Slashdot Mirror
House Bill to Make File-Sharing an Automatic Felony
JAgostoni writes "Wired news has an article about a new bill that would make it a felony to upload a file to a P2P network." EFF has a copy of the bill online. Conyers and Berman both get over a quarter of their campaign funding from Hollywood, according to opensecrets.org. You may remember Berman from this bill and this one.
This bill imposes penalties for unploading files containing copyrighted content where the uploader does not have the permission of the copyright holder. It's perfectly reasonable. The Slashdot article, on the other hand, is sensationalist nonsense.
What's this got to do with freedom and liberty? They're talking about theft of copyrighted material.
As for needing another law on the books, I agree with you. Why add another law to the books to further define who owns what they've created? The existing copyright laws already cover this kind of theft.
If you have a music (or other copyrighted work) file, and you didn't buy it, technically you stole it. If you've only done this a couple times, why should they bother? I'm normally a more "law and order" type person, but there comes a time when the RIAA et al have to cut their losses and HOPE that by being intelligent (read: lenient), they'll actually INCREASE sales because more of their music is being played! The more of their music that's played, the more likely people will actually want to go out and BUY it.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a point that the RIAA just can't get through its collective thick skull.
I think the RIAA should ask the artists how they individually want their music to be treated, and then ask for law enforcement help.
"Sometimes the truth is stupid." - Lawrence, creator of Prime Intellect
Yes, I'm close (less than 2 years) to finishing my Ph.D., but I...HAVE...HAD IT!! If this bill passes, I promise that I'm quitting university and fleeing to Canada, New Zealand, or some other hospitable nation and never setting foot in the U.S. ever again! I'll finish my degree elsewhere, even if it means starting from scratch.
This is absolute loonacy. I know 1933 Germany when I see it, Godwin's Law be damned!
"Anonymous Coward" is for whistleblowers, not unpopular opinions.
Have you ever sped? Did you get thrown in jail for 5 years and a $250,000 fine? No, I'm sure the fine and punishment was befitting. That is all I'm asking. I know that trading mp3's is wrong. But it doesn't mean I have to sit by and watch the corporations continue to buy off our government, cripple technology.
Ruining someone's life because of some trumped up "potential" sales loss is wrong. And yes, a felony will ruin someone's life. Good luck at the interviews explaining why you have a felony on your resume. Assuming you got an interview.