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New California Law Bans Anonymous Media File Sharing

Posted by timothy on from the now-that's-helpful dept.

An anonymous reader writes "It looks like California will soon be requiring emails to share files. The story from SF Gate has a few details as Ahnold goes on his signing spree in Sacramento. 'Aiding the industry that helped him gain worldwide fame, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday aimed at discouraging online piracy by requiring anyone disseminating movies or music on the Internet to disclose their e-mail address.' Also he signed a bill to limit the sale of video games."

4 of 679 comments (clear)

  1. What's with these laws? by strictfoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I mean, I really really don't it. It's already illegal share movies. Now in order for them to allow me to commit an illegal act I have to share my email address?

    What's next: "Before you rob a store you must inform the local police of your intentions"?

    --
    I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.
    1. Re:What's with these laws? by Bastian · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The idea is that if take one act and turn it into several crimes by breaking the act into little pieces and making each of those illegal (in addition to the primary act), you will be able to lock someobody up for a very long time if they are caught committing even a very minor offense. This is supposed to act as a deterrent.

      I'm sure even a kindergartener could find several logical flaws and unfounded assumptions inherent in this line of thinking, and anyone old enough to have research skills could also find a huge stack of numbers that also show that this is silly. Still, it is the basis for a large percentage of the USA's legal opus, including some laws that most people seem to really like (hate crimes, for example).

      (completely unrelated, I swear)Fun Fact: Did you know the USA has a larger percentage of its population in prison than any other democracy (and most other authorotarian states) in the world?

  2. So??? by El · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So now to distribute movies, you simply have to create a hotmail account, even though you never have to actually log in and check your mail? Just wait 30 days, Microsoft automatically deletes any Cease and Desist letters, and you're home free! I'm not quite clear on what this law accomplishes...

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  3. Newspaper on seat? by HPNpilot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You can't necessarily leave your newspaper on the seat when you're done. At least not if the newspaper companies have a say.

    Metro-North railroad (the commuter lines into NYC) now consider leaving a paper on your seat as "littering" and are talking about fines and revocation of the monthly passes of violators. When you get to Grand Central station there are specially designed bins to throw your used paper into. They are locked and were supplied by the New York Times so you cannot reach in and get a used paper. And if you somehow do, the transit police are instructed to treat it as theft and arrest you.

    Of course you can *hand* the paper to someone, they don't seem to have that one covered (yet).