Slashdot Mirror


RIAA-Backed Warrantless Search Bill In California

lordvramir writes "If you run a CD or DVD duplication company and you're based in California, you may soon be subject to warrantless searches in order to 'fight piracy.' California Senate Bill 550, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), has slowly begun making its way through the state legislature as a way to cut down on counterfeit discs, but critics worry that it may open the door to Fourth Amendment violations." This fits in well with other recent moves to neuter the Fourth Amendment.

208 comments

  1. riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by ganjadude · · Score: 3, Funny

    and water is wet, details at 11

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    1. Re:riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      And some of the few people who notice and realize the significance of it shrug it off because it's not new and is evidently boring. Or maybe just because they want to excuse their apathy.

      Seriously, the news at 11 should be examining why one would take -persistent- threats less seriously than -new- threats to our freedom. Why does this story elicit a yawn rather than a "THIS IS THE LAST FUCKING STRAW!"

      I'm guessing it's because we don't know what to do about it?

    2. Re:riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by MarkvW · · Score: 2

      Yeah, this is flamingly unconstitutional. The IRS needs a warrant to go onto your real property to get property that they have a tax lien on. G. M. Leasing Corp. v. U. S. 429 U.S. 338. The RIAA's gonna need a warrant too. This is not a hard call.

    3. Re:riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It'll never survive federal court. This is a state official just looking to pocket RIAA money and favors through a bill he know can't survive. It's the same tactic Mitch Daniels of Indiana is using by blocking medicaid/medicare from Planned Parenthood, which is also illegal for him to do.

      They do it for press, money, and if they want to seek higher office. But all they are really doing is wasting our time and money on fruitless court battles they can't win.

      --
      I8-D
    4. Re:riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by vinn01 · · Score: 1

      The above comment should be modded up.

      Does anyone really believe that politicians have sudden urges to propose new bills that pander to wealthy businesses?

      Since I happen to know something about how this works, I'll tell you - these bills are not written by the politicians or their staff. Big corporations employ people to write legislation on behalf of pliable politicians.

      This bill probably will not pass - today. But it will be tried multiple times, multiple ways. Eventually, a similar bill *will* pass. Because in the future everyone will have gotten used to the idea.

    5. Re:riaa backs unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It may not be legal per Article 1, section 13 of the California Constitution, either:

      "CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
      ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

      SEC. 13. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable seizures and searches may not be violated; and a warrant may not issue except on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons and things to be seized."

  2. What the hell? by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
    Is this international kill the 4th amendment week in the US???

    WTF...the Supreme court makes a horrible decision with regard to warrant-less searches.

    I believe it was Indiana that just made warrantless searches ok, and you can't defend yourself against them...and now this??

    Geez...the police state is gathering steam MUCH faster than I'd expected.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:What the hell? by somersault · · Score: 1

      Sounds like a national celebration, rather than international.

      What a joke. Is it legal to shoot someone doing a warrantless search? Methinks it should be. If you're going to have guns floating around, might as well put them to good use.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is what happens when people vote in leaders who feel that we are subjects, and not citizens. They feel that anything in the name of the interest of the state outweighs personal rights. The reason that the Constitution says our rights are granted by God is so that people don't think it is the government that grants us our rights.... because if the government gives, then the government can take away. If we allow this trampling of our rights to continue, those in power are just going to continue to try to gain more power (power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely). You just wait until they start deeming protests and speaking out against the government as "threats to national security", and start grossly curtailing freedom of speech.

    3. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The 4th Amendment has been up against the ropes for at least 30years or so. I guess TPTB are intent to finish it off with a few knockout blows.

    4. Re:What the hell? by hedwards · · Score: 1

      To be honest, I suspect that it is. If the police don't have a warrant, then how exactly is the home owner to know that it's a search rather than burglary. Any police officer can flash a badge, but without a warrant there's no way of knowing the difference between a legitimate action and one that's criminal in nature.

    5. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's all about making the people subservient to the Government.

      Now, ask yourself, what is worse?...big corporations with maketing departments or big government with guns?

    6. Re:What the hell? by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 1

      Is this international kill the 4th amendment week in the US???

      Nothing international about it; this is a domestic effort.

      Geez...the police state is gathering steam MUCH faster than I'd expected.

      Really? It was not all that long ago that the secret service was trying to imprison people who merely possessed a copy of the BellSouth E911 document. During that same period of the time, the Justice Department was trying to sneak back doors into cryptography products (clipper chip), something that they are still pushing for to this day:

      http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/crypto.html

      --
      Palm trees and 8
    7. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reason that the Constitution says our rights are granted by God

      Where does it say that? At least read it for crying out loud.

    8. Re:What the hell? by Seumas · · Score: 2

      Depends who that someone is. If you're the one having your home or business invaded, then yes, it's almost certainly okay to shoot you. In fact, it has happened before without any discipline of the shooter. Just "part of the job". Even when the warrant was served on the wrong fucking place and person. However, if you're the one being searched and a bunch of armed guys storm into your home in the middle of the night and your initial response is to grab a weapon and defend yourself - you'll probably be killed in return. Or at least imprisoned. Even if you are an innocent person and the warrant was served (as seems to happen often) on the wrong address (say, the cops go to 1131 W. Broadway when the address is supposed to be 1311 W Broadway).

      I still fail to see how this is a criminal issue. Why are government resources being used to enforce and police what should be civil matters? If you and I sign a contract and you violate that contract, can I send the police (or the FBI or other armed squad of gestapo) to exact retribution on you?

    9. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll take "big corporations with marketing departments who control big government with guns" for $1000, Alex.

    10. Re:What the hell? by Seumas · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just google "cops warrant wrong house" for an endless flood of no-knock warrant stories where cops broke down the door of the wrong house. They often end with an innocent citizen (of course, until convicted, aren't they ALL innocent?) being shot or even killed or with a home owner defending themselves against the home invasion by shooting the police (which never works out well for the victim).

      http://www.google.com/search?q=cops+warrant+wrong+house

    11. Re:What the hell? by Hatta · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The Indiana Supreme Court wrote "We believe however that a right to resist an unlawful police entry into a home is against public policy and is incompatible with modern Fourth Amendment jurisprudence."

      It is abundantly clear that modern Fourth Amendment jurisprudence is incompatible with the Fourth Amendment.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    12. Re:What the hell? by Seumas · · Score: 3, Informative

      Where is this list of politicians who don't feel that their constituency is just a power pool to fuel their own personal selfish motivations and goals?

      Also, where is the statement in the Constitution that says rights are granted by this "God" fellow? The closest I'm aware of is all men being created equal, endowed by their creator (where creator is clearly intentionally open and vague to be interpreted by each individual as is appropriate to them - including sensibly metaphorically).

      Also, it is false to say that our "rights" are somehow granted by a mythological sky-person. The fact is that they ARE granted by the government. In the days when Kings owned all the land and you were allowed to live and toil on their land, you were subject to their whims. Today, you are subject to the government's whims. Ostensibly, that means the whims of your fellow man, but in practice it's more of a limited control by aristocracy than "fellow man". At any rate, if you have some inherent right to speak freely and posses a weapon, I suggest you think again. Any right that I feel is a basic right of a human being and that I currently enjoy the freedom to exercise is done so only because the government hasn't taken it away from me. They could come in tomorrow and shut me up and take my gun or even take my life and there isn't a fucking thing I could do about it, because I'm one person and I don't own nukes or tanks or bombs or assault rifles or have a military or an entire court and legal team on my payroll.

    13. Re:What the hell? by Seumas · · Score: 1

      The reality we live in is that big corporations with marketing departments largely operate the big government with guns. If you doubt it, look at the employment and lobbying history of any random handful of politicians or cabinet and committee members in the government before and after their time "serving the public".

    14. Re:What the hell? by anegg · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Quoting from the inset document in one of the articles, "In the 1920s, legal scholarship began criticizing the right [to resist unlawful entry by a police officer] as valuing individual liberty over physical security of the officers."

      At what point in the history of the United States did "legal scholarship" become an authoritative source of law capable of destroying inherent natural rights not granted by the US Constitution but specifically called out as examples of existing rights such as those expressed in the 4th amendment such as "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures..." To say that there is no right to resist an unlawful entry (and arrest) because there are now "after the fact" remedies available that may not have been available to those in the 18th century misses the point that unlawful entry and arrest can be just as effectively used to suppress and intimidate now as it was then. Exercising remedies to get out of jail after an unlawful arrest takes time and money, time spent in jail and fighting an unlawful arrest takes away from time required to earn a living (try missing 2 weeks of work and income - see what happens to your bills and your job), and the stain of the arrest may take a long time to fade, if in fact it ever does.

      Without *some* possibility of a negative consequence to an unlawful entry and/or arrest, what is left to hold police back from engaging in whatever related conduct they so choose, so long as they know that their superior officers (who aren't elected officials) won't hold them at fault or punish them?

    15. Re:What the hell? by fnj · · Score: 1

      Is there a difference between the corporations and the American regime any more?

    16. Re:What the hell? by sandslash · · Score: 1

      The end always comes faster than you think.

    17. Re:What the hell? by biek · · Score: 1

      Now, ask yourself, what is worse?...big corporations with private security contractors or big government with guns and also private security contractors?

      FTFY

    18. Re:What the hell? by querist · · Score: 2, Informative

      The idea is in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. First line of the second paragraph: "... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, ... " (http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/)

    19. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      He meant the Declaration of Independence. And the rights he talks about are inherent, aka Lockean natural rights. Natural rights have been called God given rights as well by some.

    20. Re:What the hell? by The+Dawn+Of+Time · · Score: 1

      The reality is that powerful people are powerful, always and forever. The only possible way to fight that is to decentralize power, but we're on the complete opposite track.

    21. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is what happens when conservatives cry and whine about the liberal ACLU, but don't do anything about it. Where the fuck is the Conservative Civil Liberties Union?

      Oh look, the liberal ACLU is looking the other way while the constitution is being violated by SWAT teams armed to the teeth. Who's gonna step up to the plate? Conservatives and their little 2nd amendment pea-shooter? I'm sure the NRA would love to weigh in on the issue.

    22. Re:What the hell? by straponego · · Score: 1

      Yep, funny how often those innocent people shoot at cops. Also google "drop gun."

    23. Re:What the hell? by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      Simple. The police will use sufficent force and intimidation to control the situation immediately. A burgler will not.

      Warrent? That is not the problem. The problem is meth users. Making and/or distrobuting meth is illegal and most of the people dealing have lots of weapons and cash. They are subject to getting robbed all the time so anyone that comes to the door unexpectedly is assumed to be a robber and is met with deadly force, obviously including the police.

      Arizona is a big, big meth state. Well, actually just about every state is big into meth these days, but I do hear about Arizona a lot.

      You might think that a knock on the door with "This is the police, we have a search warrent" would deter people from shooting first and asking questions later. Nope. That is the exact phrase the robbers are going to use - they watch TV too. Badges? Look online - anyone can buy a badge. Do you know exactly what a real badge for your community looks like?

      Sorry, but the meth users these days are perfectly correct - anyone could be coming to rob them. Meth also tends to make the users just a wee bit paranoid as well. All this together means that the police are never sure if they are going to run into a paranoid, armed meth user or your average homeowner. They can be prepared and control the situation or they can be dead. They are trained heavily in control.

      Gun control? These people are criminals. If you want a gun, go see a criminal that is dealing in guns. No amount of laws are going to make a difference with these people, only sealing the borders to prevent guns from getting in and ending all gun manufacture in the US would make a difference. We can't keep illegal people out, so how are we going to keep illegal guns out? We're not.

    24. Re:What the hell? by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 2

      You have a right to protection from unlawful entry, not the right to "resist". IE - No, you can't aim a gun at police, shove them out, or punch them in the face. What you do have the right to do is sue them in court. And they, no you, will determine what is lawful and what is unlawful as far as the entry.

      --
      I8-D
    25. Re:What the hell? by Shagg · · Score: 1

      If you and I sign a contract and you violate that contract, can I send the police (or the FBI or other armed squad of gestapo) to exact retribution on you?

      Depends on if you have as much money and political influence (same thing, really) as the RIAA does.

      --
      Unix is user friendly, it's just selective about who its friends are.
    26. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just because someone yells "police" as he kicks down your door and has a shiny badge and gun does not mean that they are a cop.

      In fact criminals have figured out that they can do the same thing.

      It's a lose-lose situation:

      If you have your gun in your hand at the instant they burst through your door and it turns out they're actually a cop, you wind up dead. You lose.

      If you don't have your gun in your hand at the instant they burst through your door and it turns out they're a criminal intent on stealing all your stuff, they steal all your stuff. You lose.

      The only solution is to give up the right to defend yourself, since at least then you end up getting all your stuff stolen instead of dead. Might as well turn in that gun, citizen... you can't afford to risk using it.

    27. Re:What the hell? by Hatta · · Score: 2

      Which is another way of saying we have no protection against unlawful entry at all. This is clearly not what was intended by the 4th amendment.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    28. Re:What the hell? by Bartles · · Score: 1

      I hope you are including unions, when you say big corporations. Nothing is more foul than the government collecting dues for unions like they do here in Wisconsin.

    29. Re:What the hell? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      What if the police officers do not identify themselves as police - i.e. just break down your door and try to subdue you?

      (remember, we're talking about illegal entrance, after all - that'd be one way to make it illegal)

    30. Re:What the hell? by BeanThere · · Score: 1

      This also has the "chilling effect" of cutting into the 2nd Amendment. Why? Because if you're woken in the middle of the night by armed intruders, now you can no longer grab your weapon and defend yourself. Now you allegedly are supposed to keep your weapon away, and then first try figure out (an impossible task ultimately, in all scenarios) "is it the police or SWAT or a gang of robbers", and keep your weapon stored away just in case it's the police and they fire on you as soon as they see the weapon.

      You're also just dirt-lucky if they don't fire on you for the hell of it - many of these raids have resulted in the deaths of innocents now. And look for it to grow exponentially now that the 4th Amendment has well and truly been destroyed .. expect this map to have many more new markers in the coming years:

      http://www.cato.org/raidmap/

      Thing is, as a home owner you are within your right right to use force to defend against a violent intrusion. To suggest that somebody stirred from their sleep should now first check if maybe it's the cops before defending their family, is unreasonable, as the robbers already would have the upper hand ... it basically renders your right to self-defense moot. It attacks both the 4th and 2nd amendments in one go.

      These invasions are volatile situations and inherently put lives at risk and WILL result in innocent deaths.

      Finally what is particularly shocking is the premises on which they're invading homes. You would think these invasions would be reserved for the most serious of cases, where lives are at stake, live kidnappings or hostage scenarios. But no, it's usually "narcotics" - so basically what is so critical that they simply need to invade homes and shoot innocent people like your and my families, is to prevent some people getting high.

      I'm afraid that at this rate this administration will oversea a dismantling of the entire bill of rights.

      It's already become beyond ridiculous, with infringements like the TSA police-state-style system that starts to put USA on par with Soviet Russia, Communist China and Cuba and North Korea. Then there are other absurd infringements on liberty like it becoming increasingly illegal to grow your own food.

    31. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can't we charge these bad judges with treason? I'm assuming that they must swear some kind of oath to defend and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign or domestic, just like the president is supposed to do?

    32. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Biological parents?

    33. Re:What the hell? by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 1

      The police have a right to work safely. What if every citizen says "This unlawful, come in here and I'll shoot you!"

      My question is, who the hell gave individual citizen's the right to dictate what is lawful and unlawful? Sometimes, yes, it is obvious. But it's not up to a citizen to determine of the bar of probable cause has been met. That's the job of the court. Its the reason we don't allow lynch mobs to prosecute criminals.

      To another responder to you: 2nd amendment chilling effects my ass... this is a civil society, not freaking Syria. Courts decide legal issues, not guns. In the hands of private citizens, guns are for protection, not for enforcement of your will on others.

      See, this is why when I get pulled over, I drive away with a warning, and you guys end up on youtube getting tasered. You don't have to be confrontational to police in every damn situation. If you have a problem, go to court... go complain to the police chief... complain to your mayor. Don't go whipping out your "big gun" to make yourself feel like a badass.

      You're not Chuck Norris, and they will beat your ass with a night stick. And resisting arrest charges are fairly hard to fight when you pull a weapon.

      --
      I8-D
    34. Re:What the hell? by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 1

      Identifying themselves could be satisfied if they are wearing badges and uniforms. Did you know a cop can pull you over and not be in uniform? They just have to be in a police cruiser. Alternatively, a cop in uniform can pull you over in an unmarked, so long as they are in uniform.

      Identification isn't just saying "Police!"

      And, I find it funny these John Wayne types that think they'll grab their gun from the nightstand drawer and shoot down a home invader.

      Most home invaders break in, and try to be quiet. Police barrel through the door with guns drawn. If you can't tell the difference, you've never watched an episode of Cops.

      --
      I8-D
    35. Re:What the hell? by Hatta · · Score: 1

      The police have a right to work safely.

      And I have a right to be safe in my home.

      What if every citizen says "This unlawful, come in here and I'll shoot you!"

      That's a VERY good reason to announce your presence. The police are too stupid to understand that, and blame their obvious error on the homeowner who was just trying to defend himself. This is not how a free society is run.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    36. Re:What the hell? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Identifying themselves could be satisfied if they are wearing badges and uniforms. Did you know a cop can pull you over and not be in uniform? They just have to be in a police cruiser. Alternatively, a cop in uniform can pull you over in an unmarked, so long as they are in uniform.

      Identification isn't just saying "Police!"

      You still didn't answer the question. What if they do neither?

      And, I find it funny these John Wayne types that think they'll grab their gun from the nightstand drawer and shoot down a home invader.

      Most home invaders break in, and try to be quiet. Police barrel through the door with guns drawn. If you can't tell the difference, you've never watched an episode of Cops.

      Yeah, because the first thing I would do when my door breaks down and a muscular guy runs in is to stop and think, "gee, well maybe it's not some crazy dude on drugs gone amok".

      I mean, you yourself say "most home invaders". Do you believe that people should have an obligation to figure out who's breaking their door, if that person does not in any way announce the fact, even if guessing wrong is potentially fatal?

      Most US states have (had?) Castle Doctrine for a reason.

    37. Re:What the hell? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      However, Indiana's supreme court ruled that you're not allowed to resist an illegal search. Of course, if enough people fight back, either the cops will back down, or civil war will start.

    38. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is funny is that this was already ruled on. It seems the idiots in black robes cant read their own damned case law.

      “Citizens may resist unlawful arrest to the point of taking an arresting officer's life if necessary.” Plummer v. State, 136 Ind. 306. This premise was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case: John Bad Elk v. U.S., 177 U.S. 529. The Court stated: “Where the officer is killed in the course of the disorder which naturally accompanies an attempted arrest that is resisted, the law looks with very different eyes upon the transaction, when the officer had the right to make the arrest, from what it does if the officer had no right. What may be murder in the first case might be nothing more than manslaughter in the other, or the facts might show that no offense had been committed.”

    39. Re:What the hell? by alexo · · Score: 1

      Also google "drop gun."

      I did, and found this.

      This is more evidence that the only difference policemen (aka LEOs) and other gangsters is that policemen are far more dangerous because the state approves of their gang.

  3. Because what could be more important... by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 4, Informative

    than suppressing music and movie piracy? Those individual rights ideas in the constitution that we inherited from the Magna Carta just make that soooooo... difficult.

    Excuse me, I have to go wipe up some of that sarcasm that's dripping on the floor here.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
    1. Re:Because what could be more important... by Kenja · · Score: 2

      Given that music and movies are about the only thing we as a nation create these days... Only partially kidding is the sad part. Time to cry into my imported mexican Coca-Cola (with actual sugar!).

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:Because what could be more important... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I am sure our elected representatives will squash this. No true American patriot would stand for such an infringement of basic freedom, and all our governers are true American patriots.

      Right?

    3. Re:Because what could be more important... by spidercoz · · Score: 1

      You are right. No TRUE American patriot WOULD stand for this shit.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
    4. Re:Because what could be more important... by purpledinoz · · Score: 1

      Music piracy is a gateway to real piracy. I bet every Somalian pirate has pirated music or movies before he became a real pirate.

    5. Re:Because what could be more important... by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

      Arrrrrhhh. Ye may have a point, matey!

      --
      Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
    6. Re:Because what could be more important... by atomicbutterfly · · Score: 1

      Given that music and movies are about the only thing we as a nation create these days...

      Mod parent up. THIS is precisely the reason why the US Government is so obsessive when it comes to such matters - the US just doesn't make anything of value anymore except for media and other IP. Physical products? Forget it, they're made in China or elsewhere. IP is all the US has left, and unfortunately for them it's also the easiest product to swipe.

  4. Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I thought the Dems were all about personality andshit. Fuck whoever you want in the ass wherever you want using government condems.

    So now they want to fuck everyone in the ass with taxes and no warrent searches.

    Had enough Change yet?

    1. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by countertrolling · · Score: 2

      Had enough Change yet?

      Change? What change? Everything looks exactly the same as it always has. Just because the left hand blinker has been flashing all this time, the car is still just moseying along straight ahead, obstructing traffic...

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    2. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yea, to be honest, I think our government is falling apart because your post is a pretty accurate representation of the average intelligence level of American voters.

    3. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by obergfellja · · Score: 5, Informative

      I thought the Dems were all about personality andshit. Fuck whoever you want in the ass wherever you want using government condems.

      So now they want to fuck everyone in the ass with taxes and no warrent searches.

      Had enough Change yet?

      This is not really a republican or democrat idea but a recent trend of infringement on American's Fourth Amendment. Indiana has recently passed a bill to have warentless searches. If a police officer suspects any "Funny business" of any sort, they can intrude without a warent. This is fine and dandy when an actual crime is happening, but they can do it at any time, and if you resist in Indiana, you can be arrested for impeding an officer's investigation. If you attack an officer while he/she barges in because you are trying to protect your property, you will be charged with Assault of an Officer (which is a federal crime). It has passed in Indiana, and it is has set forth for similar laws in Texas, California, and anyone else. If someone suspects that you are doing something bad or wrong, they can call the cops and infringe on your fourth amendment.

      This is a recent bill passed in indy, so it can be overturned if it is taken to to the feds, but hasn't yet.

      http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110518/17015914326/what-4th-amendment-indiana-sheriff-says-random-warrantless-house-to-house-searches-are-okay.shtml

    4. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by spidercoz · · Score: 0

      word.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
    5. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Posting anonymously for reasons that should be obvious.

      When I heard about that bill my first thought was its time to get violent. That is so fucking outrageous, so blatant, so "fuck you citizens" that I have to believe the only way to save this country is through violence. Supreme Court rulings where you are criminally responsible for any self defense during a SWAT raid on the wrong address, court rulings saying the smell of marijuana is enough to bust down somebody's door, the whole war on drugs, the TSA, prosecuting people taping their traffic stops under wire tapping laws when the government itself performs warrantless wiretaps. They're all ridiculous, they're not getting better, and it doesn't matter who we vote in. Never forget that the citizens are the highest authority, and these disgusting pieces of filth are the real criminals. Kill them before they kill you.

    6. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by obergfellja · · Score: 2

      Don't get me wrong, I will respect a cop, if he respects me and my space, but Indiana has had a bad track record of corrupt cops in the past 18 months alone. This alone is making me look at the law as a full on war on personal rights. I have my weapons (second amendment) ready for this. I have been the type to oppose guns or any weapons, but as this was handed down, I am now seeing a real reason for the Second amendment and I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and all who are in my home from any invaders, domestic or foreign.

      The US military, when they sign up, they sign up to protect the citizens and uphold the constitution from Foreign and Domestic threats. We need them to help us now, more than ever.

    7. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

      Posting anonymously for reasons that should be obvious.

      Yes. Too much weed has made you paranoid ;)

    8. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by SunnyDaze · · Score: 2

      Republicans are Big Business and Democrats are Big Media

    9. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by hairyfeet · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Bingo! Anyone who bothers to vote for anything other than local elections is simply wasting their time, as any and ALL choices will be pre-approved by our corporate owners before being allowed to proceed. Hell even though I don't approve of his policies just look at how quick the MSM was when it came to isolating Ron Paul when it looked like he might actually gain some support. Not pre-approved by the corporate owners? Well then you are a stupid quack nutjob worthless of being allowed to speak according to the mouthpiece of the owners, aka our "news" services.

      To those that think anything short of an Egypt style revolt will stop our slouching into a fascist corporate owned police state here are your choices in the next presidential election. you can vote for the corporate ass kissing fascist in the blue suit, or the corporate ass kissing fascist in the other blue suit. Notice how neither choice gives you someone who isn't a corporate asskissing fascist? This is what they commonly call "voting for the lesser of two evils" which is in reality about as much choice as being handed a slip with two boxes, one says "Check here to vote for el presidente!" and the other says "check here to support el presidente by voting for him".

      To all my fellow /.ers I say this...steal the shit. Steal anything and everything that ain't nailed down, pirate the living fuck out of everything you can. Because we have seen conclusively that "voting with your dollars" has completely failed as they simply list ALL lost sales as piracy and get ever more draconian laws passed regardless, and if you ever did enough damage to actually cause them any financial pain they would simply have themselves declared 'too big to fail" and take the money out of your pocket while the government holds you down.

      So snatch that shit buddy, snatch everything you can. It is only a matter of time before China calls in the loans and the whole thing turns into Zimbabwe part II, so you might as well get yours because they are sure as fuck snatching every damned thing that ain't nailed down, like the public domain, freedoms like the fourth amendment, and anything else on their corporate wishlists.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    10. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by pnutjam · · Score: 2

      not a bill, a court decision, probably on it's way to the supreme court.

      It would take legislation to change this even if it should already be different based on any reasonable reading of the constitution.

      By the way, that sheriff is an idiot, the court did not say anything turned up by an illegal search would be admitted, they just said you shouldn't resist. My normal policy is don't argue with cops, argue with judges, so I can see his point. It doesn't really change anything. Look at any no knock mistake that resulted in police injury or death. The people doing the shooting always go to jail. While the police can kill people during oops raids and have very little repercussions. I'm kind of glad this is so out in the open. Now maybe we can hope for a legislative fix.

    11. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I haven't had enough change yet.

      I was hoping, and I think with some justification, that Obama would do several things. He would do something to establish that torture was wrong, something more than just saying he wasn't going to condone it. He would get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan. He would re-establish the rule of law in dealing with prisoners. He would cut down on the inane airport security. He would push through a decent first step towards a first-world health care system.

      Currently, I think we might have gotten more of that with McCain.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    12. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by DreadPiratePizz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Seriously? Kill them before they kill you? You don't have the balls. I'll eat my words when you and your militia storm the capitol and start executing lawmakers. Me, I prefer not to act like a terrorist and go for more non violent methods. You have many options. How about you and several million other people refuse to pay taxes? That would get the attention of an already cash starved govt. How about you stage massive non violent protests? Certainly worked for Gandhi. This isn't the dark ages; we don't have to cut off the king's head to make change. But we DO need people who are actually willing to act instead of just talk, something I doubt you're capable of. If you are, then I'll be sure to say I'm sorry by visiting you in federal prison.

    13. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Naturalis+Philosopho · · Score: 1

      Of course, this makes Indiana the 41st state to take this interpretation of the law (it was a state supreme court ruling, not a law passing). 40 others already make it illegal to resist or interfere with a police officer even when they are doing something illegal like kicking in the door without a warrant.

      I'd be at the rally in Indy next Wednesday, but the economy is so bad out here in Indiana that I can't afford to take the time off from work. Let alone for political purposes. How's that for living in a police state? Keep 'em scared enough economically, socially, and of the cops themselves to do anything about it.

      Shit, this actually has me agreeing with the teabaggers out here. How bad can a law be to make me do that?

      http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-ind-ruling-on-illegal-police-entry-sparks-protest-20110519,0,4882870.story

    14. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Sarius64 · · Score: 1

      Leave OBAMA ALONE!

      He only spent 750 million dollars on the election after breaking his promise not to do so. Boo hoo!

    15. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's been going on all over that state for a lot longer than 18 months. I can vouch for at least 14 years of shenanigans by the law enforcement in Indiana.

    16. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by spauldo · · Score: 1

      Given your inability to spell, I'd say you're either not one of the people Obama wants to tax (i.e. rich folks) or you're a trust funder who fucked off his education.

      Also, I'd like to point out your inability to distinguish federal from state government (change was Obama's thing, this is the California senate), your complete lack of memory (warrantless searches started during the Bush era - so pretty much both parties have shown a willingness for them), and your inability to make sense (Democrats are about personality? WTF?).

      How about doing yourself a favor and learn a bit about government before spouting all your inane bullshit?

      --
      Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach either, do tech support.
    17. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by lxs · · Score: 1

      BINGO!
      I've got Libertarian Troll Bingo!

    18. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Nyder · · Score: 1

      ... Indiana has recently passed a bill to have warentless searches. If a police officer suspects any "Funny business" of any sort, they can intrude without a warent. ...

      Dang, they don't like comedians in Indiana, do they?

      --
      Be seeing you...
    19. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Celestialwolf · · Score: 1

      Democrats back unconstitutional bill...

      and water is wet, details at 11

    20. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by obergfellja · · Score: 1

      thank you for reiterating the top post of this thread. It really adds ALLOT to the conversation.

    21. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Hell even though I don't approve of his policies just look at how quick the MSM was when it came to isolating Ron Paul when it looked like he might actually gain some support

      Actually, most Americans dismissed Ron Paul when they finally checked out what his political beliefs were and what the consequences were. He gained a lot of followers when the faithful spoke in rather vague "the government has gone too far" terms, then lost them again when people heard him in debates and saw his stances on issues.

    22. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      First of all, getting a single square is NOT bingo, unless you have the most fucked up game of bingo I've ever heard, second don't insult me by calling me a libertarian, I'm a socialist thank you VERY much.

      And you still haven't answered the fundamental question: How is voting supposed to do ANYTHING when both parties have identical views? How's that Hope and Change working out for ya? Who has held onto every nasty policy Bush supported, even taking them farther when he could? And now Obama says he has the right to assassination of Americans on American soil thanks to irrevocable "war powers" so you tell me, how EXACTLY is he ANY different than the man who preceded him?

      This isn't about some political party Mr funny man, this is about the loss of the very essence of a free society! This is about using the government as the personal attack dogs of the corporations (15 years in jail for copyright infringement?) and when bad management and cronyism causes the business to implode simply labeling it "too big to fail" and handing them a blank check. You find ANYTHING at all funny about that? You currently "owe" about $78,000 thanks to the spending insanity of our leaders, you know this right?

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    23. Re:Democrats back unconstitutional bill... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who cares about warrant-less searches? If your not doing anything wrong, no one is going to search you or your home.
      If you are involved with what might be against the law, do it quietly. Life is as simple as you are smart.

         

  5. Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by bit+trollent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's not the most controversial part of the bill, though. SB550 also has provisions that would allow law enforcement to begin inspecting disc replication plants without a warrant in order to verify that they're complying with the law. These inspections must take place during regular business hours, but if officers find equipment that they suspect is being used for non-legit purposes, it can be seized.

    I wonder how the summary somehow left out that these warrentless searches are of commercial disc replication plants.

    I would assume that all commercial buildings are subject to warrentless searches to enforce various safety and workplace laws...

    Anyway, I don't support any degradation of the 4th amendment, but I don't appreciate the deceptive manipulation of large numbers of people who can be counted on to not read the fucking article either.

    1. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by demonbug · · Score: 2

      That's not the most controversial part of the bill, though. SB550 also has provisions that would allow law enforcement to begin inspecting disc replication plants without a warrant in order to verify that they're complying with the law. These inspections must take place during regular business hours, but if officers find equipment that they suspect is being used for non-legit purposes, it can be seized.

      I wonder how the summary somehow left out that these warrentless searches are of commercial disc replication plants.

      I would assume that all commercial buildings are subject to warrentless searches to enforce various safety and workplace laws...

      Anyway, I don't support any degradation of the 4th amendment, but I don't appreciate the deceptive manipulation of large numbers of people who can be counted on to not read the fucking article either.

      Yeah, I was wondering about that too. There are certainly cases where government representatives can conduct unannounced inspections (OSHA, fire marshal, etc.), but in all the cases I know of those are safety-related inspections. There isn't a safety issue at all here, they just want to be able to check and make sure that the unique codes that are apparently required for all media (first I've heard of this...) are actually being imprinted on the media.

      Not as evil as the summary/article portrays (it doesn't allow going around to random people and searching them for counterfeit media), but it is very troubling.

    2. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by index0 · · Score: 1

      The summary has the word "company" in it. Learn to read.

    3. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by profplump · · Score: 5, Informative

      You would assume wrong. Warrants are required to enter commercial property, including workplaces. This applies to OSHA, fire inspections, etc., and has been tested in federal court (Marshall v. Barlow’s, Inc). There are cases where a business must subject itself to an inspection in order to qualify for a license or other certification. But that's the business owner requesting an inspection, not the government demanding one, and a failure to allow the inspection results in a failure to issue the license, not in a mandatory inspection or seizure of property. It works just like electrical inspections in your home -- when you have new work done, you must request an inspection, and a failure to pass an inspection might lead to your property being condemned, but at no point in the process are you required to submit to a search/inspection, and you if you choose to allow one you can prepare for it and limit the scope of the inspection to the relevant portions of your home.

      If law enforcement has probable cause to believe that a business is participating in copyright infringement that can *already* get a warrant. No new law is needed to authorize that action. This law would mean that they don't need probable cause and can just come in and hassle legitimate business owners while threatening to seize the equipment necessary for their day-to-day operations, which doesn't sound much like justice to me.

    4. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by similar_name · · Score: 2

      I wonder how the summary somehow left out that these warrentless searches are of commercial disc replication plants.

      The first line of the summary is.

      If you run a CD or DVD duplication company

      Just sayin'

    5. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Kohath · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't worry too much. Companies are leaving California pretty fast. This is just another reason to leave. If there are no commercial duplication companies in California, there won't be any warrentless searches.

    6. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by nicholas22 · · Score: 1

      I wonder how the summary somehow left out that these warrentless searches are of commercial disc replication plants.

      Haven't we seen all these rights given somehow used in the wrong contexts? Such as the spying of people by government officers for petty reasons?

    7. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by billcopc · · Score: 1

      The problem here, and by extension the problem with all MAFIAA activity, is that they are misusing publicly funded law enforcement resources to push a corporate, profit-driven agenda.

      Murder, larceny, rape. These are criminal offenses.

      Copyright infringement is a CIVIL issue. The police has no business mediating such affairs. If the RIAA wants to fight the fight, they must do so using civil courts. Law enforcement officials have better things to worry about, like all the murder, larceny, and rape going on.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    8. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by fnj · · Score: 2

      [but ... but ...] The first line of the summary is "If you run a CD or DVD duplication company"

      Don't go getting all secure feeling there, friend. Do you ever slam out a DVD and hand it to a friend? Guess what. That could be held to be a sole proprietorship providing service in exchange for undefined consideration. Does the friend ever ... gasp ... give you a different DVD back? Maybe you're engaging in ... shudder ... barter. The IRS thinks barter is taxable. And what the IRS thinks, goes. They are also pretty much given a free rein to do whatever they want to seize your resources.

    9. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by anegg · · Score: 2

      Be sure to read the second referenced article about the Indiana Supreme Court decision before condemning those folks protesting most vociferously at the legal jurisprudence here. SB 550 may be warrantless searches of commercial facilities, but the Indiana decision is all about you and your home.

      I'm also surprised that people might be in favor of permitting police to inspect the disc replication plants even if they are commercial businesses. A business premise is private property and the property owner has rights accordingly. The police have not, in the past, been generally permitted to enter any private property, business or not, without a warrant. This seemingly paves the way for future legislation that allows police to be able to enter any business premise for the purpose of determining whether a violation of law is occurring. That is specifically the kind of "fishing expedition" that the requiring a warrant is supposed to deter. How about the police being able to enter into your factory to make sure that none of your workers are stealing from you, whether you want them there or not, without a warrant? How about the police being able to enter your office building and look through your books to make sure you are reporting all of your revenue properly for tax purposes, without a warrant?

      In other words, what principle separates the police action being permitted by SB 550 from any other such "inspection" action that might be undertaken by policy to ensure a law, some law, any law - is not being broken? If there is no such delineating principle, when what exactly was the intent of the framer's of the US Constitution when they added in the 4th Amendment?

    10. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by leonardluen · · Score: 2

      why does being a "company" suddenly make it ok to break the 4th amendment? all companies are owned by one or more individuals, so it is still private property

    11. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First they came for the disk replication plants.
      And I said nothing because I did not own a disk replication plant...

    12. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Nikker · · Score: 1

      If this is for commercial plants then why not have the company acknowledge beforehand that they will allow for random searches? This type of law makes the whole situation so ambiguous that it make very little sense. It would be similar to a resturant owner having random inspections. This does not fall under the fourth because it is a condition of their operation and is signed and agreed to well beforehand. This interpretation just means the police get to descide whether your business is suitable to be inspected which make little to no sense at all. If that is indeed the interpretation then it really is just a blanket bill that allows for random searches isn't it?

      --
      A loop, by its nature, continues. If that didn't make sense, start reading this sentence again.
    13. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The summary talks about the government using police forces to preform warrant-less searches all at the beck and call of the RIAA and MPAA.

      Learn to comprehend idiot.

    14. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      Sorry but Marshall Vs Barlow only deals with OSHA . Read the last paragraph:
      "The decision today renders presumptively invalid numerous inspection provisions in federal regulatory statutes. E. g., 30 U. S. C. 813 (Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969); 30 U. S. C. 723, 724 (Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Mine Safety Act); 21 U. S. C. 603 (inspection of meat and food products). That some of these provisions apply only to a single industry, as noted above, does not alter this fact. And the fact that some "envision resort to federal-court enforcement when entry is refused" is also irrelevant since the OSHA inspection program invalidated here requires compulsory process when a compliance inspector has been denied entry.
      The ruling was given because OSHA didn't even follow their own rules.
       

    15. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      Plus, once they get a foothold against CD/DVD duplication companies, don't think that the RIAA, MPAA or even the BSA won't call for the law to be expanded to other types of businesses. And once that's well established, how long until homes are fair game?

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    16. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course what is a "disc duplication plant"?
      What about memory stick makers?
      What about hard drive makers (not that we have any in the USA anyway)

      How many burners count as a "plant"?
      My work as 50+ computers an they all have CD and/or DVD burners. Does that count?

      Most photo labs have commercial spool-to-spool burners that are basically super-up desktop models... Is there some volume of production that has to be met? It it about owning the duplicator, or about having Xmany blank CDs on site?

    17. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Devoidoid · · Score: 1

      ... in all the cases I know of those are safety-related inspections.

      The DOJ has been empowered since 2005 (I think) to make surprise warrantless inspections of adult entertainment producers, although those inspections are supposed to be limited to the records the producers are required to maintain to prove that they're not child pornographers, who do not keep such records because they would prove they are child pornographers.

    18. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      Did you know that CDs and DVDs have chemicals in them? That's right, they are made with CHEMICALS. Well, some of those a certainly known to cause cancer in large enough quantities. So any business using CDs and DVDs has to post a Prop. 65 sign.

      You know, the ones that say if you go in here that you are going to die and the State of California knows it. Heck, I can't think if a better way to keep people out of an office or a store. I have been thinking of posting one of those to discourage solicitors even though I am in Arizona.
      Fortunately, nobody that is a customer ever comes to see us. Most businesses however would like to see an occaisonal customer and having them run away in fear isn't going to do them any good at all.

      So of course anyone with a business of any sort that involves CHEMICALS needs to leave California ASAP. It will make the state a lot more livable for the folks left.

      I think you could easily justify requiring that sign on a bakery.

    19. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The summary using the word company is irrelevant - due process applies for people who own businesses as much as people owning homes.

    20. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would assume that all commercial buildings are subject to warrentless searches to enforce various safety and workplace laws...

      Actually, I believe you can actually, lawfully refuse entry for these official inspectors, too. They would then have to get what is called an administrative warrant (as opposed to a criminal warrant), where the threshold for obtaining it is very low. They'd then come back, warrant in hand, and could perform their search. They're usually pretty unhappy at this point, which is why almost all businesses don't take that route, but I believe it's an option. IANAL.

    21. Re:Oh no! my disc replication plant!! by similar_name · · Score: 1

      I posted my comment at lunch., based solely off the summary and the post I was replying to.

      I merely pointed out that the summary referred to commercial by quoting the use of the word company in the summary's first line. I replied to someone stating that the summary made no such reference. So I'm not sure where you got anything else. I made no statement as to the abuse of those terms applied to individuals or transactions between friends/family/etc.

  6. Oligarchy, here we come ... by gstoddart · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Once you reach the point where the police forces are there to enforce the rights and whims of corporations, you might as well accept the fact that you're no longer a democracy.

    A lot of these things used to be civil law, but now all of a sudden we're using tax-payer funded agencies to police on behalf of copyright holders.

    If people were astonished to realize that the FBI spends most of its cybercrime resources of child pornography ... wait until traditional police forces and government agencies are spending much of their time policing copyright.

    This will only get worse.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Oligarchy, here we come ... by couchslug · · Score: 1

      "Once you reach the point where the police forces are there to enforce the rights and whims of corporations, you might as well accept the fact that you're no longer a democracy."

      Once you reach that point, you can understand why Timothy McVeigh and Joe Stack did what they did.

      There is no hope for peaceful change, so the government had better start buying off as many citizens as it can.

      The Tea Party folks are partially right. We should destroy government LEGALLY by taking away its funding.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    2. Re:Oligarchy, here we come ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doubtful. If the police are going after little guys doing copyright infringement, they aren't generating dollars to keep the station open. They need to ticket people and cite violations for fine money, and they sure as hell won't be doing much of that chasing shadows.

  7. Moving out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So guess those companies will be leaving California and probably the US altogether.

  8. Montana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This sort of thing has been going on for a while. I vaguely recall hearing a few years ago that Montana had a law on the books that made it a crime to resist the police when they tried to do warrantless searches. Someone else might have details.

    It's a pretty ingenious way around the unconstitutionality of these searches, too. If you resist, the results of the search will ultimately not be usable, but you'll be arrested and convicted, so it's in your best interest to not resist. And if you don't resist... well, you've just consented to the police searching your house, so whatever the search turns up WILL be usable.

    A pretty ingenious way to get around the 4th amendment in practice, indeed. I wonder if SCOTUS ever ruled on the whole thing - although I'll bet clowns like Scalia would claim that it does not technically violate the letter of the law and thus is OK, as usual.

  9. Business as usual in CA by geekforhire · · Score: 1

    Reps in our fine state tend to pass laws to look good for their constituents knowing that it wont stand up to the legal challenge...assuming a group or person will bring a lawsuit of course. This makes oh so much sense for a state without a dime to its name. Passing stupid and unconstitutional laws is cheap, getting them repealed is very expensive for both the state and its citizens. Watching the state senate at work via stream is about the most painful thing you can do, especially as you write your yearly tax check. Keep up the good work!

    1. Re:Business as usual in CA by hedwards · · Score: 2

      That tends to be how that works. Unfortunately the people voting on those bills have forgotten that they're supposed to be voting in good faith about the legislation, not counting on the courts to overturn unconstitutional legislation. In recent years the courts have taken a disturbingly deferential view on their jobs. Largely because of all the right wing nut jobs screaming their heads off whenever SCOTUS or the judicial branch in general overturns a law that they like.

      Which would be comical if it didn't mean that they feel it's OK to challenge healthcare reform, the one that made it through congress and was signed by the President is suddenly a valid use of the judicial system.

  10. This is one of the few that is legal and 'right' by LetterRip · · Score: 1

    Businesses are not people, they don't have any rights against warrantless search.

    This is one of the few times on this type of issue where the government isn't overreaching and violating the constitution.

    We also already have inspections of other industrys for illegal practices (food industrys, chemical industrys, etc.) So why should replication businesses have any special status.

  11. This is clearly a job for ... by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

    Ninja Stallman!

    But seriously, if this passes and is enforced, then we might as well accept that we're now a fascist state according to Mussolini's definition of it.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    1. Re:This is clearly a job for ... by fnj · · Score: 1

      Ya think? You're catching on.

  12. Repeat after me: by isotope23 · · Score: 0

    There is no slippery slope.
    There is no slippery slope.
    There is no slippery slope.

    We have always been at war with East Asia
    We have always been at war with East Asia
    We have always been at war with East Asia

    --
    Service guarantees Citizenship! Questions Guarantee GITMO.... Amerika Uber Alles!
  13. So..apparently.. by SuperCharlie · · Score: 0

    It only takes a couple hundred years to go from tyranny to freedom and then back to tyranny.

    1. Re:So..apparently.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our forefathers banded together and killed the king's men to win their freedom.

      We're apparently not willing to kill the oligarchy's men to keep our freedom, today. I wonder if that will change at some point.

    2. Re:So..apparently.. by hedwards · · Score: 1

      The problem is that there are a lot of people out there that think this is an appropriate use of governmental power, and will be more likely to vote for the politicians who support it. Ultimately, there is no protection available that can protect us from ourselves in a democratic society.

  14. That's just it - safety and workplace laws by langelgjm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would assume that all commercial buildings are subject to warrentless searches to enforce various safety and workplace laws...

    But that's just it - there are exceptions to warrantless searches on grounds such as public safety and worker safety... e.g., health inspections, nursing home inspections, OSHA compliance, etc.

    Extending those kinds of warrantless searches to look for potential copyright infringement is not in the same vein. Where is the pressing public necessity that justifies the encroachment on the 4th Amendment? To me, it just sounds like the copyright industries want the taxpayer-funded police to act as their own private security force. What if every industry took that approach? Why not have warrantless searches of research labs in order to make sure there is no patent infringement going on?

    --
    "Anyone who [rips a CD] is probably engaging in copyright infringement." - David O. Carson
    1. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by memnock · · Score: 1

      If they're gonna make it legal to just search a business, I want them to start with the offices of execs in the financial industry. While they're at it, they should install taps on the phones and start monitoring them as well.

    2. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by bit+trollent · · Score: 2

      I really doubt that this is the first non-safely related law that has ever been enforce by the police on local business without warrents.

      code enforcement is nothing new, and it covers ordinary laws as well as safety.

      I hate to see the government doing the RIAA's bidding as much as the next guy, but is this really any different than what the law has been for the last 60+ years? Give me a break.

      There is nothing new from a civil liberties standpoint about this law. I don't particularly like this law or anything else with RIAA fingerprints, but the reaction to it here is just absurd.

    3. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1

      Actually (I work in environmental and safety compliance) a lot of those inspections aren't even truly warrantless. You can deny an inspector access to a private facility and they do have to come back with a warrant. Its just that nobody in their right mind would do so because then the inspector is going to be pissed and assume you are hiding things.

    4. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by Grond · · Score: 1

      But that's just it - there are exceptions to warrantless searches on grounds such as public safety and worker safety... e.g., health inspections, nursing home inspections, OSHA compliance, etc.

      Actually, no, the Supreme Court has held that a warrant is required for an OSHA inspection. Marshall v. Barlow's, Inc., 436 US 307 (1978). Warrantless inspections require special circumstances, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act's jurisdiction was simply too broad.

    5. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      The BATF can inspect at any time for compliance to laws and regulations, http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-ffl-compliance.html. They are not looking for safety issues and do not need a warrant.

    6. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by dgatwood · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Where is the pressing public necessity that justifies the encroachment on the 4th Amendment?

      *shrugs* It's just part of California's grand plan to send more DVD fabrication jobs to China. Heck, it's not like much of the commercial piracy is being done in the U.S. anyway.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    7. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the BATFE is a bureau of useless corrupt pieces of shit.

      it does nothing for the country except drain resources and attempt to criminalize law abiding citizens. it should be shut down.

    8. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now we just need warrantless searches of Sound Exchange, ASCAP, and BMI to see that the actual MAKERS of music are being paid properly!!

    9. Re:That's just it - safety and workplace laws by youngone · · Score: 1

      You're right. The copyright industries do want the police to enforce ip laws. Other industries will take that approach, as they decide they need to. Its just a matter of campaign contributions in the right places, and you can get the right laws written. That is how fascism works.

  15. Well underway by tekrat · · Score: 1

    Protests are *already* threats to national security.

    Remember Dubya's "free speech zones" that were a mile or more from where he was giving a speech, and the protesters were herded into these areas, nowhere near the media or the president?

    Or how the FBI infiltrates even the most innocuous groups that band together to discuss freedoms, rights, and how badly run the government is?

    And it doesn't matter which "team" they are playing for, all politicians are about power and money. They are all in the pockets of big corps.

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
    1. Re:Well underway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Republicans and Democrats alike had free speech zones.

    2. Re:Well underway by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Remember Dubya's "free speech zones" that were a mile or more from where he was giving a speech, and the protesters were herded into these areas, nowhere near the media or the president?

      Is Obama continuing these same free speech zones wherever he speaks?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    3. Re:Well underway by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      Why not? I believe they were started under Reagan. Certainly they were there under Clinton.

    4. Re:Well underway by rworne · · Score: 1

      Remember Dubya's "free speech zones" that were a mile or more from where he was giving a speech, and the protesters were herded into these areas, nowhere near the media or the president?

      Why mention just Bush? The DNC had some real nice ones that were essentially cages made from chainlink.

      Expect a lot of them at the upcoming election.

      --
      I tried every decent and legal way I could think of to resolve the issue w/the business before I rented the chicken suit
    5. Re:Well underway by jmac_the_man · · Score: 1

      You're wrong. They were started by Democrats running against Reagan in 1984.

  16. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and they make evil profits within evil Americas borders

  17. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Applekid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Businesses are not people, they don't have any rights against warrantless search.

    This is one of the few times on this type of issue where the government isn't overreaching and violating the constitution.

    We also already have inspections of other industrys for illegal practices (food industrys, chemical industrys, etc.) So why should replication businesses have any special status.

    Because illegal practices in those other industries can lead to mass death and loss of life. Tainted food could kill consumers, unsafe chemical plants can explode and leave a city sized crater.

    Who dies if the copyright cops have to wait to get a warrant as opposed to not getting one?

    --
    More Twoson than Cupertino
  18. Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by Grond · · Score: 5, Informative

    For decades the Supreme Court has recognized the constitutionality of warrantless administrative inspections of closely regulated businesses with a long tradition of close government supervision. "Certain industries have such a history of government oversight that no reasonable expectation of privacy could exist for a proprietor over the stock of such an enterprise." Marshall v. Barlow's, Inc., 436 U.S. 307, 313 (1978). This has come to be called the Colonnade-Biswell doctrine, after the cases of Colonnade Corp. v. United States and United States v. Biswell. Industries in which warrantless searches have been approved include pawn shops that sell firearms (the Biswell case), liquor stores (the Colonnade case), quarries, and automobile junkyards.

    However, even if warrantless searches of CD duplication businesses are allowable as a threshold matter, there are still three important limits on those searches. First, there must be a substantial government interest that informs the regulatory scheme pursuant to which the inspection is made. Second, the warrantless inspections must be necessary to further the regulatory scheme. Third, the statute's inspection program, in terms of the certainty and regularity of its application, must provide a constitutionally adequate substitute for a warrant. In other words, the regulatory statute must perform the two basic functions of a warrant: it must advise the owner of the commercial premises that the search is being made pursuant to the law and has a properly defined scope, and it must limit the discretion of the inspecting officers. See New York v. Burger, 482 US 691, 702-03 (1987).

    Here, it's not clear to me that CD duplication businesses are closely regulated businesses with a tradition of close government supervision. It's possible that the copyright laws (particularly the criminal copyright laws) amount to such regulation, but in my opinion it would be a close case. In most cases there is some kind of government licensing regime, and I don't think a license is required to operate a CD duplicating business. But it's important to note the limits on those searches that would still be in place even if they are allowed.

    1. Re:Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by jcr · · Score: 0

      For decades the Supreme Court has recognized the constitutionality of warrantless administrative inspections

      I'd phrase that a bit differently. More like: "for decades, the supreme court has routinely shirked its duty to uphold the constitution, by allowing obviously illegal searches to take place without repercussions to the government agents who are violating the fourth amendment rights of business owners."

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    2. Re:Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by Charliemopps · · Score: 1

      But they can't inspect the federal reserve, a private company, even if they DO have a warrant. Explain that one to me.

    3. Re:Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by Grond · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My purpose was to inform people about the law as it is, not to argue what the law should be or curse the Court for making the law what it is. Polemics don't help anybody understand whether this law is likely to be upheld or not.

    4. Re:Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by blair1q · · Score: 1

      Can we get random inspections of licensed securities firms? Please?

    5. Re:Maybe Constitutional, Maybe Not by blair1q · · Score: 0

      Suppose you point out where it says that. The Federal Reserve Board is a government agency. The Federal Reserve Banks are not. The board is the overseer for the banks. So are you saying the overseer can't see into the banks? That's not the same thing as if the Congress can't see into the banks. Even if Congress can't see into the banks, if Congress decides the board isn't doing its job, it can replace the board with one that will.

      It's not a bad thing, btw, that the government isn't also the bank, and not really a bad thing that there's an opaque yet intelligent buffer between them.

  19. Hello, Nevada. by jcr · · Score: 1

    If I operated a business of this kind in California, I'd relocate it to Reno or Vegas in a week. No more unconstitutional searches, and no corporate income tax to boot.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:Hello, Nevada. by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      Look, if Prop 65 wasn't enough to make you move already, this is nothing.

      How many customers want to enter some place with a sign that says "Come in and you might die!" Of course, nobody really pays any attention to it anymore because in reality every store, manufacturing facility or office needs to have one of these signs. Why? Well, for starters how about laser printer toner? It is certainly carcinogenic even in small quantities. Of course, you aren't supposed to eat it or breathe it in, but you aren't supposed to be tasting the car batteries at a auto shop either. Both will kill you just as dead.

  20. So what exactly is it going to take by spidercoz · · Score: 1

    for the people of this once great country to finally stand up for themselves and assert the power they've always had?

    "Stand up for my rights? I'd rather sit down and watch American Idol."

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
    1. Re:So what exactly is it going to take by fnj · · Score: 1

      Let's just say, I wouldn't hold my breath. Never underestimate the stupidity of the voters. There's a sucker born every minute.

  21. Somebody is knocking my door... by Pirulo · · Score: 1

    ... it seems I have  a CD burner in my laptop and can be used to manufacture CDs

  22. Government should fear it's citizens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lobbyists and corporate owners should be real careful with what they are doing. If you strip enough rights away from citizens and piss off enough people, they will stand up in revolt. I don't give a shit what words are on your piece of paper or what you paid an old fat man on a bench to say. There are more of us than you, even cops and servicemen are citizens. What effects us effects them too, so good luck enforcing it.

    1. Re:Government should fear it's citizens. by spidercoz · · Score: 1

      When? The rights of the citizens of this country, right now, are being trampled by OUR OWN GOVERNMENT far more than the crown was accused of doing 235 years ago. What is it going to take?

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
  23. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by spire3661 · · Score: 1

    Businesses are generally PRIVATE property owned by CITIZENS. Inspections for safety are in the public's interest, it makes sense and even then they cant just barge into sensitive and trade secret areas on a whim. No one from OSHA could force their way into a building through use of force or violence. Police action fishing for copyright compliance is not the same thing at all. Do i really need to write out a long post to explain the difference between safety regulations and criminal law enforcement in a free society?

    --
    Good-bye
  24. Eh? by CyberGarp · · Score: 1

    So, my car was broken into last night. The thief, ate my crackers, took the $2 in meter change, and left the 20 CD's stacked there. So the RIAA is pursuing CD duplication? Not even petty thieves see it worth their effort to steal them at this point. This is so anachronistic it proves how little they understand their own market.

    --

    I used to wonder what was so holy about a silent night, now I have a child.
    1. Re:Eh? by blair1q · · Score: 2

      It's not worth the effort to steal them because the thief thinks your taste blows.

      And because they can get all the free music they want from other thieves.

      The fact that the stuff is widely bootlegged doesn't make it right for you to justify changing the law to fuck the people who make the music out of their pay.

    2. Re:Eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The people who make the music don't make any money from the sales of their music. Musicians only make money from their concerts.

    3. Re:Eh? by blair1q · · Score: 1

      That's not fact. It's homily. The record companies pay them for the music. If you then steal the music, the record companies start offering artists less for music, and artists take it because it's all they can get for it. If you think you're fucking just the record company, you're fucking wrong.

  25. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by gstoddart · · Score: 1

    Who dies if the copyright cops have to wait to get a warrant as opposed to not getting one?

    Kittens, and corporate profits.

    You don't want to kill kittens, do you?

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  26. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just one small point. It's not criminal law, it's civil law.

  27. Malatesta by chemindefer · · Score: 1

    "The enemy is not he who is born beyond our borders, nor he who speaks a language different from our own, but he who, without any right, seeks to strip away the liberty and independence of others." --Enrico Malatesta

  28. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The riaa boss's families might go hungry and starve

  29. So how long will it be... by MoldySpore · · Score: 1

    ...before people finally figure out that their basic civil liberties are being eroded? Why are there not marches on Washington over things like this? Has America become so lazy, stupid, and nonchalant that we are going to let this happen? I live in NY, and work with the police everyday at my job. If they tried to come into my house without a warrant, I sure as hell wouldn't let that happen. And I sure as hell wouldn't let it be ok and just go about my business like nothing wrong just happened if they did somehow come in.

    The more news I read lately, the more depressed I get about America.

    --

    "I hope you know how very lucky you are to know me, because I am so incredibly incredible."

    1. Re:So how long will it be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are there not marches on Washington over things like this?

      Because people are too busy working and afraid of losing their jobs after getting arrested or put on a nofly list if they revolt.


      I sure as hell wouldn't let that happen.

      Then you would probably simply be arrested and charged with disrupting justice and some kind of contempt.


      You can't win.

    2. Re:So how long will it be... by Froeschle · · Score: 1

      Then you would probably simply be arrested and charged with disrupting justice and some kind of contempt.
      Either that or they would detain you for several hours or perhaps hold you in jail over the weekend until they can obtain a warrant on Monday morning.

    3. Re:So how long will it be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are there not marches on Washington over things like this?

      So, you missed the TEA Party events and the 8/28 gathering on the mall?

      Too many here buy into the propaganda that the TEA Party and those who attended the 8/28 rally are nothing but whackos. Propaganda coming from *the same a**holes taking away your freedoms*!!!

      Of course they'll call anyone desiring to take our freedoms back nutjobs. And the slash-bots by-and-large swallow it hook, line, and sinker.

      You're angry about the government taking away your rights and freedoms, yet many/most? slashdotters mock and rail against the only group that's truly a grass-roots group of liberty-loving citizens who are fighting against exactly the things you object to.

      I guess the Left's propaganda attacks against the TEA Party have been so successful in painting their efforts to fight this trend as just a bunch of religious right-wing nutjobs, that even people who bemoan the loss of their freedoms mock the largest group of citizens making an effort to actually restore them.

  30. holding music hostage terrifying at least by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    until there's music in the air at all times, there's censorialism.

    no wonder it's to be decreed this day that the god given chosen ones' holycost must be extendead until at least 2025, because of our fear, & the # of us, which both are big. disarmament is catching on all over the globe. so we'll clearly be at some advantage, & the rest of the world will continue to bow down, suck up, & just re-fear us in general. it worked for us until it didn't, now it's not our fault if a lot more death & destruction is done because THEY won't listen/give us their resources, even though we need them to keep the dream a lie for another day. when self-importants of our guys get nailed, it's ALWAYS 'former' head..., alleged, unproven blah blah blah. innocent until ,,, unless. terrorific example of regimes run amok.

    still waiting? more stand-up talknician routines. more threatening now? will the FSF guys be arrested for sex crimes too? julians, adrians, everybody's at risk, of being arrested, or worse. scary? 13 year old tagged by ss.gov at school for unapproved tweeting. so we're safe from him now. the key to the bells & whistles of just one city is way too much trust to put in one human. our/our planet's fate however, is different?

    same old; how many 1000 babys going up in smoke again today? how many 1000's of just folks to be killed or displaced again today? hard to put $$ on that. the cost of constant deception, to our spirit? paying to have ourselves constantly spied on & lied to by freaky self chosen neogod depopulationers? the biblically styled fatal distraction holycost is all encompassing, & never ends while we're still alive, unless we cut them/ourselves off at the wmd. good luck with that, as it's not even a topic anywhere we get to see, although in real life it's happening everywhere as our walking dead weapons peddlers are being uncontracted. you can call this weather if it makes you feel any better. no? read the teepeeleaks etchings.

    so, once one lie is 'infactated', the rest becomes just more errant fatal history.

    disarm. tell the truth. the sky is not ours to toy with after all?

    you call this 'weather'? what with real history racing up to correct
    itself, while the chosen one's holycostal life0cider mediots continually
    attempt to rewrite it, fortunately, there's still only one version of the
    truth, & it's usually not a long story, or a confusing multiple choice
    fear raising event.

    wouldn't this be a great time to investigate the genuine native elders social & political leadership initiative, which includes genuine history as put forth in the teepeeleaks etchings. the natives still have no words in their language to describe the events following their 'discovery' by us, way back when. they do advise that it's happening again.

    who has all the weapons? who is doing MOST of the damage? what are the motives? are our intentions & will as the ones who are supposed to be being represented honestly & accurately, being met? we have no reference to there being ANY public approval for the current mayhem & madness pr firm regime style self chosen neogod rulership we've allowed to develop around us, so we wouldn't have to stop having fun, & doing things that have nothing to do with having to defend from the smoke&mirrors domestic frenetics, of the unproven genocides. rockets exploding in syria fired from Libya? yikes?

    the zeus weather weapon is still being used indiscriminately against the population, our rulers' minions are fleeing under fire.

    the whore of babylon has been rescued by the native elders. she has the papers of challenge authored by the hymenical council, & is cooperating wholeheartedly with the disarmament mandate.
    disarm. thank you.

    censorship, or convenience?
    Due to excessive bad posting from this IP or Subnet, anonymous comment
    posting has temporarily been disabled. You can still login to post.
    However, if bad posting continues from your IP or Subnet th

  31. Is a PC with a DVD recorder is an Unlicensed plant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now the state has the authority to do a hardware refresh just by confiscating yours. Can I forgo the burner on my next PC.

  32. Democrats^H^H^H statists back unconst. bill by fnj · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're right; this is not Democrat vs Republican. It is statist vs libertarian.

    If there was EVER any definable difference between Democrat and Republican, it has been gone for a LONG time. To SOME degree there is a remnant of liberal (D) vs conservative (R) difference, but even that is obsolete thinking. It is about the other orthogonal axis. It is about the lure of power vs a willingness to LEAVE THE HELL ALONE. It is about caving in to faceless demonic corporations vs seeing to the rights of the people. It is about tilting at windmills: war on drugs, war on terrorism, war on copyright "infringement."

    1. Re:Democrats^H^H^H statists back unconst. bill by obergfellja · · Score: 1

      or even "War on Prices" for a much more humorous level in the corporate world.

    2. Re:Democrats^H^H^H statists back unconst. bill by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But there is a fundamental difference twix D&R. One desires a sustainable economy and the latter prefers the quick bubble economy.
      So now as we slowly rise from the ashes of the bubblenomics, let us be more alert to the vagaries of business as usual.

  33. Re:Back-ups by omnichad · · Score: 1

    Isn't a 300GB SATA drive cheaper than 400 CD's?

  34. can't stop the spirit when it moves.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lyrics like that can cause trouble. after the disarmament things will be different/better, as in not afraid

  35. FUD by jklovanc · · Score: 1

    Does a health inspector need a warrant to search a restaurant or food plant?
    Does a BATF inspector need a warrant to search a distillery?
    Does a safety inspector need a warrant to search a manufacturing plant?
    In all these cases the answer is no. They can freely inspect commercial establishments to ensure the companies are following the law.

    Equating this to random searches of houses is FUD. A random search of a private residence is against the Fourth Amendment. The statement by a couple of Sheriffs in Indiana, refuted by their Attorney General, is not evidence that random house to house searches are considered legal. It has never been tested in court and would in all likelihood be thrown out.

    The Supreme Court case is also different in the following ways;
    1. The police were in pursuit of a drug suspect.
    2. The apartment smelled of drugs. A police officer made the connection between the drug suspect and the smell of drugs.
    3. They knocked on the door identifying themselves as they are probably required to do.
    4. They heard something that sounded like destruction of evidence (an illegal act).
    5. They went in.

    Should they have waited a half hour for a warrant while the suspect was in another apartment or getting away through another exit? Would they have enough manpower to cordon off every apartment that smelled of drugs? The stupid part about all this is that had the occupants been smart and just sat there the police would have had no "exigent circumstances" with which to enter. Another solution would have been for someone to come to the door and ask for a warrant. In this case the police are attempting to capture a suspected drug dealer in possession of illegal drugs and they had every indication that someone was attempting to destroy the evidence that were looking for. It is not a random search. That ruling is nowhere near as broad as the article is trying to make it.

    1. Re:FUD by blair1q · · Score: 1

      You put (an illegal act) a couple of items late. Otherwise I agree.

      The ruling is very narrow. The police had probable cause and observed crime in progress. Not being able to see it doesn't negate the fact that they smelled and heard it. As a precedent, this one is probably moot.

    2. Re:FUD by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 1

      Does a health inspector need a warrant to search a restaurant or food plant?
      Does a BATF inspector need a warrant to search a distillery?
      Does a safety inspector need a warrant to search a manufacturing plant?
      In all these cases the answer is no. They can freely inspect commercial establishments to ensure the companies are following the law.

      Equating this to random searches of houses is FUD.

      Actually, restaurants and distilleries receive licenses from the government to operate and part of the license agreement allows for inspections. Federal law allows OSHA to come inspect a manufacturing plant. However, the police cannot come and do the same without a warrant.

      Now if the duplication of the disks falls under the hazards that OSHA is responsible for protecting workers against, then OSHA can inspect without a warrant, but no else can.

      Just like when your new house is being built, the building inspector can come and inspect it whenever they want. After it is built, they can't.

    3. Re:FUD by Vegeta99 · · Score: 1

      Does a health inspector need a warrant to search a restaurant or food plant?
      Does a BATF inspector need a warrant to search a distillery?
      Does a safety inspector need a warrant to search a manufacturing plant?
      In all these cases the answer is no. They can freely inspect commercial establishments to ensure the companies are following the law.

      In all these cases the commercial entity applied for a license to operate where they probably gave these agencies permission to inspect the premises. I need not a license to live just yet.

      I'll buy your logic on the supreme court ruling, but it's fucking marijuana. It's not like they knocked on the door and heard shots fired. It was fucking pot. What's next, bashing in my door for breaking the "no smoking indoors" law? The SWAT team surrounding the club because they smelled alcohol and heard loud music, so there MUST be a VIP in there somewhere?

      N

    4. Re:FUD by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      Any manufacturer also has to have a license to operate; it is called a business license.

      A manufacturing plant is an ongoing business while a building renovation is not therefore the building permit comparison is invalid.

      Are you concerned with the fact that an inspection is taking place or the people who are doing the inspection.

      What most people in this discussion miss is that it is a business being inspected and not a private home.

    5. Re:FUD by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 1

      Any manufacturer also has to have a license to operate; it is called a business license.

      A manufacturing plant is an ongoing business while a building renovation is not therefore the building permit comparison is invalid.

      Are you concerned with the fact that an inspection is taking place or the people who are doing the inspection.

      What most people in this discussion miss is that it is a business being inspected and not a private home.

      Law enforcement still needs a warrant to search a place of business, other than public areas. See, the thing is, when businesses are searched, it is individuals that are charged. Those individuals have rights, whether in a place of business or not. Of course, if another employee lets the police in, then they do not need a warrant. Think how much more efficient it would be if businesses, say warehouses, could be searched without a warrant. Efficiency at the price of violating basic rights, that is.

    6. Re:FUD by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      You might want to check the bill.
      "21804. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any manufacturer of optical discs who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a fine of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for a first offense, and shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) nor more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for a second or subsequent offense."

      The business gets charged not the individual. It is the same as fining a company for a safety violation.

  36. CD's and DVD's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does anyone still use those?

  37. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Grond · · Score: 5, Informative

    Businesses are not people, they don't have any rights against warrantless search.

    This is completely false. "The Court long has recognized that the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures is applicable to commercial premises, as well as to private homes. An owner or operator of a business thus has an expectation of privacy in commercial property, which society is prepared to consider to be reasonable." New York v. Burger, 482 US 691, 699 (1987).

  38. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by anegg · · Score: 1

    Businesses are owned by people. The property of a business is private property. Government cannot enter upon private property without a warrant. All of the inspections that you mention require arrangements for inspection, some with penalties if the inspections are denied, but all require some kind of process surrounding the inspection. Not a blanket permit for the police(!) to walk through the business looking for violations of law.

  39. Solved it all, huh? by EvilStein · · Score: 1

    It's so nice to see that California has solved its multi billion dollar budget shortfall and has plenty of time to craft bullshit legislation that is obviously a gimme to the MPAA/RIAA drones that are stuffing their pockets with cash.

    Schools are funded, everyone has a job, housing market is stable, health care system is awesome. Right? Nope. But hey, we need to allow no-knock warrants where someone might be committing the heinous act of burning a bunch of DVDs. Clearly that is worthy of felony charges and huge fines. The MPAA & RIAA sure think so.

    Hopefully the rest of America doesn't. But Feinstein got her "recording device in theater = felony" bill signed into law. Stuff like this slips right under the radar of the average American, especially when "American Idol" is about to finish up another season. Ugh.

  40. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  41. "A free man shall not be debarred of his Arms" -TJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A slave or citizen-subject is under watch of that administrative body, not a free man.

    >>For decades the Supreme Court has recognized the constitutionality of warrantless administrative inspections

  42. Avoidance by b4upoo · · Score: 1

    I guess the people that sell that stuff will have to have it made at a location not traceable to them. Folly rules!

  43. Discs ? by hamsjael · · Score: 1

    So... these "discs" is that some kind of new cloud-enabled P2P system to make it easier to download $BLOCKBUSTEROFTHEWEEK ?

  44. Re:RIAA in my pants by UncleTogie · · Score: 1

    I got RIAA in my pants.

    According to leading medical research, "RIAA in pants" can cause severe skin irritations. Perhaps you'd like an analgesic cream?

    --
    Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
  45. Fascists like fascism by istartedi · · Score: 1

    Fascists like fascism. Film at 11. SCOTUS ruling against it at 12, revolution at 1 AM if the SCOTUS refuses to rule against something that's unconstitutional by inspection.

    Really though, revolution some time in the late 90s. The *IAA have already been lined up against the wall and shot. This is just the action of a twitching corpse. It's the corpse of a raptor mind you, so mind the slashing tail; but it's still a corpse.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  46. I did something by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm a California resident and sent this message to my state senator; district 13 if anyone is curious:

    Regarding Senate Bill 550 introduced by Mr. Alex Padilla; I voted for you both in 2004 and 2008 and have been keen to follow your activities in the California Senate. I do not object to the regulation of the counterfeit optical discs; I am a musician and make some of my living using these very duplication services. However I find very troubling Section 7., 21803. The addition to the Business and Professions code seems like a very blatant attempt to allow law enforcement to do less actual work; additionally I find the erosion of 4th amendment protections troubling. If there is cause to believe that a duplication facility is behaving illegally have the follow up work to provide a warrant to search for said causes. This warrantless search nonsense is bullshit. Please excuse my language, but I find the erosion of search protections over the last decade troubling and would like to see this attitude reflected in my elected legislature. Thank you for your time; looking forward to the 2012 election!

  47. The Democrats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Notice that this bill is introduced by a Democrat--the "liberal" party.

  48. Open the door to 4th amendment issues.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You think?

  49. Not a 4th amendment issue by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 2

    If they truly want to crack down on illegal duplication of CDs and DVDs, they need to look at South East Asia, not South Central LA. Of course that would make it a State Department issue and not a 4th amendment issue, as California doesn't have any jurisdiction over other countries.

    1. Re:Not a 4th amendment issue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nor does California have jurisdiction over the fourth amendment, that's a Federal thing.

  50. Waiting for the other shoe by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

    Schools are funded, everyone has a job, housing market is stable, health care system is awesome. Right? Nope. But hey, we need to allow no-knock warrants where someone might be committing the heinous act of burning a bunch of DVDs. Clearly that is worthy of felony charges and huge fines. The MPAA & RIAA sure think so.

    Of course. From their viewpoint, CD and DVD copying caused the economic collapse.

    I wouldn't even be surprised to hear them assert that over their members' media outlets any minute now.

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  51. Huh? by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    as a way to cut down on counterfeit discs

    No your honor, the disks are genuine. I bought them at Office Depot, and here's the receipt.

    I think the idea is more geared at what's on the disks, not the disks themselves.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  52. Do I smell pot? by BlueCoder · · Score: 1

    (whispers... police here....)

    Ok boys, break the door down....

  53. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by jdoverholt · · Score: 1

    Businesses are not people

    Not all businesses are corporations, but corporations are people for most purposes in the US (and others) today. Google "corporate personhood" or "legal personality" for more information.

  54. American Idol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...before people finally figure out that their basic civil liberties are being eroded? Why are there not marches on Washington over things like this? Has America become so lazy, stupid, and nonchalant that we are going to let this happen?

    Yup. Looks that way.

    By the way, does anyone know who won Dancing with the Stars last night?

  55. Re:Back-ups by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    True, but then you're on only one piece of media, instead of 400 pieces of media.

  56. small translation by meerling · · Score: 1

    "...any equipment that does not stamp the appropriate mark on the discs in question, or any equipment that would make it easy to forge the mark..."
    in other words: "any equipment, period."

  57. This makes me: by Cosgrach · · Score: 1

    This makes me want to start up a CD duplicating company just so I can tell them to shove off when they come to my door wanting to search with no warrant.

    --
    Why is it that most of the people that I encounter seem to have been shat from the Sphincter of Mediocrity?
  58. Re:This is one of the few that is legal and 'right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Businesses are not people, they don't have any rights against warrantless search.

    Oh, so they are run by what? Robots? I didn't realize technology had advanced that far already.

  59. State Law vs. Federal Law by Garst · · Score: 1

    Unless my high school civics class memories are fuzzier than I think, but anyone who is brought up on charges where evidence is collected under this law will have all charges dropped seems how federal law trumps state law.

  60. Lobbyists! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of course Alex Padilla has strong motives for authoring bills like this, he's a lobbyist's wet dream. Here are just a few of them:

    (Campaign contributions Alex Padilla Has received - not complete)

    RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA PAC WASHINGTON DC / 20036-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION943103 AMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$1,000.00 INITIAL 10/29/2010 10/29/2010 1539329-C7418

    WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. BURBANK CA / 91522-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$1,100.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C6994NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR CITY STATE/ZIP

    WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. BURBANK CA / 91522-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$1,400.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C6993

    DISNEY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC. BURBANK CA / 91521-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$100.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C6992NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR CITY STATE/ZIP

    DISNEY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC. BURBANK CA / 91521-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$1,900.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C6991NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR CITY STATE/ZIP

    MOTION PICTURE ASSN. OF AMERICA CA PAC ENCINO CA / 91436-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION901889 AMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$100.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C6990

    MOTION PICTURE ASSN. OF AMERICA CA PAC ENCINO CA / 91436-0000ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION901889 AMOUNT TYPE TRANS. DATE FILED DATE TRANS #$900.00 INITIAL 5/14/2010 5/14/2010 1487977-C2047

    DISNEY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC. MONETARY BURBANK CA/91521ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
    $2,000.00 8/24/2007 3/24/2008 1311371-C4055

    SONY PICTURES ENT., INC. MONETARY CULVER CITY CA/90232
    ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
    AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
    $1,000.00 8/24/2007 3/24/2008 1311371-C4056

    MOTION PICTURE ASSN. OF AMERICA CA PAC MONETARY ENCINO CA/91436
    ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
    901889
    AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
    $1,000.00 8/28/2007 3/24/2008 1311371-C4060

    PARAMOUNT PICTURES GROUP MONETARY LOS ANGELES CA/90038
    ID NUMBER EMPLOYER OCCUPATION
    AMOUNT TRANS. DATE FILED_DATE TRANS #
    $1,000.00 8/29/2007 3/24/2008 1311371-C4070

  61. Greatful Dead no longer relavant by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    "But if you got a warrant, I guess you're gonna come in."

  62. So those are real cops on NYPD Blue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So those are real cops on NYPD Blue? Gosh.

  63. That statutory damages? Remember them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That statutory damages? Remember them? THEY were supposed to be for when the police find an empty warehouse with only a few CD's left unsold.

    That's why it's $150k+ per infringement. Because that isn't an unusual profit from such a warehouse worth of CDs to be sold for.

    But look at them now: used for individuals.

    So what is going to stop them using this to break down YOUR house, does the law say "only a warehouse"?

    No.

  64. supratkshoes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    even if , here used to represent the highest of human civilization. and the silence on such a quiet , relatively silent . long years Supra Dixon Sale, it can not explain the misunderstanding , have been two of the Deep gully between the gash Women Supra Shoes Sale, I do not know how to fill this gap. sunset strip away the back of the deserted , in her wake followed closely behind the supra

    . supra

    Fairy forest by a transparent barrier to tightly bound to live, waiting for her fate blurred unpredictable. poor supra

    Surface Supra Suprano High, such as ashes , all the way back frequently