Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Patriot Act Used to Enforce Copyright Law?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the no-big-shocker-there dept.

iter8 writes " The Stargate SG-1 Information Archive is reporting that the Feds filed charges against Adam McGaughey, creator of SG1Archive.com. The website is a fan site for the television show Stargate SG-1. The charges allege that Adam used the website to engage in Criminal Copyright Infringement and Trafficking in Counterfeit Services. Two interesting things about the charges are that they were apparently set in motion by a complaint by our friends at the MPAA and the FBI invoked a provision of the USA Patriot Act to obtain financial records from his ISP. Is copyright infringment now a terrorist act?"

3 of 725 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yes it is... by dave420 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Libertarians are just republicans who don't like the word "republican". sheesh. libertarians are the same as all the other politicians.

  2. begin sarcasm.. by t_allardyce · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If taco is truly a Bush loving PATRIOT of his country he will delete this whole story right NOW and just walk away! Obviously this so-called American has NO regard for his country, he is a TRAITOR! Anyone who loves America will surely mod me up!

    The PATRIOT Act is more than a tool against conventional 'terrorists', a terrorist is also ANY un-American and those who would question our great leader (yes even though i am not currently an American i still consider George W Bush a great leader of the freedom loving world) how can you question a law that keeps your CHILDREN safe at night? Maybe he hates children too? for fucks sake will someone PLEASE think of the children here!?

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  3. Laws are mis-used all the time. by bryanp · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    A classic example is the use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) of 1970 in a 1986 lawsuit by the National Organization of Women against Operation Rescue. RICO was designed specifically to go after organized crime (Mafia), not to stop people from protesting outside clinics. In the end the lawsuit was overturned by the Supreme Court. Hopefully misuse of the Patriot Act will be similarly overturned.

    (now watch as I get modded down by people who assume I'm not pro-choice because I disagree with this usage of the RICO statute)

    --
    "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper