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President Signs Law Creating Copyright Czar
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "President Bush has signed the EIPRA (AKA the PRO-IP Act) and created a cabinet-level post of 'Copyright Czar,' on par with the current 'Drug Czar,' in spite of prior misgivings about the bill. They did at least get rid of provisions that would have had the DOJ take over the RIAA's unpopular litigation campaign. Still, the final legislation (PDF) creates new classes of felony criminal copyright infringement, adds civil forfeiture provisions that incorporate by reference parts of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, and directs the Copyright Czar to lobby foreign governments to adopt stronger IP laws. At this point, our best hope would appear to be to hope that someone sensible like Laurence Lessig or William Patry gets appointed."
Don't worry, look how successful the Drugs Czar is. Money well spent.
Ones that don't have extradition agreements with the United States.
Keep your eyes to the sky.
Ok, outside the copyright debate, am I the only one that is extremely skeptical when someone is the "czar" of something? What the hell does that actually mean, and what can they actually do?
If it doesn't sound like an utterly useless, powerless post, it sounds like we should be running for our lives from this all powerful czar - neither is particularly good, from my perspective.
If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
Does that mean copyrights will now be available on every street corner?
Whaddaya mean the wasn't the goal?
As of a few weeks ago my country's future is tied to China and India, not the USA. Been nice knowing you guys. Have fun with the copyright stuff.
Bush is like Ronald McDonald.
When I get a bad Cheesburger, I don't blame the Server, I dont blame the Cook, I don't blame the store manager. No I blame Ronald. He is the figurehead that represents everthing about McDonalds so he is to blame. Also, when I get nice tasty fresh fries, he gets my high-five.
When the Government is out of control, the President is accountable. Just like Ronald.
Hello mr. Constitution, my name was Paul. However, I was sued by the RIAA for infringing on their copyright of the letter "P" and now I'm known as inmate 5675. Unfortunately, God-King Bush said I also violated his copyright on free speech with my first letter so they took my Kidneys since I don't have anything left after my legs were taken for speaking against the media's word.
The Russian czar was eventually replaced by communists who believed in free stuff for all.
Open source advocates believe in free software for all, and will likely try to destroy the position of Copyright Czar.
This isn't just money wasting legislation, someone has actually set up a very elaborate experiment to test if history repeats itself under controlled conditions.
Young people often fundamentally don't understand the economic incentives
A public hanging of Santa Claus will teach the little bastards a thing or tw0.
So instead of faulting anyone who had a hand in the making of your cheeseburger, you place the blame solely on a fictional clown that was invented by marketing people?
The difference being...?
Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
Just think of how powerful the prison guards' union will be...
"How long are you in for, comrade?"
"Eight years."
"What are you in for?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"Lies. The penalty for nothing is ten years!"
Hail Eris, full of mischief...
E pluribus sanguinem
A Czar Czar of course.
Preferably they can find someone with the surname "Gabor"
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
America: Uh, heard of the War on Drugs?
The World: Y'know, on second thought, maybe you need to just get some better weed and chill out a little.
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
That's an excellent way to describe the president: "a fictional clown that was invented by marketing people".
Man that's a lot of trouble to go through just because I downloaded Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On".
There can be no punishment that is worse than the crime itself. Surely you must be allowed to go free.
It's more or less "one dying by revolt".
See Caesar.
One is a made up amusement park quality attraction and the other one is a corporate mascot.
"Stop having sex in my bedroom! And where is my god damn hat?" --Abe Lincoln
....just like when the drug czar was appointed over the War On Drugs and now illegal drugs are impossible to find...
FreeBSD for the impatient.
In Soviet America, Russian joke become American joke.
So... with the Drug Czar we have a "War on Drugs". Does it mean we can safely label this new campaign a "War on Intellect"?
Nominate Richard Stallman as copyright czar! Let EFF win!
Back in the 70s the FBI stated that 99.8% of the US population has committed some crime that is worthy of jail time....
With this new IP Czar, the powers that be apparently wanted to nab that last .2%.
"Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
Conservatives would tell you to stop whining and become rich.