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G8 Summit Aims To Kill International Piracy

arcticstoat writes "Next week, the G8 summit will discuss proposals for new international piracy laws, which include border controls and cooperation from ISPs to identify pirates. The laws will also prevent ISPs from being liable for copyright infringement. If the G8 summit were to agree on these measures and enforce them through international cooperation, could they really cut down piracy, or would they be impractical to enforce?"

39 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. Huh?! by c0l0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What the ....?! I thought G8 were working actively _AGAINST_ global warming, and now THIS?!

    Outrageous!

    --
    :%s/Open Source/Free Software/g

    YTARY!
    1. Re:Huh?! by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually every time you download a song not only are you contributing to terrorism, communism, and kitten killing, the Earth actually heats up by a fraction of a degree. By fighting piracy the G8 are actually fighting global warming.

      --
      "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
    2. Re:Huh?! by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually every time you download a song not only are you contributing to terrorism, communism, and kitten killing

      As a socially conscious person, is there a way I can download songs which only causes kitten killing? :-P

      Cheers

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. What kind of pirates? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Data pirates or ship-hijacking pirates? Oh data pirates. You'd think they'd deal with the other type first.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    1. Re:What kind of pirates? by spun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seriously. A lot of people don't realize just how many actual ship-hijacking pirates their really are. Parts of Africa, especially near Somalia, are rife with them, as are the Straits of Malacca.

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:What kind of pirates? by sm62704 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't know about your country's WTO members, but as an American I want all American WTO people tried for treason and put in front of a firing squad. And I want their companies' buildings leveled in the most hostile manner possible and their business licenses revoked.

      The WTO is anti-human. They need to be stopped by fair means or foul.

      It's disgusting that this comes before my country's Independance Day. My country's government is owned by foreigners and American traitors.

      Sorry for the ran but this really pisses me off.

      --
      mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
    3. Re:What kind of pirates? by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sadly there are far more Data pirates than "Board ye ship" pirates.

      True, but data pirates don't kill people.

    4. Re:What kind of pirates? by Stellian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Ignoring for a moment you parenthesis, I fail to see how piracy impacts the economies of other-than-US states.
      When most of your software is produced abroad, and your indigenous culture sells much less than Hollywood to your own people, then why should you protect the mostly-US copyrights ?
      Take for example the new French anti-piracy, 3 strikes law. It's obvious that most movies and most software (Games, Windows, Office) transferred by the pirates is of US origin. I would go even further, and say that if the pirates would no longer pay for American bits, and Americans themselves won't pay for french bits, the result would be a net win for France, lowering the import/export deficit - more money left to develop France, and less in Ballmer's account.
      In this perspective, the initiative of Sarkozy strikes me as very treacherous towards the French people - why should the French government protect the US copyright more aggressive than US themselves ? Hey, I can understand a little tap on the back from the US, but Sarkozy should protect his voters from US, not herd them like cattle into paying for imports.

    5. Re:What kind of pirates? by Stellian · · Score: 4, Interesting

      France needs the US's help (just as the US needs France's help) in ensuring that the IP of their companies is respected worldwide.

      Well, you can't have the cake and eat it too - it's either you have a net income or a net deficit when you substract the IP you buy from what you sell. Import/export is a zero-sum game, someone sells more and someone buys more, it's impossible that all economies sell more than they buy.
      It just so happens that most economies in the world have a financial deficit, and US has an enormous excess, when it comes to the type of bits pirates swap for free (movies, popular software etc). So it makes sense to say that US should lead the "global fight against piracy", and not a smaller country.
      Would enforcing foreign copyrights on the French people increase the respect other nations have for French IP ? No, the amount of enforcing a country is expected to do is regulated with bilateral trade agreements. Ideally (egotistically), a country should have no respect for other IP, while claim 100% respect for it's own IP, if only anyone would agree to such an asymmetric deal.
      Making an example of your own people is anti-national , you should enforce as little as possible, without breaking the agreements, and thus have the maximum gain - your exports are respected and your imports are minimal. Even more so when you have, as explained above, a net financial deficit from IP.

      Note that I'm not trying to imply that intellectual property is bad for the society as a whole, and that we would be better off without it; I make no claim on that issue. It's strictly an economical/diplomatic approach, what's the best course of action an economy should take.

    6. Re:What kind of pirates? by Von+Helmet · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, but piracy does fund terrorism.

    7. Re:What kind of pirates? by Eivind · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Are you saying that foreign investments are somehow bad ? Even if the investor very carefully follows all the rules-of-play setup by that nations government ? That makes zero sense, infact most countries (including the USA) WELCOMES investments. I have several, for example.

      And I also most definitely try to change your laws. I would like you to cancel the DMCA, adopt a less agressive foreign policy, agressively push science forward on renewable energies, adopt universal healthcare, and tons and tons of other changes, small and large. I openly argue my opinion, in the hope that someone will listen. Are you saying that foreigners should refrain from having an opinion on US law, or refrain from discussing it openly ?

      I, both openly and secretly work to undermine and indeed utterly destroy "customs" which I consider wrong. These include the sexual mutilation of young females, the refusal to allow adult, consenting human beings to have sex with whomever they damn well please, punishment or inacceptance of people with the wrong beliefs, and a large collection of other bullshit.

      Are you saying we should refrain from having an opinion, or refrain from stating it, or refrain from DOING something when we see injustice, if that injustice is on the other side of an imaginary object named a "border" ?

      What's so magical about a "border" anyway ? A "country" is a human construct. I don't see a border as carrying any moral or ethical weight. I don't see that the right thing to do if my neighbour is suffering is any different if there's a border between us or not.

      I'm all with you in respecting people, though. And the learning part, not only the language, but a lot more too. It's easy to critizise what you do not understand. One should always strive to *understand* what's really going on, rather than resort to knee-jerk reactions.

  3. Only way to kill piracy .... by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... is to hire NINJAS!

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  4. Arrr.... by Illbay · · Score: 3, Funny
    ...ya been sayin' that for nigh on four hunner' years, matey, and ya ain't rid o' us yet, ya lily-livered, wine-bibbin' landlubbers!

    Th' day ya sees th' last o' the jolly roger'll be the end o' yer own civilization, ya pack o' milquetoast swabbies!

    Arrr...!

    --
    Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
  5. I'm so happy that by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Piracy is taking precedence over energy conservation, alternative energy, weapons proliferation, violent crime, inflation, commodity prices and a couple permanent wars. Hooray. Let's choose an IMPORTANT topic for this year's G8 meeting. After all, quadrillions of dollars are being lost and billions of people are put out of work every day/starve to death because little Johnny watched a Britney Spears video on Youtube!

    To the world's politicians: WHAT THE FUCK??? SERIOUSLY!

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:I'm so happy that by dwiget001 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well, from the G8 viewpoint, you are missing the bigger picture. By keeping "the masses" entertained *and* making them pay through the nose for that entertainment, "the masses* could not possibly have the time or wherewithal to do something effective to counter the outright wholesale removal and denial of their rights. So, from the G8 point of view, all of this will help keep society stable running as the G8 intends.

    2. Re:I'm so happy that by russ1337 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To get to the voters they need money.

      To get money they need donations

      Large Corporations donate money. Lots of it.

      Once in office, the allegiance is to the Corporation, as they provide the money to attract more votes.

    3. Re:I'm so happy that by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Informative

      Do a little background reading, please.

      The G8 is focused on economic activity, so discussion of the wars is pretty much right out.

      Inflation is not a global problem, so why should countries not having inflation problems make it a primary matter on the agenda?

      The agenda for the summit is defined by the host country (whose representative is the president for the year).

      Also note that global climate change is being addressed by the G8+5, and was a major topic last year.

      Finally, the G8 is not meeting for a week just to discuss IP and piracy. There are many other items on the agenda.

      You should proceed to get your panties unbunched, and then bother to find out what the complete agenda is.

      I agree that there are items of far bigger concern, but you should note that the G8 summit typically focuses on economic issues, not on things like war or violent crime -- though they are often linked to economics.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    4. Re:I'm so happy that by oldhack · · Score: 3, Interesting

      G8 is now a club of wealthy Western countries, no more the club of major economic powers (i.e. economic equivalent of UN Security Council). No China, no India, no Brazil, no OPEC, and Russia only grudgingly. It would naturally represent the narrower interests of its members (or, you know, the parties that bought out the governments of the member countries). Sorry for stating the obvious. It's remarkable to see the world order changing before our own eyes.

      --
      Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
    5. Re:I'm so happy that by TheLink · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But in event of nonDiebolded elections, voters still can vote for whoever they want.

      They don't have to vote for the most well-financed candidates.

      My conclusion is that most voters either
      a) don't really care that much
      b) actually support the status quo

      Of course the "first past the post" voting system does make things tend to "two party", but if people are that pissed off they could try to get more organized and then really vote for someone different.

      Are they that upset? The fact that Bush actually got reelected should give you an indication about the reality despite all the loud complainers.

      The reality is as long as there's Bread and Circuses most voters don't care, the Emperors and their Senate can do whatever they want.

      Now with the increasing oil prices and recession there might be a bit of a problem with the Bread and Circuses supply.

      --
    6. Re:I'm so happy that by Danse · · Score: 4, Insightful

      but how about the G8 ease other side of Copyright by allowing the old stuff into public domain within a reasonable timeframe.

      How would that help facilitate the continued transfer of wealth from the middle and lower classes to the amazingly wealthy ruling class? See, you haven't thought through what you're asking for.

      --
      It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  6. Best of luck, fellas! by mmell · · Score: 5, Funny
    Given the technical literacy of the US government, they'll be lucky if they can even find the internet.

    Don't tell 'em it's hiding in my basement. I downloaded it last week, and had a plummer come and remove the pipes afterward just to keep its location secret.

  7. Typo in Title by dynamo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The title of this story should read: "G8 Summit Aims To Kill International Privacy".

    1. Re:Typo in Title by sm62704 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think it should read "G8 Summit Aims To Kill independant music labels and film studios". I guess Star Wreck really rattled Hollywood. Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning was incrediby well done and hilarious.

      "My" representatives don't even represent my country, let alone me. They represent the foreigners who own the entertainment industries.

      --
      mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  8. The G8 is antiquated and increasingly irrelevant by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The G8 used to consist of the 8 largest economies in the world. Now it is mostly just a group of good-old-boys who wish they were still relevant on the world economic stage.

    The fact that none of China, India, or Brazil are included in the G8 and yet Italy and France are illustrate this perfectly.

  9. Apples and oranges by pla · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If the G8 summit were to agree on these measures and enforce them through international cooperation, could they really cut down piracy, or would they be impractical to enforce?

    Not a matter of impractical... You have a stegosaurus trying to step on all those pesky little rats that recently appeared on the scene.

    The stegosaurus can do whatever it wants, and the rats can't stop it. The rats, however, will last far longer than the dinosaurs.

    1. Re:Apples and oranges by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 4, Funny

      The stegosaurus can do whatever it wants, and the rats can't stop it. The rats, however, will last far longer than the dinosaurs.

      Ah, I see! So what you are saying is that we should be free of annoying DRM in about 200 to 300 million years? Cool!

  10. Religious Persecution! Mod parent FUNNY by querist · · Score: 5, Informative

    The parent post neglected to clarify the reference.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster#Pirates_and_global_warming

    For those who believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Pirates are considered divine beings and the decrease in the number of pirates in the word (acording to followers of the FSM) id the true cause of global warming. Ergo, this can be seen as religious persecution!

    This, of course, is a religious view which I will neither refute nor defend in this forum.

    1. Re:Religious Persecution! Mod parent FUNNY by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

      This, of course, is a religious view which I will neither refute nor defend in this forum.

            Hah! Unbeliever. As a true FSMer I would gladly give your life for my religion!

            RAmen.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Religious Persecution! Mod parent FUNNY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Pastafarianism fail. Ramen is traditionally said at the end of prayers, as an equivalent to Amen.

    3. Re:Religious Persecution! Mod parent FUNNY by gomiam · · Score: 4, Funny
      But, aren't they both noodly? Don't they get rolled on a fork for eating? Aren't they tasty with a serving of tomato and meat sauce?

      (With excuses to William Shakespeare)

  11. Thought it was going to be about high seas piracy by RichMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Something that causes the loss of actual lives and goods. But nope the lords of IP must be served.

    http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2008-05-15-voa5.cfm
    "The United States is very concerned about the increasing number of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, especially off the Somali coast," according to the U.S. Department of State. Piracy and armed robbery have disrupted trade in east Africa and threatened the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Somali people.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy

  12. Re:Where there's a will.. by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Doesn't the other side believe the same thing? If they have a will to get rid of piracy (copyright infringement), then there is a way to get rid of it. Even if it means locking everybody in cage, and throwing away the key. There's two outcomes to this. People will eventually decide that copyright infringement isn't worth the likelihood and cost of getting caught, or there will be a revolution.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  13. the internet explained to bureacrats: by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Interesting

    the internet is useful because it provides two way communication. if you make the internet a one way system, you basically have nothing more than a fancy form of television. you also therefore strip the internet of all meaning and value that you can think up examples of yourself: email, chat, interactive content, forms, etc.

    so as soon as you accept the fact that the internet remains a two way medium, you begin to understand that the gig is up. policing the traffic that flows from one node to the next is an arms race. every single thing that those who wish to police traffic can do, can be routed around, obfuscated through, etc.

    in other words, the gig is up, the effort is futile. piracy is permanent. all you can hope to do with your efforts is breed more hardy pirating applications. hardly what you seek to do

    so the thing for a proper world leader to do is accept the inevitable, and recreate the legal structre surrounding intellectual property to accomodate the new technological reality we find ourselves in. the new technological reality we find ourselves in has simply antiquated copyright and other aspects of intellectual property as we know it, circa 1985

    or wage war against technological progress. your choice

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  14. Governments have worked so well against drugs by faloi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's no way they can fail to stop piracy!

    --
    "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
  15. *blinks* by dreamchaser · · Score: 4, Funny

    My first glance at the page saw 'G8 Summons Ants to kill International Piracy'.

    It would be about as effective as anything else they are going to do. I for one welcome our International Ant Overlords.

  16. Re:The G8 is antiquated and increasingly irrelevan by Xest · · Score: 4, Informative

    You don't seem to particularly understand the importance of nations like Italy and France. As with Britain they're nations with extremely long histories that leave them to this day with a footing in many parts of the world. Their influence is incredibly strong internationally and it's this influence that keeps them strong economically, they're nations that simply wont sink in power because there's always nations willing to support them, trade with them and hold them up, often because of strong historical ties.

    France particularly is strong in many other ways also, it's a member of the UN security council for one, has a lot of sway in the EU as does Italy- the EU is by far the worlds largest economy by GDP and many other measures.

    These just aren't nations that are irrelevant, nor will they likely ever will be for decades or probably even centuries to come. I'm not saying this as a European with some arrogant feeling of self-importance (in fact, I'm British so I'm actually legally obliged to hate the French anyway ;)) but because these nations have so much power over international organisations and systems. They have the power to persuade the UN to push sanctions upon nations that dare consider trying to move away from the laws these nations produce for example and hence there's little that can topple them. Hell, a sizeable portion of the world depends on France and Italy for their defence, sure they could source equipment elsewhere but it'd take years and in the meantime they'd have zero support or ammo for their existing hardware.

    It's probably worth also noting that France and Britain have been working to get China, India, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa in on the act for a little while now too, so as with most organisations irrelevance isn't relevant when change is possible as it is with the G8. China has been in on the G8 meets for a few years now anyway, there are only a few issues covered by the G8 from which it's excluded.

  17. How many torrent peers do you have? by ClarisseMcClellan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I am glad that the war against the G8 is now in the front cyber-lawn and so many people are saying WTF? Seems that a lot of folks here don't think *they* have a chance. Let's see if attitudes change when the storm-troopers kick down doors of student dorms to search and destroy the wifi routers...

    This has been on the go in secret for a while. At the G8 they just rubber stamp the done deal. The wikileaks article is quite scary (RTFA) but what is weird is that you have to go to Wikileaks and download dodgy TIFF files to find out about it. Where's the democracy in that?

    Bring on the stormtroopers. I am going to see how many peers, seeds and leeches drop off over the next month. Just fear alone might shut down P2P viability. Let's see... Virgin media subscribers are going to tidy up their act, Google/Youtube is going to get cleared up and now this. All the news is in cyber-space today, shame the real economy has fallen off of a very large cliff...

    How do we setup a P2P network that goes wi-fi to wi-fi with no need for ISP's, governments and snitches? It's time for web 3.0...

  18. News Flash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Rich people come together to discuss ways of solving problems that annoy rich people, while ignoring those problems that are genuinely harmful to most people.

    The very questionable belief that anything that is problematic for a rich person ultimately winds up harming the poor is once again offered as justification.

    The more things change, the more they stay the same.

  19. Re:The G8 is antiquated and increasingly irrelevan by laura20 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The G8 used to consist of the 8 largest economies in the world. Now it is mostly just a group of good-old-boys who wish they were still relevant on the world economic stage.

    Members of the G8: US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada, Russia.

    Respective ranks in world GDP: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11. Total GDP: two thirds of the world.

    Some has-beens.