Slashdot Mirror
The Rise of the Copyright Trolls
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In the new mass filesharing suit brought in Washington, DC, on behalf of a filmmaker, Achte/Neunte v. Does 1-2094, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Citizen, and two ACLU organizations have filed an amicus curiae brief supporting a motion by Time Warner to quash the subpoena. EFF commented: 'We've long been concerned that some attorneys would attempt to create a business by cutting corners in mass copyright lawsuits against fans, shaking settlements out of people who aren't in a position to raise legitimate defenses and becoming a category of 'copyright trolls' to rival those seen in patent law.'" And reader ericgoldman notes a case that arguably falls under the same umbrella: "Sherman Frederick, publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, wrote a blog post declaring 'Copyright theft: We're not taking it anymore.' Apparently upset that third-party websites are republishing its stories in full, the newspaper 'grubstaked and contracted with a company called Righthaven ... a local technology company whose only job is to protect copyrighted content.' Righthaven has brought 'about 22' lawsuits on behalf of the newspaper, including lawsuits against marijuana- and gambling-related websites. Frederick hopes 'if Righthaven shows continued success, that it will find other clients looking for a solution to the theft of copyrighted material' and ends his 'editorial' (or is it an ad?) inviting other newspapers to become Righthaven customers. A couple of months back Wendy Davis of MediaPost deconstructed some of Frederick's logic gaps."
Where did I say people should not get paid? I have no problem with people getting paid for their work.
You implied it by undermining the system whereby creators can get paid.
As far as I am concerned, it is time to find a new way to pay journalists and artists.
If you're undermining the copyright system whereby creators get paid, and not suggesting any alternatives, then, yes, you are undermining people's ability to get paid. One of my irritations is when people undermine copyright but don't suggest alternatives or suggest bad alternatives, and act like they're being reasonable.
Please point out where I said we should repeal copyright law.
It's implied in your comment.
All I said was that it is time for the focus to shift away from greed and toward improving the public's ability to access creative works.
Where did you say that?
Admittedly, the car analogy sucked.
And the owner is denied benefit if someone else republishes it. I've published ten books. Photocopy mine, and should I find out about it, your injury to me will be salved in court.
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.