DMCA strikes again

[thudfactor]

Slashdot has this one covered, but I recognize that the tone at Slashdot is a little more... confrontational than it is here. You might want to take a look at this Salon (http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/08/23/pirate/index.html) article, though, about what happened when the author's boyfriend was accused of uploading a MPAA-protected movie to the Internet.

I think it's pretty obvious now that some companies are so large they can behave like oppressive governments all by themselves. Note the complete lack of due process in this... er... process.

[Tibbits]

Alltogether now, "D.M.C.A....."

[electro-nik]

IMO, the DMCA will have to be amended. There is quite a bit of bad press about it, and rightly so. How long can this evidence be ignored?

OTOH, there are large propaganda machines spouting good press about anti-piracy and the DMCA.

Which side will the gov't choose to believe? I hope they listen to both and change that inane law.

[ryount]

I agree that the DMCA needs to be changed, but is getting your internet service suspended really the equivalent of being tried & convicted? One one hand I think it sucks that you can get cut off because the MPAA makes an accusation, but on the other hand I would like to see an ISP take immediate action if someone is port scanning, etc. Sometimes the ISP is in an odd position.

[Terra]

Sometimes the ISP is in an odd position.
We are in the middle catching and dodging bullets from both sides...

That is just the simple fact of the industry FutureQuest is in...

--
Terra
--Why merely think to have the bullets just stop, when you can extend yourself and will them to do the tango--
FutureQuest

[thudfactor]

Is losing access like being tried and convicted? In this case, I think it is. It's not doing jail time, of course... but it could lead to that. Consider: Amita's boyfriend was accused of a crime (violating the DMCA, violating copyright). Because of that accusation, his ISP service is cut. The real world analogue would be arresting someone and holding them until a court date. "Prof. Plum, We think you killed Mister X."

What happens next is the wrong bit: they insist there's no way they can be wrong, and the termination of service is permanent unless Amita's boyfriend signs a paper promising that he'll never do it again. He signs, because it's the quickest way to get service. (He confesses; it's the quickest way back home). Later on, the person spoofing his IP address uploads another movie, and Amita's boyfriend gets dragged into real court this time. "I never did anything," he says, and the prosecution says "why did you sign this paper promising not to do it again?"

Maybe I'm cynical. Maybe I've delt with Comcast tech support too much. Maybe I live too close to
Prince George's County [Washington Post Article] (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/md/princegeorges/government/police/confess/) . But this whole "if he has nothing to hide, he has nothing to fear" mentality gives me the Nazi-McCarthy-Flashback-Creepies.

As far as the ISPs being in an odd position, let me point this out: FQuest would be in an odd, difficult position. Time Warner cable isn't -- because Time Warner is one of the MPAAs biggest members. This is a hole they dug themselves. FQuest is caught in the middle in this kind of situation, but Time Warner isn't.

-- J, who thinks "FuQu" would be a *worse* acronym.

[Tatu]

Originally posted by thudfactor:
-- J, who thinks "FuQu" would be a *worse* acronym. LOL... does any one remember that thread a long time ago about starting a "FQFest"? I think Deb broke out on the second page and suggested it be called FQestFest....

[zmax]

How about FuQuFest?!?!?!

I like that one! ;)

David