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Congressional Anti-Piracy Caucus Formed
questionlp writes "News.com reports that three members from the House of Reps has formed a caucus that aims to stop piracy and make for stronger IP laws. One of the members of the caucus: helped author a note last fall to 74 fellow Democrats assailing the Linux open-source operating system's GNU General Public License as a threat to America's 'innovation and security.'"
Where is the Fair Use and Consumer Rights Caucus?
Oh yeah, there is none.
Please email all complaints to root@127.0.0.1 and the issue will be dealt with in due time.
...Let them do whatever they want to IP laws here. Shut down every server that hosts MP3s and DIVX movies. I'll just go to Korean / Dutch / Nigerian Servers and download the stuff. And I don't care what kind of copy protection they mandate. There's always a way through the analogue hole. Great waste of my tax dollars.
Those are great resources, but honestly, saying Bush isn't the US president makes you sound like you're in denial. Bush was elected because of how the political system here was designed, not because he 'cheated'. You should gripe about the system behind his victory, not some imaginary crime committed by his campaign. And pretending he's not the president isn't going to keep him from being re-elected, so I suggest focusing on the legitimate reasons to dislike him instead of imaginary ones. For example, his appointment of ashcroft. Who would want to re-elect bush if they knew a man came with him who is trying to create a police state? That's the kind of arguments you need to make to win people like me over, otherwise you're just preaching to the choir.
using namespace slashdot;
troll::post();
In the absence of an opposing view, your representatives believe what they are told. Tell them differently.
/. a website we should be able to make a point in DC.
Be concise, polite, and specific. If we can
Contacting your Representative -- The Easy Way
Don't wait. Do it now or don't whine about it later.
As soon as you say ACLU I differ with you.
Too much defending the weird instead of defending the righteous cost the ACLU any chance of my support.
See how strange politics is?
HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
It isn't time to spam your Congressmonkey yet. They haven't DONE anything, or even proposed to do anything yet. When they actually start doing something, then it will be time to act.
:)
I disagree - if you happen to be a constituent of said Congressmonkeys, you are paying their salaries, and you therefore should complain often & loudly when they do anything that you don't feel represents your interests.
American way and all.
[...] three members [of] the House of Reps has formed a caucus that aims to [kill open source software and fair use in the name of "stopping piracy"]
Hurrah!
Up to now the RIAA/MPAA/Microsoft/etc.-corrupted congresscritters have been pretty much anonymous. When they weren't actually introducing a bill you couldn't tell them from the general crowd of congressional dupes.
Now we will have an explicit way to track the congressional ringleaders and target them for defeat - in primaries and general elections.
Hot DAMN!
(Ask anybody who helped take out Roberti, Roos, or Foley how a grass-roots movement works.)
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
- AOL-Time-Warner
s oft Corporation
He's taken money from the very people that his legislative plans will benefit. Can any sane, rational person honestly believe that this is not a conflict of interest? This is not right, and it's symptomatic of the legalized bribery that is the core problem of the American political system.ASCAP
MediaOne
Micro
Fox
RIAA
Sony
Walt Disney
Furthermore, the contributions from the PACs listed above don't constitute anywhere near the majority of his campaign funding. He's a democrat, and most of the PAC contributions are from labor unions. The larger part of his campaign expenditures were thus paid by organizations that purport to represent workers - sometimes also known as consumers. Despite this, he is acting as the lapdog of the content industry. As Mark Twain said, an honest politician is one that stays bought.
Wexler thus fails both the idealistic and pragmatic tests for honesty. I submit that he needs to be tarred, feathered, and run out of town on a rail.
But the U.S. Constitution is there to protect the wierd. The conformist and majority opinion doesn't need protection, by definition.
The basic rights apply to all -- not just the mainstream. Voodoo and animal sacrifices are just as protected as Baptists and televangilism.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
So where's the caucus to keep these "watchdogs" from over-abusing their powers, jailing kids who accidentally mention the words "Harry Potter" somewhere online, or threaten to shut down universities' internet connections during finals because one of the professors may have a file that might be illgal according to some law.
You know, protection from overbearing abuse, the rules that this country is based on... where's the caucus to protect people and their rights?
Since when did people only apply to people who were located in large office towers and made millions a year, scamming average people for all they are worth.
SecondPageMedia - Wha
Haven't done anything? Did you read the article? Smith went on a smear campaign against Linux. Wexler co-sponsored the bill that would have legalized computer sabotage by the entertainment industry. Now they are going to waste taxpayer money and divert resources badly needed in other areas to defending us from "piracy." While forming a caucus is not the end of the world, the caucus will be the most significant voice in the congressional debates over these issues, and it behooves democracy for citizens to demand that other perspectives be represented on the caucus.
Also it's one thing for Smith to represent MS's interests as the representative from that region, but it's another to act as their hired PR flak.
Looks like the Crongressional Dip$hits are at it again.
Perhaps they'll decide to save on legislature time and just try to roll the DMCA and the Patriot Act into one and just go ahead and lock up anyone with any sort of recording device as a Terrorist Threat.
Ya ya ya... I have zero faith in our government to ever not have it's head so far up it's ass when dealing with anything that is even remotely related to the tech sector or individual rights as opposed to corporate self interests.
Somehow, I have a feeling I'm not alone there.
Anyway, time to toss some moolah to the EFF, because they're gonna need it.
Pass the hat.
Is M$ starting some sort of a campaign against Linux?
Or, is it just other's paranoia about U.S. security?There is no spoon or sig.
It is amusing when petty brick and mortar governments think they can play on our digital turf. Perhaps it's time we showed them that the nation of geeks is joining the UN. The US is not the most powerful nation in the world, it is not the greatest super power at all. The cyber nation is the most powerful superpower, the leaders aren't elected, they earn their stake with blood, sweat, and too much damn caffiene!
Headline: "'Open Source' Hackers Shut Down Internet, Demand Control of Congress"
I can't imagine Congress ever outlawing Linux, but if there was anything that could bring that day closer, this is probably it.
I'm the worlds biggest Bush basher (please, no jokes... Okay, maybe just one or two), but I think the issue you mention has been discredited as a valid complaint (ie. it didn't happen like popularly re-reported, and has not been shown to have been a likely contributor to Gore's loss).
That said, the Supreme Court's decision in the matter is still a shameful mark on American history ('no precedent' indeed).
I'm happy to hear specific and credible evidence to the contrary. (seriously)
"It's overkill, of course. But you can never have too much overkill." - Anonymous Slashdot Coward
That RMS is the next Osama bin Laden? In that case, he's already got the foot-long beard down.. Now all he needs is a turban.
What would, I think, make the most difference would be to write to Smith and tell him that if he persists in his unAmerican campaign against opensource software, you're going to send money to anyone who opposes him in the next election. And then follow through, if he doesn't change his position. A website devoted to taking donations for that purpose, and reporting unfavorably on Smith's activities would be a good thought-provoker for Smith. When next year rolls around, it would be a good time to remind slashdotters with a little fun money what Smith stands for. Could be a substantial source of anxiety for Smith.
When will you people grow up?
Copyright protection laws (including Anti-Piracy) are great for Free Software!
Is copyright law was enforced 100%, 80 percent of the world's computer users would have been Free Software users by now.
$600 for MS Office? I don't think so.
If you don't like paying for music- don't support corporate artists.
Form a band of your own, for daemon's sake!
I've been generating my own music (i'm a techno freak) for years. And guess what, ambient music is easy easy easy to make on your own.
Breaking rules is for kids, Making rules of their own is for adults.
The more you rant about Freedom and Piracy, the more power to the establishment to link Free Software and Piracy.
I didn't go to see the Matrix. I haven't bought a Music CD in 5 years. Grow up and Fight!
--- Nothing but Blood and Kosmos
Trickle-down intellectual property law?
Trickle-down freedom?
[cough]
Everyone writing to their congressentity on the same day would make quite a bit of difference, especially if those letters are polite, concise, and well-thought-out.
Looks like someone just fell off the turnip truck.
In America, only two things really matter to a politician: power and money. Slashdotters don't have any of the first, but together they do have some of the second. Of course, there's no way these scumbags will buck their sugar daddies no matter what the provocation (skeletons, closets, connect the dots on your own), but you *could* use the money to back whoever is opposing the slimeballs in the next election.
That's your only real option. Sponsor someone less evil than the person currently in office and hope he doesn't bend over and invite MS/the RIAA/the MPAA to give him the shaft once he's in office and safe from your wrath.
Damn, it should be required that you boys and girls work for a congressman for a year, preferably while in high school. If the congress critter doesn't turn you off by trying to fuck you at every opportunity, his/her other activities will be more than enough to throw you off your feed for life. I *guarantee* you that.
Unless, of course, you want to be a sleazy criminal sell-out just like them. Or a drug-addict, alcoholic, deserter like our President....
Max
My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
Remember that politicians are people. President Bush raised far more money than the Democrats in 2000 because he targetted middle income families, and didn't spend as much time as he normally would've contacting big businesses.
YOU do make a difference. The reason why the democrats are consistently coming out pro-big-business lately is because the grass-root democrats won't support them. Ask a democrat, "When is the last time you gave a buck to a candidate?" Then ask the same question to a republican. Which party do you think is eating from the hands of the constituency?
I'll admit, the Republican Party doesn't do what I wish they did 100% of the time, but they are aiming in the general direction. Deregulation, lowering taxes, beefing up our borders are all things I feel are important. You'll find me and millions like me are going to put a couple bucks into our republican candidates. That is going to sway them away from big business, and more towards our interests.
Washington State Republicans have broken completely from Boeing -- one of the reason why Boeing is leaving -- for this very same reason. They don't need their cash anymore. The republicans in WA are more than willing to pop out a $20 bill to support their own candidates as long as they do what the supporters want. (HINT: This next budget coming down is pretty much what we wanted. Expect a big republican win next year.)
As long as you are giving a buck or two to your candidate, and millions of you are doing the same, you will have bought their vote. You get to write a letter to them that starts: "Dear Representative, I gave $20 to your campaign last year, but I will be giving $50 to your opponent this time unless..." which always gets more attention than "Dear Representative, I am a whiny brat who will never give a dime to your campaign."
Remember, Big Business lives off of our buck. We can strangle them with boycotts if we so desire. (You ever notice how whimpy the business people get when they are faced with consumer outrage?) There is no way someone as dependent on our cash, and who can only turn a couple of percentage points on it for profit, can every compete with our cash going directly into the pockets of our representatives. We really do have the power. We really do control the game -- but only if we get in the ring and fight!
So if you want to start a "Fair Use Consumer Advocacy Group", give a couple of bucks to your favorite politician who is generally going in your direction, and tell them where you want them to go. Convince others to do the same. A couple of thousand dollars and a couple of hundred votes later, you will have them eating out of your hand. They will come to you and ask, "Which way should I vote to get your help in next year's campaign?"
If you don't know where to start, start small. Look for state representatives or city council members you want to support. Check out their record. Call them up and ask them how you can help. When you get to know them, and you begin to trust them, and they you, give them your money. Trust me, it works, and it is really simple. And as long as enough people are doing it, we'll keep the government in check.
The radical sect of Islam would either see you dead or "reverted" to Islam.
If you want people to listen to the EFF, start becoming memebers. Let EFF say that they represent a million people who would be very upset if a law that introduces stronger IP laws that affect fair use.
sri
"...blamed P2P networks for spreading..."
I always thought that in US, in general the argumentation was, for example, "guns doesn't kill, people do". So how come when it comes to copyright infringement and such, it is always the tool that is the cause, and not people.
From the article:
What about the concerns of millions of Americans whose livelihoods depend on free access to technology? Open source software creates jobs, because it creates the opportunity for someone with an idea to build a business without having to have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in software. For instance, I have started a software development business that I would not have been able to afford to start without free software:
I am sure I could come up with a couple hundred thousand more if I really thought about it. The point is that I don't have the money for any of that. If things go well I plan to hire several developers over the next year or two. That's as many as ten jobs that wouldn't exist if it weren't for free software.
Seriously, the argument that free software is "A threat to America's innovation and security," makes about as much sense as the one that says that giving rich people a tax break will lead to more jobs. They neglect to mention that the vast majority of the jobs are with large companies that already pay almost zero taxes. Most of the tax cut goes to rich people who will stow it away so that they are richer rather than companies with any significant number of jobs or middleclass taxpayers who do the bulk of the consuming that drives the economy.
What these people need to do is get a clue. The record companies are going to go out of business if they keep doing things the way they have always done them. Since when is it good business to whine and moan until someone legislates away our freedom rather than innovating and coming up with a viable new way to make money? The reality is that these businesses have to change their way of thinking or they will die. The only real question is how much pain can they put the rest of us through before they do finally die. Can they successfully destroy the American way of life first? They're trying.
Actually, that kind of piracy still is a huge problem. It also involves loss of life, but does congress do anything about it?
Given how many "terrorists" turn out of be either US government trained or funded. It's quite possible that the US Congress does quite a bit about piracy... Just not the sort of things which would result in fewer pirates.
I'm sure to buy a poltician in Indonesia, for instance, is much more expensive.
This is good American innovation.
It's like Congress letting Jack Valenti write the text of the DMCA. You can't buy better custom made legislation than this.
(maybe that should be Congress's new advertising slogan?)
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.