Re: [GD-General] Pro-IP bill passed the house: User-created conte nt providers, beware!

[Bob <ma...@mb...>]

You've got it wrong -- it's the corporations that need abolishing. Copyright 
(and other forms of IP) is a fine thing, so long as  it belongs to creators, 
rather than (undying and polymorphous) employers.

Nonetheless, the reality is that neither such broad reformation is within 
reach.

However, I believe Jon's concern was that the bill in question empowers IP 
holders in ways that overstep reason. Take the real example of Fox's 
notorious protection of their Aliens IP -- back in 1994 they got 
heavy-handed over a little modification for Doom, and served threats against 
anyone they could find hosting the files (with almost 100% compliance). At 
the time there was a lot of speculation whether the corporation was within 
their rights threatening actions every much as described in this bill 
against ftp services such as cdrom.com, but it wasn't a danger to iD and 
thankfully, Fox didn't have to power to seize hardware and interfere with 
those companies' operation without warning.

These days, a lot of publishers and/or developers avail distribution of 
user-generated content on their own networks, and would themselves be the 
recipient of such threats should another Aliens Doom come along. And if Jon 
is correct about this bill, server operators could be wishing for 
old-fashioned threats, as their hardware gets hauled away without warning. 
As well, an unscrupulous publisher could use this kind of law to cripple 
competitors. In an industry with sales windows measured in weeks, a 
month-long interference in online services the moment a Porsche appears in 
that unlicensed racing game or a Marvel superhero appears in that FPS, could 
do massive damage regardless of the outcome of the "investigation."



--b


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Crosbie Fitch" <cr...@cy...>
To: <gam...@li...>
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: [GD-General] Pro-IP bill passed the house: User-created conte 
nt providers, beware!


> Or, even simpler, just abolish copyright and patents.
>
> It'll happen eventually.
>
> It's just a question of when enough folk say 'enough is enough'.
>
> Does published work belong to the publisher or the public?
>
> Your answer defines which side you're on.
>
> The laws of nature will determine which side wins.
>
> If you know anything about computers you might have an inkling as to the
> laws of nature when it comes to the diffusion of information across public
> networks.
>
> If you know anything about publishing corporations you might have an 
> inkling
> of the lengths they will go to to assert their laws of copyright and 
> patent.
>
> So sit back and enjoy the show, or pick a side and get stuck in.
>
> Feel free to copy me - you don't need my permission.
>
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