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Open Debate Between RIAA VP And DMCA Critic
A GW student writes "The George Washington University's School of Engineering and Applied Science along with the Cyberspace Policy Institute are sponsoring some kind (hasn't really been decided yet) of debate between Stanley Pierre-Louis, Vice President Legal Affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America and Professor James Boyle of Duke Law School. Remember, Prof. Boyle just received an anonymous $1 million to fight the DMCA. The event is open to the public. It will take place on Tuesday October 8 in Washington, DC on GW's campus. The abstract and other details are here. Stick around, and the next day you can go to the Supreme Court to see Lawrence Lessig argue Eldred v. Ashcroft."
It would be good if they would encourage open debate on such subjects before they became la though, but I suppose any law which is bought in the interests of big business is at best one-sided.
This idea was invented by Shampoo.
I checked the link regarding the info--does anyone know if the debate will be televised, streamed, radio broadcasted, or transcribed? I'd love to be able to read/hear/watch it somehow.
Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
Despite the appearence of justice for sale, I'd like to thank the anonymous (coward) donor for their contribution. Hopefully, it will help clear the air and let the truth be seen. However, I feel we're preaching to the converted. These issues need to be publicized in a way that reaches the largely non tech public in a way that they can understand the unfair and illegal practices of the recording industry. Hopefully, artists will turn their backs on the cash and speak out for liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness.
This could turn out to be as fair as Gene Ray's demands for a Time Cube debate. "I will give $1,000.00 to any person who can disprove 4 days in each earth rotation." It's hard to argue with illogic supported by illogic and get something remotely cogent. Think presidential debates. Conclusion: garbage in, garbage out.
Although this is possible, it is certainly not the case. Mp3s are not 'perfect digital copies', yet mp3s are the files that (for the most part) are being ditributed. Perhaps when broadband gives us LAN speeds, we'll see wav files being traded to the point of mp3s. Until then, 'perfect digital copies' (of music) still require access to the origial media. (For most people.)
Most people can still listen to their cassettes and scratchy records and be fine with the imperfections, so mp3s with their ease of storage and portabillity won't be going away anytime soon. People want a convenient way to listen to music, be it 8-tracks, Cds, cassettes, LPs, mp3s, or what-have-you. Wav files aren't that convenient. Yet.
Your comment tells me that you do not understand the ramifications of the DMCA and how this Act actually hurts America and its ability to progress in science and technology and it will eventually negatively impact how we learn, read, and develop in all areas of growth.
If I had the money I would give more to help out with this cause. We need to stop the government from allowing corporations to stomp on our rights solely for their benefit.
- J
I just hope there aren't any fanatics in the crowd. There's a fine line between supporting your cause and driving others away from it, and there are people out there that can't see that line.
At worst, I hope the more sensible people shout down the fanatics that are on the same side.
Dark Nexus
"Sanity is calming, but madness is more interesting."