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MPAA Makes Unauthorized Copies of DVD
An anonymous reader writes "There's a story on ArsTechnica about how the MPAA has admitted that they made unauthorized copies of a movie. That in itself is a bit of tasty hypocrisy, but if it turns out that they ripped a DVD, then the MPAA could find themselves in violation of the DMCA." From the article: "According to Mark Lemley, a professor at the Stanford Law School, the MPAA may have been within its rights to make copies of the film. Given that the MPAA's intent isn't financial gain and that the whole situation may rise above the level of trading barbs through the media into legal action, making a copy may be justified. Personally, I can't see any justification for an organization such as the MPAA ignoring a directive from a copyright owner, but IANAL." Update: 01/24 19:52 GMT by Z : Made title more accurate.
They (people in the ratings group) had been stalked by the documentary maker and had called the police on several occasions. The movie (which contains parts of him following them around) can be used as evidence. It's legal to make copies under those conditions.
Sorry, still haven't had enough coffee today, not explaing myself fully.
While I agree with you, it's interesting that you point to the "Clinton Administration" when it was congress that wrote the law... a congress controlled by what party now ?
You don't think you're being a little dishonest in your assignment of blame, do you ? Of course not... at least, you're not going to feel like you can publically admit it. That'd be exposing a weakness. But, if you were being really honest, you'd research and give us the names of the sponsors of those bills. Orin Hatch? A senator Fritz seems to like the broadcast flag an awful lot, and I hate to tell you, but those guys are GOP as it gets... who are the Democrats who need to be tarred and feathered for their pro-business-"IP" bills ?
If you want to blame Clinton, go ahead, but your bias is pretty easy to see if that's what you're doing. It's not like the Democrats controlled both houses of congress during the Clinton years... not like the GOP over the past 6 years.
Do I think a Democrat-controlled congress would do any better? Judging by the 'lobby reform' proposed by both parties recently, no. Both parties are on corporation's payrolls, and as soon as you and everyone else stops pointing fingers at the 'opposition' party and realize that all these bums need to be kicked out and we all demand that real reforms be put in place, the better.
Trying to blame this on the Clinton administration alone, though, really, you should be ashamed - doing that makes you part of the problem right there.
Maybe you're not really a GOP appologist, and if not, I'm sorry I was a little harsh on you, but your message really makes it look like you're trying to pin the DCMA and NET Act on Clinton, which is simply wrong.
"and it is their duty to investigate and then prosecute if the evidence supports it."
Dear FBI:
Sony installed a rootkit on hundreds of thousands of PCs nationwide.
P. S. President Bush violated FISA for over four years.
(I wouldn't hold my breath.)