DMCA Abuse Widespread

Doc Ruby writes "Via TechDirt, the news that despite the intent of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, it's very popular to abuse the law by using it merely to compete, without legal basis: 'Supporters of the DMCA claim that only an occasional improper takedown notice gets through. Some new research suggests otherwise. Over 30% of DMCA takedown notices have been deemed improper and potentially illegal.'"

Comments

Re:A helpful guideline:

[jc42]

[H]ow the hell is a pensioner objecting to a war a terrorist?

That's an easy one: He struck terror into the hearts of Labour Party leaders.

I mean, imagine the results (on their jobs and leadership positions) if this sort of thing became widespread.

Here in the US, we have a similar story: We've reached the stage where decorated military veterans are calling for withdrawal from Iraq. We even have a Congressman, John Murtha, who's an ex-marine with medals and has called for pulling the troops out of Iraq. Bush's gang first tried to label Murtha a traitor, but the public outcry forced Bush to publicly state that being against war isn't treason (at least if you're a decorated veteran). Now commentators are describing Bush and Cheney as "running scared".

So Bush et al are clearly being "terrorized" by people who object to their foreign policies. And Bush is the one who some time back told us "If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists."

Labelling all your opponents as terrorists is conventional politics. And it's an old story. We can expect to hear a lot more of this before it's all over. (And it'll probably never be over.)

Re:A helpful guideline:

[Pig Hogger]

Sometimes the police deliberately push the envelope on what they consider to be bad laws in order to provoke reconsideration of the law.

This is utter bullshit. First of all, cops are too stupid to think about doing such a thing, and cops like their power too much to willingly risk losing it.