Terrorists, they see themselves as Freedom Fighters, we see our military as Freedom Fighters, the Taliban sees them as Terrorists.

      --

      -HobophobE
      Nothing laughs forever.
    52. Re:So let me see by ikekrull · · Score: 2

      It's only 'terrorism' if you lose the 'war'.

      The US can say anything they like - call these guys terrorists, baby-killers, cannibalistic monkeys, whatever.

      In fact, it's in their interest to whip up national fervour and spread anti-Muslim/Afghani/Arab propaganda, and these have been proven to be effective weapons of war for a very long time. The biggest enemy the US has is it's own people, and the longer everyone stays glued to CNN and forgets about anything else but what theyre told by that smily reporter, the better.

      If US special forces hijacked a plane and flew it into the side of a building to prevent a rogue state's global plot to usurp the power of the legitimate governments of the world, not only woul d people love it at the cinema, but it would be hailed as an act of patriotic bravery beyond compare.

      Basically, the US Government is full of corrupt, arrogant hypocrites who have no qualms about lying, stealing and killing on a massive scale if it suits their (primarily financial and economic) interests. Just like all the other governments of all the other countries around the world.

      The difference here is that the US is currently the biggest, and most arrogant government on the planet, which they feel gives them carte blanche to do whatever they want in the name on of a 'War on (Insert vague and unspecific target here)'

      This is not necessarily good or bad, and really depends on where you sit, politically and geographically.

      However, mistaking the 'War on Terrorism' as anything but an attempt to ensure US control of the oil pipeline that will run between the Chechen oil fields and the Persian Gulf would probably be a mistake.

      --
      I gots ta ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long
    53. Re:So let me see by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2
      or a spotter for laser-guided bombs
      What do you think the special forces that were sent in ahead of time were doing? Going on a camping trip?
      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    54. Re:So let me see by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2
      .. pharmeceutical factories, and, on occaision, baby food factories
      With that line you have demonstrated yourself to be someone who lives in an alternate universe totally unconnected to the real one. I'm done with you now. (Do you know the difference between "going after" a type of target and "going after" a different type of target and failing?) If you want to accuse the US of being sloppy with it's aim, and it's intelligence, so that through criminal negligence innocent targets get hit, I'd actually agree. But since you chose to phrase it as if those results are deliberate malicious acts, I know your messages aren't worth the electrons they're printed on.
      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    55. Re:So let me see by itachi · · Score: 1

      So we're justified in starting a war because we don't like a guy who lives there? Did we declare war on Oklahoma after the Oklahome City bombing, because McVeigh had lived in Elohim City (in OK)? Did we declare war on California when we found out about Charles Manson? Or did we declare war on France once we found that that's where Ira Einhorn had run off to hide? We have attacked a sovreign nation, an act that is internationally criminal. The only difference between Manson and (allegedly, but I haven't seen any proof yet, have you?) bin Laden is scale. So where is the magic number where invasion is justified? Is it 5 people? Or is it 50? Or do you have to kill 500 people before it goes from murder to war? I note that we didn't declare war on any airline ever, so it must be more than a planeload. What do youy think, maybe 500 is that magic number? Or does it take more? Intent or not, we're killing innocents and blowing up their houses, the same crime that we;re so riled up about, what is the difference between the deaths? We claim we have a justification, the terrorists claimed to have a justification, why is our justification more valid than theirs? Why does our justification allow the deaths of innocent civilians and their justification somohow doesn't?

      I'm not saying I belive we shouldn't be seeking justice, or that force is not justified. I just want to know how we are explaining our hipocrisy to ourselves and the rest of the world, that's all.

      itachi, and remember, you can't call me a traitor bastard without using the 1st ammendment rights that allow me to rant like this...

    56. Re:So let me see by itachi · · Score: 1

      So when we try to scare and intimidate the Taleban into handing over bin Laden, what's that? Our good neighbor policy? A fucking tea party? Or maybe dropping high explosives by the ton is meant to scare them into doing what we want... Again, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. To fix your analogy, who's better, Malcom X of Osama bin Laden? MLK was a pacifist. I'm glad Malcom X did his thing, and he was hardly doing it out of selfish greed. I don't think that you can attribute bin Laden's actions to greed either - he's as pious as George "I'll say anything to manipulate the American sheeple" W, and bin Laden is very wealthy, so there's no greed motive there.

      itachi, and while you're calling me un-american, remember that we're both using the same 1st ammendment rights...

    57. Re:So let me see by Karl+Cocknozzle · · Score: 1
      America is bombing a nation that has supported terrorism against America. It does this after imposing sanctions against a country allied to that nation, sanctions that are causing slow death as millions starve. This act forms part of the motive for the terrorism against America. In bombing Afganistan, America is inflicting further civilian casualties.

      Two things:
      1) Any civillians who die in Afghanistan or Iraq were killed by their government's irresponsible refusal to act in the interest of world security. If Iraqi children are dying, perhaps the radicals should take the direct route to ending the sanctions and encourage/force Saddam to allow UN Weapons Inspectors into the country.
      2) Anybody who thinks 6,000 intentional murders and a couple hundred accidental deaths are morally equivalent acts is out of their mind.
      3) Perhaps, instead of having sanctions and bombing raids we should just allow our buildings to be destroyed, or citizens murdered, our troops gassed, and our allies invaded.

      Food for thought, anyway.
      --
      Who did what now?
    58. Re:So let me see by quan2m · · Score: 1

      Hmmmmm.... obviously you have never used or known anyone used a laser spotter. Nor have you ever worked with military operatives. They are not supermen. The have to have intelligence on the target. Which we have little of. They have to be able to get to a location that they can see the target (heinous thing about line-of-sight weapons). Also, you forget the objective. We have committed to destroy the bastions of terrorism. For the safety of "all" citizens of the world. If you doubt that, please educate yourself as to the nature of terrorism. It is a stereotypical victim/predator relationship. The weaker the victim appears the bolder the predator. The Taliban has around 40,000 troops, any of which could end in the US taking pilot classes. One more point, the Taliban is a oppressive government, and we seek to depose it(despite political blithering to the opposite). By deposing it we give the Afghanis an opportunity to go back to a reasonable government system. The only way to depose an violent regime unfortunately is violence. A sad fact, but a fact nonetheless. (As a tip, you might try reading some books on warfare and politics before commenting: Sun Tzu's "The Art of War", Carl Von Clausewitz "On War", and Tom Clancy's Non-fiction titles will get you started.)

    59. Re:So let me see by SubtleNuance · · Score: 2

      No-one is trying to "justify" anything. I am not *CONDONING* any act of violence - the WTC destruction nor Vietname nor Grenada nor any-fucking-thing else.

      The fact is, America is *NOT* blameless - yet you pretend this is the case... Americans themselves live in intellectual void where they are INCAPABLE of accepting responsibility for anything.

      American Foriegn Policy is a backwards mess of self-serving assassinations, economic devestation, poverty and war. America has been playing terrible politics with the lives of foreign nationals for a good 50 years - now, when alittle hurt comes home, you cry out without any acknowledgement of the BIG PICTURE.

      The big picture puts blood on the hands of America. It puts blood on the hands of your Plutocratic Government, and it puts blood on the hands of the unfortunate, miss-led ignorant masses of patriots - incapable of seeing through the sickening nationalist propaganda and understanding the cause and effect nature of the acts of your own government.

      So, back to my leftist justification; What you dont really understand is I am sickened by the reaction America has displayed since the WTC destruction. I am sickened not only by the sheer, astounding ignorance, but by the self-rightious nationalism, calls for revenge, racism and misguided piousness.

      But really, I am disgusted that, America being such a massively wealthy country, capable of writing so many of the worlds ills (some they have directly and indirectly created) chooses not to. I am saddened that yet another Emprie will crumble (they always do) instead of breaking the cycle, learning from the past and charting the correct course. America may (or may not) have sufficient mass to set us on a path of Real and Lasting Peace... instead, you jack-asses act like morons, succume to the obvious baiting of a lunatic, and start dropping bombs - yet again.

      In 50 years, hasnt any American learned that you cannot bomb yourselves into peace?

      Dropping bombs in South Asia will only assure that there will be more violence in the USofA.... guaran-fucking-teed. All violence is pointless, war is always wrong, and America cannot get it through its collective-head that it is an increadibly violent nation... no matter what your "patriot-conditioning-response" says. And when you commit acts of violence against others, eventually they hit back.

    60. Re:So let me see by Moofie · · Score: 2

      It's not MY responsibility to feed the Iraqui people. If the Iraqui government engages in practices that our government doesn't like, our government is free to not trade with them. The Iraquis don't have a right to our trade.

      Iraq (and the Taliban) have been given every opportunity to join the civilized world community. They have elected not to do so. What gives them the right to dictate the terms of trade? Nothing.

      And if you think driving an airliner into a building is on the same moral footing as electing not to trade with another nation state, you are dangerously misguided.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    61. Re:So let me see by ksheff · · Score: 2

      Do you even know any diabetics?

      Why yes I do given that it runs in the family. My dad is hypoglycemic too, and he certainly didn't get it by not having regular meals.

      Are you one of those people who also insists that homeless people are just running a scam and that they go home at the end of the day in Porsches? Just curious, because you sure sound like one of them.

      Actually, I've seen these scam artists with my own eyes leave their panhandling post walk a block or two and get in a car that is certainly better than the one I drive. True the guy passed out in an alley reeking of alcohol and his own shit isn't a Porsche driving con man, but I'm sure many of the 'will work for food' guys are. I mean, if illiterate non English speaking immigrants can find jobs, why the hell can't these guys? Probably because they can make more tax free and not have to do any reall work that way.

      The starving people of Iraq only have Hussein to blame for their condition. It's obvious he has no problem letting them die if it makes him look good in the eyes of other radicals and it makes the whiny bleeding hearts in the West turn against their governments.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    62. Re:So let me see by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

      The real threat to this great nation are morons who urge sacrificing its greatest and most enduring principles for phony assurances of protection.

    63. Re:So let me see by Martin+S. · · Score: 2

      > It's only 'terrorism' if you lose the 'war'.

      It's the fact they targeted civilians with the intention of terrorising them that makes these acts terrorism.

    64. Re:So let me see by Twylite · · Score: 2

      in the interest of world security? No. In the interests of Western security? Yes.

      The US has refused to engage in disarmorment programs along with the rest of the world, and it will not allow UN weapons inspectors to view its stockpiles. Yet any other country with nasty toys must give them up and be at the mercy of the US.

      3) ... perhaps the US should have withdrawn its troops from Saudi Arabia in line with the requests from various Middle East countries, and Bin Laden's demands for the past 5 years. Especially since they have no business being there anyway.

      Of course no-one can say for sure whether this would solve the problem, but a willingness to negotiate is essential in resolving conflict in a non-violent manner.

      A concept which America has shown itself incapable of grasping.

      --
      i-name =twylite [http://public.xdi.org/=twylite], see idcommons.net
    65. Re:So let me see by codingOgre · · Score: 1

      Basically, the US Government is full of corrupt, arrogant hypocrites who have no qualms about lying, stealing and killing on a massive scale if it suits their (primarily financial and economic) interests. Just like all the other governments of all the other countries around the world.

      To a point yes, but I would say it was a minority, not a majority.

      However, mistaking the 'War on Terrorism' as anything but an attempt to ensure US control of the oil pipeline that will run between the Chechen oil fields and the Persian Gulf would probably be a mistake.

      Finally someone who has read up on there history! This is truly rare for slashdot! While I don't agree with your thought, I do appreciate that at least it is intelligent and plausable. I cannot figure why Al Queda attacks the US... Unless the CIA stoped funding his groups(Yes, groups).

      --
      Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement. --Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication
    66. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well said. well said!

    67. Re:So let me see by Karl+Cocknozzle · · Score: 1
      in the interest of world security? No. In the interests of Western security? Yes.

      Is Turkey in the west? What about India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, or Israel? (Or do you think the "jews should all die?") All of these places (including our allies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) are within striking distance of Saddam's chemical/biological arsenal. Never mind the people in his own country who he has already struck with various plagues.

      In reality, Saddam's stock pile might not represent any threat to us. Without the ability to deliver it en masse to the US, it's not a real threat to us. I mean, SCUDs won't cross the Atlantic. Anybody within striking distance that doesn't share Saddam and bin Laden's radical view of Islam lives in fear of the day that he uses it.

      Of course no-one can say for sure whether this would solve the problem, but a willingness to negotiate is essential in resolving conflict in a non-violent manner.

      A concept which America has shown itself incapable of grasping.

      So was the WTC attack a "request for negotiations"? Perhaps when the Taliban kidnapped American citizens who were working with the UN relief effort and "put them on trial" this was an attempt to negotiate with us. Maybe when our Beirut embassy blew up, that was an effort at a breakthrough! It's clear now we've been interpreting these people all wrong for some time now.

      Here's something to think about: the Taliban are skinning men alive with hunting knives in villages they conquer in their war with the Northern Alliance. They are systematically slaughtering civillians everywhere they go, systematically raping and murdering women and children everywhere they go.

      What about this requires negotiation? Here's the deal amigo: If this group doesn't get stomped down right now, it will only get worse. If we gave-in to their every demand, and were out of everywhere and we told Israel they were on their own and all that, they'd still find something to blow up buildings over.

      People like this are living anachronisms, belonging as much in our contemporary, civilized, non-Mass Murdering society as Stephen Spielberg's Velociraptor .

      Soon, men like bin Laden and Hussein will join other dinosaurs in extinction.
      --
      Who did what now?
    68. Re:So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In 50 years, hasnt any American learned that you cannot bomb yourselves into peace?

      The Germans, Italians and Japanese don't give us much trouble these days.

      SubtleNuance, you are truly one of my favorite trolls.

  14. This feature is built into the WIN XP license by weave · · Score: 5, Informative

    Read the license to Win XP carefully. It has a part in it that says that Microsoft may disable your access to copyrighted content at any time without notice upon request by content owners.

    1. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A click-through license hasn't been tested in court yet, and I have read that these types of contracts will not hold up in court due to the fact that the consumer has no bargaining power in the "agreement" of contract and that it is considered a type of entrapment.

      I forget the exact legal terms, but consumer law protects citizens in the non-digital world in terms of bargaining power, seeking recourse, and being forced into something without really agreeeing to it (opening the celophane wrapper, etc.)

    2. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by garcia · · Score: 2

      yeah if you enable the remote access bullshit. If I was running it, I wouldn't.

      I have service through roadrunner. Seems to me that they are blocking EVERYTHING. I cannot access anything on my computer (no ping, telnet, ssh, ftp, no nothing). Fine w/me. Come get me bitch. ;)

      Just make sure you don't enable the remote access crap, don't call them for technical support (ask your guru next door), or better yet, don't buy it in the first place.

      Who the fuck does MS think that they are putting something in the license that says that they can control what I have on my computer just b/c i use their OS? Excuse me but I own my computer, I own my HD, and I own their OS. They don't own me.

      They are scary.

    3. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      not a problem for me, I don't have the license, I pirated my copy of XP. =)

    4. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by da5idnetlimit.com · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Strange, I thought this feature was included in all Windows OS...

      +

      3 questions...

      If I infringed copyright for songs not belonging to RIAA Members, do they have the right to do anything ? for example, I have a large Reggae collection, and I'm sure Jamaican Producers from 1970 didn't belong to RIAA)

      +
      I happen to have only LEGIT MP3 (ripped from my own LP & CDs)... Can somebody tell me how to differentiate a legit MP3 from a fraudulent one if you only have access to my computer ?
      For I have the right to make MP3s and backups (fair use...)

      +

      I'm a foreigner (Brit, french, German, whatever you want...)

      If RIAA come to my pc and try to hack into it, this is illegal under my local law...no matter what (or they have to ask local police do do something)

      which means I can sue them, even ban them If I want (can) (you know, you call ISP and tell him IP XXX.XXX.X.X just scanned all my ports, and flooded...)

      Well, I don't know about you, but this is the sort of things I fear...

      --
      It takes 40+ muscles to frown, but only four to extend your arm and bitchslap the motherfucker
    5. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by TeknoHog · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Who the fuck does MS think that they are putting something in the license that says that they can control what I have on my computer just b/c i use their OS? Excuse me but I own my computer, I own my HD, and I own their OS. They don't own me.

      "The things you own end up owning you." - Tyler Durden

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    6. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      M$ should have to put the EULA on the package, just like cigarette makers have to put the warning on the package.

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    7. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by weave · · Score: 2
      What makes you think they'd contact your machine? Why not phone home via http? Like, ever notice when you install or update IE, no matter what your home page is, first time IE runs it loads a page from microsoft with /runonce/ in the URL?

      As for a friend of mine who said he's OK because he runs ZoneAlarm, er, ZoneAlarm hooks into the IP stack. Microsoft wrote it, they can operate at a layer lower than zone alarm. The only real protection is to have an external gateway or firewall recognize and block whatever this mysterious ability to disable content is, and until they start doing it, we won't know what to look for.

      I'm sticking with linux and w2k personally (I go both ways...) and definitely Linux with the ultra-cool iptables running as my firewall on a ratty old box in my basement!

    8. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So does this mean that if I try to pirate XP, then they'll have to get my balls?

    9. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dunno if being in another country will help you against something like that; look at Dimitry.

      And if they get something like this passed, then you won't even be able to get your ISP to block them; the ISP would see the IP is from the recording industry's l33t hAX0Rs and tell you to suck it up.

    10. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      Putting warning labels and disclaimers on the packs seemed to work out so good for the cigarette manufacturers, eh? :)

      Warning: A federal judge has determined that this product may infringe on monopolistic practices.

      Caution: Geeks, Nerds, or any one else who cares about privacy and rights should not use this product.

    11. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by GigsVT · · Score: 2

      And every time you type an invalid URL in IE it contacts a microsoft controlled site, and feeds it the typoed URL.

      This is apparently sold off as a fallback to find a site you can't quite spell, but the implications are large.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    12. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by weave · · Score: 5, Informative
      And here's another interesting feature. I downloaded a content-protected .wma music file I purchased with my pepsi cap points from pepsistuff.com. For a test, I copied it to another computer and tried to listen to it. It not only denied it, but opened up my web browser and sent me to Pepsistuff.com where a message said I had no rights to listen to that content. Worse, the URL I was directed to had the full pathname of the "stolen" file in it, the drive letter, path, filename, and a bunch of other encoded data I have no idea what it is...

      And get this, I tried to play that .wma file with winamp, not windows media player, so the protection is either in the file drivers somewhere or winamp has the wma protection code built in too...

    13. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by da5idnetlimit.com · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, Dimitry went to the state... and was a develloper signing his softs.
      I'm just a surfer. My IP is 192.168... quite anon 8)
      and I can always use an anon proxy to surf & serve ...

      Then maybe a webpage recording all IPs used by RIAA HaK33rz could be used with a small firewall so as to deny them access...you know, RIAA=> dev/null, or RIAA=>disney.com, matureandvulgar.com...

      you know, user community defending themselves...

      maybe even a tool such as NetBo, that automatically started countermeasures if somebody tried to root BO (mine was sending 15.000 tims the picture of the guy with his head stuffed in his arse... God, I woul love to get the same for all people accessing muy MP3z 8)

      Also, as they seem to so much love shrink wrapped EULA, I could wrap one into all IP Header (if U RIAA, don't connect !)

      BTW, all your MP3 are belong to you, not the RIAA

      --
      It takes 40+ muscles to frown, but only four to extend your arm and bitchslap the motherfucker
    14. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "The things you own end up owning you." - Tyler Durden

      Are you sure you want to quote the imaginary friend of a character who blew a chunk out of his own face to get rid of that imaginary friend?

      I mean, I recognize that Tyler Durden was 1337 and all, but I don't think you really got the movie.

    15. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Maxthemax2000 · · Score: 0

      That license will be the start of a rapid decline of micro$oft. They have passed the line.

      rm -rf microsoft

      --
      No Sig
    16. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by wackysootroom · · Score: 1

      Excuse me but I own my computer, I own my HD, and I own their OS. They don't own me.

      Actually, you do not *own* the OS. Microsoft owns it and sells you a license. It is actually more like leasing than it is owning. Read the license (esp. the part about reselling) if you do not believe me.

    17. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Happy+Monkey · · Score: 1

      In fact, they should have to put it on the box itself, in 12-point font double spaced. This would discourage those huge licenses that only consumer advocates read.

      --
      __
      Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
    18. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WinAmp utilizes the DirectMedia streams to play a lot of different formats. The protection is built directly into the stream codec.

    19. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      only utter fuckheads quote "fight club"

    20. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by rabidcow · · Score: 1

      Will it play (on the original computer) in those old versions of WinAmp that let you play wma files through the wave writer?

    21. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who the fuck modded this up as 'insightful'? Coming up with a clever quote that almost fits the situation isn't insightful. Get a fucking clue.

    22. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You own a license to use a copy of their OS in specific ways, not their OS.

      I really wish that there were some bounds set on MS's EULAs. It's just plain ridiculous right now.

    23. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You own shit from microsoft. They've sold you a license to use their software

    24. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What on earth are you doing letting programs access the Internet willy-nilly? At least use ZoneAlarm or *something* to control who is sending what home.

    25. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by WNight · · Score: 2

      This might be true, if they told you this in the store and you actually got to read the license before purchase.

      But, they don't, and you didn't, so it's not.

      Once you've purchased something outright, the seller can't attach any limitations to it. If they wanted to, the time was before sale.

      Q: "but copyright law prevents ... and I didn't agree to it!"

      A: Copyright law is a law, not a contract between buyer and seller. You similarly can't legally use the software to break any other laws.

    26. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by weave · · Score: 2
      What on earth are you doing letting programs access the Internet willy-nilly? At least use ZoneAlarm or *something* to control who is sending what home.

      The code in question sent a URL to the windows shell to launch into a browser, so unless you have zone alarm set to warn you everytime your browser access the internet, it'll do you no good.

      Also, when code asks that a URL be opened, if you already have an instance of that browser open, that process just handles it so if you already told Zone Alarm that IE or Mozilla or whatever your default browser you currently have open can access the Internet, you're not going to stop it.

      Spyware phoning home via an encoded URL is pretty tough to stop unless you have something between you and the net protecting you and you know what's coming...

      I guess you could always disconnect your net connection everytime you run a questionable program like winamp. :(

      Yes, I'm being a bit sarcastic. I read the other informative posts that winamp just uses the wmp api to play wma files so the protection is at that level, but then again, soon as this CRM shit is part of the OS proper, every app on the box will be questionable as far as trust goes...

      Speaking of "trust", I saw one of those "Secure media cf cards" in a store and it talked about how you should use a PDA that uses "secure" media. I'm guessing the security is to protect "them" against you, not the other way around... :(

    27. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by evilmonkey_666 · · Score: 1

      "I didn't agree to it!"

      Remind me... What does that button at the bottom of the license agreement say before installation?

      --


      - PS. This is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R where eliminated.
    28. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by farnham · · Score: 1

      This really makes me wonder
      Why is it that click through licenses have not been tested? Does everyone know that they aren't binding? Has nobody done anything high-profile enough to get sued?
      What would someone have to do? Any ideas?
      I would personally love to see a slashdot sponsored (oops it's corporate now) webcam frenzied lawsuit between joe blow and MICROSOFT in the battle for the century.
      Are we still protected by "consumer law"? It seems to me that every company has enough lawyers on staff to put (most) any private individual into bankruptcy long term because we're all entitled to our decade in court.

      --
      pending committee review
    29. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by dynweb · · Score: 1

      Winamp uses the WMA codec from Microsoft in a binary form. The codec is spawning an IE window, not Winamp. Winamp has no control over that.

    30. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Jubedgy · · Score: 1

      But by then you've already BOUGHT the stuff, OPENED the stuff, and put the CD in the drive...at that point, how many retailers'll let you return the software?

      --Jubedgy

      --
      Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis hebes
    31. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by WNight · · Score: 2

      Pay attention to context. That bit you quotes was from a Q&A and is only half of the question.

      It was Q: "But *COPYRIGHT LAW* prevents ... and I didn't agree to it."

      I don't know about you, but nobody gave me a license agreement before implementing copyright law.

      Now, as to your completely lack of comprehension of the OTHER issue...

      You aren't bound by the EULA because you don't see it until you've bought the product. As that point you can (honestly) write the EULA out, sign your name, IN BLOOD, in front of a Notary and mail it to MS and it won't be binding. When you "agree" to an EULA you don't get anything in return so it's not a valid contract. As such, saying "I Agree" is meaningless legally.

      And now, you don't "get the right to use the software." Your got that right when you paid the clerk at the store. After that, Microsoft (and the store) lost all ability to control what you do with it.

    32. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by hyrdra · · Score: 2

      Winamp, I think, uses DirectShow filters to play WMA files. Thus, they are using the Microsoft WMA decoder driver. This means it's the driver, or "filter" which opens up a browser window, NOT Winamp or even the OS.

      If you read the WMA spec it's quite easily to make a file copyrighted and when played without a license, direct it to a specific url. You can even disable sound recording (by opening the recording pin on all line devices), or run a section of the WMA file as a program. I'm kind of shocked there already isn't a virus out there that infects users by playing a WMA music file.

      Pretty nifty, Microsoft!

      --


      "I'll just chip in a bit for RedHat: I actually have that installed on my university machine." - Linus, '95
    33. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by justletmeinnow · · Score: 0

      Yeah! Then it wouldn't take the better part of an afternoon to read the damn license!

      --
      Just because I AM paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get me.
    34. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by slasho81 · · Score: 1

      Read the license to Win XP carefully. It has a part in it that says that Microsoft may disable your access to copyrighted content at any time without notice upon request by content owners.

      Shouldn't be a law that prevents a monopoly from adding whatever it wants to a license of a product that almost everyone must eventually buy?

    35. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by cornjones · · Score: 1

      actually, the software all has "by breaking this seal you agree to our license" wording before you can get at the media (disks). At that point if you don't want it you are supposed to take it back.

      ej

    36. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by einhverfr · · Score: 2

      Which is why I will never use XP. If the SSSCA passes, I will continue using RH7.1 indefinitely. Not that it is that likely to pass given that the computer security industry is opposed to the law.

      ANY backdoor can be abused or, worse, exploited. However, Microsoft may be referring to DRM'd material only, but without access to the XP source, I cannot say for sure...

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
    37. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Telek · · Score: 2

      Right and what this means is that Microsoft can have Media Player "download" a blacklist of mp3s/wmas and thus refuse to play any files that are on that blacklist. Anything that you have created yourself (from stuff that you own) won't be on this blacklist, and thus you will have no problems playing it.

      I'm not saying that it's right, but I am saying that it's not at all surprising, and this was pushed by the RIAA as well. And since (what everybody has been saying that) you legally own all of the mp3s on your hard drive then you have nothing to worry about.

      Or just use Winamp, or just use Linux.

      --

      If God gave us curiosity
    38. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      That's not the point, it will make people aware that M$ products CAN hurt you, if they still want (or have) to use it, they were at least warned...

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    39. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by DeanT · · Score: 1
      ...consumer has no bargaining power in the "agreement" of contract and that it is considered a type of entrapment.

      I forget the exact legal terms...

      I think the term you're looking for is consideration.

      DeanT

    40. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by frankie · · Score: 2

      Excuse me but I own my computer, I own my HD, and I own their OS.

      BZZT. No, you don't own their OS. Find a law student near you and ask them to explain the concept of EULA. You have a very limited right to use Windows, subject to whatever restrictions Microsoft thinks they can get away with.

    41. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use Opera for my web browsing.

      And I make IE request permission from Zone Alarm every time it tries to access the Internet.

      When 98 Lite comes out with it's Win2000 version, I won't have IE on my system at all.

    42. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1

      Are you sure it's not "meeting of minds"? I believe that describes where two parties come to an agreement. The question is whether two parties have come to an agreement ("meeting of minds") when one party provides an agreement as a fait accompli. Click here to continue!

      --
      If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    43. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1

      >TT>Shouldn't be a law that prevents a monopoly from adding whatever it wants to a license of a product that almost everyone must eventually buy?

      Eh? Howzat again?

      I have zero intention of purchasing Windows (I use Linux exclusively), my brother has zero intention of purchasing Windows (he uses Solaris and some custom OS whose name escapes me), my mother has zero intention of purchasing Windows (she doesn't know a mouse from a monitor).

      --
      If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    44. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by rking · · Score: 1

      You walk into a shop, pick up a software package and say "I'd like to buy this please", the shopkeeper says "that'll be $200", you give him the money and walk out. That's a contract, there's offer acceptance and consideration.

      Then you get home, open the box put the disk in the machine and suddenly it's telling you that you haven't bought anything after all and the person who made the software (not even the shop you bought it from) requires you to agree to these terms...

      It's your cd. It's your computer. You don't have to agree to any further terms to do anything with it.

      It's just far too late to start proposing terms at that stage. Consideration has already passed. If the shopkeeper had said at the begining "I'm afraid I can't sell you that sir, but I can licence it to you on the following terms..." then they'd be onto something, but of course the shopkeeper would find people were shopping elsewhere.
      You have to propose the terms before consideration passes. The supposed terms in EULAs fail for want of consideration.
      However, I gather UCITA, for whatever bizarre reason sets out to validate these "contracts" so where UCITA is valid all bets are off.

    45. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by rking · · Score: 1

      It's your cd. It's your computer. You don't have to agree to any further terms to do anything with it.

      Sorry, that should of course be "you don't have to agree to any further terms to do anything with it other than distribution of copies." Copyright law does prevent you from distributing copies of the software and the copyright owner can lawfully forbid you to do so, in fact by default you can't do so without their permission. They don't have any right to restrict your use of it though.

    46. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use a junkbuster proxy to block every access to microsoft.com, one could also put a line into the hosts file like:

      127.0.0.1 microsoft.com

      which maps microsoft.com to localhost (your machine). Same for other qestionable URLs.

    47. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by DeanT · · Score: 1
      Are you sure it's not "meeting of minds"?

      You are correct. Consideration would be what you paid for the item. Meeting of the minds is supposed to indicate agreement on the terms.

      Good catch. I guess I only think I know something about law... ;)

      DeanT

    48. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      Damn...Must be some Micro$oft Employees with Moderator points on here today....

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    49. Re:This feature is built into the WIN XP license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This depends mostly on local laws.
      Here in Germany e.g. click through licenses
      are not valid because you have no chance to read and agree / disagree before you buy the product.

  15. Not really by GigsVT · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The RIAA just wants to be exempt from the new cyberterrorism regulations in the anti-terrorism bills.

    They are afraid what they do all the time will be classified as cyberterrorism.

    So really, even the RIAA is afraid of these new cyberterrorism regulations, and is trying to get their own loopholes put in.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  16. Of course by CaptainZapp · · Score: 5, Funny
    Of course they want the right to hack into your computer. Same as our friends from the BSA.

    What is most disturbing however, is that those folks are not responsible for consequential damage, according to the article.

    Uuups, sorry we trashed your hard disk. Here's a 3$ off voucher for the new Britney Spears CD.

    If a web site defacer could wind up in jail for life, then the same measures should apply to corporate entities.

    --
    ich bin der musikant

    mit taschenrechner in der hand

    kraftwerk

    1. Re:Of course by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      This is what struck me as well. With that kind of permission, why wouldn't they just rm -rf * and say - gee, sorry.

      Of course they didn't get that language passed, so it's not so bad yet.

    2. Re:Of course by AshPattern · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The entire reason to have a corporation is to limit your liability. Corporations were invented so that companies wouldn't be liable to the families of employees for their employees dying during their hazardous jobs.

      If this single principle of limited liability were taken out, we wouldn't have many corporations left. What corporation can hold to actual, real ethical integrity?

    3. Re:Of course by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 1

      Limited liability doesn't work that way. If someone is harmed from doing their job, the corporation is still liable. Limited liability is designed to protect the shareholders from being charged. Limited liability is what lets you invest in a dot-com and not be personally liable for its debts when it goes tits-up. You only lose as much as you invested (shareholder value goes down to $0). However, in some instances, the board of directors may be unable to escape liability since they are the ones actually making the decisions.

    4. Re:Of course by CaptainZapp · · Score: 1
      Yes, I know that. However that doesn't exempt a corporation from illegal actions. Hacking my computer and potentially destroying data is an illegal act (just ask Mr. Ashcroft)

      Officers of a corporation definitely can be held responsible to a certain degree. (It probably gets trickyer if some CORPORATE underling commitS a criminal act. But I'm no lawyer and we probably have different laws here anyway.

      Hypothetical question: If the CEO of MediaMegacorp is held directly responsible if the Anti-Piracy unit hacks and destroys a compuiter of an innocent person (no naughty media files) and the CEO risks going to jail (life, no parol if ol' John has his way), would that CEO support snooping/hacking ?

      --
      ich bin der musikant

      mit taschenrechner in der hand

      kraftwerk

    5. Re:Of course by quan2m · · Score: 1

      Business Software Alliance; People who are running radio ads about getting ready to sue everybody in LA by Nov 15th. http://www.bsa.org

  17. how do they detemine? by 4444444 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    how do they determin the eleagal mp3's from the ones you ripped from your cd's

    --

    http://Lenny.com
    4 great justice!
    1. Re:how do they detemine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      How the fsck did you get that nick and that user number? Is it possible to change your username or did you, pervertedly, register users over and over again to see what number you got and then made it 444.. when you saw it coming?

      Totally off topic, but it sorta caught my interest.

    2. Re:how do they detemine? by SnapShot · · Score: 1
      In a couple of years there will be no legal mp3's on your HD because any mp3's that you have ripped must have broken the DCMA's security on your CD (which are coming onto the market now).

      Therefore you either broke the copyright law or you broke the DCMA or both. Of to jail for you, you scum-sucking criminal...

      --
      Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex Bud.
    3. Re:how do they detemine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even better, wait until he has posted another ten comments (or, if you wish, another 10 + (4*10^n+4*10*^(n-1)+...+4*10^1) (where n >= 1)). Then and only then will his userpage be really cool.

    4. Re:how do they detemine? by Theodore+Logan · · Score: 0, Troll

      holy crap! You guys must be really fucking bored!

      --

      "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance" - Derek Bok

    5. Re:how do they detemine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's NOT his user number, dumbo! That one's to the right (2430399). Otherwise I guess it would be kinda cool.

    6. Re:how do they detemine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh.. heh. Right. Guess I was a bit messed up when I posted that.

    7. Re:how do they detemine? by the+Man+in+Black · · Score: 2

      Actually, that's the message number. 444444 actually is his UID, as he stated here.

    8. Re:how do they detemine? by Happy+Monkey · · Score: 1

      Well, if they delete the ones you ripped yourself, you can just rip them again! That hassle is a small price to pay for the RIAA's bottom line!

      --
      __
      Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
    9. Re:how do they detemine? by jrockway · · Score: 1

      for i in *.mp3; do mv $i $i.screwyouriaa; done;

      They'll never know that they're MP3's! (Yeah, I know... get rid of the extension that's still there....and the ID3's....and encrypt them)

      --
      My other car is first.
    10. Re:how do they detemine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as soon as there are only copy protected cd`s all mp3`s are illegal because you used a circumvention device as specified under the dmca to optain them.
      no wait.. that makes you some kind of terrorist.

      so you want to complain to them about deleting your mp3`s when they got you by the balls anyway ?

  18. Riiiight by nanodroid · · Score: 1
    This is logistically feasable because:



    Everyone the RIAA wants to exploit runs Windows.
    It wouldn't suprise me if MICROS~1 will leave the key in the door for the RIAA, so to speak.



    I guess I don't have anything to worry about; unless the RIAA sends some mad irc juariors that can root my OpenBSD 'wall.

    1. Re:Riiiight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just a quick pedantic note. I argree with your sentiments, but I disagree that your "OpenBSD 'wall" would be enough to keep them out. The 'talkback' methods employed by Microsoft's WMA libraries use a reverse http tunnel, which means that it's practically impossible to detect with a firewall, even if you're only allowing outgoing Web access. As long as you have untrusted nodes on a LAN, the entire LAN should be considered untrusted.

  19. Couldn't this lead to even WORSE things? by jued0001 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Couldn't this potentially lead to something even more nasty (if it ever comes to fruition), like M$ coming in and wiping out pirated copies of their OS? XP is already a step in the nasty direction, but that would just be completely insane...

    --

    _______

    I just wish I could c:\format Internet

    1. Re:Couldn't this lead to even WORSE things? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or wiping out legal copies of their OS, forcing you to pay more to upgrade to their current OS.

    2. Re:Couldn't this lead to even WORSE things? by pentalive · · Score: 1

      Like M$ deleting copies of OTHER OSs untill you buy thier "protected" one?

    3. Re:Couldn't this lead to even WORSE things? by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 1

      Isn't that the whole new business plan in a nutshell?

      Your lease is up.

      1. Submit credit card number for renewal
      2. Reformat hard drive

      Choose [1/2] -=> _

      --
      If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    4. Re:Couldn't this lead to even WORSE things? by BJH · · Score: 1

      3. Download a free OS and install it

  20. The Simple Solution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Let the RIAA hack the shit out of whatever they want and then when it is all said and done, sue them under DMCA for violating and circumnavigating your boxe's security.

    problem solved.

  21. Black Ice by tomknight · · Score: 1
    Doesn't this sort of thing make you wish that black ice exists?

    Tom.

    --
    Oh arse
    1. Re:Black Ice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Machine Language....

      Kick up the sync rate on their Geforce & watch that nice shiny 20" tube go wheeeee-pop!

  22. Dear Gaia . . . by cjpez · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Okay, yeah, obviously they were eventually going to try something this moronic. They might even be lucky enough to get it passed for awhile until the supreme court manages to knock it down.

    But are they REALLY so insensitive as to tack it on to the end of an anti-terrorism bill? This has nothing to do with keeping terrorists at bay (some could argue that half of the stuff that is still in the bill doesn't do that either, but at least those bits have rationalized themselves). This is just some greedy organization that tried to use a "get this through quick" bill to slip in some really nasty stuff.

    The other day, I was trying to force myself to reconsider my opinions on the evilness organizations like the RIAA. Or at least take a closer look at the actual humans involved in the decisions they make. But this is just insane . . .

    1. Re:Dear Gaia . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      They might even be lucky enough to get it passed for awhile until the supreme court manages to knock it down.

      Considering how crazy Congress was when they passed the recent anti-terrorism bill, I'd say the RIAA, and eventually MPAA, will succeed.

    2. Re:Dear Gaia . . . by davecb · · Score: 1

      This is utterly typical behavior of someone who's convinced themselves they're "right". A parallel kind of behavior is the tendancy of professional criminals to get caught on traffic violations: the get blase' about breaking laws and then do something dumb right in front of a traffic cop. Both are variations on the psycology that makes "time wounds all heels" true (;-))

      --
      davecb@spamcop.net
    3. Re:Dear Gaia . . . by Mtgman · · Score: 2
      Sigh, you didn't read the article did you?

      In an interview Friday, RIAA lobbyist Mitch Glazier said that his association has abandoned plans to insert that amendment into anti-terrorism bills -- and instead is supporting a revised amendment that takes a more modest approach.
      ...
      "We might try and block somebody," Glazier said. "If we know someone is operating a server, a pirated music facility, we could try to take measures to try and prevent them from uploading or transmitting pirated documents."

      The RIAA believes that this kind of technological "self-help" against online pirates, if done carefully, is legal under current federal law. But the RIAA is worried about the USA Act banning that practice -- and neither the Senate nor the House versions of that bill include the RIAA's suggested changes.

      Glazier said that the RIAA was no longer lobbying for the language provided to Wired News -- "that's completely out" -- but instead wanted to ensure that current law remains the same. But Glazier said he could not provide a copy of the revised amendment he hopes to include.


      Really it speaks for itself. The RIAA believes it is ALREADY legal to hack systems they believe to be distributing "pirated" material. The new Anti-Terrorism acts would make it illegal, so they're trying to build in a loophole. This isn't something they're just tacking onto a anti-terrorist bill, this is something they're trying to modify about an anti-terrorist bill so it doesn't apply to them. Essentially they're terrorists, but want to buy exemption with their fat wallets.

      Steven
      --
      -- I have marked myself unwilling to moderate-- I don't have other accounts to artificially inflate the karma of
    4. Re:Dear Gaia . . . by justletmeinnow · · Score: 0

      This is utterly typical behavior of someone who's convinced themselves they're "right".

      This is the same extremism that took down the WTC. Will the RIAA ever crash a plane into my office building to stop my WinMX (works well with WINE) from sharing files? I wouldn't be too surprised...

      On a side note, here's a quote from the WinMX site I just noticed while checking my link: WinMX respects your privacy and doesn't contain spyware.

      --
      Just because I AM paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get me.
  23. evil by Tom · · Score: 0, Troll

    taking a global tragedy and abusing it as a means to further unrelated and greedy personal agendas.

    and I thought the music mafia had already reached MAXEVIL. today, just thinking of them makes me feel as if someone puked all over me. I don't think I'll buy music from a RIAA member again. ever.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    1. Re:evil by tomknight · · Score: 1
      If I was moderating today, I'd be annoyed that there wasn't a "-1, Stupid - Obviously Didn't Read Article" category - as this comment clearly falls into it.


      Tom.

      --
      Oh arse
  24. eggplants by ender-iii · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    --
    ender-iii
  25. Retaliation by Jason+Straight · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Any attempt by those bastards on my machine will constitute me to enter a "self defense mode", in which I will return the attacks to them 10 fold. This is just bullshit. I'll file charges in michigan (my home state) against them where any hacking is considered a felony.

    1. Re:Retaliation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Won't work. If something like this gets passed, they will be federally allowed to hack you. And since federal law supercedes state, you won't be able to do shit about it unless you go bitch on Constitutional grounds.

    2. Re:Retaliation by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 2

      But once they get into your computer, they would be accessing your data, including files that aren't copyrighted by others, which by default are copyrighted by you?

      Would that perhaps give you a right to hack back to protect your own copyrighted works from infringement?

      And they also circumvented a protection measure which guards your copyrighted works. Then comes into play the DMCA.

      An exemption to 18 USC 1030 isn't going to cover their whole behind.

      --
      Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
    3. Re:Retaliation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ->> I'll file charges in michigan (my home state) against them where any hacking is considered a felony.

      Does that mean you can go to jail for being a computer programmer? I wish some one would make it a felony to be a lawyer.

  26. will the last geek... by Jodrell · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will the last geek to leave America, please turn Slashdot off? Thanks.

    1. Re:will the last geek... by ClubStew · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I hear ya! With each passing week, I want to move to Germany more and more. Heck, their government funds open source projects and is practically begging for computer engineers and scientists.

    2. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hope you're not a $cientologist.

    3. Re:will the last geek... by eMago · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You won't.
      Everyone has to take an ID-Card around or your fine will be 500$.
      Shops have to close at 8 PM (20:00).
      Bureaucracy is nowhere as bloated as in Germany.
      And secretary of interior Mr. Schily is pushing
      anti-"cybercrime" laws as hard as US senators.
      The pros: the politicians are not bought like in the US (there are strict laws against "donations" and lobbying), they have just no idea...
      Of course the Greens are the salvation
      as they are in government and really protecting your rights.

      --
      --- censored
    4. Re:will the last geek... by Brian+Feldman · · Score: 1

      I work at NAI Labs, and to be sure, the US government does fund open source projects. You just have to want to work on fun security-related stuff to work for NSA or DARPA contracts :)

      --
      Brian Fundakowski Feldman
    5. Re:will the last geek... by Roofus · · Score: 1


      You know, I've pondered leaving the country sometimes myself. But the biggest question I face is where to go? Are there any countries not controlled by corporations? And 3rd world countries don't count.

    6. Re:will the last geek... by Jodrell · · Score: 2, Interesting

      According to the Human Freedom Index, the freest place to live in the world is Sweden. Also very well wired up.

    7. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are there any countries not controlled by corporations? And 3rd world countries don't count.

      Hey, with the way things are headed, I'll take what I can get. As long as you can get a decent pipe, the place is crypto-friendly, the govenment respects privacy, and the beer is good, what more do you need?

    8. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhm... the ID cards you're talking about are actually a kind of compact passport... you definitely don't need to carry one on you at all times. In fact, border police check your ID only rarely in Switzerland... which isn't even part of the EU, where border police are even more.... well, laid back. You can of cause use the card as a form of ID - like a driver's license - but they aren't compulsory and police cannot, AFAIK, demand you provide identification. If you're talking about France, then that's different entirely. (France is basically a police-state)

      That's not to say Germany is ideal as far as freedom goes. Like most West European states, they have so called anti-racism laws. OTOH, prostitution is legal in Germany. And Switzerland, France, probably Austria too.

    9. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Funny you should mention that. ust last week was the first anniversary of my wife and I leaving Silicon Valley for Munich, Germany.

      I have been freelance contracting here (software engineering) and getting a visa and work permit is absolutely no problem. in fact, they really cater to foreign tech workers (almost embarassingly so).

      It's an awesome place to live with great people who are super friendly. the best part? I have a 10 minute commute on my bicycle nd we don't even own a car! Compare that to the old 2 hour total commute up and down 101!

      What you are talking about can be done. We have done it. I cannot tell you how happy we are to have left. We made the ultimate vote. We voted with our feet.

      Onnel

    10. Re:will the last geek... by ThePilgrim · · Score: 1

      And the UK.

      What's illegal in the UK is asking if somone is a prostitue, advertising that you are a prostitute, working in the same building (brothal) as an other prostitute or accepting a gift or money from a prostitute (living of imorral earnings).

      --
      Wouldn't it be nice if schools got all the money they wanted and the army had to hold jumble sales for guns
    11. Re:will the last geek... by k98sven · · Score: 0

      As a californian emigré to Sweden, I gotta say
      that the personal freedom might not warrant the change of climate (literally).

      Otherwise: Komm too sveeden.. See ze lövley lakes..

    12. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we need to pool our remaining cash and go buy a small African country or something. Take togo or something and turn it into a tech haven. I am sure if a couple million geeks came there and set up a nice tech infrastructure for them etc that they would let us write the laws regarding IP rights etc :)

    13. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think all the geeks in the world should move to New Zealand. Pleasant climate, relatively out of the way, and small (IE: easy to run broadband everywhere!).

      Can you imagine New Zealand as the world's largest data haven?

    14. Re:will the last geek... by ClubStew · · Score: 2

      Munich, reall? That's where I was thinking. In all my German classes, that seems to be about the prettiest place in Germany - which is saying a lot, because it all looks pretty! Buildings here are so modern and ugly - even if they try to mimic the baroque and rococo styles of old. My favorite styles are the Romanesque and gothic, anyway. I do like the Neuschwanstein, though, and all the other greats that Willhelm II funded. My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon there, in fact.

      It's either that or Frankfurt. There's a lot of jobs opening up there, I see. Berlin - being the most technologically advanced city because they had to start over because we bombed the #$%^ out of them - also looks promising, though I'm sure cost of living is a lot higher as with most major cities and the fact you can't just bike everywhere, which I think I'd like.

    15. Re:will the last geek... by Catbeller · · Score: 2

      Really? Sounds interesting. Tell us, do you both speak German? And if you don't, do they speak English for you at work? How's age descrimination in IT over there? Maybe it's a magic place for the older programmer crowd...

    16. Re:will the last geek... by Kong+the+Medium · · Score: 1

      So why not the netherlands, but the beer lacks in contrast towrds the german, but 2002 there will be 1 currency for all of europe, so hop 50 km across the border to buy the beer.

      --
      ... whenever a text is transmitted, variation occurs. This is because human beings are careless, fallible, and occasiona
    17. Re:will the last geek... by Pengo · · Score: 2

      Don't forget they also close at 12:00pm on saturday and CANT be open on sunday by law.

      Hehehe... Germany is a very nice place, but sorta challenged my day-to-day habbits I took for granted in the states, though after 9-10 months I got used to it and it didn't phase me.

    18. Re:will the last geek... by Pengo · · Score: 2

      as a contractor it's not bad in Europe, same in England as Germany. Compared to the US market right now it's high demand for tech workers as europe hasn't slumped as bad as US market has.

      Only problem working as an expat in DE for someone large like Bertelsman or Semens, G&J, etc , you won't get far in the organization if your not German. In the end you will hit a wall where you can't climb higher, though not because of lack of skill or tallent.. you are in the right place as a contractor IMHO.

    19. Re:will the last geek... by 1/137 · · Score: 1

      Sadly, I don't think that the increcible growth of corporate power is restricted to the USA... think WTO.



      Its amazing how ballsy these guys are getting! It reminds me of a quote from the Princess "The more you tighten you grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." These idiots will lose in the long run.

      --
      My handle breaks slashcode, what does your handle do?
    20. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      they also close at 12:00pm on saturday


      There is no such thing as 12pm, no matter what your software tells you. You either mean noon or midnight, but i'm not sure to which you are referring. You can also alleviate the problem by referring to the time in 24 hour time. (i think, but am not sure, that Germany does this as standard)

    21. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      12:00pm is midday

    22. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am from Germany, thank you! But that doesn't solve the problem. Germany used to be cool. It is going the way America went. The US just has a democracy that is a little older. I bet 100 years from no the german democrazy wouldn't be in any better shape. This is why you have to stay and go into politics. Take over Washington for the people. There still is a chance. You had McCain in the last primary going against campaign distribution that one can't identify. There are surly some people that wnat to drive this further. Stop bithin' and Start Acting!!!!

    23. Re:will the last geek... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, you need to be able to show you id if police asks you. He was right on that. But in my 33 years i was never asked for that.

      About Anti-racism laws: Yes there are laws.

      Shops close at 20:00 at the moment but this will also change in the future. Gas stations are open 24 hours and provide everything you need for a living.

      Other things: Drinking allowed from 16 on
      Driving from 18 on
      Try to learn the metric system (we are civilized ;-)) (just a joke)
      If you ask a girl to drink a coffee with you , you cannot be sued for sexual harrassment ;-)
      No laws about positions in sex ;-)
      No speed limit on many highways
      Fantastic beer ;-)

    24. Re:will the last geek... by ClubStew · · Score: 2

      That's the problem. I have been acting, writing dozens of letters a month. I'd write more but don't have that much time on my hands. As another person wrote on this subject who is from Germany (supposedly), our politicians can be bought off easily. Microsoft and RIAA are the ones putting extra income in those people's pocket. America stopped being "For the People" a long time ago.

      Plus, I like the Germany architecture of old and the forests and much more.

  27. RIAA: Come get my MP3's by NineNine · · Score: 2

    I dare you.

    1. Re:RIAA: Come get my MP3's by The_Unforgiven · · Score: 1

      Now that's the attitude we ought to have against this :)

      --
      http://wsulug.org
    2. Re:RIAA: Come get my MP3's by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Belive it or not, I don't have any mp3's...

    3. Re:RIAA: Come get my MP3's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, you just offered a legal invitation to do just that.

  28. The Silver Lineing... by FatRatBastard · · Score: 2

    According to the article the reason that the RIAA was pushing this POS was because the new Anti-Terrorism bill (you know, the one that states that hacking=terrorism) would put the Kybosh on the RIAA trying to block people who trade MP3s and such.

    I still think the hacking provisions of the anti-terrorist bill stink (and I hope they're sunsetted eventually) but it gives me a nice warm glow to know that they're also causing the RIAA lots of grief.

    I can't wait for the first person to sue the RIAA for "terrorism" when they try to port-block someone. I'd even donate some $$$ for the cause.

  29. Everyone wants to crack my computer! by ClubStew · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    Great! So now the government AND RIAA (is there any difference anymore?) want to hack my computer. What kind of country is this? Apparently freedom is only granted to those with the money. Matthew Lesko should put that in his book.

    We really need to start writing our congressmen and explaining the truth to them about technology. Has everyone written their congressmen yet? With so much bad legislation being proposed, one or two are bound to get passed.

    There is another solution, though: transphasic torpedoes. They took out the bork with one shot in the last episode of Star Trek Voyager; perhaps they can take out Uncle Bill's cube before he assimilates the entire government and media!

    1. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by ClubStew · · Score: 2

      Oops, so I don't get flaimed: "bork" was a mistype. I meant "borg".

    2. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was just about to ask you what episode did Voyager get attacked by the Swedish Chef :)

    3. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by chinton · · Score: 1

      Great! So now the government AND RIAA want to hack my computer.

      No, just the RIAA. The rider was not added to the bill passed last week. Read the article.

    4. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by universalcurb · · Score: 0

      Imagine: Janeway vs. the Sweedish Chef...

      Dude, give me the chef...he's got those chickens on his side, and he can lob meatballs over...I mean, what's Voyager got? Armor and Tuvok?

      No match for a stale meatballl...

      --
      dum spiro, spero
    5. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 1

      I'd stay on Voyager for several reasons:
      Janeway - admit it - she's the hottest star ship captain in any ST series.
      7 of 9 - she can assimilate me any day of the week, and twice on sundays.
      Be'lana - hey, I like it rough from time to time.
      Kez - she's a telepath, so I don't have to say anything. And you know what they say: "5 five-year-olds are alot better than a twentyfive-year-old".

      --
      We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
    6. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by ClubStew · · Score: 2

      What I was hinting at was the whole backdoor-in-encryption thing. I use heavy encryption on my system and if the government had a key, they would be able to (not that they would have a reason) get into my computer. That was my point.

    7. Re:Everyone wants to crack my computer! by chinton · · Score: 1

      Sorry, your right. I must've woken up with my "government-for-the-people" blinders on this morning and forgot about the encryption backdoor nonsense...

  30. Disrupting/Snooping on gnutella? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "If the current version of the USA Act becomes law, the RIAA believes, it could outlaw attempts by copyright holders to break into and disable pirate FTP or websites or peer-to-peer networks."

    I can imagine the RIAA doing stuff like putting disruptive nodes on the gnutella network. However since no would be losing any money could they get away with it?

    I had a suspection something was wrong last time I used bearshare, maybe my paranoia was justified :)

  31. ... by jlemmerer · · Score: 1

    hmmm this sounds like they do not prevent terrorism but they actively commit a terrorist action. does anybody know if this applies only to the us or if the want to hack anywhere, anytime?

    --
    ".Sig Stealer" was here
  32. Although it seems like a joke... by Noofus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...It might not be all too soon. With the anti-terrorism legislation that has screwed with our rights more than necessary, it seems that congress is willing to do all sorts of scary things in the name of public safety. This seems to be the beginning of a big-brother society. Would the RIAA have rights to randomly hack into any machine they suspect of having illegal MP3s? What would happen in a situation like mine where the only MP3s on my computer are the ones I have ripped from my own CDs to transfer to my rio? Would the RIAA claim they have the right to crack my security measures because they know there are MP3s on the computer, legal or not?

    This is insane....

  33. Already Legal? by slashkitty · · Score: 3, Interesting
    from wired:
    The RIAA believes that this kind of technological "self-help" against online pirates, if done carefully, is legal under current federal law. But the RIAA is worried about the USA Act banning that practice -- and neither the Senate nor the House versions of that bill include the RIAA's suggested changes.
    It would seem that they are only trying to prevent this bill from outlawing their hacking. Is there no law preventing their cracks right now? Are they already working on a system to break into everyone's computer? Have they already started it up?
    --
    -- these are only opinions and they might not be mine.
  34. He HOPES??? by BadDoggie · · Score: 2
    Peter Swire, a former top privacy official under President Clinton and now a professor at Ohio State University, says he hopes there would be public debate on any such proposal.

    He hopes for public debate? We already know there won't be.

    woof.

  35. How to get free lawsuit money.. by glowingspleen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 1: Download a few pirated mp3's

    Step 2: Leave your PC connected to file sharing programs until the RIAA finds your IP address

    Step 3: Allow RIAA MP3-Killer-Bot to delete your mp3's

    Step 4: Sue the RIAA, pointing out the fact that you actually had a Step 1.5, in which you renamed some of your personal documents as mp3's, named after your favorite bands. It's their fault for not checking the data inside the files first.

    Ta da.

    1. Re:How to get free lawsuit money.. by The_Unforgiven · · Score: 1

      I'm starting this tomorrow :)

      --
      http://wsulug.org
    2. Re:How to get free lawsuit money.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you don't think they will say...shy the heck did you rename your files to *.mp3. Hmm...I doubt anyone on the jury or the judge will ever think to open a *.mp3 file using word or excel. Dumb idea.

    3. Re:How to get free lawsuit money.. by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Remember to do it on an unpatched Win2k box running CR1 & 2 as well as Nimda... Don't want to make it _too_ hard for them. ;)

  36. Bring back current law by Si · · Score: 1

    What on earth did Glazier mean by that? If a law is current, how can it need bringing back?

    Isn't it about time the RIAA (MPAA, et al) just quietly went away? Can't they see they're not needed any more?

    --


    Why is it that many people who claim to support standards have such atrocious spelling and grammar?
  37. BSA? The Boy Scouts of America? by Root+Down · · Score: 4, Funny

    I knew there was something insidious about an organization that trains brownshirts in survival skills.

    1. Re:BSA? The Boy Scouts of America? by Lordrashmi · · Score: 1

      I believe he was referring to the "Business Software Association" rather then the Boy Scouts of America... Though I do agree that there is something disturbing about the boyscouts. Men taking young boys out into the middle of the woods doesn't sound right to me.

    2. Re:BSA? The Boy Scouts of America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe the Boy Scouts would want to hack into their troop leaders' hard drives to ensure that they're not "the savory types".

    3. Re:BSA? The Boy Scouts of America? by Tackhead · · Score: 2
      > Men taking young boys out into the middle of the woods doesn't sound right to me.

      Are you sure you're talking about the Boy Scouts of America and not the Business Software Association?

      I mean, have you ever seen them in the same place at once?

      I thought not.

      (Where do you think the BSA goons learn such aggression?)

  38. term paper analogy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    crack RIAA systems to make sure no one there is selling copies of your term paper
    So you can protect your revenue stream but they can't protect theirs, eh Timothy? :-p
  39. Personal firewall by CuriousGeorge113 · · Score: 1

    Wouldn't installing a personal firewall keep them out? Or, if you were behind a firewalled netowrk altogether. Kinda sucky for all those people just connected to cable/DSL modems without a clue in the world though.

    ~~~~~~

    --
    No man is an island, But if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie them together, they make a pretty good raft.
    1. Re:Personal firewall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forget that if the SSSCA is passed any firewall software without an RIAA backdoor is illegal because it would be a circumvention of copyright enforcement.
      Do not underestimate them. It's all part of a big master plan of which we only see small bits and pieces.

    2. Re:Personal firewall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They can have my firewall when they pry it from my cold dead hands.

  40. Let's get this passed! by egburr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For once, the RIAA may be doing something (unintentionally) good for us. Since the article didn't provide the actual proposal, I am assuming its description was farily accurate. To sum it up: anyone can hack into any system anywhere for any reason with complete immunitiy if they say they were doing so to check for suspected piracy of works for which they own the copyright. This sounds like a blank check for hackers.

    --

    Edward Burr
    Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
    1. Re:Let's get this passed! by daoine · · Score: 2, Insightful
      The actual text is linked off of the Wired article, I've posted one of the two suggested texts for the amendment.:

      No action may be brought under this subsection arising out of any impairment of the availability of data, a program, a system or information, resulting from measures taken by an owner of copyright in a work of authorship, or any person authorized by such owner to act on its behalf, that are intended to impede or prevent the infringement of copyright in such work by wire or electronic communication; provided that the use of the work that the owner is intending to impede or prevent is an infringing use.

      Which means, if you own the copyright to something, and you believe that someone is poaching said thing, you have a blank check under this law. They can't prosecute you for whatever you do, provided you can prove the intent was to prevent/impede distribution.

      But on the other hand, isn't intentionally breaking into someone's machine already illegal? How the hell would this amendment stand up as opposed to laws already in place?

    2. Re:Let's get this passed! by egburr · · Score: 2
      Oops. I missed that link when reading the first time. I see it now. Thanks.

      I guess the big question is, what are the current laws that supposedly already allow them to hack/crack into peoples computers to do this? This amendment is only intended to prevent the anti-terrorism legislation from making their current activity illegal. What are they doing now? How is it legal? Can we do the same back to them under the pretenses that we are making sure they haven't copied any of our copyrighted materials?

      --

      Edward Burr
      Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
  41. OPEN BSD firewall...... by bozo42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    .....let'm try me...

    --
    If you're not on somebody's shit list, you're not doing anything worthwhile.....
  42. Red Herring by nyjx · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The wired article says that ammendment ddin't get through. Interestingly (from the wired article): "We might try and block somebody," Glazier said. "If we know someone is operating a server, a pirated music facility, we could try to take measures to try and prevent them from uploading or transmitting pirated documents."

    It seems unlikely that hacking the individual machines would be the best solution for this (even if the law were to allow it). The cost would be very high. Much cheaper to do what they are now doing:

    • Leaning on ISPs to cut off "abusing" users (without comeback - see previous slashdot stories)
    • Suing the larger sites (napster obviously)
    • Trying to stifle decryption technology.
    In the long run these are likely to be 95% effective if the succeed. If their wording were to ever pass into law they would just be setting a dangerous precedent for anybody to go and explore somebody else's machine. I'm just off to RIAA's web site to "check" if they have a copy of my (copyrighted) memoires on the server...

    --
    .sig
    1. Re:Red Herring by Darth+Paul · · Score: 1
      "We might try and block somebody," Glazier said. "If we know someone is operating a server, a pirated music facility, we could try to take measures to try and prevent them from uploading or transmitting pirated documents."

      When you fire up a file sharing program, you are a server. That makes you fair game by that wording. It may not be cost effective to crush every end user, but scaring everybody is certainly a possibility.

      Find some college kid with rich parents and a couple gigs of mp3s, haul his ass into court, and make it a high profile case. Half the moms and pops FUD their kid into compliance.

  43. Not only that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    claim that the reason they were breaking into the FBI computer was to check that they didn't have any illegal copies of your MP3

    Not only that - write a virus/torjan/worm that does the eqivalent of "find / -name *.mp3 -exec rm {} ;" and you're completely free from prosecution.

  44. What about Commercial Interests? by AfterLord · · Score: 1

    I don't consider this very likely, say the computer they "suspected" had other intellectual property on such as commerical sourcecode, Business documents whatever. whats to stop these being deleted or viewed,of course it isn't very likely that the recording industry would manage to pull most computers with MP3's on are rarely sufficiently exploitable to allow file access (Save those windows user who share there C:\ to the world)

  45. Not Unreasonable by Bud+Dwyer · · Score: 0, Troll
    Imagine someone broke into your house and stole your stereo. Later, through your neighbor's window, you see your stereo. You try to reason with your neighbor (just as the RIAA has tried reason with music-thieving public), but to no avail. Would you not then be justified to break into your neighbors house and reclaim your property?


    I think this "Right to Hack" law is long overdue. In addition to copyright holders, I believe victims of libel and slander should also be able to legally use hacking to remedy their situations. The internet will be a lot more civilized when people realize they can no longer get away with anything.

    1. Re:Not Unreasonable by radja · · Score: 2

      > Imagine someone broke into your house and stole your stereo. Later, through your neighbor's window, you see your stereo. You try to reason with your neighbor (just as the RIAA has tried reason with music-thieving public), but to no avail. Would you not then be justified to break into your neighbors house and reclaim your property?

      So you break in and take the stereo. The neighbours told you it was their stereo.
      And when you get home, it turns out it wasn't your stereo, just the same model. However.. under this law it's legal...

      //rdj

      --

      No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
      --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
    2. Re:Not Unreasonable by Gizzmonic · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Imagine someone broke into your house and stole your stereo. Later, through your neighbor's window, you see your stereo. You try to reason with your neighbor (just as the RIAA has tried reason with music-thieving public), but to no avail. Would you not then be justified to break into your neighbors house and reclaim your property?

      Imagine that you were the only conduit for music for a number of years. Now let's imagine that you ignored customer requests for things like a-la-carte songs, custom mix CDs, and reasonably priced CDs.

      Now let's imagine that while you were out swimming in all your money, another distribution system-let's call it "the Internet"-emerges, offering your customers all those features that they begged you to include for years.

      Well, you know it won't be long before everyone jumps on this "new distribution" bandwagon, because it offers better communication and profits between artists and music consumers.

      So instead of embracing the technology, and competing in the marketplace, you decide to litigate your way back to monopoly.

      Is it any wonder that anyone who knows anything about music distribution hates the RIAA?

      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    3. Re:Not Unreasonable by mkoenecke · · Score: 1

      Speaking as a lawyer, the answer is NO. That is what we have a judicial system for. To extend your analogy, coincidentally enough your neighbor just happened to buy a stereo which was the exact make and model of yours. Under this RIAA proposal, you would be exempted from liability because you mistakenly *thought* it was your stereo. How stupid is that?

      A cardinal, and often inconvenient, principle of the law is that the difficulty, expense, and time involved in using proper channels to enforce one's rights does not justify using illegal means to do so.

      --
      TANSTAAFL
    4. Re:Not Unreasonable by tannhaus · · Score: 0

      Actually, you wouldn't. If you broke into your neighbor's house, you would be charged with a crime and your vigilanteism would land you in jail.

      This is not a country where it is legal to take the law into your own hands. If you do so, you belong in jail.

    5. Re:Not Unreasonable by Flower · · Score: 2
      You forgot step 2. You call the police and have them get your stereo back. This is the civilized way to handle things.

      The flaw in your analogy is if you break into your neighbor's house they have a right to defend themselves up to and including the possibility of killing you for trespassing on their property. Not to mention that you would be liable for any damage you did to their home.

      --
      I don't want knowledge. I want certainty. - Law, David Bowie
    6. Re:Not Unreasonable by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      No you moron, it's called breaking & entering. In the following scenerio you would try to reason with your neighbor, if that fails, you call the police. You DO have the serial #s from your sterio right? Of course the bad part to this is the cops will probably sieze the sterio for evidence, and you will have to wait for your homeowners insurance to kick in to get another one. Good luck getting ANYTHING back from the cops.

      Jaysyn

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    7. Re:Not Unreasonable by pentalive · · Score: 1

      Yeah.. and lets also say that other distribution guy is stealing your stuff and then selling it instead of getting his own.

      Rip music and use it yourself - ok

      Rip music and give it and the CD and all the
      copies you have to one other - ok

      Rip music and give it to others - theft

    8. Re:Not Unreasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I buy a CD, make mp3's for my portable mp3 player, and the RIAA deletes those mp3's from my computer. The just deleted something that was legally ok. I just made a copy for my own use!

      So its not the same situation as you discibe, unless your neighbour knows how to clone your stereo :-)

  46. A good development by pubjames · · Score: 5, Funny


    I think this is a great idea. People who copy music and distribute it on the internet are robbing artists of their rightful earnings. After all, the RIAA is really just a kind of charity that collects money for poor musicians.

    I think they should go further. They should allow the RIAA to break into people's houses to check that they don't have any music copies on cassette. If they do, the RIAA should be allowed to smash up their music system. And crap on their carpet.

    1. Re:A good development by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that crapping on the carpet was a nice touch, I nearly shot soda out of my nose!

    2. Re:A good development by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >If they do, the RIAA should be allowed to smash up their music system. And crap on their carpet.

      that happened to me yesterday, it was really annoying, that rug really tied the room together.

    3. Re:A good development by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go fuck yourself.

      Better yet, go fuck that lesbian bitch Rosen.

    4. Re:A good development by superdan2k · · Score: 1

      "But the rug just tied the room together, man." -- The Dude

      Oops. Copyright violation. MPAA's gonna jump on me for that one.

      --
      blog |
    5. Re:A good development by spektr · · Score: 1

      I think they should go further. They should allow the RIAA to break into people's houses to check that they don't have any music copies on cassette. If they do, the RIAA should be allowed to smash up their music system. And crap on their carpet.

      I hate postings like this. Today they may sound funny, but they tend to become federal law after a short incubation period. Don't spread those memes! Your thoughts can change the world.

    6. Re:A good development by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damn, you beat me to it.

  47. RIAA isnt losing money by night_flyer · · Score: 2

    Student cant afford to pay the money for a CD BUT wants the music (and has NO intention of spending any money even if he did... beer is more important), they have one of three choices...

    1) copy a friend's CD (unless friend doesnt have CD)
    2) download songs off of internet
    3) goes to the local store and steals it

    cases one and two the RIAA doenst lose money because the student wasnt going to buy it anyway
    case three, the store, the artist, the distributor, the Record Label and the RIAA lose money...

    --


    Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
    Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
    1. Re:RIAA isnt losing money by unitron · · Score: 2

      Case 3, the store has already paid the wholesale price for the CD so while the store loses money the artist, distributor, record label, and RIAA make just as much as they would have if the impoverished student had rolled a drunk and used the money to purchase the CD.

      --

      I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

    2. Re:RIAA isnt losing money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >cases one and two the RIAA doenst lose money because the student wasnt going to buy it anyway

      Actually, it doesn't matter who takes it. The RIAA doesn't lose money in cases one or two no matter who you are.

      You can't prove someone was going to buy the product unless you get a copy of a todo list with it written down. Or do the courts take inference as evidence now (wouldn't surprise me one bit)?

  48. I think that it's time.... by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

    I think it's time for an open source "revenge" type security system. They hack your system, and the system they are using takes MUCH damage. I don't know how feasible this would be, but if every time the stuck a hand out, they drew back a nub, they would probably change thier tune. Or but more laws...

    Jaysyn

    --
    There is a war going on for your mind.
    1. Re:I think that it's time.... by Ashcrow · · Score: 1

      Forward all your ports to the attacking system.

    2. Re:I think that it's time.... by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Hopefully they have a bunch of 'template' mp3s on their HDD, and are running any kind of Windows...

    3. Re:I think that it's time.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it is time for the open source movement to follow the RIAA. They need to make sure that companies like MS is not putting in GNU code into the commerical products. Now RIAA paved the way.

  49. What are we worried about? by Rob.Mathers · · Score: 1

    Although i don't know how they would implement this, I imagine that even the most basic firewalls (ZoneAlarm for Windows, or firewalls in most Distros for *nix) would stop the RIAA. Unless, of course, dubya's cronies want to put backdoors into those as well...

    --

    My other sig is funny!
  50. Did n't you hear? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is no debate in this environment, "You're either with us or with the terrorists". People are afraid of descent incase it makes them look like they are with the terrorists.

    Why do you think everyone with the opertunatey of half an ulteriour motive is trying to get their amendment stuffed into a law being passed?

  51. Yikes!! by ZeLonewolf · · Score: 1

    The RIAA, a private organization now wants to be judge, jury, and executioner...and this is not to mention guerilla warrior. This is a truly outrageous proposition, and it shows who is REALLY acting the part of a terrorist.

    --
    "If at first you don't succeed, lower your standards."
  52. Stolen vs Legal MP3s? by Root+Down · · Score: 2

    It is legal to create MP3s of music you own. How is it possible to determine which are legal and which are illegal, given only a list of files on your computer? Do they have a catalogue of the CDs I own?

    1. Re:Stolen vs Legal MP3s? by rknop · · Score: 2

      It is legal to create MP3s of music you own. How is it possible to determine which are legal and which are illegal, given only a list of files on your computer? Do they have a catalogue of the CDs I own?

      The RIAA does not want you to be able to create MP3s of music you own. They'd rather you get them from an officially approved source after you have your CD, or (even better) pay more to get the songs in formats other than the CD. With things like anti-circumvention laws, pretty soon the only MP3s of CDs possible will be ones that, even if they can exist legally, will have required an illegal activity to create.

      It's plain that the RIAA doesn't want you making digial copies, even for your own use, of CDs you own: that's why un-rippable CDs are starting to come out.

      Fair use practises allow you to make MP3s or Vorbises of CDs you own, as long as they are for your own use. But it's a whole lot easier for the RIAA to outlaw this indirectly than to directly assault fair use. Hence, they come up with laws that, while not outlawing fair use, outlaw the things which allow you to execrcise fair use. E.g. the DMCA. A useless law, unless your goal is to restrict legal activity. Copyright violation was already illegal, and the DMCA just makes the act of doing it illegal in another way. It also makes the act of exercising fair use rights under certain circumstances illegal. It gives the RIAA two things. First, another way to go after copyright violaters; you might argue that there is some purpose to this. (It's analogous to going after Al Capone for tax violation.) Two, it lets them bang on people exercising fair use, so that hopefully those people will start paying for additional copies of things they own.

      -Rob

  53. Consequential Damages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They protect themselves from this with their "Conseqential Damages" clause. Heck, they could destroy your computer, accidentially cause it to over heat, catch fire, burn down your house, entire block, and whole town and not be responsible because this would be considered "consiquential damage" from their actions.

    1. Re:Consequential Damages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course if you make an mp3 that means you can do the same to them. They probably downloaded it and then renamed it just to fool people like you, so a quick format c: on all their servers should get rid of the infringing mp3. :)

    2. Re:Consequential Damages by bluGill · · Score: 2

      You are paritally right. However courts do tend to frown on that type of thing. I wouldn't be surprized if concequential damanges don't apply because they did not verify the .mp3 file really was a song they owned rights to. That is before they can delete a file "latest_britney.mp3" they need to download it and listen to it (or do a byte comparition with something known to be an accual britney song. Otherwise it isn't concequential damages it is thier own neglect.

      Concequential damages would be using a backdoor to windows that on (other os like linux) causes your harddrive to be formated, but once they know that the backdoor has otherresults on a different OS they will then be at fault for any harddrive formated.

    3. Re:Consequential Damages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Okay, then create a honey pot, that when intruded upon by the RIAA, erases everything on the disk. Then make it write /dev/urandom to it about 20 times for the hell of it. Claim you had some very important financial (not to mention irrecoverable data on it). Make sure you have all the cds for the music on the honeypot, and state that you were using it as a personal jukebox. Then, goto the media about it, and file as many suits as possible.

      That would make the RIAA look pretty bad, and there would be virtually no way for them to prove that they just got fucked in the ass by a (intelligent and cunning) horse.

  54. April fool or juridical bug bite ? by mirko · · Score: 2
    • I write all of my MP3 on CDRs so that I can listen too it on my Expanium while biking, guess it'll take them a long time to just realise my laptop is not the right place to search
    • broomstick, is temporarily under Linux (I am developping somethin else)...Hope they can just "see" it if they want to hack it
    • the MP3 I collect are the digital versions of songs I buy as second-hand LP's so they might find it even harder to prove that I infringed their shit
    • Last but not least: when I don't listen too these good'ole times songs, I listen to GNUArt GPL'ed music which makes it definitely a bad day for their "hackers".
    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  55. It makes me sick! by mir · · Score: 1

    Frankly, I oppose the recent anti-terrorism bills has caving in to terrorists, but in any case in understand their intent and I understand why people would want them. After a terrible disaster law-makers are trying to find a way to protect the American people against more attacks. I can argue with the means, but not with the end.
    But that companies would take advantage of this effort to try to sneak in amendments that would help them "protect their revenue flow" just makes me sick! Don't this people have any decency? Or moral sense? Or anything that would prevent them from using the death of thousands of people to try to curb the laws in their favor?

    --
    Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em. (Terry Pratchett)
    1. Re:It makes me sick! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they don't...

  56. How this could work. by squaretorus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This could work in a couple of easy ways, if assume the world runs Win.

    Simply release a great free sound player that incorporates some drice and network sweeping functions "to make it easier to find the music you want to play".

    If an M3 is found the software can do one of two things;
    1 Delete it, but keeping a copy within some HUGE archive file so the user can still play it but not copy or share it
    2 Resave the file with your name, address, etc embedded.

    Now if you share the file your info is going along with it. If the software finds a file with someone elses details, it gets deleted from your PC.

    Keep the files playable so people dont go back to the old copy of REAL on a cover CD somewhere to get their old files back (as if 90% of users would know how).

    That'd do it, quietly, like the way copy protection on CDs just slipped onto the market. They dont have to hack you - they just give you free software a la MS-IE

    1. Re:How this could work. by Kanon · · Score: 1

      They wouldn't even have to write their own. Just buy Winamp from AOL, modify it a little and bamn they have a large, mostly clueless userbase under their control

  57. So... what IS terrorism? by eldurbarn · · Score: 2
    RIAA wants to be able to enforce the law. They want to be able to take the law into their own hands. They want to be able to strike against targets of their own choosing.


    Terrorists have their own agenda, too, and want to strike against targets of their own choosing, taking the law into their own hands.


    RIAA wants to be able to act like a terrorist, yet be protected from the anti-terrorist laws.


    Egad!

    --
    -Eldurbarn
  58. did anyone actually read the proposed amendment? by jerrytcow · · Score: 5, Informative

    it says nothing about hacking into comuters and deleting files. Wired no doubtedly knows this, but they also know this headline will get them several thousand hits today
    Here's the full text (emphasis mine):

    'No action may be brought under this subsection arising out of any impairment of the availability of data, a program, a system or information, resulting from measures taken by an owner of copyright in a work of authorship, or any person authorized by such owner to act on its behalf, that are reasonably intended to impede or prevent the unauthorized transmission of such work by wire or electronic communication of such transmission would infringe the rights of the copyright owner.''

    It looks like they are trying to come up with a way to detect if mp3s are being transmitted, and block it.

  59. Dangerous to respond/ by joshtimmons · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I worry about this scenario:

    1. RIAA starts portscanning my box, testing buffer overflow exploits, etc. in an attempt to get into my system.
    2. I notice the suspicious activity, but don't know who it is.
    3. I decide to figure out what's going on by scanning the originator and applying other various security tools. This could be anything, but if someone is trying to get in and I don't know who it is, I'm going to be tempted to respond in some way to stop the attack.
    4. I get convicted of a felony (in many states) or terrorism (hasn't passed yet) for trying to hack into the RIAA's system.
    5. They don't even get a slap on the wrist because it's legal for them.

    My point is that it puts knowledgable people in a very risky position because they don't know who is attacking their PC and would naturally try to respond.

  60. They claim they already have the right... by Masem · · Score: 5, Informative
    first, READ THE ARTICLE.

    RIAA already claims that they have the right to hack your box if there is sufficient evidence (for them) that you are engaging in illegal distribution of their copyrighted material. Any 'incidental' damage to your computer outside of their copyrighted material was just side effects and not their fault, according to how their read the law.

    The rub here is that in the recently passed USA bill, any act of hacking that incures more than $5k of damages could be concidered as a terrorist act, and thus, if RIAA were to accidently wipe your hard drive with their hacking attempts, that could be a terrorist act.

    So RIAA was trying to get language added to the USA bill that would protect hacking done by copyright owners from being considered a terrorist threat, allowing them to continuing following the law as they believe they can already.

    Apparently, if they've done this, no one has sued them, traced them, or otherwise indicated that their mp3's have suddenly disappeared. As it stands, I think it's a rather questionable application of the law and I wonder if further legal investigation of it should be done.

    --
    "Pinky, you've left the lens cap of your mind on again." - P&TB
    "I can see my house from here!" - ST:
  61. RIAA recieved NO money from me this weekend by night_flyer · · Score: 2

    bought 12 CDs at a pawnshop for 3.00 each, pawnshop made 12.00 on the deal, RIAA recieved NOTHING!

    oh and it was some good stuff to...

    ACDC, thick upper lip
    ACDC, Dirty Deads
    Led Zepplin, Presence
    Megadeth, Peace sells
    Megadeth, Risk
    Days Of The New, Yellow Album
    and a bunch more...

    --


    Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
    Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
  62. Now on a more serious note... by TheMMaster · · Score: 1

    I?ve just read this article and to my disgust this looks very real. I do get the feeling that there is something very wrong with these ant-terrorist bills. It seems to me that they are abusing the situation somewhat to ?sneak in? other little rules that some people wanted a long time.
    I quote ?If the current version of the USA Act becomes law, the RIAA believes, it could outlaw attempts by copyright holders to break into and disable pirate FTP or websites or peer-to-peer networks.?
    I am sorry but isn?t that outlawed already? I really think the RIAA is going to far this time, because IMHO they are abusing the situation to legalize something that?s illegal already!!
    Plus what if they succeed? And they do actually delete all files on your hard drive (as pointed out in the article) where can you go and claim your money?? Who can you sue? You probably can?t prove that there was 10 years of work on your hard drive, as they can?t prove that you had those ?offending? MP3?s on your system? this has the potential of becoming a BIG mess

    --
    Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
  63. Some things they could do... by scumio · · Score: 1

    They might be able to use this to get more music, too. Say some user had MP3's of music they wrote, sitting on their hard drive, as yet un-copyrighted. Instead of the RIAA going and deleting all mp3's on the machines, they go in and grab them to check and make sure they are 'legal'. They grab this guys' stuff and copyright it for one of their own artists. bam, the guy just lost a bunch of music he had written, and even if he RE-wrote it, he couldn't copyright it now. That's bunk.

    1. Re:Some things they could do... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you already wrote it, isn't it already automatically copyrighted? Although if the RIAA does try that, you'd need some good evidence that you wrote it before them.

    2. Re:Some things they could do... by 10100101 · · Score: 0

      Everything that is created is copyrighted by default.

  64. RIAA, sociopathy, and lobotomies by Marasmus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There is no such thing as 'the right thing to do' when it comes to the RIAA.

    the "we claim to denounse the 'vigilante' actions of music piraters, but we are trying to become legally-protected vigilantes" hypocricy is, well, baffling. I don't think that any sane body of people could come up with anything as fundamentally and legally wrong. The RIAA just makes itself out to be a body of mentally-imbalanced sociopaths.

    How far does the RIAA plan to take this? The mention of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is not only symbolically but literally relevant. Will the RIAA start burning books because we could translate the music into multiple sinusoidal equations and print it on paper? Are they going to get 'expert witnesses' to testify that the human brain never loses any data which it receives, and thus the human brain itself is a physical medium of piracy? Will they then lobotomize me to get their song back?

    Of course this is an exaggeration... however, it is more possible today than it was yesterday.

    --
    .... um, i lost you after "0110100001101001".
    1. Re:RIAA, sociopathy, and lobotomies by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      the "we claim to denounse the 'vigilante' actions of music piraters, but we are trying to become legally-protected vigilantes" hypocricy is, well, baffling.

      The RIAA is just trying to become another arm of the government. Remember that technically, the IRS should be an illegal entity, but when was the last time the government (or anyone else) took that claim seriously? If you don't pay your taxes, they can [and will, if you owe enough] put you in a federal prison.

      Our government is now and has always been for sale. They do tend to require that you be a US Citizen to buy them, though, so that's something.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:RIAA, sociopathy, and lobotomies by EulerX07 · · Score: 1

      Will the RIAA start burning books because we could translate the music into multiple sinusoidal equations and print it on paper?

      They're already on the right track with their repeated attacks on tab sites and OLGA in particular. Not only do they would they like to ban the knowledge to compress and share their music, they would ban the knowledge of how to play it on your own instrument.

    3. Re:RIAA, sociopathy, and lobotomies by Tackhead · · Score: 2
      > There is no such thing as 'the right thing to do' when it comes to the RIAA.

      "Disband them. Preferably by throwing their leaders in jail to send a message to anyone who would take their place."

      Anyone got a better idea?

  65. Good luck by dudle · · Score: 2
    $ ls -l ~/mp3
    Permission denied

    I don't own the directory. Good luck :P

    --
    Looking for a great online backup: Green Backup
  66. WORM Media at its finest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just write to a CD-R.

    Of course this brings up the problem of shuffling CDs, but just imagine the frustrations you would bring to such an evil affiliation.

  67. they're on crack by Velex · · Score: 1

    When it comes right down to it, my mp3s are on a 60 gB reiserfs drive that doesn't even have a partition table (mkreiserfs /dev/hdd). There's no way they're getting though my mad ipchains and iptables and whatnot. When it comes right down to it, this is just helping Micro$oft shoot themselves in the foot with XP's weirdness, and it's not affecting those of us who are smart enough to switch over to GNU. To make a long story short, they're on crack if they think they have any enforcement here.

    --
    Join the Slashcott! Stay away entirely Feb 10 thru Feb 17! Close all tabs to prevent autorefresh!
  68. My own watermark? by imrdkl · · Score: 1

    This makes a case for a person to encrypt their own MP3s. I wonder if that is legal... seriously. I'd also like to be able to leave my MP3 collection on a machine at work, but not have everyone listening to my music, or passing around my hard-earned MP3s. (I actually bought all of my CDs, and didn't get into the napster thing soon enough)

  69. bring it on... by Hooya · · Score: 1

    if this is true...
    i've prsonally boycotted all CDs, DVDs etc. and just listen to the 'scan' channel on my car radio and NPR at home.

    but if this is true, i'm going to be downloading a shit load of mp3s. i would like to see how the F**k they hack into my computer. if this is really true, i'm awed at the cluelessness of corporate lawyers. just because they heard that some people got into (hacked into) some unsecure servers, they seem to think that one can hack into computers regardless of the fact that they might not be running any services (servers). I for one, am behind a firewall and would really like to see one of them bozos get into my computer. if they do, i will go and buy 10 CDs as a sign of respect for them.

  70. Congress didn't bite, but in the meanwhile . . . by werdna · · Score: 3, Interesting

    . . . we are now in a position to turn the tabled on RIAA, using the USAA's overreaching revision of civil remedies for hacking.

    Perhaps it is time to set up some serious MP3-baited honeypots, and just wait for RIAA to bury themselves?

    I can think of nothing more useful to turn the tables on RIAA's currently pristine image in Congress (or at least to get Congress to re-think their ludicrous rewiring of criminal computer laws), than to show the unintended consequences of massive remedies for improper hacking.

  71. even if true, its US only. We still have the rest! by humps · · Score: 1

    Ok, even if that is true, they can't enforce it in Europe or Asia. Non-US hackers will have ALL their freedom to develop a quick patch (if not counter attacking) for you poor US people.

    Distribute in a virus form and no one can stop you from downloading a patch.

    peace!

    humps

  72. Sounds like a perfect job. by Xenopax · · Score: 1

    If you work for the RIAA as a hacker you will now have an unlimited resource for pirating mp3s.

  73. Let them Try by Solidblu · · Score: 1

    Because we all know that most of the illegal MP3's are in colleges which are now mostly private ips with firewalls. Those that aren't just see how many people you can get to DoS the RIAA back. I doubt that the MP3's they do delete will be anything more than 3 idiots using Microsoft file sharing

  74. Holy Shit! by CyberPhunk · · Score: 1

    I'm glad that this didn't pass, but how long do we have until a similar one IS passed? I don't mean just the RIAA, NO private corporation should have rights to just hack a system. Heck, not even a government should!

    I would be mighty pissed to find that all of my 3300 songs, which I can prove as being legal any day, were erased one unsuspecting day. Even though I do security work and generally make sure my machines are pretty damn secure, I would still be very, very upset if I kept getting port scans from the RIAA, especially since I would have no legal action to take against them. Never mind that I'd probably get into a lot of trouble if I tried to retaliate!

    I know there are a lot of artists out there that are less than pleased with the RIAA, but I wonder how many of them know exactly how far the RIAA is willing to go in order to (supposedly) protect their own private interests while using the artist's rights as an excuse? I'm waiting for the artists to become more vocal on this, but I suppose that won't happen anytime too soon...

    As much as I love my country (U.S.A.), these sorts of things make me wonder if the protesting Arabs don't have atleast a small hint of truth when they say they will fight against the evil capitalists.

  75. I am a copyright owner by jmv · · Score: 2

    I hold the copyright for a couple (mostly GPL) programs. Am I allowed to hack into the RIAA machines so I can verify they're not violating the GPL? That would be interesting. For some time there's been rumors of MS using GPL'ed code in Windows, I guess we can verify that now!

    Thinking about it, I'm not sure even the RIAA wants that kind of laws...

    1. Re:I am a copyright owner by Voidhobo · · Score: 1

      ...yes, but a copyright owner that isn't backed by a multi-billion dollar industry.

  76. Yeah, you go right ahead, RIAA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd sure like to see the look on those guys' faces when they try to delete MP3s off of my CD-Rs...

  77. Ultimate Honeypot by Kenny+Austin · · Score: 1

    Someone could just put out a bunch of fake MP3 filenames without actually allowing anyone to download them (to verify content) and wait for the RIAA. They hack in, sue them. It wasn't copyrighted material thus they didn't have the right.

    Are just wait until the next version of BO-XP, now the Cult of the Dead Cow (or whoever makes it) passes the ability to enforce it's ultra strict copyright enforcement on to whoever wants it... Heck, why not just email your target a copy of your cool 30 day trial software. If it starts up on day 31, it emails you with ips so that you can uninstall it.

    Kenny

    1. Re:Ultimate Honeypot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seeing how even the Cult of the Dead Cow now works for a corporate entity, you forget who they owe their allegiance to.

    2. Re:Ultimate Honeypot by mpe · · Score: 2

      Someone could just put out a bunch of fake MP3 filenames without actually allowing anyone to download them (to verify content) and wait for the RIAA. They hack in, sue them. It wasn't copyrighted material thus they didn't have the right.

      Except that in such a case it was copyright material. Only problem is could you bring the full force of the DMCA down on them?

  78. Zip em up or burn them to CDs by night_flyer · · Score: 2

    OR use .ogg (I havent messed with it yet as I use options 1&2)

    kinda hard deleting/finding mp3s when they are names DP_SOTW.zip (Deep Purple, smoke on the water)

    --


    Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
    Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
    1. Re:Zip em up or burn them to CDs by scrytch · · Score: 2

      kinda hard deleting/finding mp3s when they are names DP_SOTW.zip

      Congratulations, for that particular file you just destroyed the usefulness of Morpheus and every system like it, thus doing most of the RIAA's work for them.

      --
      I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
    2. Re:Zip em up or burn them to CDs by night_flyer · · Score: 2

      except it isnt on Morpheus, thats what I named it on MY machine

      --


      Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
      Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
  79. Consequential Damages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They protect themselves from this with their "consequential damage" clause. With that clause they could corrput your hdd, over heat your computer causing it to catch fire, burn your house down as a result, causing your burning house to burn down your neighborhood and spread to the entire town; and not be one bit legally responsible. Because all of this started by them accidentially screwing up your system when they were exercising their "legal" right, they would be exempt from any liablity.

  80. How will they know... by Voidhobo · · Score: 1

    What I'm wondering... if this gets through (let us pray que non), how they can be entirely sure they have "jurisdiction" to hack a machine. Maybe I'm just too illiterate as far as Internet infrastructure is concerned, but is it possible to be 100% positive where a machine you are hacking is located, whether it's in the U.S., three minutes into Canada or Mexico, in Costa Rica, in Iceland, in Bhutan...? Or is this y.a. U.S. law with effect on the whole world?

  81. Nope, its called pure capitalism. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Meaning money is more important than life.

  82. MP3 Honeypot... by Garion911 · · Score: 1

    Gee.. How simple would it be to write/modify an MP3 honeypot and make them think that they are winning the way? We keep our MP3's, they publish/market the fact that they're deleting MP3's from the "hackers", everyone is happy.

    --
    Slashdot is like Playboy: I read it for the articles
    1. Re:MP3 Honeypot... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can see it now.

      ...sometime in the future....

      /. article titled:
      The RIAA reports that they have found the motherlode of pirate MP3's.

      The RIAA today reported that they have found a huge cache of pirated MP3 files. "We found MP3 files for artist in our catalog that never sold a CD" said Joe Bob Haxor chief of RIAA anti-piracy operations.

      "We now believe that one person going by the name of 31337 hax0r is responsible for 99.99% of all pirated MP3's in the world." stated Joe. Joe also said that they have been working non-stop for 4 weeks to delete the pirated MP3's and have only hit about .05% based on the shear size of the cache.

  83. My copyrighted materials by yawhcihw · · Score: 1

    I have some copyrighted materials that just happen to have names like oh, explorer.exe and win32spl.dll Now, these have nothing to do with windows at all, they're just "hello world" programs. does this mean that I can delete these off RIAA servers because they have something that has the same name as one of my copyrighted materials?

    what if I have a band called M3tallica (not likely) and distribute mp3s freely from our concerts....do they have a right to delete files with that name off other people's computers, just because my band's name is close to that of a large, copyright-nuts band?

    damn RIAA wants us in 1984.

    1. Re:My copyrighted materials by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IANAL, but yes, I think you could legally do that. Of course the RIAA would then prosecute you, and they'd destroy you with lawyer fees, even if they ultimately lose the lawsuit.

  84. riaa IS a terrorist organization by Rai · · Score: 1

    now, let's go to war against them.

  85. VERY Unreasonable by schon · · Score: 2

    Imagine someone broke into your house and stole your stereo. Later, through your neighbor's window, you see your stereo. You try to reason with your neighbor, but to no avail. Would you not then be justified to break into your neighbors house and reclaim your property?

    No, you wouldn't.

    You would (quite rightly) be hauled off to jail for break-and-enter, as well as theft.

    The correct thing to do in your scenario would be to tell the police what you know, and allow THEM to get your stereo (after obtaining a search warrant.)

    Just because someone stole from you, doesn't give you the right to steal.

    1. Re:VERY Unreasonable by hearingaid · · Score: 2

      Actually, it depends on your jurisdiction. The original poster was describing a self-help remedy.

      You wouldn't be prosecuted for theft, BTW. You can't steal things you own. This is true in any common-law jurisdiction.

      Normally, you wouldn't be prosecuted for break and enter either. Break and enter is usually a predicate offense: you are prosecuted with committing a B&E if you do it with the intent to commit a felony (or an indictable offense, or whatever the term is). Since you weren't breaking in to commit a felony (taking possession of your property is legal), then you would normally not be prosecuted.

      You might be prosecuted for trespass, though. This would vary by jurisdiction, a lot. Also, you might be sued if you negligently damaged the property of the thief, for example by breaking the door down. You'd have a pretty good partial defense to that though in most jurisdictions, and would probably not be liable for the full extent of the damages.

      That said, the police are generally more effective than self-help remedies. But they're not always illegal.

      --

      my old sig used to be funny, but then slashcode ate it and now it's not funny anymore

  86. How can this be? by Hank+the+Lion · · Score: 1

    Why does the RIAA need an exception to a TERRORIST law? It seems to me that (illegal, without a warrant) searching for copyright infringement has nothing to do with terrorism. If the law they want to amend sees this as terrorism, then we don't need an amendment for just the copyright-related breakins, but for all breakins that are obviously not terrorism-related. Let this law be restricted to terrorism, instead of calling all computer-crime terrorism.

    1. Re:How can this be? by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 2

      Why does the RIAA need an exception to a TERRORIST law?

      Obviously, the RIAA is admitting that they use terrorist tactics!

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  87. I want some of whatever they are smoking by ilsa · · Score: 1
    Alrighty, I will grant that the 4th Amendment does not say anything about non-governmental searches and seizures. That being said there are a number of hurdles they need to jump, both legal and technological.

    A new law could of course circumvent old anti-hack/crack laws, and being Federal it would trump any state laws. However, the RIAA cannot get something made into international law. So legal problem 1 leads to tech problem 1, making sure your target is actually in the US.

    That being said I don't think such theoretical law would survive it's first test case. All that has to happen is some judge's mp3 collection vanishes....

    Another tech problem is the fact that even Joe Average is seeing the need for firewalls. Granted, most folks are not equiped to launch counter hax0ring, but if enough calls about offensive IPs go to the ISP something might happen.

    And how exactly are they going to tell the difference between legit and pirated mp3s? For that matter if someone were to burn thier mp3 collection to a CD, how do they think they will erase that remotely?

    Now these are just the obvious things that have occured to me in 10 minutes while only barely awake. I sincerely hope that the voice of reason will be heard. In the meantime I'd like to announce publically to the RIAA that to the best of my knowledge I have *zero* illegal mp3s. I've only bought one CD this year because modern music sucks, not because of file sharing.

    --
    -- I Am Not A Terrorist.
    1. Re:I want some of whatever they are smoking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Alrighty, I will grant that the 4th Amendment does not say anything about non-governmental searches and seizures.

      Exactly. Some time ago, the politicians realised that they could circumvent the 4th Amendment (among various other rights guaranteed by the Constitution) through a third party. The third party, of course, would owe their existence to the politicians who pass laws ensuring their welfare.

    2. Re:I want some of whatever they are smoking by mpe · · Score: 2

      A new law could of course circumvent old anti-hack/crack laws, and being Federal it would trump any state laws.

      Except that this would appear to violate the 14th ammendment. Since it's creating a law which applies to only one group of "people". Which IIRC explicitally states that any such laws must be ignored.

    3. Re:I want some of whatever they are smoking by mpe · · Score: 2

      Exactly. Some time ago, the politicians realised that they could circumvent the 4th Amendment (among various other rights guaranteed by the Constitution) through a third party.

      Interesting that they need to jump through hoops with one part of the US constitution. But other parts e.g. IP clause, 10th and 14th ammendments are simply ignored.
      Does this represent which parts of the US constitution the average US citizen even knows exist...

  88. One more reason to keep a good set of backups... by Delgul · · Score: 1

    A good set of backups may be helpful here...

    And while you're at it, load the CD/CDRW/DVD/DVDRW with the backed-up mp3's in your read-only player, mount it and let them try to delete THAT from your PC :-)

  89. Slashdot Is Spreading FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read the article. The RIAA has a legitimate case (and I by no means support this fascist organization) for wanting this law- to allow themselves to go after mp3 pirates as they have been. Slashdot only focused on the speculations of things the RIAA "could" do. Try and report the facts a little more clearly next time. I don't like the RIAA any more than anyone else here but I like to think that Slashdot gives me a fairly accurate and unbiased account of a story...
    -sean
    ss007@yahoo.com

    1. Re:Slashdot Is Spreading FUD by mpe · · Score: 2

      The RIAA has a legitimate case (and I by no means support this fascist organization) for wanting this law- to allow themselves to go after mp3 pirates

      Why should they be given special powers (which is is against the US constitution in the first place) to do this?

  90. bork bork brok by DoorFrame · · Score: 2

    har har har

    bork bork bork

  91. My turn? by hhe_hee · · Score: 2

    Hey does that mean I can commit a burglary at RIIA, just to get back some of that money that went to them when I bought records. But of course, only for those records I found cheaper in another store.

    Is it ok?
    It's the same thing? Really?
    great, let me just go get my crowbar...

    --
    2 reptiles beneath your current threshold.
  92. Is Unreasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where you may be morally justified in breaking into your neighbors house to get your stereo back, you're not legally entitled to do so. You would be better off going through the proper authorities, just as the RIAA should do, instead of trying to get their digital vigilante justice law passed.

    Just imagine if people were also allowed to hack systems when they believe they were being slandered. Many people do not understand the libel and slander laws, and many people would have their 1st amendment rights taken away by these vigilantes.

    This law will create a "Wild West" style of "justice" on the Internet. So much for due process.

  93. I say... by bruns · · Score: 1

    I say bring it on.

    If they think they can hack my firewall, let them try. If I catch them, they better be ready to have their firewall (if they even have one) put to the test.

    --
    Brielle
  94. Airlines? WTC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Perhaps the terrorists could've hit the RIAA offices instead.

  95. For all of us outside US by tomcio.s · · Score: 1

    BTW how would they know if your IP originated in the States?
    I mean RIIA doesn't have any jurisdiction over many countries, so how would they know where to hack...
    Just a thought.

  96. already done here by Rai · · Score: 2, Insightful

    i stopped supported them about a year ago. i quit buying industry cds altogether and gave what i already had away--no joke! (minus a few that had been autographed.) now, the only music i buy is from independent bands, producers, and djs.

    and i really wish rosen + crew would read this: i will never buy another cd or any other music product from any company that is affliated with riaa in anyway. you have crossed the line numerous times and there is no way in hell you'll ever get another penny of my money. let me put it this way: if jesus christ appeared before me and gave me the choice of buying a cd from you or going to hell--i'm choosing hell. fuck you!

    1. Re:already done here by Anonymous+Koward · · Score: 1

      Perhaps we're the minority (you know...the one's that put their money where their mouth is :) but I stopped a few years back myself. I still go out to movies once in a while (yes, between all the Ben Affleck and teeny bopper Blair Witch crap there are actually a few good movies still coming out of Hollyweird), but I go to the twilight show because it's cheaper, and the theatre is making a killing off of selling me popcorn and nachos already :) As for music, I have been using Digital Music through @home, and though not great it does fine for me (music is mainly background noise anyway).

  97. Spyware? by yoshi_mon · · Score: 1

    Since the gist of this post seem to be that the RIAA allready feels it has the right to hack at peoples box's, might this be a sign that they are allready useing spyware to collect information about the number of MP3's out there?

    Once they have a large enough set of data on hand to prove that we all just a bunch of dirty music pirates that don't even deserve the music they force upon us via control of the media and record labels, they will be able to mount a campaign that will make it acceptable for them to wipe our hard drives.

    --

    Really, I know what I'm doing...Ohhhh, look at the shiny buttons!
    1. Re:Spyware? by GlassUser · · Score: 1

      What do you mean gist? How can people so quickly forget the RealNetworks spyware issue?

  98. Thought on situation by VEGETA_GT · · Score: 1

    Ok, now all of a sudden cracking (hacking is a little diffrent) may become legal for the already currept mega corps. But all you hackers will be brought to prisen if you hack a system. My honest opinion is that is they crack my system, then I have the right to crack there. Say my system is also used for bisness, they crack it and down goes bissness doc's. But hey since they are alowed to crack you, then they hold no blame.

    Also, is that passess in the states, , since I am canadian, they should still not have the right to do it here, unless canadian corts / gov pass it. So then if they hack me, but there hacking laws do not apply up here, then, hey it will be a fun cort case to watch.

    so as everyone here beleaves, this is just another way for the RIAA to make a ass of itself in this world. But hey look at the bright sid, atleast RIAA and Microsoft are not merging to become even bigger >:)=

    my 2 cents plus 2 moe

  99. Re:even if true, its US only. We still have the re by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Um, no. You forget the power that the US wields in handling countries who "violate" US copyrights and such (search slashdot for references to Scientology+Sweden). Just the fact that whole countries will bend-over backwards to keep trade with the US shows that no country can exist without US influence short of being marked as hostile by the US government.

  100. Re:did anyone actually read the proposed amendment by mkoenecke · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Wrong. Read it again. "Impairment of the availability of data, a program, a system or information" (translation: Damage done to your programs/OS/data) IS hacking. What the amendment really says is that if such damage is caused to your computer, if the RIAA REASONABLY INTENDED to prevent the "unauthorized transmission" of copyrighted work (translation: if they thought you might be sharing MP3's), they cannot be held liable for the damages. Sure, they're trying to block transmissions. The problem is that the amendment says that they may do so with impunity; any damage they cause while attempting to do so, *whether or not justified* (only has to be "reasonable" intent) is *your* problem.

    --
    TANSTAAFL
  101. Re:Congress didn't bite, but in the meanwhile . . by drsoran · · Score: 1

    Just come up with a nice program to randomize data into various sizes between 3 and 6 megs and name them after popular songs for your honeypot. How foolish would they look when you can prove they broke into your system and deleted data that wasn't even their copyrighted content?

  102. once again, slashdot misreporting at its best. by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 2, Informative

    The article states explicitly that the RIAA is no longer trying to get those hacking provisions made into laws. Sorry, guys. Read the article next time before you post this bullshit.

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  103. On that note... by dave-fu · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...as long as you have less than 300 CDs up on your theoretical FTP site, you're doing less than $5000 in damage to the RIAA's bottom line.
    Problem solved.

    --
    Easy does it!
    This comment has been submitted already, 276865 hours , 59 minutes ago. No need to try again.
    1. Re:On that note... by Flower · · Score: 4, Informative
      How do you figure that?

      I put one mp3 file on the ftp server and they can say that every download constitutes a lost sale on the CD which has that song. Pricing a CD at $20 that is 250 downloads.

      You really need to learn the New Math companies use to determine on-line damage.

      --
      I don't want knowledge. I want certainty. - Law, David Bowie
    2. Re:On that note... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the damage they incur on you when they rm -rf *.mp3 your mp3 archive

  104. What about my own work!! by Java+Pimp · · Score: 1

    I doubt they would be very discriminating if they were actually able to do this. Besides the fact that I rip my own CD's, I play in a band and we do our recording using free ProTools and other programs. Not that I would be stupid enough to not back up my work but wouldn't something like this enable them to leave a trojan behind that just goes around deleting mp3s. I doubt they would actually check every mp3 for some fingerprint that indicates it is copyrighted. If they went around and started to delete some of my shit, I think I'd get pretty pissed!

    Since we do our own recording, it doesn't cost us anything but our time. But it is a lot of time... I would value in excess of $5000. And would I be able to sue... Hell no. I don't have that kind of money laying around for lawyers...

    God, I'm scared now! Doesn't this constitue terrorism?

    --
    Ascalante: Your bride is over 3,000 years old.
    Kull: She told me she was 19!
  105. RIAA Licence to Hack & Destroy Indie Competiti by EngineOfCuriosity · · Score: 1

    As an independant artist I use P2P and FTP services to distribute my legitimate projects online.

    It would be unfair for my competition (RIAA) to hack my machine or services and destroy my files,IP and or hardrive, just as it would be unfair for Coke to hack, search and destroy Pepsi.

    It seems to me that they've brought out their low-life hired goon Mitch Glazier(the same guy who helped RIAA steal all the artists copyrights),to again be used for their dirtiest deeds.

  106. Let'em try..... by warpeightbot · · Score: 2
    Y'know what? Let'em TRY hacking MY computer. I mean, I figure some of you guys MIGHT POSSIBLY be able to convince a hardware router to do your bidding, but then you've got to figure out which box is really mine (hint: it's not the Windows boxen, those are my housemates'), and then you've got to take into account that I do in fact keep up with all the software updates and stuff... so there's not going to be any of this slack-ass admin hackability.....

    If they really care to go to all that trouble. But I doubt it. They're going to go after easy targets.

    --
    Some of us are fish.... and some of us are sharks.

    1. Re:Let'em try..... by scrytch · · Score: 2

      That's simple, next law they buy, it'll just be illegal to stop them.

      If I as a private citizen conducted a tenth of my business the way congress makes laws, I would be rotting in jail.

      --
      I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
    2. Re:Let'em try..... by warpeightbot · · Score: 1
      That's simple, next law they buy, it'll just be illegal to stop them.
      Yeahwell, hacking my ever-so-slightly-customized (and therefore © 2001 me among others) Apache and OpenSSH servers is a DMCA violation...

      Besides, what good does making it illegal to stop RIAA hackers do? I'll tell you what good it will do. It's a real good way to get RIAA and its members DDDOS'ed permanently.... because I guarantee you the first black hat that that discovers a RIAA hacker trying to 0wn his box is going to declare cyber-jihad...

      (user checks Netcraft on a lark and discovers something horrifyingly interesting)

      Oh, hell. www.riaa.com runs IIS on NT4. Now, sure, the representative sample of RIAA members run Netscapey things on Solaris.... but in the current state of affairs that organization running that webserver on that platform is the moral equivalent of walking butt naked into a bar full of half-drunk Marines and making disparaging remarks about Uncle Sam's Misguided Children and America in general. In short, asking, nay, begging to get clobbered.

      I hereby disclaim all responsibility for anything that happens to riaa.com henceforth; hell, I make it a point to not know how to do black hat kinds of things, just how to fix it so others can't do it to me. I just mentioned something that is a matter of public record.

      So what, you're telling me the next law they buy, after they make it illegal to stop them from hacking my box, and I go ahead and run Linux or BSD and a hardware firewall so they can't hack my box (at least, not with their misguided intellect), will be a law that says RIAA agents can bash down my door at 4am and take my computer? Yeah, right. That's a good way to get a few dead RIAA agents. How was I supposed to know it wasn't a terrorist invasion?

      Frankly, this whole RIAA b.s. is just a passive-agressive form of terrorism. I'm not saying we should tac-nuke RIAA HQ or anything... but I do firmly believe that it's time this racket (and that's what it is) was banished from American soil with the same fervor we're using on Osama. The musicians (and I know a few... I helped my favorite band schlepp their stuff Saturday night as my price of admission) don't fscking need it.

  107. A Steep hill to climb by Lew+Pitcher · · Score: 1

    The RIAA has a steep hill to climb with this initiative. Even if they get an amendment passed in the USA that permits them to hack computers, such a law won't / can't extend outside the boundaries of the USA.

    It will still be "Theft of Telecommunications" here in Canada, if they are caught hacking into a computer on Canadian soil. Although the bulk of the RIAA's concern is in the US, they have worldwide exposures and suits from non-US residents won't be nice for them.

    I would caution the RIAA that, even if they get their way in the USA, there are still a hundred countries where they do not and cannot have jurisdiction, and if they hack computers in those countries, it's a crime.

    --

    "values of beta will give rise to dom!"

  108. I'm Gonna Hack You Sucka by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As CD publisher I got a License to Chill. They give a few , take a few, as for me I'm not gonna buy a CD from Sony or Columbia until until they publish something worth listening to... which is never, back to the tape deck.

  109. try it RIAA by blocsync · · Score: 1

    I think I can speak on behalf of myself and probably 1000s of other network admins when I say, try it, and prey you can handle the retalliation.

    Later

  110. The interesting part in the story by sela · · Score: 2

    ... is not their proposed (initial) amendment, as they already agreed to withdraw it, and the newer amendment is mainly there to ensure they would still have the legal loophole they have today (or at least they believe they do).

    The real news is that the RIAA is actually admitting they have plans to use those tactics for fighting piracy.

    My guess? The RIAA does not plan to hack into individual user's computers and delete their MP3 files - this would not be cost-effective. What they have in mind is a plan in case they loose the case against FastTrack/Music-City. I bet they plan to distrupt the KaZaa/Morpheus network in case they loose the legal fight and FastTrack do not accept their terms in negotiation.

    There is a lot that can be done to deliberately sabotage the KaZaa network, and make it unusable. I won't mention the possible ways not to give anyone any ideas, but I think this should serve as a warning for us - we should prepare for a new kind of attack from the RIAA.

  111. LMAO! (Laughing my ass off) by c.r.o.c.o · · Score: 2

    Yeah, I just want to see the RIAA hacking into MY computer! I mean, if I would live in the US. But I live in Canada, and the way things are looking right now, we're close to catching up with our neighbours in terms of idiotic tech-related laws.(DMCA and the like)

    But supposing the RIAA will want to hack my box, they have to go through my OpenBSD internet gateway, that has nothing open but SSH2, then get into my Linux box, which again has nothing open except SSH2 and NFS, and finally get to my hdd in a meaningfull way so they would be able to delete something.

    But unfortunately for them, even if they acomplish such an amazing feat (I'm not trying to boast, but this system is fairly tight for a home setup. No, please don't try portscanning me/ hacking into my box if you get my IP, I can't afford the bandwidth.) So even if they reach my hdd, all I have is about 500Mb-1Gb worth of new mp3s. All the rest is backed up on CDs.

    So unless they figure out how to destroy a CD just by reading it in a CDROM, I think I'm safe. Now I know there are far deeper implications with this thing becoming a law, but just the fact itself is making me lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. Re:LMAO! (Laughing my ass off) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do it the userfriendly way ...

      Come get some, you RIAA loosers !

  112. Equivalent in the physical world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wasn't aware that it was legal to break into the home of someone you thought had stolen your video recorder in order to steal it back. The text of the article implies that the ammendment wanted by the RIAA would "recover existing law". Why shoould they have the right to hack? If they do, shouldn't everyone else? Now that would be silly wouldn't it.

  113. they can take my mp3's... by DigiBoi · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...when they crack my OpenBSD bridge firewall.

    --
    I put on my robe and wizard hat.
  114. How will the RIAA know which MP3s are illegal? by oneself · · Score: 1

    How is breaking into my computer going to help the RIAA know which MP3s were legally ripped, from CDs I own, and which were illegally downloaded?
    Unless we assume that all MP3 making is illegal, I bet some RIAA executives are wetting their beds fantasizing about that.

  115. Active defenses by coyote-san · · Score: 2

    I have always opposed active defenses (deliberately trying to crash any system trying to crack mine) in the past.

    But if any organization thinks (or worse, *gets*) the legal right to tell me that I have no recourse if they destroy my data - which includes not only my personal files but files used by my business and files I'm working on for my clients - then I have no option but to be much more aggressive about defending my system. I have no "illegal" MP3s (the ones I have are ripped from my own disks, for use in featherweight MP3 players during exercise), but that provides no immunity from either their attempts to crack my system or damage if they do get in.

    E.g., to use that recent Code Red II virus as an example, instead of merely logging IP addresses I would use that script that responds to every attacking site with its own attack designed to shut down the remote site. Hopefully cleanly, but no guarantees. It's this very lack of guarantees of a clean shutdown with no adverse secondary consequences which is why I, and others, have opposed active measures in the past. But if I think there's even a remote credible risk that my clients who depend on my security will be harmed, I'll be far more proactive.

    Of course, backups will prevent loss of most data. But the time required to identify the extent of damage, restore files, make up lost work between backup cycles, etc., is time I'm not working for clients. I'm not getting paid, my clients aren't getting their work done, etc. The damages from a single incident would quickly exceed thousands of dollars - far more than I spend on *all* entertainment (CDs, videos, cable TV, movies) in a year. That's real damages that can be proven in court - reduction in hours billed to clients (lost income), increase in hours billed to internal support (increased costs), possibly lost clients. None of this "oh, pity our record profits in the face of 'piracy' crap."

    --
    For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. -- H L Mencken
  116. How to protect your mp3s from RIAA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's simple. Put all the MP3s you ripped from CDs you own in a directory named legal_mp3 and all the others in another directory named illegal_mp3.
    That way the RIAA can easily disseminate which mp3s are which and delete them accordingly.

    When they hack into your system and see your illegal_mp3 directory is empty they'll be so overjoyed, maybe you'll get a shiny gold star(tm) or something for being such a nice, subjugated little consumer.

  117. RICO? by sqlrob · · Score: 1

    IANAL, but could even the attempt at pushing this through by RIAA be actionable under RICO?

  118. Okay, you Vigilantes, by notcarlos · · Score: 1

    The reason laws exist is to protect the people. As Plato said (massive condensing), "The proper function of a government is to provide justice for the people, and not for its own benefit." This means, basically, that optimum government is for the people and not nepotism.

    How does this relate to RIAA and such? Well, the point here is that we have laws, we create laws, to protect the people as a whole and not individual groups or sub-groups. Further, the actions the RIAA takes and desires to take, are not those which are for the law, but function as a kind of sub-law. Despite all you who wish you had been born into a Shadowrun campaign, Megacorps do not run everything, and do not have the power to do such nefarious acts.

    Score -1 redundant, of course.

    --
    io hymen hymnaee io
    io hymen hymnaee
    1. Re:Okay, you Vigilantes, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, the government is supposed to be for all people, but lately they've been getting more and more partial for certain groups. Particularily, the ones with a lot of money and loud whiners/lobbyists.

      The fact that the RIAA would even bother to propose something like this is proof of it. If the government was really 100% for the people, why would they think they even had a chance of getting this self-serving law passed? And if the government is really for the people, how'd the DMCA get passed?

      The RIAA knows that they can get whatever they want passed, provided they word it confusingly enough and make large enough campaign "donations". It might take them years of lobbying and millions of dollars, but they can and will do it.

    2. Re:Okay, you Vigilantes, by notcarlos · · Score: 1

      Well, that's nice, Thrasymachus, but we are speaking of ideal forms here (or, for pansies, here.

      --
      io hymen hymnaee io
      io hymen hymnaee
    3. Re:Okay, you Vigilantes, by mpe · · Score: 2

      Yes, the government is supposed to be for all people, but lately they've been getting more and more partial for certain groups. Particularily, the ones with a lot of money and loud whiners/lobbyists.

      Which just gives one more example of how the written US constitution is simply "ink on paper".

      The fact that the RIAA would even bother to propose something like this is proof of it.

      But also look at the lack of critisism of the RIAA in the mainstram media. Is anyone asking questions of why these "terrorists" would want such a law...

      The RIAA knows that they can get whatever they want passed, provided they word it confusingly enough and make large enough campaign "donations".

      The former is IMHO down to a slightly different problem. That is legislators lacking the good sense to throw out any proposed legislation they don't understand.

  119. Re:Congress didn't bite, but in the meanwhile . . by Darth+Paul · · Score: 1
    Perhaps it is time to set up some serious MP3-baited honeypots

    They better listen to BritneySpears.mp3.vbs before they delete it!

  120. WAR OPPORTUNISM OF THE WORST SORT by YIAAL · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Bush Administration and the press had better be all over the RIAA and its Congressional sponsors. I can't think of a faster way to discredit the war on terrorism than opportunism like this.

    1. Re:WAR OPPORTUNISM OF THE WORST SORT by Obliqueness · · Score: 1

      The only thing that worked faster was the 'hacking == terrorism' portion (and the other non-topical sections) of the "anti-terrorism" bills themselves. Fsking ambulance chasers. It looks like the NSA let those freaks pull off the attacks, as a means of legitimizing the actions that have taken place afterwards. We are all expendable, after all.

      --
      The American Dream went to hell in a handbasket when someone decided that "The Customer" was King, and the customer beli
  121. So what happens... by shanek · · Score: 2

    ...if they get the file METALLICA.MP3.vbs and it wipes their hard drive??? :^)

  122. A new license by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I will start licensing everything I write online for use with open source software only. If you view a copy of it on your system, you agree to replace all software that is not open source/free software immediately. And you agree never to use non-free/open software on that system again.

    If this amendment, or something like it goes through, we just get the logs from every we site carrying copyrighted material with those licensing conditions and we hack into the systems and replace Windows with Linux or *BSD. We skip the personal systems and only go for RIAA and its friends.

  123. HA HA HA HA HA!!! by ruiner13 · · Score: 1

    I thought it was a little late in the year for an April fools joke!

    Seriously, though, it's times like these I'm glad I'm a Mac user. You poor schmoes who use Windoze are really in for something now. My girlfriend has already had a few of her MP3's "expire" on her Win -2K (negative sign, not hyphen). I'm sure M$ automatically applied a "security patch" that for some reason added a "feature" to make some MP3's unplayable.

    Honestly though, how can they get away with that? I wish there was a computer hacker deterrant system like the car alarm in Robocop 2. (bad movie, like this one scene). Someone hacks into your computer, suddenly they are suck to their keyboard and a giant flame thrower cooks them up. Sounds like a good idea to me!

    If they actually do this, I can almost guarantee that every hacker worth a penny will break into the RIAA to make sure they don't have one bit (pun intended) on their computer's HD. I don't think the gov't can prosecute thousands of hackers per day (although they would try). I'd say 90% of my MP3's are legit, that I ripped myself. The only one's I got off Napster (God rest it's soul) were ones that I didn't feel like paying $15 for one good song on a CD, or rare tracks, such as live performances.

    I may not be an expert, but I don't think there is a way that they could tell which songs on my computer are legit and which aren't, unless they also break into my apartment and look through my CD collection. Correct me if I'm wrong on this (I'm sure you all will.

    Also, before they go blaming file sharing services for the downfall of the music biz, why don't they first explain how the price of a CD hasn't gone down very much since the CD was first put to market 20 years ago, even though the cost of the medium has plummeted (they can thank the expanse of CD writers for that profit margin increasing tidbit).

    Also, while they are at it, why don't they do a study to find out if people are not buying CD's simply because there is very very little good music coming out these days worth purchasing. I know of only 2 or 3 CD's that came out this year that I would even consider buying. All the rest just sound the same (Brittany Spears sound-alikes and Menudo/New Kid's on the Block wannabes).

    I'm pissed off. Sorry about the rant, but this is just infuriating. They can take my MP3's out of my cold, dead hands. And good luck getting thorugh my firewall(s).

    --

    today is spelling optional day.

  124. Fine by me by manon · · Score: 1

    I even want to make them an account on my machine, but only if i get one on their boxes.
    (I could get some SETI stuff running there)
    And maybe even on the boxes of the NSA. I think my demands are fair.
    No doubt that the NSA is keeping stolen/illegal information about us.

    --
    42 + 1 = 42
  125. Re:THIS IS GREAT!!! - The solution by unitron · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    How about if we just get the pigs drunk before we turn them loose?

    --

    I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  126. In Other News... by cnelzie · · Score: 2


    A new bill sponsored by Microsoft, Adobe, Apple and AOL has been put forward that will allow these companies to enter your home and install their own software and bill you for the privilage.

    Dubbed the "Anti-OSS-Cancerous-Terrorist-Bill" by its detractors, the SSSCA appears to have bi-partisan support. Quoted one senator, "Who wants this cancerous open sores nonsense? We are protecting Americans from the dangers of terrorism, as well as giving our friends the protections they desperately need to survive in this tough economy. I mean look at how terrible things are for Microsoft, Adobe, Apple and AOL!"

    Long time consumer advocate Ralph Nader responded by saying, "Windows acts like Pintos and now there will be legislation making Pintos the only car people can drive? What farcical nonsense is this? This crap never would have happened if more people had voted their conscience rather than simply voting for the guy that thought would win. I am writing a new book about it called 'Unsafe at any Megahertz'."

    --
    .sig seperator
    --

    --
    If you ignore the other uses of a tool, does that make the tool less useful, or you less useful?
  127. Wuh? by King+Of+Chat · · Score: 1

    According to the article:

    The RIAA believes that this kind of technological "self-help" against online pirates, if done carefully, is legal under current federal law.

    How carefully? I see no loopholes in the link. In the UK it's certainly not legal (Computer Misuse Act). If you decide to get revenge on some script kiddie who's messing around with your site, you can't. You just have to call PC Plod - which is going to be great:
    Plod: "Evening all. What did you say the address of this person was?"
    BOFH: "203.41.14.3"
    Plod: "I'm sorry, but what part of Essex is that in?"

    --
    This sig made only from recycled ASCII
  128. WIRED missing the worst part by re-geeked · · Score: 2

    Okay, suppose the following were all true (not bloody likely, but suppose):

    The RIAA only hacked the machines of the guilty.
    The RIAA only destroyed material that infringed on their copyrights.
    The RIAA breaks no laws doing so.

    Then what harm do you have left? The RIAA acting as its own little police force/judicial system!

    There is no moderate version of this proposal!

    Unbelievable.

    --
    "You can't get something for nothing." - my grandfather, on the stock market and Reaganomics.
  129. RIAA Job Annoucement by scaryjohn · · Score: 5, Funny
    from: anti-piracy@riaa.org
    to: alt.virii, alt.h4x0r, comp.sec.black-hat
    subject: l33t h4x0r5 w4nt3d!!!!!111111

    W3 wnat j00! if j00 c4n rwit3 b4d-455 viri1 liek s1rc4M, & c0d3 rde, w3 w4nt j00 to h4x0r f0r u5!!!!11111

    phr34k in2 th3 b0X3n 0f l4m3r5 ru0nd th3 wl0rd 4nd t4a5h0r th33r MP3Z... l3g4lly!!!!111111 m4k3 m0n3y f45t!!!!!!11111111```````

    w3'll 3v3n g3ts j00 a t3ch-g33nisu v33sa 1f j00 rw0t3 c0d3 rde 4nd l1v35 n1 ch1n0r!!!!!!1111

    --
    The RIAA... ph33r us!!!!!!11111
    --
    One might ask the same about birds. What ARE birds? We just don't know.
    1. Re:RIAA Job Annoucement by isorox · · Score: 2

      should I be woried I can translate that?

  130. This is delaying legitimate legislation by nick_burns · · Score: 0

    It seems to me that the RIAA (and others) are using anti-terrorism legislation to promote their own personal agenda. This is not only a slimy tactic but keeps real anti-terrorism provisions that are in the bill from becoming law quickly because there will need to be debate on these issues. The terrorists could seize the moment while every evil political group in America is trying to cash in on the flurry of anti-terrorism legislation. Let the real anti-terrorist action begin now and fight your own battles using more appropriate legislation.

    1. Re:This is delaying legitimate legislation by mpe · · Score: 2

      It seems to me that the RIAA (and others) are using anti-terrorism legislation to promote their own personal agenda.

      Isn't the whole thing about promoting a whole set of rather questionable pre-existing agendas.

      his is not only a slimy tactic but keeps real anti-terrorism provisions that are in the bill from becoming law quickly because there will need to be debate on these issues.

      How much in there would actually do much to fight terrorism. Remember that any terrorist organisation can easily adapt to changes.
      More to the point there are very real issues about prevention of terrorism which simply cannot be solved by legislation.

  131. No, no, no! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    It's:

    Suck onto my penis!

  132. Just make them all read-only! by svallarian · · Score: 1

    Just burn all your mp3s to DVD-R, and then let them try all day to delete them!

    Steven V.

    --
    I patented screwing your mom. But it got revoked for "prior art."
    1. Re:Just make them all read-only! by radja · · Score: 2

      Why so hard? just mount your partition read-only :)

      //rdj

      --

      No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
      --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
  133. Curses. Good call. by dave-fu · · Score: 1

    I'd forgotten that they were going towards asinine modes of dealership like "$4/song", treating the filler surrounding the singles like the singles themselves. Of course, I could argue that no one wanted anything but the singles off those 300 CDs I put up on my theoretical site, so I'm back in the black again. I like this New Math!

    --
    Easy does it!
    This comment has been submitted already, 276865 hours , 59 minutes ago. No need to try again.
  134. Corruption in the U.S. government. by Futurepower(tm) · · Score: 2


    I find this really, really painful: I think the U.S. government is becoming thoroughly corrupt.

    Lots of people are using the terrorism to accomplish sneaky goals.


    Government corruption: What should be the Response to Violence?

    --
    Bush's education improvements were
  135. Unplug. And let them know it. by mr · · Score: 1

    Go back in time. What were records and movies going to do? Provide entertainment alternatives to theatre and live music.

    If you are blessed to live in a place that has live music and theate, rather than spend coin on a movie, spend it going to the live music and the life theatre.

    Then, make sure you not only let the 'entertainment industry' know that they didn't get your entertainment dollars, make sure you let the live music/theatre know also.

    Write a 'letter to the editor' for the theater's publication and the local 'free press' expressing the "to hell with the RIAA" attitude.

    Use the search engines and get the MP3's by the unknown artists that you like.

    Every dollar you spend with the RIAA enables them to buy the laws. Every item of the "intellectual" property you take from them justifies their existance. The best individual action is to totally ignore them, and if EVERYONE did this, they would vanish.

    --
    If it was said on slashdot, it MUST be true!
  136. I always thought this would happen in napster... by rebelcool · · Score: 2
    after the litigation started, I fancied a silly (or so I thought at the time...) thought that eventually the RIAA would win, and napster would release for download a new version of their client. However the client would have a "bug" in it that "accidentally" erased all your MP3 files...

    Apparently truth really is stranger than fiction.

    --

    -

  137. Subvert the piggypacking mechanism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is piggypacking stuff like this allowed in the first place? Maybe some pro-cannabis group should get legalization passed covertly? Should the piggypacking then be allowed?

    1. Re:Subvert the piggypacking mechanism by mpe · · Score: 2

      Why is piggypacking stuff like this allowed in the first place?

      An interesting question, especially when you can end up with legislation where the riders comprise the largest part.

      Maybe some pro-cannabis group should get legalization passed covertly?

      Difficult unless these people were also either corporate (or possibly PC sexists or racists)...

  138. It's not OK for you to hack us, but we want to.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hack you.

    Honestly, I am absolutly sick of these
    holier then Thou cretins.

    I don't pirate music or software, but these
    creeps are still annoying me with their power
    grabs.

  139. Re:Unplug. And let them know it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nice try... but who wants to sit around listening to a bunch of crappy, unknown hacks? I could just stay at home and jerk-off it would be as much fun.

  140. Correct me if I wrong by James+Lanfear · · Score: 2
    Reading Sec. 815 os the USA Act and 18 USC 1030, I notice that Sec. 1030(a)(5), which the former is rewriting, is devoted entirely to damage to "protected computers". A protected computer is defined as

    (2) the term ''protected computer'' means a computer -

    (A) exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the
    United States Government, or, in the case of a computer not
    exclusively for such use, used by or for a financial
    institution or the United States Government and the conduct
    constituting the offense affects that use by or for the
    financial institution or the Government; or

    (B) which is used in interstate or foreign commerce or
    communication;


    So if the RIAA was actually trying to tie something to this section they would either end up with permission to hack only gov't computers, or they would have had to amend out every reference to protected computers. Am I missing something here?
  141. How does this cross-section look? by cmstremi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I wonder how many proponents of hacking someone's system (or writing a worm to do so) to remove Nimda for someone who isn't willing to patch their stuff feels about this. Although nobody would admit it, there's a huge double-standard here.

    Of course the RIAA should not be allowed to decide what you can or can't have on your computer. We all agree on that, I think.

    Granting them this right would be like deputizing them. But they'd really just be vigilante's.

    The RIAA has every right to try and protect their propery, and ALREADY has a legal mechanism to do so. The court system.

    I can't see this going very far. I can, however, see the RIAA encouraging politicians to write some new laws that make it more cost effective for them to seek legal remedy in the courts. We all know that the RIAA can't sue each of us for $500. Even they don't have enough money to pull that off.

    Bah.

  142. Law/Auto Industry by tonan · · Score: 1

    I wonder if the law enforcement/auto industry will attempt the same angle.

    I would be really pissed if my car pulled over and called the cops if I was speeding. Seriously though, it would most likely alert you of your violation, deduct the fine amount straight from your bank account, and report the infringement to the DMV and insurance company.

    I get shivers down my spine just thinking about scary shit like this.

    1. Re:Law/Auto Industry by scharkalvin · · Score: 1

      Oh this already happened! Some car rental company had GPS hooked up to the speedometers and automaticly fined anyone leasing their cars when they caught them speeding! (BTW they lost in court).

    2. Re:Law/Auto Industry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that bothers you you should not drive one of the New Jersey roads with easypass, there they do something very much like that....

  143. Re:Unplug. And let them know it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As opposed to, what, brittney spears? How about pop stars 2?

  144. ISPs are too lame for that, alternative by jet_silver · · Score: 1

    Most ISPs won't do -anything- when someone is knocking on your firewall. IME their staffs generally don't understand the issues. I've had, for some time, a guy -on my subnet- knocking. Easy enough for me, just deny his IP address, but he's probably doing it to the -whole- subnet.

    For the RIAA: sooner or later we'll find where they launch their attacks from. An analog of teergrube might help them waste their time. I don't have the coding skill to build this, but allowing, say, one bit per second from RIAA addresses on 10% of machines ought to keep them from having much fun.

  145. Don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't understand why you people don't revolt already...

  146. Why they can't win by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    If a christian buries a terrorist with a pig (have you seen some of those broads working in the WTC)the terrorist goes to hell

    If a terorist buries a christian with a pig, the terrorist still goes to hell, they can't win for loosing

    All those jerks protesting in Pakistan are causing more damage to the civilians, we could have gone in with Cobra gunships & miniballed their goods till they were useless but since we have to fly in from 1000 miles away because of those afgani infiltrators rioting, they get 500 pound bombs instead. Good thinking.

    That was courageous of Old Bin, in his news release he confessed the devil made him do it. Does that take guts or what.By the way Bin, the AK-47 is fired from the right shoulder not the left, I wouldn't want you to get a nose full of hot cartridges.

  147. Honey Pot Anyone? by universalcurb · · Score: 0

    OK Here's the plan.

    1)Rip the CD's you already own and can prove that you own, so that if and when you end up in court, you can demonstrate fair use, backup copies and whatnot.

    2)put those on an unpatched, unprotected system

    3)start monitoring.

    The first weapon we need is information. Sun Tzu talked about knowing your enemy. We do this with intellegence.

    Sun Tzu also talked about baiting your enemy into a trap. Since the MP3's are there legaly, and you weren't running a file share, when they delete them, find a lawyer who will work for contengency and go after the bastards.

    --
    dum spiro, spero
  148. Bring that shit on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come on biatch! Game on!

    I *dare* you to try to erase mp3z off my box.

    I would love for them to try. Open up a giant can of 0wn j00r box3n on anyone sniffin around my house.

  149. reasonable.... by Restil · · Score: 2

    If they have "reasonable" proof that there's an issue of piracy at hand, they should be able to have law enforcement obtain a search warrant and take care of the problem correctly.

    Otherwise we have vigilante justice on our hands.

    -Restil

    --
    Play with my webcams and lights here
  150. You aren't thinking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The RIAA isn't a user like you or me, its a black beast of a creature, really just a conglomeration of suits living in swanky homes trying to figure out how to keep their profit margins high and retain their copyrights.
    Destroy one of his attack computers, he'll just buy another, and get you hauled off to jail for hacking him.

    In the new age we are living in, rich lawyers can make you a target and force you to bankrupt yourself defending yourself, just out of spite or underhanded strategy, not out of legitimate grievance.

  151. Re:Curses. Good call. by Flower · · Score: 4, Interesting
    No, you misinterpret what I'm saying. Since all people want was the single song you have available (after all most of it is just filler but you've got 2-3 songs for radio airplay.) You are robbing them of $20 bucks for just the one song. After all it is the single which is driving the CD sale.

    And as they roll out each hit one by one each hit is worth the $20 in and of itself. After all, once one song gets played to death you need a new song to milk that money out of the people holding out (You bastards!)

    If we were playing Paranoid I think I'd have to say you owed the RIAA $60US for that song. &lt evil grin &gt

    And what do you mean theoretical?

    --
    I don't want knowledge. I want certainty. - Law, David Bowie
  152. It's official: by sootman · · Score: 1

    Two wrongs make a right.

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
  153. LA Times Article Says AOL Objected to Amendment by tmlrv · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There is an article in the Los Angeles Times here which says AOL TIme Warner was objecting to the amendment for unspecified reasons.

    The article also mentions that (surprise!) the MPAA also backed the bill.

    Another interesting excerpt: The RIAA and MPAA have made no secret of their interest in a technological counterattack against piracy, particularly on the Internet's increasingly popular file-sharing networks.
    The measures they've explored include software that can detect a song or movie as it's being copied through the Net, replace the unauthorized copy with a different file and even disable the original on the sender's computer.


  154. Why dignify this nonsense with a debate.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    it only serves to legitimise this idiocy. This will not happen, if not for reasons related to abuse of civil liberties and privacy, then for reasons of practicality.


    I think it is more likely the RIAA is simply testing the water.

  155. Yes-- it's a documented feature by marnanel · · Score: 5, Informative
    Hmm. According to MS's FAQ on the subject, Winamp and others are shipping stuff that uses the Windows Media APIs, including the Windows Rights Manager parts you mentioned. The same document mentions the browser-opening feature:
    Digital media files are maintained in a protected format at all times. This protected file can be freely shared between customers. When customers without a license attempt to access the shared digital media file, they are prompted to get a license for that digital media file by following the business rules specified at the hosting Web site.
    --
    GROGGS: alive and well and living in
  156. RIAA doesn't want to go to jail by tinrobot · · Score: 1

    Didn't I read that the anti-terrorism bill has some very draconian penalties for breaking into a system, Like really long stays in the slammer? That probably frightens the bejeesus out of the RIAA people who are investigating copyright theft, because I'd imagine they're planning to use these sorts of tactics (or doing them already...) I guess old Hillary Rosen doesn't want to spend time in the women's correctional facility. Then again, might do her good.

  157. Unbelievable. by nigelfufkin · · Score: 1

    So, will they have the right to break into my home and destroy my backup CD I burned of all my music files? What will be next? This is unbelievable.

    --
    -- sorry no sig today. Try back next week.
  158. Why use XP anyways ? by hebertrich · · Score: 0

    Why use Windows and win compatible products
    to start with..
    If you really care about computing Linux
    is a way better choice in my opinion..At least when you buy a CD it's yours...and not theirs...Windows dont you incontrol of your own machine.they want you to pay for a machine they control with content they appreve and anything else on the planet outlawed.
    Microsoft should be reduced to ashes as a terrorist organisation using terrorist tactics against it's customers ,dismanteled and closed forever.

  159. Easy. by mindriot · · Score: 1

    I think this is gonna be rather easy. They're gonna try again and again to keep us from using music as we want to, and they will fail each and every time. Because we will always find a way around their obstacles. And one day, they're just gonna give up. It may take a while, but they will, after they notice that throwing tons of money into coyright-protection mechanisms won't pay off.

  160. Re:even if true, its US only. We still have the re by 10100101 · · Score: 0

    Interesting... Anyone want to do the honors?

  161. Yes, it does by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2
    Does this give you the right to crack RIAA systems to make sure no one there is selling copies of your term paper?
    Yes. Write something down. Under American law, you now have an implicit copyright on that thing you just wrote down. Ratify it, and open the door for criminal charges should somebody copy it, by mailing a copy to the Library of Congress.
    --
    Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  162. comptuter corbomite by scharkalvin · · Score: 1

    Ok all you hackers out there. Lets write a script that will detect when someone is trying to hack a computer and then hack them back. What we need is a computer corbomite device.

  163. Yuck. (Campaign finance.) by supabeast! · · Score: 1

    And yet millions of Americans still believe that campaign finace reform is a bad thing.

    Does anyone in a FREE nation need a young Solaris/Linux admin? I have a passport and can start tomorrow...

  164. You're wrong. by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2
    which is used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication;
    Let me bold the words that are important:
    which is used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication;
    In other words, is hooked up to the Internet. Because you can reasonably assume that to get to an Internet backbone, you're going to cross state lines.
    --
    Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  165. .MP3 by TheRain · · Score: 1

    No doubt they will be looking for files with a certain file extension like .MP3. You could easily make a plugin for Winamp or XMMS that will recognize a file with a different extension.

    --
    Please help! I'm stuck inside my virtual reality headset!
    1. Re:.MP3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      acctually in winamp ur file can be named .anything and it asumes is a .mp3 (as default, can be chaged in preferences) and goes along happily playing the file.

  166. RIAA hackers in action by compugeek007 · · Score: 1

    The RIAA hackers are gonna hook themselves up to a cable modem with Windoze and double click the network neighboorhood icon.

    --
    Jesse Wolfe Sr. Manager Systems Integration
  167. guilty until proven innocent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    In the USA, it used to be that one was innocent until poven guilty. Hmmm...


    In the war against terrorism, why isn't the RIAA a target?

  168. Firewall by collar · · Score: 1

    Seems the obvious flaw with any of these sort of plans is that even "average joe" type people are starting to run firewalls on their personal machines. Add to that most geeky type people running seperate machines for internet sharing / firewalling, and whoever wants to hack your machine is pretty screwed.

    They can try and hax0r my linux server that's firewalled such that only the ssh port is open all they want, but I dont think they are going to have much luck...

  169. Doesn't this remind you of a witch hunt? by AntiFreeze · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I get it now... according to the RIAA, I'm guilty until proven innocent. They want to be able to crack my system in order to prove me innocent. Oh, and if they fry my system, sorry, but I can't do anything about it.
    RIAA: "Well, we thought she was a witch, so we tied her up and threw her in the ocean. See, witches float, so if she was a witch, she would have floated and then we could have killed her."

    Inspector: "Uh..."

    RIAA: "So anyway, she drowned. She wasn't a witch, so we don't see the problem."

    Inspector: "So, you're admitting you killed an innocent woman?"

    RIAA: "No, we simply proved she wasn't a witch and that there's nothing wrong with her."

    Inspector: "By killing her???"


    I hope my analogy is clear.
    --

    ---
    "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." --Dennis Miller

    1. Re:Doesn't this remind you of a witch hunt? by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Funny

      Angry RIAA peasant in Monty-Pythonesque voice: "We have found an MP3, may we delete it?!"

  170. heh.. by Danse · · Score: 2

    How many $cientologists do you think are allowed to read /.? It's subversive man!!

    --
    It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  171. suggested solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Obtain complete works of Metallica on MP3

    2) Send each MP3 in a separate email to president@whitehouse.gov

    3) In subject, put "Here's one of the MP3s you requested"

    4) bcc: hilary.rosen@riaa.com, lars.ulrich@metallica.com

    5) alert NSA of suspected "terrorist" attacks on the president's personal computer

  172. The Other Amendment by 4of12 · · Score: 2

    Atty General Ashcroft was questioned later about the amendment crafted by RIAA lobbyists.

    He explained, "that it was a compromise, the effective give and take of a freedom-loving nation acting of one accord for the national interest."

    According the AG, evidently, earlier proposed legislation would have provided protection to agents acting on behalf of vital national security interests, such as the RIAA and MPAA, if they were to invade homes physically in search of terrorist contraband, such as open source/hacker computers that were used to criminally steal valuable American property, such as CD recordings of Madonna.

    Said Ashcroft, "I thought physical searches were probably a bad idea because of the technicalities involved. Many judges would mistakenly interpret the Constitution too rigidly and impeded such searces as being 'unreasonable'. For that reason, I though it best if the searches were restricted to electronic means."

    Senators in favor of the proposed legislation said they were "unfamiliar" with the amendments, which had been added at the last minute by staffers, many of whom had industry backgrounds that enabled them to understand complicated technical issues.

    One Senator harrumphed "If Osama bin Laden thinks he can get away with software piracy, he has another thing coming!"

    --
    "Provided by the management for your protection."
  173. Linux does NOT matter by bbum · · Score: 1

    Reading through the posts, there have been numerous pissing contest style "my linux system is more hardened then yours".

    Unfortunately, you missed the point entirely. Linux simply does not matter in the context of the RIAAs efforts to "protect" their "assets".

    Apple is barely a blip on their radar.

    In their eyes, the only systems that matter are the Windows boxen of the world. Makes sense, really, given that Windows desktop boxes comprise something like 90%-95% of the desktops around.

    For the /. community to be an effective part of the effort to reveal how ludicrous the RIAA's legal actions have been, we need to collectively pull our heads out of the sands and focus on the real issues.

    Hardened systems, firewalls, mounting partitions as read only are not solutions. 90% of the people that would be affected by the RIAAs efforts don't even know what those things are!

    Equally as unfortunate, taking an attitude of "screw the ignorant masses, we know how to do things right" is going to be terribly constructive either. A key reason why some of the multimedia "standards" that we non-Windows users leverage on a daily basis are "standard" is because of the massive "potential market" that Windows represents.

    Finally, an attitude of "Linux will rule the world" isn't going to help, either. Linux simply isn't ready to compete in the ignorant dumbass marketplace that Windows dominates.

  174. Would this give permission to crack DMCA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Would this allow people to crack DMCA encrypted files looking for copyrighted material hidden in the original source using steganography

  175. Honeypot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Put a system on the net that has a whole lot of lisings for files they might think are mp3s of their artists....record all attempts at hacking....return a nuke.

  176. not a good idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The RIAA could get into some deep shit if they deleted something you own. If I wanted to rename my p0rn filez to mp3's to disguise them, and then the RIAA deletes them just because they have the extension ".mp3" then they are destroying private property. I also have another thought on this subject: If the RIAA hacks ANYONE, then all of us mp3 traders should pull together and hack, crack, and attack the RIAA(esp. their website).

  177. Bring back current law by abulafia · · Score: 1

    "It will not be some special exception for copyright owners," Glazier said. "It will be a general fix to bring back current law." Glazier is the RIAA's senior vice president of government relations and a former House aide.

    Um, does that make sense to anyone, anywhere? Do we have a legal precedent to "return the way it is to now"?

    --
    I forget what 8 was for.
  178. All the more reason for tight firewalls, etc. by EricLivingston · · Score: 1
    Well, now that big business appears to be on the verge of getting a license to hack our machines, it certainly increases the necessity of extremely strong firewalling/security on our boxes. I would envision far more robust attacks than what simple script-kiddies routinely throw around.

    Scare stuff...

    --
    Please Rate my comment (and help support Fre
  179. Collateral Damage? by ktakki · · Score: 2

    I used to be a musician and songwriter. I hold copyrights (dating back to the '70s), and have a fairly large collection of .mp3s of the songs I've written and recorded over the last 25 years.

    How do they determine whether the .mp3 on my PC is an infringing item? Is it the filename? The ID3 tag? Or are they going to kill them all, let Hilary Rosen sort it out, like some crazed Crusader?

    And does my status as a copyright holder mean I have a Get out of Jail Free card with respect to hacking? What if I suspect the RIAA of infringing on my copyrights?

    k.

    --
    "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
  180. Missing the POINT by ajs · · Score: 3
    Lobbyists for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) tried to glue this hacking-authorization amendment onto a mammoth anti-terrorism bill that Congress approved last week.
    A lot of folks are pointing out that this ammendment did not make it through (some others are claiming that it's already legal). I won't even touch that, because it's not the point.

    Folks, the RIAA has shown us its true colors! In the face of one of the greatest national tragedies in the U.S., the RIAA decides to use the political momentum to sneak through controvercial legislation granting them the power to subvert the bill of rights without even so much as notifying law enforcement!

    This is deeply anti-freedom, anti-American and just downright evil. If the RIAA had pushed for hearings on the topic, or even bought enough of a congress-crittur to get a bill introduced, that's one thing. If they had pushed an amendment to related legislation, that's kind of slimy, but I'm (unfortunately) used to it in the U.S.

    But, when you try to hide your actions under the cloak of an anti-terrorism bill, in response to the death of thousands... I don't think I want to have to look at someone associated with the RIAA for a very long time.

    Oh BTW, in case you were wondering why anyone would ever want to risk such public backlash, let me clue you in: the RIAA wants this amendment to be part of a bill that the courts dare not strike down. Do you think the supreme court would toss and anti-terrorism law because of an entertainment-industry amendment? Sorry, I can only take so much.... I have to go wash.

    1. Re:Missing the POINT by superflex · · Score: 1
      i was gonna say almost the exact same damn thing. please please please mod parent up.

      it's pretty disgusting, when you think about it. a bill written in response to a tragic incident where thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives, and the RIAA figures it's a good time to make sure their own fscking greedy interests are well-protected.

      as far as i'm concerned, nobody can search my house unless they're the police and have a warrant, and that includes my computer and what's on it. morally/ethically, if not legally, the RIAA has absolutely no right to r/w/x anything on my system, under any circumstances.

      --
      sigs are for suckers
  181. Not going to happen... by Java+Pimp · · Score: 1

    This is an invasion of our privacy. No one is going to let anyone snoop around on our hard drives without our permission. They might as well say they give them permission to enter my home uninvited and dig around in my underwear drawer.

    --
    Ascalante: Your bride is over 3,000 years old.
    Kull: She told me she was 19!
  182. New solutions by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's why a new amendment to the proposed amendment gives them the right to burn down your house as long as such action is "intended to impede or prevent the infringement of copyright". Of course you could sing the songs. Well a Senator from South Carolina wants to add murder to the list of measures copyright holders are allowed to use. Its called the "Rightsholder Lethal Self-help Authorization Act". Cool, the acronym even ends in "AA".

    Of course infringement is not going to be a big problem, since the new version of the SSSCA expands the definition of an "interactive digital device" to include humans, so the neural implants required under the Act will keep things under control. And if someone tries to infringe, it can be set to kill them on the spot. After all, no one has the right to infringe, and it must be stopped by any means necessary. Any collateral damage is the fault of the infringer - if they didn't want to be electrocuted from within, they could have chosen not to infringe.

    ;)

    (yes this is sarcastic, but you can see the parallels to what the copyright cartel is trying to do)

    --
    Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
  183. So what? They'll hack the internet router... by DocSnyder · · Score: 1

    ...which is surely the last box in a properly designed intranet to have music or video files stored on it, as well as it's likely the most secure one and most difficult to hack. Then they'd have to scan the (masqueraded) Intranet for a workstation or a fileserver.

    Even then, chances are that they'll probably land on a honeypot. Or trigger a counter-attack. Or simply hack the box of a responsible sysadmin who forwards his syslogged evidence to their uplink, CERT, or the FBI.

    With some NAT and port forwarding, it's quite impossible to guess from the outside which service is located on which host.

  184. I hate RIAA by uratu79 · · Score: 1

    I just want to say, that I hate the facts, and things they are up to; Do I have mp3s? yes. But can I have this mp3s at local stores? NO, Did anyone heard about MasterBoy, SolidBase, BUG Mafia, RACLA, La Familia, shit they do not even know how to pronounce them, and they go after my mp3s. Recentrly I bought 2001 Hip Hop Music Awards cd, out of that CD only 2 songs are good 9 and 10, at least for my teate, and some are not even the winners, but of couse they got fill in songs, like they always do, and the damn cd is 18.99, for what? the plastic rapper? Another thing, if they snoop around my BOX, HELL on earth gonna be on their servers, shit, no one will snoop on my computer

  185. lol by jbreker · · Score: 0

    bring it on, If my system is not secured enough to keep the riaa out then I deserve to have a "rm -rf /" pulled.

  186. Re:did anyone actually read the proposed amendment by jerrytcow · · Score: 1

    Impairment of the availability of data, a program, a system or information" (translation: Damage done to your programs/OS/data) IS hacking

    Every EULA has this sort "we are not responsible if your computer dies as the result of crappy programming on our part" clause built in. That you don't have to agree to it before it runs on your system is definitely a cause for alarm, though. I still disagree that this was intended as a carte blanche to rifle through people's drives and delete files.

  187. And WHO executes the laws??? by coldmist · · Score: 1

    The biggest question this leaves in my mind is: WHO EXECUTES THE LAWS IN THE USA???

    Is it the local Police/FBI/CIA/President/etc.? And, even if they wanted to search my hard drive for illegal content, wouldn't they then have to follow due process, which includes getting a search warrant from a Judge? Remember the 6th amendment?

    With this proposal, the RIAA would be "executing" the law themselves, taking upon themselves the power to search/analyze/copy/destroy information from my personal computer, without even "probable cause."

    If the government starts sharing its monopoly on FORCE with companies, then God help this country! Too many companies have already given us examples of how far they will go with restraints. Just think how far they would go if unrestrained!

    --
    Don't steal. The government hates competition.
    1. Re:And WHO executes the laws??? by mpe · · Score: 2

      The biggest question this leaves in my mind is: WHO EXECUTES THE LAWS IN THE USA???

      Is it the local Police/FBI/CIA/President/etc.? And, even if they wanted to search my hard drive for illegal content, wouldn't they then have to follow due process, which
      includes getting a search warrant from a Judge? Remember the 6th amendment?


      Isn't the last bit the actual problem. That far too few people in the US (including police officers and judges) actually know what the US constitution says.

    2. Re:And WHO executes the laws??? by Chris+Johnson · · Score: 2
      *G*

      What "monopoly" on force? Are you a libertarian? ;)

      Welcome to reality- this is the logical extension of the libertarian worldview, precisely because force isn't restrained to any one group in particular. As you can see, companies are perfectly free to pursue this sort of thing- the only way a government would be able to stop it would be if it was able to punish the company in some manner. And that's not a given, that's just your assumption, if you tend to immediately think 'guns and armies' and not think further.

      Think 'red tape' and 'lawyers' instead and you'll begin to see force in a lot of other hands.

  188. To RIAA: I have over 20,000 MP3's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And a few hard drives that are in my closet which your asses will *never* get your hands on. Oh and wait until I get a DVD RAM burner and burn backups for myself, and copies for friends!!!

    Even this past week *ALONE* I downloaded over 150 CD's from Morpheus! BAhahahahahaha.

  189. ha ha ha!!! : ) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    funny, mod up!

  190. Two word solution to our problem by Scoria · · Score: 3, Funny

    ROT13
    DMCA

    --
    Do you like German cars?
    1. Re:Two word solution to our problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      QZPN?

    2. Re:Two word solution to our problem by Scoria · · Score: 2

      From:

      Dear Consumer,

      After decoding your message (illegal under our own pet act, the DMCA), we have decided that since the acronym DMCA is our lawyers' and our lawyers' alone, we must file a lawsuit.

      Now, if you'll please share your primary hard disk (preferably the big one with the /porn directory; hey, we get lonely too!) on your computer, we must also whack off to your porn, erm, investigate your computer for materials (Linkin Park is *not* a boyband in disguise, really!) that you may have pirated. If you haven't pirated anything, we'll just upload a couple of MP3s.

      Thank you,

      Your friends at the RIAA

      --
      Do you like German cars?
  191. An open message to the RIAA. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Come out, that I may send you to HELL!"

    Oops, you've hacked my computer, and found mp3's. You deleted them, causing me many hours wasted of ripping tracks off cd's I own and placing them back on my hard drive.

    I'm going to value my time at, maybe, $250 an hour. ;)

    Oops, wait. I've also got various bits of intellectual property sitting on my drive, tons of data on a series of novels in progress.

    How do I know you haven't illegally copied this data?

    Thank you, Ms. Rosen, I'll be 0wn1nG j00 now. :)

  192. I wouldn't collect music files until... by praedor · · Score: 1

    This is exactly the type of crap that would drive me to start collecting MP3s and other "illegal" software. I don't generally download or otherwise store music on my computer, that is what my stereo is best at (just like my TV with DVD player is far superior to sitting at my computer to watch movies). Nonetheless, if something like this got through the legislative process, I WOULD start wasting harddrive space for the "undesireable" files.


    The fastest way to ge ME to do "illegal" stuff is to take my rights away or make something legal into something illegal for the sake of a corporation's or CEO's income. Get it passed and make the situation worse - for yourself, RIAA.

    --
    In Bushworld, they struggle to keep church and state separate in Iraq as they increasingly merge the two in America.
  193. Eye for an eye. by Datasage · · Score: 1

    If they want the right to hack us.... then they should be giving us the right to hack them.

    --
    In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
  194. pirate ware by nege · · Score: 1

    I guess I could see this working as when RIAA starts whatever monopoly online music service. The software you would have to download to listen to RIAA approved licensed music would search your hard drive for mp3s and delete them. It would all be in the license of course. You DO read your licenses?

  195. Funny... by k98sven · · Score: 0

    >"It will not be some special exception for
    >copyright owners," Glazier [RIAA] said.
    >"It will be a general fix to bring back current law."

    "Bring back current law".. can't quite figure that
    one out..
    I think what he means is to bring back good ol' 19th century copyright law, where IP owners would
    round up a posse and lynch the evil pirates.

  196. They can try... by haxor.dk · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have a Mac.

    Nuff said.

  197. good luck riaa! by Ken+Williams · · Score: 1

    i just configured my firewall to redirect all hostile connection attempts from the RIAA to cia.gov.

    --
    -- ken williams
  198. Let them delete our MP3s... by thesolo · · Score: 1

    It would just create a larger public outcry against the RIAA. I don't know about the rest of you here on /., but all the Mp3s I have are either:
    1) Ripped from the CDs I Purchased
    2) Ripped from DATs that I recorded at concerts, where the band gave me a press pass to do so!
    If they were to delete either one of those items from me, it would be a violation of fair use.

    They obviously aren't thinking here either. Even if they delete every MP3 in the world, they won't stop people from sharing music. If everything related to MP3 disappeared, someone would just create a new format, and the whole cycle would start over again.

    Lastly, I think the companies that make digital wallets, handhelds, anything that let you play MP3s, need to speak up against the RIAA, before their devices become illegal.

    This is such bullshit.

    1. Re:Let them delete our MP3s... by riven1128 · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately though fair use isn't the law.. it's not guaranteed and it's the option of the owner of the copyrighted material.. they don't HAVE to allow it.

  199. Infinately powerfull by DeputySpade · · Score: 1

    Wait a minute! I thought the RIAA and MPAA were unstopable! I thought that there was nothing anybody could do to stop them from waving their cash in front of congressmen and buying legislation. At least, that's what I learned by reading /.

    But this legislation didn't make it into the bill. What happened? Could it be that "Corporate America" or "Big Money" or "They" (collectively) or whoever the boogey man is doesn't actually own the whole country and that this is an instance of class warfare rhetoric falling flat on it's face?

    --


    This space intentionally left blank
  200. Id like.... by alexborges · · Score: 0

    To see them try and hack into my 2.4 firewall....

    :)

    Alex

    --
    NO SIG
  201. Say What by haplo21112 · · Score: 2

    Now before you go off again, lets take a global view of this. If you add all the pieces together.

    This a**hole has attacked the US at least twice outright, why because he sees it as a Holy war...
    but, if he is so damned Holy, he should be reading his own damned Holy book...I have spoken to several people here where I work that are sicked by what that Idiot over there is doing...they follow the same teachings and religious background, the first hing they are thought is the sanctity of Human Life, no matter what. They claim infact that all these Radicals, are the ones in the wrong, and where ever they are inconflict they should be living in piece and infact being the piece makers! I have even been told that as long as he is being harbored that they consider the US to be justified, as anyone who would harbor him, or allow their govenment to harbor him is not following their holy teachings, and therefore is looked down upon, and deserves what is happening.

    --
    Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
    1. Re:Say What by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "the first hing they are thought is the sanctity of Human Life, no matter what."

      ...

      "or allow their govenment to harbor him is not following their holy teachings, and therefore is looked down upon, and deserves what is happening."

      error! logical inconsistency detected!
      Unable to evaluate comment, discarding.

  202. Linus, the leetest by baphomet · · Score: 1

    Under this proposition, Linus and his lethal 1-armed bandits will be able to hack his way into a good percentage of company and user computers. I can see it now, hacked linux nerds will be running around like N'Sync girl-fans screaming, Linus "touch'ed me"! Oh well, at least I still have my virginity.

  203. you hack me.. by josepha48 · · Score: 2
    .. maybe I should hack back..

    If someone starts hacking at my computer and tries establishing a new connection or spoofing a connection my machine will log this and in the future if this happens enough I may have it launch a couter attack.

    Lets face it if someone hacks software or a site it is against the law, but they want to be able to hack your computer? I think not, what is to stop them after that of getting into your financials or address book or mucking up your system by mistake.

    --

    Only 'flamers' flame!

  204. Yeessss! by hrieke · · Score: 2

    If this bill passes it would be great!!!!
    Since I hold the copyright to my name and MAC address I can now freely hack into the RIAA systems and delete all referances to my copyrights. And if I happen to ruin the whole database, oh well.
    Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Rule of the thumb that they don't like: "What is good for the goose is good for the gander."

    --
    III.IIVIVIXIIVIVIIIVVIIIIXVIIIXIIIIIIIIVIIIIVVIIIV IIVIIIIIIVIII...
  205. And WHICH lobbyists in particular? by marxmarv · · Score: 2
    None other than Mitch Glazier, the little toady-whore who tried to kill the 35-year ownership limit on works for hire by corrupting a committee on the Satellite Home Viewing Improvement Act.

    /.'ers need to find out where this scumpuppy lives and make his life as hellish as is legally permissible.

    -jhp

    --
    /. -- the Free Republic of technology.
  206. RIAA SUCKS! by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 2

    Here's how you can ruin the RIAA's argument. See, they keep arguing that they're doing all this for the poor artists, when in fact, they are robbing the artists just like they're robbing us. They charge 20 dollars for a CD but the artist gets pennies on the dollar. The way to win this fight is as follows: mail a check or money order for a fair amount directly to the artists for the songs you have. Accompany that check with an explanatory letter telling them that you believe they should profit from their work but the RIAA shouldn't. Tell them that you downloaded the songs for free but since you're paying them, the artist, for their work, you believe it is not piracy. When the RIAA starts complaining of people doing this, they can't argue that we're robbing poor artists, so they'll have to come up with some other argument, and then we can argue that the RIAA is the only one robbing anyone: they rob the artists coming and they rob the consumer going.

  207. README by ocie · · Score: 2

    I wrote a very important and copyrighted document called README. I believe a copy of this file has been stolen from me and has been copied to many machines around the net. I have yet to break into a machine that didn't have a copy of my file.

    --
    JET Program: see Japan, meet intere
  208. So when's the revolution? by rzbx · · Score: 0

    It's bound to happen, I just wonder when.

    --
    Question everything.
  209. There is a simple solution by bigox · · Score: 1

    Everyone quit bitching and moaning about this. There is a very simple solution. Stop consuming mass marketed, least common denominator, MBA designed music. If you want to reduce the lobbying power of the recording industry, then stop paying them money! Support your local musicians. Sure they're aren't as refined and developed (technically at least), but hell, it's almost as good and if not better in many ways. If you don't want to listen to them in a bar, then have someone buy a CD for you.

  210. Get on board!!! by El+Camino+SS · · Score: 1, Funny


    Next stop? Corporate controlled wire taps!
    Your freedoms are for sale!

    Hoooray.

  211. almost? by ianxm · · Score: 1

    First of all, how would they determined that the mp3s and whatnot on my computer aren't legal? I happen to own cds for almost every single mp3 on my computer. "almost" huh? You're cover's blown. Now they know you're one of the troublemakers.

    1. Re:almost? by fjordboy · · Score: 1

      the other ones are from artists that only release the music on the net...my cover is just fine. (as long as they don't find my britney spears and N'sync collection)

  212. Poorly represented counter-argument by orpheus2k · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The most disturbing aspect of this article is that the opponents to the RIAA have as their main argument, essentially, 'What if something goes wrong while they are creeping around? What if they corrupt your hard drive?'

    This completely misses the fact that the violation and penetration is on its face reprehensible. What if the RIAA presents to a congressional hearing a supposedly fool-proof method to do what they want?

    This places the burden of right-behavior on the wrong party. Compare this to what is required to enter someone's home to retreive stolen property. It requires a search warrant obtained through proper legal channels, and then the searching and reclaiming party would be police or FBI, not the party who was stolen from.

    We need to assert strongly that our virtual space (which resides in a place -- hard drives, CPUs, etc that exist in a particular place) can be defended like our physical space.

  213. But... by Pr0xY · · Score: 1

    How would the RIAA know which mp3s were made from CDs that I legally own? I mean, am I not allowed to take CDs I bought and make mp3s out of them so I can listen to them on my computer?

    Even though I am a big advocate for free music, I still buy the CDs of those bands which I really like.

  214. Nothing a good firewall won't prevent by einhverfr · · Score: 2

    Breaking into a system presupposes that the system is vulnerable. Properly securing a system will go a LONG way towards preventing this possibility. And unless the RIAA wants to engage in real computer vandalism, they will be hard pressed to break into any system I administrate.

    But again, it is the little guy they are picking on. Not the knowledgable security professional.

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  215. Don't forget... by MO! · · Score: 1

    You could then sue them under the DMCA for breaking the encryption controls you placed on YOUR Copyrighted material. You're kids singing songs with the same title as the songs they suspect are pirated material are in fact Copyrighted by you, their parent, on their behalf.

    --
    I AM, therefore I THINK!
  216. wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm so glad of using an OS where the filetype doesn't depend on the file's extension. Or are they gonna check every file on the system for the mp3 metadata?

  217. A snowball has a better chance in hell. by solios · · Score: 2

    First, about the only people that would fall victim to this ridiculous proposal would be consumers. Companies, artists, writers and programmers aren't about to let ANYONE look around there systems just because they might have MP3s - and hey, what if you actually OWN the CD to begin with? Like I'm going to carry my Fear Factory CDs with me to work every day just so the staff can see proof that I have the "legal" "right" to listen to the Fear Factory MP3s on my system. My boss knows my system is loaded, knows where I got 'em, and knows that having music on hand makes me a hell of a lot more productive.

    I'll give money to the artist for making a kick ass product- but the suits that are grubbing for this haven't a lick of musical talent in their bodies, haven't recorded a single damned song of their own, and flat out just do NOT deserve the proceeds or the right to poke at my system to begin with. Personally, I feel it's all a diversionary tactic to cover up the fact that the major labels have produced nothing of interest or value within the last five to ten years; how much money did you SAVE when you realized that out of ten albums you wanted to buy, less than three had more than two tracks worth listening to?

    Folks, the DMCA, the RIAA, the entertainment industry in general infringe on our civil rights (or are quite obviously attempting to) a hell of a lot more than any terrorist activity or threat thereof. Money may talk, and they may have most of it, but the current state of the federal bill that they're trying to work around is a serious sticking point; as is the patently obvious fact that the RIAA seems to be more concerned with the mp3 FORMAT than any method to differentiate between songs that they distribute and music on independant labels.

    [example; if something like this went down and they deleted a live recording of a friend's gig that I'd compressed to listen to later, that would technically be destruction of private property, wouldn't it?]

  218. The rest of the world? by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 2

    OK, so let me get this straight. A US firm thinks it has the right (under US law) to come and invade my PC (in the UK -- but how can they tell?), on the off chance that I have come of their copyrighted material on it (which I don't) so they can delete it, and furthermore, if they happen to trash my PC in the process by mistake, they are in no way liable? That sounds very illegal under UK law to me.

    Still, laws aside, let me see if I can reason my way through this. I bet I'd be a better cracker than they are, if I chose to be. I further bet that a lot of my colleagues and friends are, too. I further bet that there are many more of us than there are of them. It's the great thing about democracy. When you piss enough people off, you lose. Governments get un-elected, and people who want to control cyberspace get run out of it. And you know what? If they piss enough people off, all the absurd laws and lawyers in the US won't help them.

    BTW, what about legitimate use? I happen to be a member of a dancing club, and we sometimes record good dancing music (all of which we have legally bought) from various CDs onto a single compilation (which we legally play at the club, having paid for a Public Performance Licence). Would they be allowed to blitz that, if it happened to be on a PC I owned, even though it's entirely legitimate?

    --
    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  219. So lemme get this straight, by trilucid · · Score: 2


    their proposal, in essence, is designed to give private industry access to "police powers" traditionally (and currently, frequently misused) reserved for law enforcement agencies?

    Okay, that's funny in a twisted sort of way. Starting from point A, the corporate interest, let's see if we can figure out where this leads. By our current way of doing things, government at least (sometimes) has *some* accountability (well, unless it claims it can't disclose details of such action because it would "breach national security", ala FBI) to the public at large. The second we grant such powers to corporations, all bets are off.

    Sure, some would say that companies would be hesitant to misuse such powers for fear of stiff fines and legal penalties. However, I don't think so. Most companies are able to move *much* faster than the wheels of government could ever hope to turn, because they're based on the fundamental goal of competitive pursuit of profits. Gov agencies at least are supposed to be motivated purely for the common good (again, not so much recently, but I digress).

    Even in the event of companies pulling serious fast ones with this sort of thing, under much of current corporate law (IANAL) I don't think their executives could really be slapped too hard for it. The company might cease to exist under the load of fines, but perhaps not if they were large enough (hmmm... anybody remeber the "$1M/day fine" proposal for a certain software company?".

    Now, this whole post *may* be null and void for much of the /. crew, because a lot of us tend to pay very close attention to security on our boxen anyhow, and would likely make life miserable for companies attempting to bogart our tunes. Even so, I can just imagine what some ISPs would have to say about this... "you used our network to hack into OUR customers' boxes? Here, talk to our corporate attorneys now..."

    Sorry, this gets me a little hot under the collar. I'll terminate this rant now; I need another cup of coffee anyhow. Back to bash.

  220. ren *.mp3 *._mp3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There, now they can't mess with my mp3's.

    Ever think the record industry'd be better off making a better service than what pirates can offer?

    *seriously sick of the Record Industry trying to fight the world when it says 'I dont want to be anchored to a CD'.*

  221. This won't pass. by Fixer · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This can't possibly pass. This is so entirely wrong I lack words to describe it fully.

    It's illegal. Wouldn't this be a violation of "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."?

    It's got loopholes galore. In order for me to verify you do, indeed, have illegal material, I have to break into your machine. "Ooops, sorry, nothing found here. Sorry about your machine.."

    It's quite fucking hostile to me as a buyer of the RIAA's music. It's an assumption of guilt, backed up with the force of law.

    The appropriate responses? Depends on your ethics. At a minimum, don't buy any music associated with the RIAA. At most? Do everything to hit them in the pocketbook. If it takes money from them, it's useful. Fucking bastards. Yeah, I've got great respect for our legislative process now.

    --
    "Avast! Prepare for the rodgering!" THWACK! "Arrr.. me nards.."
  222. No MP3s, no problem by Com2Kid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    While I am still opposed to awful legislation like this, I must say that the people whom I am truly mad at are those people who have pirated large amounts of RIAA CDs and shared them over the internet for everybody else to download.

    It is quite attrocious that people who will get flaming mad over software piraters will think nothing at all about pirating CDs.

    Fact is people have broken the laws. And after Napster was shutdown people still broke the laws. People continue to this day to break the law. If people did not illegialy pirate CDs then there would not be a need for the RIAA to so viciously defend their copyrights.

    OK yah sure the music they put out is shitty (uh why are -you- pirating it then, eh?) and the artists get paid craptacuarly little amounts of money, and the legal CDs cost ---WAY--- to much, but that -STILL- _IS NOT_ and excues to pirate CDs.

    Quite frankly I myself have solved the problem for myself quite simply. I do not listen to RIAA CDs at all. Problem solved.

  223. Copyright. by richie2000 · · Score: 2
    Copyright is an abstract concept, not a technology that can be circumvented with a device.

    I've said this before and I'm afraid I'll probably find reason to do so again and again and again. The RIAA just does not get it and they will not get it until every group, man, woman, child and dog artist have gone independent. Sure, they'll try to sue them back, but in the long run RIAA will be as dead as the dodo with the sole difference that no mad scientist will want to hack DNS strands to get the RIAA back.

    I don't like Courtney Love's music and I don't think I would like her personality, but I respect her stand against the industry. I believe her mutiny is just the first and most publicized in an upcoming long line of artists leaving the big labels. I sure hope so, anyway. The big 'uns are to music what Microsoft is to computing - a disease. They are simply too big and it's not healthy. They are cancers - big, fast-growing blobs grabbing all around them for more money to keep growing until they have killed the host.

    I'm just thankful I'm not in the US - land of the captive and home of the scared.

    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
  224. Filing that in Michigan won't do didly squat... by Pollux · · Score: 2

    I'll file charges in michigan (my home state) against them where any hacking is considered a felony.

    Article 6, Section 2 :
    This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

    Anotherwords, no matter what the laws of the state of Michigan say, because this is a federal bill, it beats out any laws that Michigan, Oregon, Idaho, or any other state have to say on the subject.

    Translation for the man on the streetcorner: bullshit or no bullshit, it's legit.

  225. bump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and some more characters for the silly filter

  226. This will never happen by rirugrat · · Score: 1

    I might be in denial, but there is no way this is ACTUALLY going to happen.

    I would lose too much sleep over this! As a matter of fact, I wouldn't lose ANY sleep over this!

    Chris

  227. And what is the difference ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How the hell they can tell that this MP3 has been ripped by some other person and is illegal, and that this other mp3 is from my personnal CD collection ?

    They assume that every MP3 without "copy protection" is an illegal one ?

    I can't wait to see these as**oles in my firewall logs...

  228. Code Red .... by taniwha · · Score: 2

    it's pretty obvious that some RIAA exec has been reading about Code Red and thought "gee I wish we had ourselves one of those" ....

  229. Ultimate solution by Ogerman · · Score: 2

    Musicians and music lovers need to get a few clues from the Open Source movement. If you're fed up with the establishment, you don't just whine and complain. You go do something about it!

    Writing music is not that damn hard but people always make a big deal of it for some reason. Sure, if you're talking classical or big band jazz or other intricate music, then yes, you're going to need some serious time and education to do it right. But that's not what we're talking about here. That's not where RIAA members make their cash cows. No, we're talking about the people who lay down 3 or 4-chord patterns, add a weak rhythm section, then sing about their ex-ex-ex-ex-girlfriend being lonely without them or some such nonsense. Any armchair musician with a general ear for 'what sounds good' and a beginners book on music composition can do that or better.

    Try this exercise if you've got some spare time. I think you'll find it enjoyable and rewarding..

    - pick out a simple musical style and read up on it online. Read about its history, it's musical theory, and identify songs you already know that fit this style.

    - pick a rhythm style that you'll compose to and decide on a time signature and tempo

    - spend a few days writing poetry that fits the rhythmic parameters you've chosen. Write about something you feel pashionate about and let your emotions flow into your work.

    - compose the basic rhythm (bass drum and snare - think drum machine)
    - add a simple melody to sing your poetry to, spacing a simple chord progression appropriately

    - go over the melody a few times to make it properly expressive of the feeling you want to convey in the words. Imitate melodic patterns you've heard in your favorite songs

    - Congrats, your song is now ready for 1.0 alpha release. (-: Get feedback and suggestions, then flesh out the parts you kept simple at first and add a few twists.

    - The last step, of course, is to actually play the song on real instruments, so you'll need a little help from other musically talented friends.. or at least some multi-track recording software.

    If you like the final piece, go ahead and release it to the public -- the written music, your sample recordings, everything -- under an open license that keeps your name on your art but allows free distribution, performance, etc.

    Who knows, you might have more musical talent than you ever thought.

    1. Re:Ultimate solution by drnomad · · Score: 1
      You're system takes to long!


      I heard that Kily Minoque's first song "I should be so lucky", both music and vocals were written in 15 minutes. It then took only another 30 minutes to record it...

  230. Virii disguised as MP3 by ruiner13 · · Score: 1

    I'll just make a directory full of Virii that are called "Metallica - Ride the Lighning.mp3". Do they think that actions like this will get people on their side?

    --

    today is spelling optional day.

  231. I've said it once, and I'll say it again... by Maul · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Tell everyone you know to vote out incumbants in Congress. The fact that the RIAA even thinks that they can get crap like passed into law shows that they are well on their way to totally owning Congress.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  232. lobbyists ok, lawmakers need a spank by Sebastopol · · Score: 2


    sure lobbyists sometimes do some unethical things that are bad for society as a whole, but some lobbyists aren't all that bad (like moderate environmentalists). however, they need to convince a lawmaker to take up their bill/amendments.

    keep your eye on your local lawmaker, and if they introduce shit like this, get in their face as much as the law will allow. especially those of you who unfortunately have legislators (well, senators) like jesse helms, bob barr, and trent lott... my condolenses...

    --
    https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
  233. would this work? by Computer+suck! · · Score: 0

    Create a band, name it LIKE a popular band (i.e. the band name in pig-latan/7337, something that would be matched on a Napster seach for the band), then create a song, again named LIKE the bands name, i
    M0nst3r Magn3t - Bod Says No.

    Now sell this song as an MP3 for $5000 and have a friend 'buy' it. Make sure the friend has a high chance of being hacked by our good friends the RSAA, then sue.

  234. Dazed and Confused by ctimes2 · · Score: 1

    Clinton tried to do just that 2 years ago. Twice. Couldn't find 'em.

    It's not "us vs them", it's fight or flight. Since they're killing us in the one place we'd think to run too (our home land), it kind of limits our choices.

    And please, 'jingoistic'? Geez, I wonder if you read alternet on a daily basis... Try to form your own opinion next time.

    Ctimes2

    --
    My cube. My friend. My solace. My prison.
    1. Re:Dazed and Confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      We don't want to fight,

      but by jingo if we do,

      we've got the men, we've got the guns,

      and we've got the money too.



      George Bush junior is jingoistic. Just listen to one of his speeches sometime. "Freedom has been attacked" indeed.

  235. At this point... by Muttonhead · · Score: 1
    corporations are just a couple small steps away from forming their own armies, negating the need to go to Congress to by legislation in the first place.


    Of course, in foreign countries without democracies, corporations *already* hire militaries to enforce their policies, usually keeping the populace at bay while they extract valuable resources.


    If corporations get exemptions to the laws and can legally break into your computers, then I'd say they are only one small step away from forming their own armies.

    1. Re:At this point... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > corporations are just a couple small steps away from forming their own armies, negating the need to go to Congress to by legislation in the first place.



      Sorry, but an army would not be cost effective for a corporation. You would want to have a "security force" with fast response times for your specialized forces. As long as the government is providing a real army they do not need one. You do not only think that you are owned by corps., you are already.

      Economically every corp. exists to fill a place in the market. They are in existance for that reason. Under certain circumstances and if they are bloated enough the management will stop adhering to this principle. Then they will only exist to make money for themselfes and for their shareholders.

      The circumstances are already given in the US of A. And every big corp. you could name is already _way_ behind this point.

      Face it. This state is no longer "for the people, by the people", but "for the money, by the money"

      May God bless America. But God blessed a lot af insane!

  236. War by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't know who's looking to start a war faster - Bin Laden/Taliban/Bush or the RIAA. It sounds like they want to use dirty weapons and the first people who scream rape on this can cause a backlash against the entertainment industry's computers that I certainly can't imagine. They can't seriously think they're going to win a computer war. I don't know why they try.

    This does, however, make me a little wary of running WinAMP in the future, especially if some key players at Nullsoft "get laid off due to a bad economy". AOL would be a prime suspect as they're a large record label that also distributes lots of software used on almost all computers. Second guess would be Sony. Beware what happened to the H-Cards of DirecTV fame.

  237. Better Yet [Re:Making your own MP3s for hacking] by Puk · · Score: 2

    Make your own MP3, don't release it publicly, keep it on your (password-protected) machine, and when they break in, sue them under the DMCA for circumventing your copyrighted work's "technological protection measure".

    w00t.

    -Puk

  238. I think your price is messed up. by Mashiki · · Score: 1

    Uhh...$2.00 for an mp3? Try $14.95 per MP3, and then your talking RIAA's tune.

    --
    Om, nomnomnom...
  239. Mod this guy up - he's right! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes.. I saw no provision for mp3 files you made of your own music. (Not CDs you own.. your *own band* or something)
    Imagine this. You write a bunch of songs and play them. You make mp3s of them. Here comes RIAAbot, getting into your machine and deleting them all! Oh no! It takes everything else with it!

    Now we have *no legal right* to sue? The RIAA is exempt from damages?

    WHY is the *RIAA* getting their nose in an *anti-terrorism act?*

  240. Seems like a great reason to use ZoneAlarm by Goldenhawk · · Score: 2, Informative

    ... or any other program which can deny web access to selected programs. While THIS program launches the browser, at least that can be interrupted. Who knows what other tomfoolery can happen under the table?

    --
    --Brandon / Split Infinity Music

  241. Dear Mr Bin-Laden by t_allardyce · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Dear Mr Bin-Laden,

    Please could you kill COUGH!, i mean 'take-out' the members of the RIAA, and MPAA. They are responsible for all the bad foreign policies that America has pushed, and the election of G.W.Bush (the ape man). For years they have bribed judges, and politicians to do their bidding, and have recently funded a number of airstrikes on your country which they have dubbed: "Drop CD samples onto Afghanistan" where they are attempting to fix the lack of market penetration in that area.

    P.S
    They are all high on crack too

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  242. Re:So let me see - OT b!tchslap by MidnightLog · · Score: 1


    This post is the kind of apologizing for terrorism which makes me sick. Whenever I see someone talking about the U.S. "causing slow death as millions starve" (in Iraq) I get mad. The economic and political sanctions against Iraq are 100% due to the actions of the Iraqi government. Free trade with the world in general (or the U.S. in particular) is NOT some fundamental right that the U.S. is witholding from Iraq. Free trade is a priviledge that Iraq currently does not deserve. Again, this is due to the actions of the Iraqi government.


    Yes, I have most likely been trolled.

    --

    To understand what's right and wrong, the lawyers work in shifts ...

  243. simple solution by CmdrPinkTaco · · Score: 1

    VERY weakly encrypt your hard drive, then if the MPAA decides to wreak MP3 harry carry on your box, then you can sue them for violating their very own DMCA.

    It's the stupid people that pass laws to protect themselves that I love. Then you get to use their own laws against them :)

    --
    Please give your mod points to others, Im at the cap. They will appreciate it more
    1. Re:simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have to pay me $1000 to read the following message.

      PBATENQHYNGVBAF, LBH UNIR WHFG IVBYNGRQ GUR QPZN!

  244. What's next? Anal Probes? by LinuxHeadMN · · Score: 0

    What does this mean for the standard user? RIAA is gunna try to hack you. Can we legally then term this a DoS/Hack/illegal break in and attack them? I bet the RIAA would scream bloody murder if that happened.

  245. MP3!=illegal by HohlerMann · · Score: 1

    How would they know that my collection of Nine Inch Nails MP3s are legitmate copies (for my own personal use) of the CDs that I BOUGHT FROM RETAILERS? Do they have a list of CDs that I own? If so, can I have a copy (I'm too lazy to catalog them myself)?

  246. Some people get what they deserve by Kenrod · · Score: 1

    Anyone whose system is vulnerable enough to be hacked by idiots from the RIAA deserve to have their hard drives wiped and forced to listen to $18.99 Boyz-2-Men CD's for the rest of eternity.

    --
    Good heavens Miss Sakamoto - you're beautiful!
  247. If the RIAA hacks me, and I hack back by zbuffered · · Score: 1
    I have a vivid image of a guy in a striped suit and a white hat. He touches something on his belt, and then, over a loudspeaker, "Offensive personal foul(oul, oul), 15 yards. Defensive personal foul, 15 yards(ards, ards). Penalties offset, First Down!(own, own)"

    If only life were more like football.

    --
    Synergy is your friend
  248. Re:So let me see - OT b!tchslap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Well, yes, but it can easily be argued that the terrorist attacks against the US are 100% due to the actions of the U.S. government. That doesn't make them right, but come on, do I really need to go through the details on what the US has been doing in the Middle East for about fifty years now? We all know the US has been pitting governments against each other. Funding and arming groups that, even if the US didn't call them terrorists, the people they were blowing up sure did. The United States has done a lot of damage in the middle east.


    By the way, I'm just curious if you know anything about the concept of specialization? Pretty much any organism more complicated than an ameoba needs to do it in order to survive. So do individual members of a community. No-one does everything. Some people grow the food, some deliver it, others make clothes, some sanitize the telephones. You get the idea. Specialization allows us to have much more than we would have otherwise. It allows the populations of nations to become as large as they have. Without specialization, we certainly wouldn't be able to feed everyone living in places where food doesn't grow so well. Take, oh I don't know, Iraq for an example. Mainly what they do is produce oil. They can't easily produce enough food to feed themselves. Maybe with modern farming techniques and careful planning and all sorts of special equipment that they don't manufacture there they would be able to. As it is, however, they can't. They specialized to rely on other nations for a lot of what they need to function as a society. What the bloody hell do you think is going to happen there if you cut off trade!!!!!!!!! So living is a "priviledge" now is it? The Iraqi people brought this upon themselves by not revolting against Saddam Hussein and being shot did they? Right. Sure. Whatever you say.

  249. So buy something online. by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 2

    Most of the language of the bill refers to "protected machines" (machines belonging to the government or financial institutions)

    Protected machines includes machines used in interstate commerece.

    So buy something on e-bay and your machine is a "protected machine".

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  250. What a bunch of crap !!! by terrymr · · Score: 1

    Deliberately deleting somebody elses data is a crime - it shouldn't matter what your motivation is - what next copyright holders will be exempted from murder charges where they killed somebody to prevent copyright infringement.

    As if we don't have enough problems with viruses, hacking attempts etc. whe now have to worry about DOS attacks and file deletion from the record industry.

    "The discworld's inhabitants having no record industry had to fall back on more traditional forms of banditry" - Terry Pratchett

  251. Macs? by adrew · · Score: 1

    Hmmm. Everytime I read something like this it makes me glad I have a Mac (still running OS 9 for the most part).

  252. Re: thats it, im copying 50000 songs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ahh screw them, Im gona copy 50000 songs now, and never buy a cd again.

  253. Another advantage of moving to Germany by Mandelbrute · · Score: 1
    I hear ya! With each passing week, I want to move to Germany more and more.
    What's more they know how to treat Scientologists properly over there, and don't let them use the "Religeon" argument to disguise their pyramid selling con and dodge tax.

  254. this is just a test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please ignore this

  255. You can have my MP3s by racerx509 · · Score: 1

    When you pry them from my cold, dead fingers!

    --
    13 year old white supremacists are shitty web designers.
  256. time to divert the planes. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Okay, where is the RIAA headquarters? It's getting about time to divert the planes!! In self defense, of course. Isn't hacking a terrorist act now? I really need to defend myself. And using airplanes and bombs seems to be a legitimate way. According to the US government, it is.

    Right and wrong are so much bent and twisted nowadays - more than ever before. Ouuch, this huuuurrts.

  257. Re:So let me see - OT b!tchslap by Evil+MarNuke · · Score: 1

    Buddy, take one step back and look at the world as a whole. What do you see? A bunch of men fighting each other. Look who is fighting. Nations that are more conerned about warring against each other for some fucked up "holy war" then feeding their own people.

    Now look at the rest of the world. You'll realize the nations that America are friends with are very civil. They are peaceful people. They take care of thier own. Prove me wrong, I dare you.

    Have you ever broken up a fight? Well America is trying to do the same thing. America is trying to get people to be peaceful. That is our goal, if people die, sorry, but this is a war damn it.

    --
    The journey is better then the end.
  258. Re:So let me see - OT b!tchslap by Twylite · · Score: 2

    The US is withholding Free Trade from Iraq. It has not allowed any other member of the world community to decide independantly how they wish to deal with Iraq: if a country does not ceed to the US imposed sanctions, it too faces sanctions from the US.

    --
    i-name =twylite [http://public.xdi.org/=twylite], see idcommons.net
  259. CNET: Slowing transmission? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    From C|NET:

    The new strategy would take advantage of file-swapping networks' own weaknesses, amplifying them to the point where download services appear even more clogged and slow to function than they are today. Because most peer-to-peer services are unregulated, the quality of connections and speed of downloads already varies wildly based on time of day and geographic location.

    The software technology, according to industry sources, would essentially act as a downloader, repeatedly requesting the same file and downloading it very slowly, essentially preventing others from accessing the file. While stopping short of a full denial-of-service attack, the method could substantially clog the target computer's Internet connection.


    Besides clogging the user's internet conenction, do you suppose the RIAA considered what this might imply for bandwidth usage on the Internet in general? We don't need the RIAA purposefully sucking up bandwidth on tens of thousands of machines because they are too lazy or don't have evidence to prosecute offenders legally.

  260. A Correction by w4rma · · Score: 1

    ksheff said:
    "The starving people of Iraq only have Hussein to blame for their condition. It's obvious he has no problem letting them die if it makes him look good in the eyes of other radicals and it makes the whiny bleeding hearts in the West turn against their governments.

    Pacifism can act more effectively against democracy than for it. -- George Orwell, 1941"

    I don't want to see Orwell's name attached to the type of non-critical thinking, nationalist(otherwise known as Orwellian) point of view that you are promoting. Therefore, I feel the need to correct you on this:

    Orwell's own phrase "objective pro-fascist" (from a 1942 publication in the Partisan Review) is exactly the kind of standard-issue Stalinist polemic that Orwell ended up so vigorously rejecting in his best work. Orwell was never a Stalinist, but later said that he was driven to use language he regretted by "the lunatic atmosphere of war" (Partisan Review, 1944). That same year he specifically rejected the Stalinist use of the word "objective fascist" to smear people who are not Fascists at all, but who do things which others believe are helpful to Fascism ("As I Please", Dec. 1944)."
    Source: http://www.mediawhoresonline.com/main.htm

    "The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."
    Source: George Orwell, "Notes on Nationalism," 1945 http://www.zmag.org/quotes/quotesResults.cfm?topic 1=War

    As for myself, I am neither a Hawk nor a Dove but something in the grey area, between. I have heard that this position is called an Owl. I seek justice, not revenge, and I question and research everything in support of the U.S.

    1. Re:A Correction by ksheff · · Score: 2

      I pulled it out of a recent Sunday Times piece

      George Orwell noted in 1941: "In so far as it hampers the British war effort, British pacifism is on the side of the Nazis and German pacifism, if it exists, is on the side of Britain and the USSR. Since pacifists have more freedom of action in countries where traces of democracy survive, pacifism can act more effectively against democracy than for it. Objectively the pacifist is pro-Nazi." Elsewhere he wrote of the "unadmitted motive" of pacifism as being "hatred of western democracy and admiration of totalitarianism".
      As far as I'm concerned the he is as correct today as he was sixty years ago.
      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
  261. and what about Bush? by Lord_Sy · · Score: 1

    Bush is the worst terrorist in the planet.
    Why don't you go a kill him?
    Because you voted him.
    So if you like a terrorist then he is no
    longer a terrorist. But if someone don't
    likes your terrorist ways, then he's
    called a terrorist.

    Fuck you, yankis kapitalistas hijos de puta.

    --
    --- "pero toda poesía es hostil al capitalismo"
  262. Orwellian by w4rma · · Score: 1

    I never disputed that Orwell said those things during WWII. What I am saying is that his earlier statements about pacifism are taken out of context as they are "exactly the kind of standard-issue Stalinist polemic that Orwell ended up so vigorously rejecting" in his later writings.

    You statements about the "starving people of Iraq" are exactly the types of statements that he warned against in later works:

    "So far as it goes, the distinction between an atrocity and an act of war is valid. An atrocity means an act of terrorism which has no genuine military purpose. One must accept such distinctions if one accepts war at all, which in practice everyone does. Nevertheless, a world in which it is wrong to murder an individual civilian and right to drop a thousand tons of high explosive on a residential area does sometimes make me wonder whether this earth of ours is not a loony bin made use of by some other planet."
    Source: George Orwell, "As I Please", Tribune, 31 December, 1943 http://www.resort.com/~prime8/Orwell/warguilt.html

  263. YES! That's why they are trying for an exemption.. by BillX · · Score: 1
    It wasn't clear from the blurb, but the USA Act doesn't open loopholes to hacking at all. It proposes severe penalties for hacking where the combined damage exceeds $5000 USD. It can then be declared a terrorist act.

    What the RIAA is trying to do is make an amendment to this bill exempting them from the Act. It means that they (and no one else) can hack where they think there is piracy going on, without facing the penalties anyone else would.

    --
    Caveat Emptor is not a business model.
  264. Translation of the RIAA's statement: by sllort · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Allow me to translate (I speak evil):

    Contrary to what you may have seen, read or heard the recording industry never lobbied congress to give us the ability to hack into PCs, plant viruses, destroy MP3 files on people's computers, and worse. That is complete nonsense, and totally untrue.

    We don't want to make laws so we can haX0rZ j00.

    in fact, a number of companies have developed the technology for these technical measures. Some of them may already be in use, but at RIAA, we've been analyzing the law to make sure that using these technical measures would be completely lawful.

    We just want to watch you. This may involve sending you some packets. And HaX0rzING j00! f3WL!

    when we looked at it, we found that one of the provisions in this massive bill would have changed existing law in a way that would prevent us from using technical measures that would otherwise have been perfectly lawful.

    Senate F3wLz wanted to outlaw our HaX0rZing.

    The provision wasn't aimed at anything we were doing or thinking of doing.

    Congress would never F with us, we own them.

    this change in the law would have prevented us from using technical measures to protect copyrighted works.

    Congress got all scared, goofed, and forgot which side their bread was buttered on, by passing a law that would keep us from HaX0ring evil pirate thieves who are costing us billions by not buying cds! Give to us your billions!

    . The staff confirmed that the effect on us was inadvertent, and asked us to propose a fix, a "patch" to eliminate the problem for our industry.

    When we stepped up, F3Wlz realized they'd better let us HaX0r you or else!

    There is nothing unusual about what happened here

    We buy these people all the time. You are powerless. Move along.

    It's one thing to be criticized for what we do - that's fair game.

    Ya, ya, we're Satan.

    But to be vilified for what we don't do - that's very disheartening.

    We weren't really going to HaX0rZ you - unless you hadn't noticed and we'd snuck it into the bill.

    Half of what is written about us is just plain wrong.

    Half of what is written about us true, and the other half is true too but we're spending billions to convince you otherwise.

    Sincerely, the well paid evil people.