Version: 2008

Comments on: Copyright treaty is classified for 'national security'

Weeks after President Obama said his administration would be open and transparent, it claims that a copyright treaty under consideration is "classified in the interest of national security."

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by Dylan_Wisor March 12, 2009 6:19 PM PDT
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." - Pete Townshend
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by Lerianis3 March 12, 2009 8:57 PM PDT
Your know, I voted for Obama.... and more and more I am thinking that is what is going on here. Business as usual.
by mmntech March 13, 2009 7:16 AM PDT
Which is what everybody with half a brain warned people when they were treating Obama like he was the second coming of Jesus. I've heard the transparent claim many times before. Ironically it's the administrations who claim to want to be the most transparent who end up being the most secretive. Sadly, people are still fooled by that.

I'm not sure what copyright has to do with national security. I guess Obama is afraid those racist Looney Toons from the 1940s will get out and start an international incident. Why, didn't a lot of people in Hollywood make huge donations to his campaign. No conflict of interest there.
by shootthecops March 12, 2009 6:46 PM PDT
its sad that some people will be surprised by this.
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by pentest March 12, 2009 8:13 PM PDT
Let's wait and see if the new administration produces documents arguing for the suppression of the 1,4, and 5th amendments and run a secret assassination squad out of the VP office.
by paintwagon March 14, 2009 7:24 AM PDT
First of all, pentest, you havent seen anything like the assault on the constitution that is about to happen. You also forgot to mention that Cheney liked to kill puppies under a full moon, and batboy was one of his favorite assassins.
by Mish86 March 28, 2009 2:34 PM PDT
It's not that I'm surprised.. but I was seriously hoping for better. But I guess they're all the same.. self interest and greed. Corruption reeks...

Although, I still think McCain would've been worse.
by digitalshaman March 12, 2009 6:47 PM PDT
National security? I wonder where Senator Leahy arrives at his conclusion in context with his stance on destroying our patent system? At least the good Senator from Pennsylvania was willing to stand down the threat to inventors & job creators to stop the patent reform act of 2007. Copyright & trademark is the way of the future but patents be damned? Sounds like a really bad idea when only two jobs are mentioned as deserving of protection for limited times in our Constitution - "writers" and "inventors" ... Reject the patent reform act of 2009 !!!
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by Jack K1 March 12, 2009 7:09 PM PDT
If I were the paranoid type, I'd start to believe Obama doesn't actually run the country. In fact, except at trivial levels, it's hard to tell the Obama/Bush administrations apart.
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by Commander_Spock March 12, 2009 7:39 PM PDT
Re: "it's hard to tell the Obama/Bush administrations apart".

How about calling this "Mission Accomplished"; and, Continued!
by globalist_agenda March 12, 2009 9:10 PM PDT
It took all of 1 day for Europe and China to make Obama pull "Buy American" from the stimulus package. New Stimulus = Use $800 billion U.S. to buy more from China. Hillary immediately goes to China and begs them to buy more U.S. Treasury bonds to fund the debt caused by previously buying so much from China. If this isn't circular reaosning I don't know what is. It's pretty obvious Obama IS NOT running America. I think they maybe let him decide the menu for State dinners. That's about it.
by MethodPG March 13, 2009 3:22 AM PDT
Obama doesn't control the economy, he's just a CFR puppet, like previous presidents.

The CFR's (banking, military contractors, oil, **mainstream media**, etc) influence is not over-stated by people that rant on about it. Secret meetings behind closed doors that result in the writing of secretive policies... of course things aren't going to be much different to Bush... at least not while fascists maintain a grip over the US government and pursue the writing of policy that favor corporations to the detriment of citizens.
by Commander_Spock March 13, 2009 7:32 AM PDT
Ya know, You are sooooooo........ funny in saying; "It took all of 1 day for Europe and China to make (President) Obama pull "Buy American" from the stimulus package. New Stimulus = Use $800 billion U.S. to buy more from China. Hillary immediately goes to China and begs them to buy more U.S. Treasury bonds to fund the debt caused by previously buying so much from China. If this isn't circular reasoning I don't know what is. It's pretty obvious (President) Obama IS NOT running America. I think they maybe let him decide the menu for State dinners.

Well, if you were following the news from outer space you would have heard about the Space Dwellers aboard the International Space Station scrambling to the Russian Space Vehicle; and, with the European's Concorde sitting on an old Aircraft Carrier in New York's Hudson River on the right and all the Baby Milk Formulas, Pet Food, Leaded Toys..... to the left; therefore, if ya don't like Buy America in the middle then you could have what ever you and your family like on the left or right.

Anyway, just remember from the recent American Airlines incident and the near miss of the International Space Station pretty soon your/our chances of survival will be reduced. So, what is it going to be for you and your family - An underground bunker (for safety from falling space debris) stacked with baby milk formulas, toys.... or Buy America (Boeing.....)!
by Commander_Spock March 13, 2009 9:16 AM PDT
And, one more thing; re: "So, what is it going to be for you and your family - An underground bunker (for safety from falling space debris) stacked with baby milk formulas, toys.... or Buy America (Boeing.....)!"

What is it going to be to help get in touch with the outside world while being - an HP, Dell or Lenovo (do ya remember a company named IBM PC Company?); and, some company in "Europe" is yet to get OS/2 running on dem Lenovos while Microsoft's Windows have an 89% Internet Connection share - Duh!
by Lerianis3 March 12, 2009 9:00 PM PDT
Now, I may be stupid, but how is a copyright treaty a 'national security' secret? Doesn't make sense, and I would really like a reasonable explanation of that from Obama and his admnistration.
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by unknown unknown March 12, 2009 10:39 PM PDT
It's not, they given lobbyists on the side of large copyright holders input so claiming it's classified is an attempt to hide how corrupt this really is. As for an explanation, that's exactly what claiming national security allows them to avoid.
by March 12, 2009 11:08 PM PDT
My only comment is that those whom have read this article that have a problem
with this decision would do well to send in their concerns in the coontact link
at www.whitehouse.gov. I've already done so myself.
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by YVRsteve March 12, 2009 11:34 PM PDT
In the Interest of our Security, we should not buy any Music, Video or media not under Creative Commons.
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by wiseleo March 13, 2009 1:40 AM PDT
So, who has a Wikileaks links to this document? :)
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by MethodPG March 13, 2009 3:45 AM PDT
"intellectual property theft is no less a crime than physical property theft."

The copyright cartels are so full of crap sometimes...

Units of product are not physically taken, if I download something nobody is going to find their property has disappeared, therefore nothing has literally being stolen and as such it is ABSOLUTELY a different type of "theft" because the loss is only perceived and projected, it's not a literal loss.

Projected profits lost from this virtual "theft" would usually not have been profit anyway, most people who download or copy copyrighted material would not have bought the product anyway.

So, in summary, to state that IP violations are equal to actual "theft", is to completely mislead the public.

The ICC and the copyright cartels are just being propaganda ****** with statements such as these. They're just trying to reinforce the impression of criminality because they know most politicians are too out of touch and poorly-informed to know otherwise.

The Obama administration is demonstrating that they are simply the other brand of fascist government (blue bulls**t instead of red bulls**t), maintaining secrecy not for national security but to avoid personal embarassment for their collusion with the plutocrats that really have far more control over US policy than is healthy.

It's a particular disgrace for Obama considering the promises of transparency that were made. Yet another promise broken by what I'm sure we'll increasingly witness as being a dishonest administration.
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by scdecade March 13, 2009 4:48 AM PDT
The sign makers just called and they've admitted their mistake. It's not spelled "c-h-a-n-g-e you can believe in" it's spelled "c-h-a-i-n-s you can believe in." Sorry for the mistake. Where do you want the real signs delivered?
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by bspray March 13, 2009 5:14 AM PDT
So when the ICoC says "intellectual property theft is no less a crime than physical property theft." - Does that mean this kind of theft will be treated with the same regard as physical property theft, meaning when someone has something, they call the police who will make a report and tell you to call your insurance company, all the while, never making any effort what so ever to recover the stolen merchandise?
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by FellowConspirator March 13, 2009 5:16 AM PDT
Perhaps it's a ruse to undermine copyright law in the USA. A law enacted in secret is one without due process and ultimately not prosecutable -- or so one might argue.

So-called "intellectual property" laws have become so egregiously warped that it's no wonder people are increasingly of the opinion that they are a joke that pits monied bullies against the common man. They're becoming something of the poster-children of corporatocracy. "Intellectual property" law is effectively falling into desuetude because the public no longer regards it as valid -- just ask the movie and recording industries. Respect for these laws is not only low, but driving off a cliff. In a decade, those scofflaws are going to be out there managing these businesses and finding it hard to justify endorsing the current regime.

I think that if the current trend of companies grabbing support for stricter laws to allow them greater powers to restrict freedome to operate and to abuse consumers, they're going to foment a potent backlash. You're already starting to see law professors and economists pushing for the elimination of copyright and making it radically harder to get patents. College kids today could give a rat's tuchas about copyrights, and it appears a majority of people that understand what DRM is are interpreting it as devaluation of copyrighted media, and even concluding that it has no value until they obtain an illicit DRM-free copy to go with their legitimate license.
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by Dylan_Wisor March 13, 2009 1:52 PM PDT
That's pretty far-fetched, but you're thinking. I like it.
by Renegade Knight March 13, 2009 7:29 AM PDT
The laws we will be subject to, and the means and methods of creating those laws are not classifable secrets.
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by Dylan_Wisor March 13, 2009 2:05 PM PDT
According to the government, they are. Look up Gilbert vs. Gonzales.
by JadedGamer March 13, 2009 8:05 AM PDT
Maybe the reason is that the draft treaty makes is explicit that MPAA, RIAA and their international equivalents are the real powers behind the throne, and that the voters are just sheep-like consumer drones who exist to purchase entertainment products.
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by Earl Benzar March 13, 2009 9:05 AM PDT
Catch a clue, we all live in the Corporate State folks. It's best to dispense yourself of any antiquated notions such as "democracy" and "freedom" because they do not exist. The power rests with those who control the economies, and look no further than Fortune 500 to see who those entities are.

Oh right, remember, the RIAA is a lobbying organization for EMI, Sony, Warner... The MPAA have some of the same clients. Check and see who funds your favorite politician. It's a rigged game, and end users aren't part of it.

Cheers, have a nice day, and thanks for all the fish.
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by Commander_Spock March 13, 2009 9:41 AM PDT
Re: "The power rests with those who control the economies, and look no further than Fortune 500 to see who those entities are..."

Nope, the real power resides in birds in flight, falling air planes engine parts, satellite debris, meteorites. At least, now we know, so, prepare to duck or get to the nearest escape space capsule. Cool!
by globalist_agenda March 13, 2009 10:54 AM PDT
Cranes For Obama! $50 million of America's economic stimulus package to China. We need Chinese cranes to install Chinese steel on the American Bay Bridge. On behalf of Hillary I am now begging China to buy $50 million in Treasuries to cover the purchase.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/BAV516EE2F.DTL
SAN FRANCISCO -- A 328-foot-long crane that will soon start working on Bay Bridge eastern span project arrived Thursday afternoon in San Francisco Bay. The unique contraption, built in Shanghai, cost about $50 million...
by Endbringer March 13, 2009 12:20 PM PDT
FYI, the United States is not a democracy. Never was and never will be until the Constitution is changed. In fact, our Constitution clearly states that we are a republic and that every state shall also have a republican form of government, NOT A DEMOCRATIC government. The founders feared, rightly so, the rule of man. The United States is supposed to be based on the rule of law, which ultimately is the Constitution.
by Endbringer March 13, 2009 12:25 PM PDT
The scariest part of this is that treaties are on the same level as the Constitution. By doing this in secret from the public, they are, in effect, doing the same as amending the Constitution without any public input or knowledge. I didn't like it when President Bush did it and I'm more afraid of President Obama doing it. Everyone should be leery whenever a new treaty is brought up because of how much control treaties put on the public that can take our rights from us, even ones guaranteed in the Constitution.
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by thebes42 March 13, 2009 10:43 PM PDT
So, would secret tyrannies like this help explain why gun sales are up?
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by Dr_Zinj March 16, 2009 4:41 AM PDT
I'm not particularly surprised by the Obama Administration's behavior in this situation.

On the other hand, John McCain's Administration would have been doing the same damn thing.

We should have elected Ron Paul instead!
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by PR_Finn March 16, 2009 10:03 AM PDT
Patents are the new currency in the knowledge-based economy. Everyone can connect the dots from there, right?
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