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Commerce Department Pushing For New "Copyright Czar"

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the bogus-stats dept.

TechDirt is reporting that those all-too-familiar "stats" surrounding the cost of piracy are being trotted out in an attempt to push through a new "Copyright Czar" position. "In urging President Bush to sign into law the ProIP bill, which would give him a copyright czar (something the Justice Department had said it doesn't want), the US Chamber of Commerce is claiming that 750,000 American jobs have been lost to piracy. Yet, it doesn't cite where that number comes from."

20 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Easy by Eponymous+Crowbar · · Score: 5, Funny

    If we just hire 750,000 copyright czars, well there ya go. That would be mavericky, you betcha.

    1. Re:Easy by Jimmyisikura · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes but then we have created a problem by removing 10,000,000,000 pirates from the market. Pirates need to eat too. Studies also show that 12/15 of those 750,000 are part-time ax-murderers. I think the statistics show the real victims here.

    2. Re:Easy by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yet, it doesn't cite where that number comes from

      Cue the goatse trolls in 3...2...

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    3. Re:Easy by Ortega-Starfire · · Score: 2, Funny

      It is odd. Whenever goatse would actually be on topic, the goatse guy is never around. Psychological reverse trolling, perhaps?

      --
      ---- Liquid was a patriot ----
    4. Re:Easy by discord5 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Whenever goatse would actually be on topic, the goatse guy is never around. Psychological reverse trolling, perhaps?

      Great, now I've got the expression "Pulling those facts out of his ass" associated with that image. Thanks... Really... Thanks

      Another one to scratch off of the "frequently used expressions" list.

  2. Piracy by arizwebfoot · · Score: 4, Funny

    We know where those lost jobs went, India and Pakistan all pirated our IT jobs.

    --
    Oh Well, Bad Karma and all . . .

    --
    Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
    1. Re:Piracy by TinFoilMan · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think you have a valid point, maybe the new czar can pirate them all back.

      --
      In my other life, I eat cats.
  3. Henry Paulson by whisper_jeff · · Score: 5, Funny

    They got that number from Henry Paulson - he's so good at pulling out random large numbers that sound plausible while being founded on nothing of substance, after all.

    1. Re:Henry Paulson by n0dna · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dammit.

      I was going to say exactly the same thing, only I would have probably guessed where I think he pulled them out of.

      Good show.

  4. Re:750,000?? by Eponymous+Crowbar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Including porn, or not?

  5. Re:750,000?? by theM_xl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, not anymore, obviously ;)

  6. Reliable source for numbers of all kinds by ivandavidoff · · Score: 4, Funny

    The numbers came from The U.S. Department of the Posterior.

  7. Too bad by Corpuscavernosa · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's too bad that one of the jobs lost wasn't Uwe Boll's. I'm just sayin'.

    --
    We figured out a long time ago that it's easier to elect seven judges than to elect 132 legislators.
  8. Quickly! by tgd · · Score: 4, Funny

    We need a content producer bailout!!!

  9. "...it doesn't cite where that number comes from." by Snarfangel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Easy. It comes from the set of real numbers.

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    This tagline is copyrighted material. Please send $10 for an affordable replacement.
  10. Source of the number by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Funny

    That 750,000 jobs number comes a very reliable source, the bird. Haven't you heard, about the bird?

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    stuff |
    1. Re:Source of the number by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      ... Haven't you heard, about the bird?

      Well, the bird is the word.

  11. Re:750,000?? by sesshomaru · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think most of that number was clerks at Blockbuster video.

    --
    "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
  12. Re:"...it doesn't cite where that number comes fro by Qzukk · · Score: 5, Funny

    It comes from the set of real numbers.

    Funny, I could have sworn it looked imaginary.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  13. Re:"...it doesn't cite where that number comes fro by zippthorne · · Score: 2, Funny

    Good point. Now, the question is, is it rational?

    --
    Can you be Even More Awesome?!