Comments on: Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill

Instead of reforming the controversial DMCA, the U.S. government seems poised to expand it in a sweeping proposal.

[philspice1]

This is too much

I am tired of Hollywood and the RIAA trying to make everything a crime. I will be calling my Congress members tomorrow.

Those of you trying to blame this on Republicans....this is one Republican who has a major problem with this stuff. The blame goes to Hollywood and the RIAA (not exactly strong supporters of Republicans the last time I checked).

[R. U. Sirius]

RIAA is Republican

I'm registered Repub too, and have always voted that way. That said, I think what folks here mean by "Republican" are the werewolves in congress who have an "R" behind their names, but in fact, are anything but Republican.

That said, the RIAA is headed by Bill Frist's right hand man, and is decidely right leaning.

From an earlier article:

"Bainwol who currently runs the lobbying firm The Bainwol Group, is the former chief of staff to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). He also served as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and before that, chief of staff to Senator Connie Mack (R-FL) for nine years.

"Mitch Bainwol has a strong reputation as an articulate and highly effective leader. His experience in the political arena is extensive and multi-faceted, and he enjoys the respect of legislators on both sides of the aisle. Mitch's track record of developing strategic initiatives that get real results makes him the perfect choice to lead the RIAA," said Michele Anthony, EVP of Sony Music Entertainment.

http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/2241451

[mswann01]

Vote them out

If the people that really seam to care about this issue(18-25 years old) acctually voted I think issues like this would fade away.

[audiovideo88]

Why must these br0wnn0sers hold power?

This isn't even lame-duck season. I'm scared of what people will push then...

Do lawmakers think that all 300 million Americans are media thieves, pirates, and small-time racketeers for burning CDs, sharing physical DVDs between a few people or sharing a pic online? That's exactly what it is.

For $20/CD (somehow worse in Europe) and >$20/DVD (prob $30/HDDVD, BRD), corporations get their money's worth already. Being locked into a monopolized structure of media use (already more like abuse), we will be spoon-fed our pop music and crappy Hollywood releases a la Movielink soon (pay out the A$$ for a 24-h window), all while our reps @ the Capitol brownnose the DMCA ringleaders.

So don't stop copying the CDs that are still copyable to begin with (Jesus H Christ), share the physical CDs/DVDs, and use your digicams without fear (I can't believe I'm saying that). Once it's ridiculously hard to arrest, say, half the country on otherwise misdemeanor crimes (as of today), they'll stop this campaign before the bill sets foot. And for God's sake, it's so simple: flood your rep's office with mail, or else deal with this real soon.

If Orwell knew he was predicting the society of 2008, he'd freak out. Don't let him freak out.

[skeptik]

change of heart

After 9/11 I wanted a t-shirt that said in large letters: "INFIDEL" as a response to the complete horsesh*t muslim fanaticism.
I've changed my mind. Now I want one that says: "TERRORIST", because well, appearently for sitting quietly in my living room after a day at the office generating tax income for the feds, if I decide to smoke a little reefer while copying the new DVD I bought my kid so she can watch it in the car without destroying my $18 investment I am a terrorist supporter on two fronts, and the cause of the downfall of western civilization. For that I can lose my house, my computer, my job, my freedom and my money in criminal and civil penalties.
Meanwhile the oil companies are free to rack up record profits on the backs of N.O. residents, the RIAA is free to steal from the musicians who create the content and Sony is free to hack my computer without my permission. Not to mention we can't even seem to stop spam and spyware from draining the economy (at the office I am in charge of IT and these are real, proven problems with no benefit and great detriment to society at large, not just a few special interest groups).
Sadly, I am a republican, so I hope that big business has enough votes (not just money to contribute) to keep them in office, because they're losing another voter, just like Sony lost a long time customer.

[Maccess]

Yet another US Law to be ignored in the rest of the world

while the rest of the world moves on to more forward looking business models that take advantage of new technologies instead of trying to outlaw it.

I'll let you in on a dirty little secret.

What the record companies and video content providers are REALLY afraid of isn't so much the pirates, its the guy with a laptop and garage band and similar software with a link to the Internet to upload creative works to iTunes music store and other new economy storefronts.

Like big telcos, big music studios are fast becoming dinosaurs...

[twofootfly]

strip human rights, fill the prisons.

Yet another excuse to take away our freedoms.
The multinationals will own us like the people in China. Ultimately they will harvest our organs in payment of our discretions. Such is already the case in China.
Oh, by the way, embryos are a special class and will be protected under federal law.

Hooray for the Republican Politbureau!

[cajunman4life]

These are not Republicans

You know what's funny? We are all bashing the Republican party over this. Why shouldn't we? Bush and his cronies are Republicans. Or are they...?

Personally, as a self-proclaimed Republican, I'm tired of Bush and his goons that are on a crusade for God knows what. First they want to put a "warning label" on porn sites, and now this?

Sorry, got off track. You want proof that Bush and Co. aren't Republicans? Just look at the definition at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States) and you'll see what I mean. The Republicans believe that the private sector and/or individuals are better suited than the Government to control their own lives. Does this sound like the Bush administration? I thought not. Having a real Republican in office would be a 1000% improvement. Or we can just throw out parties all together and just vote for the non-dumba$$.

[hriik]

Boycott

If the boycott on Sony BMG and their ilk was solid this type of
legislation would have NO EFFECT. We MUST put these gouging
companies out of business. What the American Congress does
matters nothing to the wider world one way or the other. However,
as a Canadian I am effected by Sony BMG and other such pirates.
We must vote with our wallets and get rid of the monopolizing
companies!

[hriik]

Boycott

If the boycott on Sony BMG and their ilk was solid this type of
legislation would have NO EFFECT. We MUST put these gouging
companies out of business. What the American Congress does
matters nothing to the wider world one way or the other. However,
as a Canadian I am effected by Sony BMG and other such pirates.
We must vote with our wallets and get rid of the monopolizing
companies!

[hriik]

Sorry

Sorry, I seem to have double posted.

[tobiash]

Anonymous Filsharring Rules!

Just use an anonymous filesharring network like Mute!

http://mute-net.sourceforge.net/

[tobiash]

Anonymous Filsharring Rules!

Just use an anonymous filesharring network like Mute!

http://mute-net.sourceforge.net/

[StarWolff]

Let technology solve the problem

If the RIAA, MPAA, and other Intellectual Property creators wish to protect their creations, let them create copy-protection and content maneagement solutions themselves, rather than relying on unenforceable/inconsistently enforceable/unfair laws.

These types of laws are akin to having the government set a 50,000 year penalty for a burglar, and a homeowner having no locks, relying on the government's laws to prevent break-ins. Instead, the smart homeowner would buy locks & window bars to prevent theft. Intellectual Property owners can and should do the same thing, rather than these silly, inane laws. - If you don't want to be a victim of theft, natural damage, pregnancy, or accidents, PROTECT _YOURSELF_.


WOOF.

[skeptic90210]

Microsoft and Dell are criminals...

Regarding these two paragraphs...

But one of the more controversial sections may be the changes to the DMCA. Under current law, Section 1201 of the law generally prohibits distributing or trafficking in any software or hardware that can be used to bypass copy-protection devices. (That section already has been used against a Princeton computer science professor, Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov and a toner cartridge remanufacturer.)

Smith's measure would expand those civil and criminal restrictions. Instead of merely targeting distribution, the new language says nobody may "make, import, export, obtain control of, or possess" such anticircumvention tools if they may be redistributed to someone else.

******
Does this not mean that Microsoft compilers and Dell PCs with CPU not utilizing embedded DRM are obviously illegal? I don't get to vote for the buffoons in the US government but their farts create a breeze that still ruffles my hair.

Some civic minded lawyer in Redmond or whatever should launch a class action suit against Microsoft, Dell and any other purveyor of general purpose software and hardware to underline how ludicrous this law is in actuality.

[AbuAnas]

Terrorism!!

.. Gonzales said, adding that proceeds from the illicit businesses are used, "quite frankly, to fund terrorism activities."

If you want to pass anything now just say the magic word: Terrorism!! He may add as well that SOB is running torrnet netwok himself!

[AbuAnas]

Correction

I mean OBL