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Don't Copy That Floppy! Gets a Sequel

Posted by timothy on from the not-the-jailhouse-fantasy-I-signed-up-for dept.

theodp writes "Back in 1992, the SIIA released Don't Copy That Floppy!, a goofy video in which anti-piracy rapper MC Double Def DP convinces a young lad not to copy a game by appealing to his sense of right and wrong. Now, to address what it calls 'new generations and new temptations,' the SIIA has uploaded a trailer for a new anti-piracy rap video — Don't Copy That 2 — that will be released this summer. To underscore the video's it's-not-just-a-copy-it's-a-crime message, the new film is a tad darker than the original. A smug teen who's downloading files from 'Pirates Palace' and 'Tune Weasel' finds his world turned upside down when automatic weapons-toting government agents break down the door and take his Mom away in handcuffs. The teen finds himself in a prison jumpsuit forced to tattoo shirtless adult inmates who eventually turn on him, physically attack him, and make him run for his life back to his jail cell (image summarizing his plight)."

46 of 523 comments (clear)

  1. BILLY MAYS HERE... by BillyMays · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...with scare tactics!

    Seriously though, the first DCTF was happy and upbeat (and for good reason, as many people simply didn't know that copying a floppy was piracy). What happened to that feel? Are we really at a point where we're so influenced by the RIAA/MPAA's ways of doing things that SIIA's first sequel in 17 years immediately jumps to scare tactics?

    Maybe it's just me, but I see this quickly becoming one of those "You wouldn't steal a car" type of things - jumping to such an extreme that it becomes a satire piece.

    1. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by MBCook · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Watch the preview video. It's there now.

      I agree that at least DCTF served a purpose. This one is exactly where the RIAA/MPAA is. Kid copies some software, ends up making prison tattoos and being chased (so he can be beaten/killed) because he wasn't good at making the tattoo.

      It's clear cause and effect here: own a computer, be annoyed by an 80s reject rapper, get shanked in prison.

      What they need is another DCTF, just not corny. If they ran PSAs saying it's important to buy software, otherwise people won't be able to make The Sims 4, Crysis 5, or Barbie Horse Adventures 7: The Mysterious Case of the Calico Clydesdale, they could probably get a whole new generation of kids to think twice about copying.

      Instead they made themselves a joke again.

      Even if they had to do this campaign, did they really have to tie it into DCTF? That can't possibly lend them credibility. I bet if I showed this new video to the average 12 year old, they'd think it was some kind of internet sketch comedy thing.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    2. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Since he's "running for his life," does that mean they're essentially saying "You wouldn't steal a car, but if you copy Microsoft Office, we'll kill you?"

      Sounds like a threat to me....

      --
      "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
    3. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by snowgirl · · Score: 5, Insightful

      People seem to have a big problem with understanding what "illegal" means. You cannot go to jail for every illegal action. Some illegal actions create a civil liability, and some create criminal liabilities... and then criminal liabilities are separated into misdemeanors and felonies.

      I've had issues with people commenting that "prostitution is like murder, it's illegal", and I point out, "No, prostitution is like jay-walking... it's illegal." Prostitution is a misdemeanor and will not get one a lot of time in jail. It's why prosecutors (hell, law enforcement themselves) are so eager to offer a prostitute immunity in order to testify against their pimp (which is a felony).

      People just have a very hard time understanding that you cannot be sent to jail for every illegal action. ESPECIALLY, a hard jail. Typically the worst that you can be hit for with copyright violation is fines... it can make your life difficult, or even hell, but it can't take away your freedom.

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
    4. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by fractoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The "you wouldn't steal a car" ad always annoyed the hell out of me. Bad analogy, and all that. It wasn't until just now that I realised that this Peugeot ad is what you're actually doing when you download media. You're using your own hardware to create a (usually lower fidelity) replica of the car.

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    5. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by MBCook · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That was literally my first thought when I saw this, but I checked out other videos by that YouTube user and it looks totally legit. If this is a joke, they went a long way.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    6. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by hamburgler007 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      But it can take away your freedom. Most prosecutors won't touch a file sharing case but that doesn't mean they can't.
      From www.copyright.gov:

      (a) Criminal Infringement. â" (1) In general. â" Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed â" (A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain; (B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or (C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.

      This doesn't apply to every file sharer, but it does apply to many more than prosecutors would ever want to go after. But to say they can't take away your freedom for it, when they clearly can if they desire to, is false.

    7. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Goldberg's+Pants · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Got into this argument with someone today. They said they wouldn't be STEALING a movie they want to see. I pointed out that downloading it is hardly stealing when, by my downloading it, I am not depriving a single person from seeing it.

      The car analogy doesn't work unless when I download Big Robots Part 8, someone going to see the movie gets turned away. "Sorry, Goldberg's Pants pirated this film so you can't see it."

      And yet these idiots just don't get how their analogy is utterly flawed. The thing is the media have spent so much time yelling IT'S STEALING! IT'S STEALING! IT'S STEALING! that the majority have bought into the lie put forward by the RIAA, MPAA etc... Despite the fact that they can say it a million times, and it still won't make it true.

      People who get hauled up for downloading are NOT charged with stealing or theft. It'd be better for them if they were because theft, rape etc... Carry far lesser sentences than what they are ACTUALLY charged with. Criminal copyright infringement.

      On a related note, I saw a nice piece of juxtaposition the other day that highlights the insanity. The RIAA verdict saying $84,000 or whatever it was per song, right next to a story saying the victims families of the Air France crash would get $24,000.

      Three human lives are worth one song apparently.

    8. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The goal is not to prevent piracy but rather appear to be trying. This way they can still count all the "lost sales" on their taxes. They want it to be ignored, the apparent effort makes all the difference.

      http://taxation.lawyers.com/income-tax/Business-Casualty-and-Theft-Loss-Tax-Deductions.html

    9. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Throw it into a DARE program (anti-drug education for those outside the US; called VIP in some areas of Canada) targeting 10-year olds who don't yet understand its stupidity, let it sit for a few years. Bingo, a generation of well-trained consumers who think free information is pure evil. "

      Great idea! They can eliminate all illegal copying using the same techniques they used to win the war against citize^H^H^H^H^H^Hdrugs!

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    10. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by EdIII · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They're gonna be really pissed when we get Star Trek-style replicators that allow just that.

      Why would they? Answer is pretty simple, and pathetic. They would lose control. Not just money, but control.

      If we did have replicators it would solve a huge amount of problems on this planet. Direct conversion of energy into materials we need to sustain life. No more pollution and environmental damage due to manufacturing processes. Starvation would be eliminated, and so would wasteful destruction of food for the purposes of economic voodoo.

      The whole idea of copyrights, and intellectual property is to allow artists and inventors to profit from their work. After a reasonable time period it should be in the public domain. If replicators really could exist, then it could be a direct path for inventors to sell something without needing huge companies and marketing departments.

      Costs would plummet. Well at least, they would be the cost of the replicator and the energy. It would be a great thing for humanity and creators, just a disaster to businesses.

    11. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by esrobinson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you could use my car without having any chance of crashing it and with no wear/fuel usage, I'd be completely fine with it. I'm not going to be upset that you gained some benefit with no negative consequences for me.

    12. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Anyways, stealing is not necessarily defined by depriving one person of an experience or possession, it's defined by obtaining said item without giving the original author or owner the compensation requested for your copy.

      Dictionary.com: "to commit or practice theft." (Theft: "the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another")

      obtaining said item without giving the original author or owner the compensation requested for your copy.

      I copy movie: I get movie, copyright holder gets nothing

      I don't copy movie, and do not buy it: I get nothing, copyright holder still gets nothing.

    13. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Tatisimo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I hope they got permission to use Klingons in their video. If not, I suggest whoever owns Klingons sue the hell out of them! And they better not make one of those retarded "fair use" arguments, those are totally not valid.

      --
      Give Kashyyyk back to the Wookies
    14. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Only if I can use the car while you're using it and still neither of us has trouble finding a parking space despite the other one already using it.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    15. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by socsoc · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Believe me, as a DARE "graduate" we definitely understood how stupid it was at age 10, even if we had yet to ever try any drugs

    16. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Sobrique · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Always thought the best 'anti-piracy' ad would be from e.g. a set carpenter on a blockbuster - saying something like: "hi. My name's Mike. I work on the set here, where they're making the ${latest_big_blockbuster}. I'm not a 'big name' - I get paid ${reasonable_amount} per (day/month/year), and I quite like my job - I like making movies, that you can see in the cinema or on DVD. I'd like to thank you for paying for (your cinema ticket|this DVD). You see, it's the sales of the film that determine whether they make another one or not - and that means I get to keep my job, and you get to enjoy another film."

    17. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Correct. You have deprived me of nothing. Given that my wife is a sentient human being and not a duplicate of inert data she can make up her own mind who she sleeps with. After all its not like she's my property.

      Because you wouldn't be suggesting that would you?

    18. Re:BILLY MAYS HERE... by hairyfeet · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, let me put it this way. Once upon a time my grandma believed in government, that police were honest, and that voting was a duty all should perform. After 2004 she quit with a "what's the point?" attitude. When I asked her why she said "You would have to be blind to not see how corrupt the have all become, and I may be old but I ain't blind". The same thing has happened with my mom and as I said my boys, not matter how hard I try to convince them, refuse to vote as they figure it would probably be rigged if anyone but a D or an R looked like they might have a shot.

      You can't watch everyone from the President on down flip flop every time a treasonous whore...err I mean lobbyist breaks out his checkbook before you say "why bother?". Look at Obama, who has changed just about every single thing he ran on during the election for big fat checks. Or McCain who actually could have run against his 2000 self and would have had completely different platforms. The corruption has gotten so bad, and the MSM is now owned by the cartels and releases "news" about as real Pravda during the cold war, so why wouldn't everyone just say "WTF?" and not care?

      The simple fact is our elected thieves will happily sell out the safety, security, and the people of this country to multinational corporations that don't give a shit if the whole country burns as long as they get the insurance money. How exactly are you supposed to compete with those that can write 6 zero checks as easily as you buy a stick of gum?

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  2. Re:Since When Does Infringement Equal Jail Time? by corsec67 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just look at the "You wouldn't steal a car..." videos.

    The MPAA didn't seem to care that they were comparing unrelated crimes.

    --
    If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
  3. Well, at least it's truth in advertising by RLiegh · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because we've seen that the RIAA will go after your family if they don't think they can get any money out of you; regardless of whether or not any of you even own a computer!

  4. is the entertainment industry by Presto+Vivace · · Score: 2, Insightful

    endorsing prison rape of children? Because that is what it looks like. There is a better way to fight software piracy.

    1. Re:is the entertainment industry by Hershmire · · Score: 2, Insightful

      SPAMming on /.? I've been away too long.

      --
      if(!toilet_paper) roll.replace(new roll); //Stupid roommates.
    2. Re:is the entertainment industry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I stopped reading then the article rampled about copying is stealing.

  5. And now... our corporate anthem... by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do what's best for the corporation... or we'll throw your ass in jail.

    What a joke...

  6. Sweet! by dufachi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They are intimating that you can end up in Federal "Pound-You-In-The-Ass" Prison for making a dupe. Nice! The industry just needs to realize that it's free advertising and treat it as such instead of endorsing child rape.

    --
    -Kinsey
  7. The new U.S.: Violence is entirely acceptable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The new United States: Violence and corruption is entirely acceptable.

    Pay taxes to kill Iraqis? Sure.

    Many hours spent playing violent video games? Sure.

    Government run by thieving banks? Sure.

  8. Scare tatics by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Or like the anti-drug commercials that aired immediately after 9-11 that attempted to link smoking a joint with supporting Osama Bin Laden.

    1. Re:Scare tatics by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      OK. Now let's really put it into perspective. One of the most dangerous drugs on the planet is Alcohol. It is legalin the US. Osama isn't running any alcohol production/smuggling/distribution rings. Given that Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, etc. are only profitable to terrorists because the government chooses not to legalize and regulate them (in true hypocritical fashion), whom do we have to blame if they are making tons of money on the black market the government created and fuels again?

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    2. Re:Scare tatics by Ihmhi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Heroin is dangerous because it's addictive as all hell.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
    3. Re:Scare tatics by chooks · · Score: 2, Insightful

      By that logic, the entire Civilization series should be outlawed and Sid Meier thrown in jail for all eternity.

      --
      -- The Genesis project? What's that?
    4. Re:Scare tatics by MozzleyOne · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Oh thank you my government from saving me from myself!

      I'll just go start bashing my head into a wall - the government hasn't banned it, so it must be ok!

      --
      Ayjay on Fedang
  9. Re:IN SOVIET RUSSIA by fractoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In evolutionary biology, floppy PREVENTS coppy.

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  10. Re:Since When Does Infringement Equal Jail Time? by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I bet the RIAA have already traced sharers to an IP, gotten a home address, found out it's the home of some celebrity or politician and immediately dropped it.

  11. Re:Since When Does Infringement Equal Jail Time? by vux984 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually, I think the fastest way to see a change would be if a senator's/governor's/etc. son/daughter was caught pirating their favorite song/movie/whatever.

    Unfortunately not. The copyright holders would treat them with kid gloves, drop the case, and give them a gentle, 'hey don't do it again speech'.

  12. Re:Since When Does Infringement Equal Jail Time? by influenza · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Or maybe SIIA has been given a preview of what's being negotiated for the secret ACTA treaty.

    National security my ass...

  13. ... a 7 letter word for synonym ... by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "What's hilarious is that you seem to be misusing "illegal" yourself. Hint: it doesn't mean the same thing as "unlawful"."

    Good point! So many people here are using the terms interchangeably. It is as if these people think that the two words are synonymous!

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  14. Re:Since When Does Infringement Equal Jail Time? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    "Not being able to go to college" ... WTF? So you would not send him to jail but would ruin his whole life forever. Get real, the courts should concentrate on real crimes, like rape, murder and physical theft.

  15. awesome! by Nekomusume · · Score: 2, Insightful

    An anti-piracy video that portrays the RIAA/MPAA/Law Enforcement as being a bunch of over-reacting psychotics? Sounds like a pirate-party recruitment video.

  16. Ethics in software? by V!NCENT · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For me the only ethics in software is being able to share it with your friends. Did your mother teach you nothing?

    You know what is truely ethical?; Marking something and then sharing it with the rest of the world!

    And the only thing that is truely attacking the digital age are the proprietary software vendors and the pro-copyright bodies.

    Now get the fsck off my lawn!

    --
    Here be signatures
    1. Re:Ethics in software? by Peaker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Share car --> I don't have the car to use, it gets worn and torn over time, you might have an accident and destroy it.

      Share software --> You gain software, I still have software, no damage done.

      POOR ANALOGY: YOU FAIL.

  17. Re:British TV by omz13 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Forgive the youtube link, but a British TV show called "The IT Crowd" did a pretty good anti-piracy warning.

    Its not an anti-piracy warning... its satire of the anti-piracy warning that is shown at the start of DVDs sold in the UK. As satires go, its very funny is you know the original warning. (And, to be blunt, one reason to rip your DVDs is to remove the very f*****g annoying anti-piracy warning that is shown at the start of DVDs sold in the UK, especially as you can't skip through it, grrrrr. When I buy a DVD, I just want to watch its content, not get bombasted with crappy anti-piracy warnings and all the stupid trailers they are starting to add now).

  18. What we really need... by Bones3D_mac · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... is a PSA that warns viewers that the content of most PSAs are rarely objective and are often funded by organizations trying to push their own agenda. (Some of which may actually be worse than the crap they're PSAing to us about.)

    --


    8==8 Bones 8==8
  19. This just confirms it. by oDDmON+oUT · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The *IAA's want to become the next SS/KGB/Stasi, using paramilitary actions as a way to keep the dollars trickling into their dying business models.

    The truly scary part?

    That suits in both Hollywood and on the Beltway believe that this is a viable way to treat the American people.

    --
    Some days it's just not worth
    chewing through my restraints.
  20. Re:A better video by funkatron · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That link just gives me a demonstration of why piracy is better than legit: "This video is not available in your country due to copyright restrictions. ".

    --
    "Welcome to our world. We are the wasted youth. And we are the future too." Yes, I know these are stupid lyrics.
  21. I love how... by Civil_Disobedient · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I love how they use the coercive threat of prison violence. These days it's just accepted as fact that the prison system is completely and utterly broken beyond repair.