MPAA, Microsoft Testify Piracy Funds Terrorism

GuyMannDude writes "[Yesterday's] Oversight Hearing on "International Copyright Piracy: Links to Organized Crime and Terrorism" featured the MPAA and Microsoft testifying that software and movie DVD counterfeiting is an acute problem, with criminal gangs operating factories in Russia, Malaysia and other countries that have weak copyright laws. They further claim that intellectual property piracy is a vehicle for financing or supporting acts of terror." There's another article about the hearing at Infoworld.

Comments

Scaremoungering

[The Real Chrisjc]

Doesn't this sound like the MPAA, Microsoft a la RIAA trying to make piracy sound like terrorism, and get the public all jumpy and hate piracy?

Next, they will be saying that filesharing funds terrorism too. ..

This is why

[Anonymous Coward]

And for those who ask why we here on slashdot bash the utter shit out of microsoft, this is JUST why. They're full of shit. They use all means they can do strengthen their position. They'll take advantage of anything they can to grab a little more legal strength as a monopoly.

They've claimed silly things in the past to aid themselves

They've screwed over other companies to aid themselves

They've screwed over their own users to aid themselves ...and they'll just keep doing it.

Jurisdiction

[Phroggy]

Wait a minute. We need tougher laws in the United States, because organized crime gangs in Russia and Malaysia are counterfitting Windows CDs (including the hologram, so people can't tell it's not official) and selling them, which is already illegal? What exactly can the USDOJ do to stop this?

Re:they are getting desparate

[garcia]

my favorite is that Marijuana use funds terrorism. Funny, most of the Marijuana sold in the US is from farms in KY and TN... Unless Terrorists like to reside in the hills of KY and TN I doubt this is true...

+5 Funny for Microsoft and the MPAA!

Microsoft funds terrorism....

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Seriously,..remember the Muslim Charity that was nailed funneling money to al Qaeda? Well here's the news story.. (Google Cache)

In case you don't have time to read the story, MS admitted to giving Benevolence International, the Muslim charity that funnled money to al-qaeda, around $20,000. You can buy a lot of box cutters with that money.

MS had better not throw stones in their glass house. And if you're going to start giving money to charities, it's a good idea to research them and make sure they are legit. Say what you will but MS is SUPER guilty of not doing research on this "charity".

Drugs are bad, mmkay?

[nervous_twitch]

Of course, even if money from piracy funds terrorism, this assumes you're going to buy the copies these piracy groups make. Why should I buy something pirated in another country.... when I can copy it myself in the privacy(or not) of my own home?

I don't think terrorism is a good thing, but I'm getting sick of all the reports:

"Sometimes, _________ is used to fund terrorism, so _________ is evil."

Drugs are bad because buying them funds terrorism. Yep, that's right. Even when it's homegrown. :P

I know that all those media conglomerates are the true source of funding for these things. So I'm going to buy my movies from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and friends from now on.

I'm sure I could find just as sketchy of a connection between the media companies and terrorism as they can find between [insert comman activity here] and terrorism.

All Together Now, With Feeling

[E-Rock-23]

BULLLLLLLLLLLLSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

This is nothing more than a power grab. Plain and simple. That's the only explaination.

You want to know who's funding Osama bin Laden? Osama himself is. That wacky guy has almost $300 million dollars, and it's all his. He's bankrolling his own operation. We've already proven that his buddies have also been funding him, too. Hardcore militant Arabs are all about one thing: sticking to their guns and ousting technology in favor of hardline Muslim rule. That means oppressing women, forcing their will on people, and keeping things in the stone age. The only two uses they have for technology is A) Keeping Osama alive (he's on kidney dialasys) and B) using it against us to further his agenda.

Microsoft and the MPAA/RIAA are only concerned about two things: losing money, and keeping control over their respective industries.

I have only two words for them: Fuck 'em.

Re:convenient bandwagon

[computechnica]

Bin Ladden's money came from his family that does construction work for the Oil industry in Saudi Arabia.

So does this mean that Oil use funds terrorism??

Re:I'm just not sure which way I want to fund terr

[Simon]

For the benefit of the MTV generation, here's some quick info about where terrorists get thier money from:

Where Do Terrorists Get Their Money? (Real format embedded)

If you can't view Real format video directly in your browser, here is a complete URL that you can cut 'n' paste into the "Open Location" menu item of Real Player, or use "Open With":

http://www.adbusters.org/abtv/movies/spotlight/Thi nkTank3/real_high.rpm

Thanks go to Adbusters.org.

--
Simon

war on terror = the new communism

[phrantic]

This is the political version of FUD.

Pick something that people hate and use the hatred of as a vechicle to drive all kinds of crap under the nose of joe public

"Uh huh, we'd like clean air too buddy, but you know it's them damn terrorists"
"Drilling for oil in the rain forest, before we sell it to the corporate burger guys to raise cattle in inhumane conditions, we'd love to stop it too but you know it's them damn terrorists"
"we'd love to stop bugging your phone but you know ...."
repeat until the next election, kiss baby, smile, wave at camera.

I am taking suggestions, on what will take over from Terrorism, open source anyone?

Re:I love todays propaganda, it's so transparent

[Reziac]

You took the words right outta my mouth. And I was particularly croggled by this statement:

Representative Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, praised the hearing for highlighting the "disastrous connection" between copyright piracy and organized crime. "I can't help but sit here and wonder ... if parents fully understand the ramifications of what it is to steal a movie or pirate a song," he said. "If more American parents understood the connection between the pirating of intellectual property and organized crime, I think then there'd be a much more effective public relations response in our own country to better appreciate the disastrous ramifications."

Intended implication being "If your kids illegally download music, they will grow up to be Mafia shills or even terrorists!!"

The truly scary thing is that some people will actually believe this!! One has to pity their kids. :(

Re:Oh No!!!

[Bonker]

Mod parent up. This is the gaping, Mack Truck-sized hole in the argument.

The only rational way to argue that piracy funds terrorism is that organized pirates sell pirated copies and transfer the funds to terrorist organizations in order to buy weapons, supplies, Swiss-Army Knives, Freedom Fries and other terroristy things like that.

If all piracy takes place on P2P networks, there's no cash, and thus no profit for Al-Qaida or Iraq.

There are real activities that fund terrorism, such as the illegal sale of oil from sanctioned countries and diamond and gold mining. Trading the latest Britney Spears track, the latest Hollywood movie DVD rip, or the latest Microsoft OS ISO rip is so far removed from terrorism that it's laughable to try to associate them. This is an ad hominem attack of the most blatant kind.

Chilling quote

[PhrackCreak]

Last year, as previously reported, a bill was introduced to Congress that originally was designed to address the hologram issue. But it morphed into something that would make it a federal felony for people to try and trick devices into playing their own music or running their own computer programs.

Read that again - federal felony for ... playing their own music or running their own computer programs.