Slashdot Mirror
British Video Recordings Act 1984 Invalid
chrb writes "BBC News is reporting that the British Video Recordings Act 1984 is invalid due to a 25 year old legal blunder. The Thatcher government of the day failed to officially "notify" the European Commission about the law, and hence it no longer stands as a legal Act. There will now be a period of around three months before the Act can be passed again, during which time it will be entirely legal to sell any video content without age-rated certifications."
I have a feeling that in a "law and order" country like the US, the law would never actually stop being enforced - law enforcement and judiciary would make up something about the "spirit" of the law or some other legal nonsense.
So, kudos to them for actually being a country that follows the letter of the law, not simply a "well that's what we meant"-tough-on-crime policy like the US.
Teen pregnancy rates will probably drop, because now instead of living in Victorian-style ignorance ("Orgasm? What an orgasm?"), the teens will finally learn what "sex" is thanks to watching these no-longer restricted videos, and what not to do if you don't want to become a mommy or daddy.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
the usual comment on this typical sort of slashdot story is something about how the "won't someone think of the children!" hysteria is so wrong
but the usual comment also consists of a heavy dollop of hysteria itself, as if these kinds of laws actually threaten you, as if they represent some sort of unstoppable slide into all-encompassing fascism
these laws are silly. your reaction to them is equally silly. its all circus, and you're an enthusiastic participant
in the real world, none of these laws amount to squat. its a tempest in a teapot
but please, don't let me stop you from getting your panties in a twist about the coming autocratic theocracy, or whatever your hysterical fear is
zzz
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Funny thing, last time I wanted to teach the early teen daughter of a geek about orgasms he tried to smack me. I gave him one in the face and told him, "Fascist oppressor, you censorship nazgul!"
That "some grassroots" is thankfully very small and very ignorant of modern governance. Rather than blindly attempting to squash anything Washington is trying to do, how about you join in the debate. Maybe we'd grow an able populace that understands why a strong, central government is the best place for many pieces of legislation and pretty much all forms of regulation. Don't be a reactionary.