Documentary on Internet Piracy on Fancast.

I'll watch it later perhaps.

However,

No one is in prison yet and the pirate bay still works. The appeal trial will start on 28 September 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirate_Bay_Trial

The truly amazing thing is that the harder the "Corporate Suits" try and stymie and sqaush these types of things, the worse the actual backlash becomes. 

It always reminds me of what Admiral Nagumo said after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. (not exact)

"I fear all we have done is awaken a Sleeping Giant!"

Guess what. He was absolutley right. Why not just get with the new "Reality" that is the Interweb and all of it good and bad trappings.

It's pretty good. I definitely thought it was worth the 45 minutes it took to watch it.

Because the people in control, Governments, Corporations etc etc, don't like things that exist that they Can't control or make a profit from. They see it as anarchy or organized chaos when in reality it's just the evolution of Freedom. When people have the freedom to do things, they do them, plain and simple. Or rather a certain amount of the population will. Some of those "things" they'll be doing will no doubt be illegal.

One of the professors in the documentary talks about this and theorizes there are only two ways to control the flow of information (movies, games, anything found online). Those ways are to either redesign how the internet works from the ground up (yeah right, good luck with that) , Or, to redesign the tools we use to access the internet , I.E. our computers.

If that makes you paranoid it's for good reason. They have plenty of reason to lobby for changes and demand the computer companies make devices that work the way They want them to work. If that happens you say goodbye to things like CD/DvD/Blu Ray Burners, the ability to upload information to the internet, and you'll have very limited bandwidth to download information except from *Authorized Sites*. Those sites being the ones owned by the companies and corporations that make everything and News Agencies which are ultimately governed by the government anyway.

They can do it just by changing what things are available to the public by controlling the corporations. If they tell the PC makers "If your computers have copying devices in them they won't be sold in the United States" and that's it, no more burners of any kind. They'll find some other way to let people save their home movies and pictures with a medium that can't be used to copy movies and games too. All because some Hollywood millionaire padded the pockets of enough Senators to get the motion passed. I know that part Does sound a little paranoid but they could do it. They've already tried getting all kinds of things run through the courts that would ultimately limit our freedom just to try to stop movies from being passed around online.

The Internet will be locked down in 10 or 20 years or even sooner. Why?

1. The ACTA Trade agreement,

2. New ISP liability legislation,

3. Security Features in IPv6

4. And Trusted Computing Modules coming soon in all motherboards.

Just because it is not locked now doesn't mean it will stay the same in the future.

The giants move very slowly, but they do move.

History will remember this era in computing, as the Wild West/ Golden era of piracy.

My small piece of the Internet, some ? Gigbs+ ,will never be locked down. No worries.

I'd say that's a pretty accurate prediction, except for the time-frames. While true the Government and Big Business can and often do move slow on a lot of things, one thing they don't screw around with is Losing Money. The only thing that's maybe even given them pause to think so far is they don't know how they're going to deal with all the people who are going to get incredibly pissed off when they lose half their online freedoms.

They'll probably have to pull off some massive Internet Terrorism attack and then make us think they were limiting our access to the internet for our own good....lol. <--- sounds like a good movie plot and unfortunately there are a bunch of people out there dumb enough to believe a reason like that.

I'd like to think that too John but I don't see how that could stay the same forever. The company that gives you internet access has to follow your government's mandates on the matter or it will be shut down. That's why organizations like the "Motion Picture Association of America" ,also known as the MPAA, exist. They're the ones who decide that "This Movie is rated R" and things of that nature. There are similar groups in charge of all our communications companies too. Once they change the guidelines for the services them-selves we're all screwed. These companies aren't going to go against the government. They'll want to stay in business and keep making money.

If you want a recent example of a forced change (though it had nothing to do with something like this), look at the recent change in TV broadcasting. Everything is on a "Digital Signal" now. Without a special adapter on your TV, or without cable TV, you can't pick up a TV signal anymore. They did this because the government said they wanted to "free up the broadcasting channels for other uses" so they changed the way TV's broadcast. It wasn't that much of a inconvenience for most people so no-one complained.

I'm pretty sure people will complain though when they start losing functionality on their PC's and with their internet connection.

Wohoo. Go  Piracy! . We don't have to worry about losing control of the internet. The world economy will utterly collapse before then . Wohoo, go Piracy!

..

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and monetary economics.

not really.

..

.

But go piracy!

I'd encourage you to talk to your local politicians about enforcing net neutrality- that is, preventing ISPs from dictating what we can do on the internet.

The true beauty, and heart ache, of being a human being means we have a limited life span. I will not be around, nor most of my generation, if or when that kind of shit ever comes to actually be a reality.

And I laugh at the idea that the new Motherboards will have some "Fuck You Pirate" chip put in them dictated by the desire of the Suits to reap more profits. My current MB doesn't have one and will live on, with some TLC from me, if need be, for as long as I do.

If the current set of ISP's fold to pressure then we will just join the, sure to rise, underground movement and fight them from the dark corners.

Alot of folks have died, and continue to, for the freedoms we now enjoy. The "Internet" is but a small small piece of that. If the Suits decides they will be given permission to take that away, they had best be sure and collect up all the lose guns on the Continent first, or prepare for true anarchy. I don't even own a gun. lol

The time of cow towing to the Suits is over.They had their financial control and fucked up. The "World" is now in recovery mode thanks to them. Only the truly stupid, other Suits, will allow that to ever happen again.

Besides, when the "People" can no longer legally vote for their representatives, then we are truly frakked and the Suits will have won.

There. That is my bi-millenia rant.

No-one died so that people could continue to steal other's property.

Get a grip...or get another forum.

People die to protect FREEDOM...and there IS NO freedom to take what is NOT yours.

Not without penalty.

This bullshit about comparing snotty-nosed brats stealing Intellectual Property with people fighting for civil rights or something is just that.

Utter ridiculous BULLSHIT.

This forum, whether it be accessed on Joe User...or Wincustomize...or any of the Gaming sites is owned by Stardock, a company whose IP is habitually stolen by these same self-righteous dickheads claiming everything must be free.

They steal the life-blood of the very forum on which they spout their tripe.

When a company's IP is sufficiently underminded [pirated] that their viability is jeopardized....guess what?

The company goes under....but before that...the Forum/s will be gone.

It's one thing to hold an idealist opinion....fuck...even I grew up as a hippy in the 70's...got into Architecture to change the world...smoked a lot of dope...dreamed of Utopia.

Yes, go for it...dream.

Then come back to reality and pretend common sense isn't that uncommon after all.

Whom-ever owns the IP is entitled to keep and protect that IP.  Anyone who attempts to TAKE that IP without that owner's consent needs his nostrils slit and his gonads removed [if he has any].

Many of us here...on this site...using this forum....create and upload/distribute IP.  All of us at one time or another have had that same IP stolen and/or abused by others.

Many of us spend a good amount of time actively protecting IP...our own and other artists.

THAT is the reality.

NO NEED FOR STRONG LANGUAGE - CURSING! BE CLASSY (fires in the wall) I mean kids are in the forum

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PROCEED

Just as a 'coincidence' we now have one more 'member' of the site who is enjoying 'retirement' since he posted links [on Wincustomize.com] to pirated software [in this case Stardock's own IP].

Have an opinion about Internet Piracy, by all means...but remember there is a ZERO TOLERANCE here for its distribution.

You put locks on your House, your car, everything your wish to protect. Perhaps a lock on that IP, one that can't be easily broken, would prevent the loss of your stuff.

I've debated the morality of software piracy many times with people on another forum and they never give me a satifactory answer when I say 'Surely the best way to protest against high prices is to not buy the product'.

They don't do this because they simply want it for free.

I am not debating for or against Piracy. I don't Pirate myself but seriously.

Griping about Internet piracy is like yelling at a Dog taking a dump on your lawn. He doesn't care about you or your green IP...

So you have a couple of choices.

Put up a Fence - Solved (but at your expense of course)

Kill the Dog - Solved ( the Dogs owner may not like that one though and there are more dogs kicking around looking for a nice Dumping ground)

or keep yelling at the Dog and hope someday he understands what your saying to him/her. (don't hold your breath though)

or I guess we could just Turn off the Internet.

P.S. @Jafo Do you think there would even be an Internet if the NAZI's had won the war....? Get a grip indeed.

Ok wall of text incoming....

All of what you say is 100% correct, no 1000% correct.

As far as rules and laws goes, anyone creating unauthorized digital copies of IP is an outlaw, he should go to a court of law and should be found guilty of violating IP laws. That's the reality and I agree with you.

However no one, including you, would like to live in a world where everything is monitored and watched: a camera in every street, Internet watch dogs, trusted computing modules in all PCs and devices, firewalls, mass TCP/IP logging, a police officer in every corner, monitoring of cellphones, monitoring of calls etc, it's too much, it's becoming a fascist state/world.It indeed is a safer world, but not a FREE one, not as in free beer mind you, but as a normal person walking in the street and feeling free.

And to say that all of these extreme measures that already exist or are planned to come into existence, are justified because of someone's, no, anyone's  IP, is just plain stupid.

What is missing from the existing equation is trust. The reason why I buy IP from stardock is because I trust you. And it shows that you worked hard to create that trust. You don't treat your customers like criminals or get in their ways of using what they buy and this is extremely important. It's very simple, I believe that you deserve the money that you demand for your products.

Laws and legislations should exist to promote the welfare of the society and the individual, this includes your IP rights but only to a certain extent and not exclusively.

Sure, there IS NO freedom to take what is NOT yours, but HOW and WHY did YOU get the RIGHT and FREEDOM to monitor and search my computer, my internet connection, my cellphone? Does ENFORCING just what you want justifies BREAKING into MY HOUSE, watching my street, and what I do every moment?

HOW: By lobbying all over the world, bribing politicians with money and power. Check how underhandedly they are trying to pass ACTA, they don't even want the people or the parliament/congress to vote about it and they are keeping it a secret from the public, hell it's not even a law its a trade agreement that becomes a law. LOL?

WHY: To become even more stinking rich. They don't care about you (stardock) or me, or the average joe, or the cultural significance of their work or creativity (which was the reason copyright was introduced) and they are definitely not struggling to survive. Hell you don't even have a saying as a company about how your RIGHTS will be protected cause you're a smallish fish This is about people with billions of dollars wanting out of GREED, to grab even more billions of dollars out of the average Joe. You are right protecting stardock's IP in your forums, but it is also futile since there are a hundred CURRENTLY LEGAL ways (as it should!) for others to get your IP.

RIGHT and FREEDOM: These people don't recognize any of these things this is just their excuse. They think that just because they have power and money they "are right", "it's their freedom that's at stake" and they want to RULE the WORLD. History has proven them wrong many times. They will publish books about it, make speeches, talk about it on TV, and in general control the media about this subject. But it is wrong.

The lawmakers and Lady justice should be blind. To quote wikipedia on the subject: "Lady Justice is often depicted wearing a blindfold. This is done in order to indicate that justice is (or should be) meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness.". Yes that also includes weakness (as it should!).

Both of them are blind when it comes to the average person, but when it comes to money and power they become life's best friends and lovers.

Ahh,  I'm sorry if this post is too much.

Name just one 'legal' way someone can 'get' my Intellectual Property without my consent/approval  [other than purchasing - wich is obviously WITH my approval]?

While there are paedophiles, internet stalkers, cyber bullies, fraudsters, AND pirates there CAN BE NO 'freedom of the Internet' [as people seem to believe should be the case] as it is abused [the current freedom] by the minority and it is the rest of us [all of us] who will suffer whatever impositions are deemed necessary.

The world is NOT a touchy-feely wonderful place....all flowers and butterflies, and neither is the Internet.

It has some of the most foul and vile predators upon society roaming its corridors mostly unfettered and unchallenged.

You want sensible controls that affect ONLY the wrong-doers?

Fine.

Summary execution.

Too tough?

Make it second offence...2 strikes is more than fair.

Capital punishment not a deterrent?  Maybe...maybe not ....but it's an effective excisor of a cancer...

NO dead-man-walking has ever re-offended.

BTW....references to fighting Nazis, etc.....that was to do things like, you know....put an end to the holocaust...invasions...world dominance...genocide..... not the 'rights' of some brat to freely steal from others.

Gonna have to say I agree. I think you can see as well the way things could drastically be changed in the way we interact online. Soon things will all be on "Lock Down" to keep people from pirating and committing other online crimes. The really sad thing will be the freedoms it takes away from everyone else. They'll cut everyone's ability to burn on a certain medium or download over a certain speed. They won't just do these things to the people committing crimes, Everyone will have to pay the price.

Failure to internationally copyright your product.

Countries don't always and automatically recognize other countries copyrights. For instance you can legally copy foreign television programs in the U.S. so long as they're not licensed for sale in the U.S. (However, they do become illegal copies when it is licensed for sale)

More importantly there have always been fraudsters, pedophiles, and private copies of works... even during the American revolution. What about the internet justifies the sudden modern day invasion of privacy?

This is why we have protections in the constitution against unreasonable search and seizure.

Also, in case anyone didn't notice. The GAO released a study on piracy which found most government organizations and private industry groups fabricating their claims of privacy.

Exactly...that's why when people are hankering for a lynchin' they should take out their frustrations on those who cause others this grief.

And it's actually not the victims of the crime [the IP owners] who should be blamed...but the leeches who think they are oh-so-clever because they have something they did not pay for.

You know, I actually remember when I first heard about the concept of share-ware .... and thought "wow...you can actually get 'something' for nothing?  Amazing".

The concept never really existed in a commercial world until the net and shareware...and GNU licences...and freeware, etc.

Then some brat thought that because those things were 'free' everything should be.... and 'piracy' sounds so romantic and Hollywood Matinee .... if the name for them was 'kiddie-fiddlers' maybe they wouldn't be so.....lauded.

Wrong.

There is no specific requirement to 'copyright' your IP, it is simply preferred by Lawyers as it makes their argument [of its defense] easier.

Your IP is inherent with its creation.  My Architectural drawings do not actually need anything more than my name on them indicating ownership/authorship....and it's not debatable...it's been the same since I started...38 years ago.

Outside countries who do not recognize 'our' copyright laws are violating them at the source....and are thus illegal, whether they think so or not.  What WILL change is more universal adoption of an International standard of Law....and there are already exaples of its inception and successful litigation.

Don't get into a panic of insecurity now, but 'your' constitution only affects [directly] a very small part of this planet.

And if you want to argue 'we always had paedophiles, etc' even before the net...well guess what....their [now] universal access has already impacted on artists' ability to publish such things as photos/paintings of children just because the net makes access to such works so much easier for the scum on the planet.

The world has changed since the net and BECAUSE OF the net.

That US Constitution you may want to hide behind as your mothers' apron is outdated as it [obviously] made no considerations for what the net has done to society, locally AND beyond.

Just remember...it's actually not about 'invasion of privacy' it is about the effective hunting down and processing of criminals.

Why do you need a driver's licence?  To demonstrate you know how to drive....or to distinguish yourself from those who want [and do] drive without formal training?

People look on impositions as 'that bastard authority is fucking our freedom'....like all those security checks in and out of US airports [I did my share of checks last year....9 flights and 4 of them international...I know they suck] ...but I'm not going to be a prat and blame Customs and/or Homeland Security....it's incidents such as 9/11 that cause them.

You know,....it's not 'the suits' it's 'the brats' that are the issue.

BTW...the last person who tried to fuck with my IP was 10,000 miles away.  A colleague offered to pay her a 'visit' to correct her attitude...but I handled it quite well from remote...though stopped short of having her dismissed from her work place.

I think clamping down on piracy is a great idea, and I do mean "clamping down" quite literally.  Put them in a large press and squash them slowly until they burst!  The world will be better off without them, and it will make future pirates think twice I would hope.  Whatever it takes to stop piracy, I am all for it!  

Why were you so kind?  I would have made sure her life was totally ruined. 

She 'wet her knickers' when she realised the net wasn't the anonymous playground that she thought it was.

When she was made aware we knew her name, address and that she had [probably] violated terms of her employment she was quite good at coming forward with an apology.

OK, so I had to drag the CEO of Nullsoft over the coals of public ridicule but by and large it entertained a few folk at Deviantart for a few milliseconds....;)