Slashdot Mirror
Decriminalizing File Swapping
IAmTheDave writes "Wired reports that judicial activism is taking hold in France, much to the dismay of the recording industry, as judges are beginning to suspend the sentences of convicted file swappers. Further, they believe they are starting a revolution against the draconian laws at the base of the industry's legal agenda, and that sometimes laws need to be changed. Says Judge Dominique Barella of the laws against file swapping in today's society: 'It is similar to the sociological consequences of the Prohibition period in the U.S. (during the 1920s). Certain laws can have unexpected consequences on society.'"
from what i read, the French magistrates union has begun to openly advocate decriminalizing online trading in copyrighted works for personal use.
so what's personal use? less than 5 movies?
does that mean if i'm caught with more than 5 movies i'm a dealer?
can i get an exemption for medical use?
When it doesn't stop me from getting free stuff
Clearly, French judges want the ability to download the latest Eminem Album. And probably a copy of Return of the Sith to go with it.
/. ++
Prohibition.... they tried that in the movies and it didn't work!
How could you?!? You missed out snails in your sterotype!
And france does produce some things I like to watch... *cough*
The prohibition period in the US continues to this day. Marijuana, LSD, opiates, and a host of other substances less harmful than alcohol remain prohibited. It's just that the propaganda is better this time around.
I've seen the commercials. If I smoke pot, I'll become a baby sitter and burn down the house with the baby inside. There is also a good chance I'll play with the gun on my dad's desk, and blow away my friend. Finally, I would obviously run over a little girl on a bike when pulling out of a drive-thru.
That's why pot is prohibited. Those commercials point out the dangers accurately.
/. ++
If you read it, just substitue 'file swapping' for 'alcohol' and it seems to ring very true.
"National prohibition of file-swapping was undertaken to improve hygiene in America." Missed the mark on that one. Maybe if they banned MMORPG's, they'd be getting somewhere.They were right about Iraq, they're right about file swapping, their women don't get fat, and they make awesome pastries. So what if they can't fight?
Speaking of which:
t xt and the response: http://static.thepiratebay.org/whitestripes_respon se.txt
Latest email to the pirate bay: http://static.thepiratebay.org/whitestripes_mail.
So what constitutes fair use? Sharing your music and DVD collection with 100,000 of your closest friends?
That's easy to see. Compare the death rates.
Alcohol is the ONLY drug where withdrawls can kill you. Lots of things can be OD'd on, but alcohol is the only one where you can die if you don't get it.
What about food? People get addicted to that, but when they stop eating they always seem to die.
(this was a joke)
What we have here is a two way slippery slope. Mathematically it is hard to envision but the idea is that we get an unstable condition in both directions
A "two way slippery slope" is usually described by mathematicians in the know (as well as by young schoolchildren in the know) by a technical term known as a "hill".
It may be hard to envision, but if you ask the children to explain, and listen patiently, maybe you'll get the idea...
--
AC