Listening to TWIT and this came to my attention.

Read it. Be horrified. Be thankful that it's just a draft law right now and hasn't been presented just yet . . . But it's being backed by the current administration.

The true horror to me? It seems to be written broadly enough that just having Nero will suddenly put you in jail for 10 years AND get your stuff impounded, never to return. . .

Quote: • Boosts criminal penalties for copyright infringement originally created by the No Electronic Theft Act of 1997 from five years to 10 years (and 10 years to 20 years for subsequent offenses). The NET Act targets noncommercial piracy including posting copyrighted photos, videos or news articles on a Web site if the value exceeds $1,000. • Creates civil asset forfeiture penalties for anything used in copyright piracy. Computers or other equipment seized must be "destroyed" or otherwise disposed of, for instance at a government auction. Criminal asset forfeiture will be done following the rules established by federal drug laws.

The tip is the phrasing of 'anything used in copyright piracy'. Legally speaking, any burning software can be used in piracy. That just sends chills down my spine.

(sarcastic)
Oh, now they better ban blank media and writing drives!

Give me a break... when will they learn that it's not going to make the problem go away. Everyone knows that banning the tools doesn't make crime stop, people willing to break the law will always find another way around it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jobistober (sarcastic) Oh, now they better ban blank media and writing drives! Give me a break... when will they learn that it's not going to make the problem go away. Everyone knows that banning the tools doesn't make crime stop, people willing to break the law will always find another way around it.

A point that was brought up in the Twit podcast is that chances are if you got a copy of the word document and got to looking at who originally drafted it, you'd find the RIAA all over it . . .

The PC, componants and software, have become the new "DRUG" of the day.
And now M$ and others all want to be the pharmacy to deal out the doses.

My question is why should I be prevented from making backups of any thing I own?
I bought it legal. I used legal software, Nero, to make a PERSONAL backup.
I don't make a living on the net and don't, not yet, make monetary profit in any way from what I post on the net.

It is still just a way for GREED to pry it's way into my humble abode.

The point being that the steps that I take to protect my purchases are all legal, as of today.
Greed is trying to enslave me into buying another CD, DVD, Game, Movie or Music
after the original disk wares out or is scratched.

Quote: Originally Posted by drougnor you'd find the RIAA all over it . . .

That doesn't surprise me in the least. IMHO I think the RIAA needs a tall glass of STFU.

Oh I know!! lets have a grass roots movement and require that all advertising has to pay US if it is put upon us.
Yea thats the ticket hit them at the $$bank account. I don't want 99.999% of the items being advertised.

So what if advertisers are required to only display their advertisements in a fassion that will
allow us to skip or reject them or under some penility they will have to pay out the cash value
of the offending product or the price of the advertising campain, which ever is more.

Yes this too is assignine and is spiraling out of controll.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pharaoh The point being that the steps that I take to protect my purchases are all legal, as of today. Greed is trying to enslave me into buying another CD, DVD, Game, Movie or Music after the original disk wares out or is scratched.

Actually, if you have been paying attention to what the movie companies and record companies have been putting on your disks, and I'm sure the computing industry has started doing the same in their EULA's, it's completely illegal now. All a company has to do is say, in writing, that you don't have the right to archive a copy of the media, and that's it. It's now considered a violation of the DMCA if you copy it . . . So much for 'fair use', eh?

There are SO many rights that we take for granted that we legally no longer have. People have been wondering why I'm so paranoid . . . this is a primary example.

Quote: Originally Posted by drougnor Actually, if you have been paying attention to what the movie companies and record companies have been putting on your disks, and I'm sure the computing industry has started doing the same in their EULA's, it's completely illegal now. All a company has to do is say, in writing, that you don't have the right to archive a copy of the media, and that's it. It's now considered a violation of the DMCA if you copy it . . . So much for 'fair use', eh? There are SO many rights that we take for granted that we legally no longer have. People have been wondering why I'm so paranoid . . . this is a primary example.

Ok I'v been caught resting on my laurels. What once was legal is becomeing ilegal.

So how does one become envolved in resisting the GREED of the GREEDY?

I don't care what the laws are, it's not the governments business what I do with software and such that I legally purchase for personall use... as long as I'm not selling it of course. Bind and gag me for all I care... but the government thinks it can do anything it wants. People won't put up with it forever.

Quote: Originally Posted by drougnor There are SO many rights that we take for granted that we legally no longer have. People have been wondering why I'm so paranoid . . . this is a primary example.

Well put man!

I am not going to even start on this topic...its gets the blood pumping a little to fast and I fear for my health. But you all have great points, but I fear there is nothing we will ever be able to do to defeat the RIAA and other organizations out there screwing us!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jobistober I don't care what the laws are, it's not the governments business what I do with software and such that I legally purchase for personall use... as long as I'm not selling it of course. Bind and gag me for all I care... but the government thinks it can do anything it wants. People won't put up with it forever.

Sadly, Jobi, we seem to be in the minority . . . There are far too many sheep who take what the gov't shovel down their throats as gospel and will continue to do so gladly 'because it's all to protect you and your rights' and 'if you don't give up little freedoms here and there, the terrorists will win' and, as we ALL know 'copying the software/music/video content against the will of the owners is all done to fund terrorist organizations'.

I've heard WAY too many cheap lines like that used to justify what's been happening in the last 5 years, and they are ALL believed!!

Quote: Originally Posted by drougnor Sadly, Jobi, we seem to be in the minority . . . There are far too many sheep who take what the gov't shovel down their throats as gospel and will continue to do so gladly 'because it's all to protect you and your rights' and 'if you don't give up little freedoms here and there, the terrorists will win' and, as we ALL know 'copying the software/music/video content against the will of the owners is all done to fund terrorist organizations'. I've heard WAY too many cheap lines like that used to justify what's been happening in the last 5 years, and they are ALL believed!!

Well, I'm stayin' in the minority! All those who kiss the goverment's ass can if they want to... bless their hearts... but wring their necks! It's too bad... the government sugar-coats everything and people buy it.

It's funny you bring up the "protecting our rights" thing. At this rate, we won't have any rights to be protected anyway! The way I see it, I couldn't care less about copywrite laws, because there are bigger things about the government (and the world in general) that I'm worried about. Based on my beliefs, copywrite laws are the least of my worries in light of the near future.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jobistober Well, I'm stayin' in the minority! All those who kiss the goverment's ass can if they want to... bless their hearts... but wring their necks! It's too bad... the government sugar-coats everything and people buy it. It's funny you bring up the "protecting our rights" thing. At this rate, we won't have any rights to be protected anyway! The way I see it, I couldn't care less about copywrite laws, because there are bigger things about the government (and the world in general) that I'm worried about. Based on my beliefs, copywrite laws are the least of my worries in light of the near future.

Something that's more worrisome right here, alright . . . I make sure to monitor what I do and what I say nowadays . . . Paranoid, as I said, but it's getting to be about the only way.

There are a lot of ppl I know who don't care because 'what are the chances they'll actually pay attention to anything I say', but I'm not much of a gambler. That, and I have crappy luck . . . You know Murphy's law? Well, apparently Murphy decided that I was his test case for quite some time . . . *laughs*

Quote: Originally Posted by Jobistober The way I see it, I couldn't care less about copywrite laws, because there are bigger things about the government (and the world in general) that I'm worried about. Based on my beliefs, copywrite laws are the least of my worries in light of the near future.

I agree with you on this one. I think the government has worse issues on there plate then to worry about little ole Sally downloading illegal music (which is wrong). Or Sally backing up her favorite CD so she has a copy of it if the original goes bad (which is RIGHT). Our government is going to ****, and they can turn it around in an instant but the people will not be heard it seems like!

You wont be able to buy CD-R's DVD-R's and Burners anymore unless you get them on the black market lol.... this is crazy and if its passed we are in for a worl-wind of BS from the RIAA, MPAA ect ect.....

I guess what I meant is that I don't spend very much time at all worrying about copywrite laws and stuff like that... but I obviously have an opinion on it. I'd rather worry about other more important things going on in this country than worry about stupid crap like this.

All in all, Pharoh's right... it comes down to greed. These freakin' politicians feel all high and mighty and think they're doing us all a favor... but in reality we're getting a you-know-what up the @$$ and they're filling up their wallets!

I'm done with this thread... my blood pressure is too high now. *throws back a couple perscription hypertension pills*

Quote: Originally Posted by Pharaoh Ok I'v been caught resting on my laurels. What once was legal is becomeing ilegal. So how does one become envolved in resisting the GREED of the GREEDY?

I read a thing on digg.com about this, write a letter to your congressmen, thats what I did, this is just getting out of hand.

Forffiture laws in drug cases are bad enough, this is ridiculous. Not that the 4th amedment wasnt already dead... i really hate the government sometimes.

Dear Toshiba,

I was going to go and buy one of your gee-whiz nifty bang-up DVD recorders the other day so I could transfer video of my adorable daughter playing in the sand box.

But I've recently read about some legislation in the US Congress that might ban such devices.

So until this matter is resolved, I can't buy from you. I'm sorry, but I don't want to be mistaken for a criminal.

Sincerely,
A consumer

Now it doesn't matter if the legislation says that or not. If the electronics makers get a few dozen letters like this, they will mobilize THEIR lobbyists and crush this foolishness. But don't bother writing Sony - theyre part of RIAA.

Just a thought
-MF