My 1st diary and a quick one, be gentle please
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We have a few diaries on Network neutrality in regards to the internet. Now we have a new bill punishing "piracy" up to 10 years in prison for a 1st offense...
http://news.com.com/...
For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Now Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.
Hmm more wiretapping and enforcement powers? Sounds great doesn't it? More...
This isn't about piracy, it's about corporations owning our government and our government using this issue to invade the privacy of Americans with more reasons to wiretap. Bye 4th ammendment, you were a great one but we don't need you anymore.
The draft legislation, created by the Bush administration and backed by Rep. Lamar Smith, already enjoys the support of large copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America. Smith, a Texas Republican, is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.
RIAA, what a great group... They go after college students in civil court for downloading songs... Good group..
Such changes are necessary because new technology is "encouraging large-scale criminal enterprises to get involved in intellectual-property theft," Gonzales said, adding that proceeds from the illicit businesses are used, "quite frankly, to fund terrorism activities."
Dumbest thing ever said... EVER, fuck off AG. So people downloading music, movies, etc... are terrorists now. Even though they make no monetary gain. This isn't China. There's no black market of "terrorists" selling downloaded movies at the local mall.
The 24-page bill is a far-reaching medley of different proposals cobbled together. One would, for instance, create a new federal crime of just trying to commit copyright infringement. Such willful attempts at piracy, even if they fail, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
I could rob a blockbuster with an RPG on my shoulder and get less time..
Jason Schultz, a staff attorney at the digital-rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says the recording industry would be delighted to have the right to impound records. In a piracy lawsuit, "they want server logs," Schultz said. "They want to know every single person who's ever downloaded (certain files)--their IP addresses, everything."
Privacy surrenders...
I'm not condoning internet piracy here. I'm attacking our congress for putting corporations ahead of the people THAT ELECTED THEM AND PAY THERE SALARIES! Our Government has more important issues to deal with, like Osama, remember him? But no, piracy is more important, and the wiretapping is key in the battle agaist piracy, errr i mean terror.
Quick diary, no links sorry. Bedtime :)