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Lessig's "In Defense of Piracy"

chromakey writes "The Wall Street Journal is running an essay from Lawrence Lessig about the fair use of copyrighted material on the Internet. He makes the case that companies who go to extreme lengths to squash minor videos, such as Universal, are stifling creativity in the modern era. Lessig makes specific reference to a YouTube video that was hit by a DMCA takedown notice, in which a 13-month-old child is dancing to a nearly inaudible soundtrack of Prince's 'Let's Go Crazy.' Lawrence Lessig is a board member for the Electronic Frontier Foundation."

11 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. Should be happy. by Gerafix · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should be happy they weren't charged for child pornography because of the dancing child. Somebody didn't think of the children?

    1. Re:Should be happy. by Ortega-Starfire · · Score: 5, Funny

      Stop thinking about the children, you pedophile!

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      ---- Liquid was a patriot ----
  2. What's particularly interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that this was written by Thomas Jefferson, and Lessig just republished it under his name. Yes, Thomas Jefferson knew about YouTube 200 years before it was invented.

  3. Re:Lessig still defends copyright by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sir, I salute you. I modded you up, too.

  4. Lessgi's right.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    ... the takedown should've been on the grounds of "No one really wants to see your damn baby pictures"

  5. Wonder what the big deal was about that video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Because I can find hundreds if not thousands of full music videos posted by random joes. I have not spent a dime on music for the past 12 years. And this is coming from someone who had 350 CDs in high school. Thanks YouTube!!

  6. Re:Why should everything bring a profit? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Farmers vs. cars?

    Wake me when we can grow cars.

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    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  7. Re:Lessig still defends copyright by Ihmhi · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't know, after seeing grandma drunkenly sing "Rock The Casbah" you might not want to ever hear that song again for fear of resurrecting suppressed memories.

  8. Re:Lessig still defends copyright by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, that's true, but thanks to moderation, you don't have to wade through them all, making up your own mind and forming complex, balanced opinions. The moderators have your thinking for you! You will only have to view the top one or two most popular types of opinions on any given topic!

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    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
  9. Chris Martin can work in a windmill factory by tjstork · · Score: 2, Funny

    I love Cold Play, but I like V8 engines too, and sometimes, we just have to give it up for Mother Earth and progress.

    Since Obama is going to create 5 million new jobs making windmills, then, if we lose 350,000 jobs by getting rid of copyrights, then, clearly there's still 4,650,000 jobs left. Maybe Madonna can work in a carbon sequestration plant, dressing up mother earth with her love.

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    This is my sig.
  10. Re:Why should everything bring a profit? by ozphx · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hey asshole. I have some added value for all our entertainment. I have the knowlege of when I am going to come over and kick you in the crotch for pedantic asshattery

    This is a valuable piece of information, which if you had it, you could use it to cover your balls with something protective.

    The intention to kick you in the crotch did not exist before I read your worthless crap, and the kick in the crotch will not exist until I deliver it, personally, to your nuts.

    I created it. Out of the void. It will add value to this community, and I created it from nothing. I am like.... God... and my violent unleashing of my boot upon your tender nutsack will truely be the genesis of my long term work. I will call it "Feetamoderation".

    --
    3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.