DISQUS

tbhull · 7 months ago

Where is the forward thinking party in the US that resembles this party?

The dems and repubs are one in the same and are clearly oblivious to any of the real liberty concerns discussed by this guy.

Butch1 · 7 months ago

What a novel idea, multiple parties and not a binopoly of seat warmers pontificating and hob-nobbing with lobbyists.

Butch1 · 7 months ago

I'd love to comment on the Friday morning thread but all I get are the commercials and then it just sits there. This is getting a bit much. I don't mind advertising but sequestering one away from being able to make a comment, then having to sit through two commercials and still do not get a chance to comment taxes my wee brain and patience. ;-(

DavidinPS · 7 months ago

So basically, this guy is claiming as a civil liberty the right to steal copyrighted media and distribute it as he wishes without repercussion as long as it is done on the internet? And making the analogy that investigation of that illegal activity is the same as the government sticking its nose in our bedrooms?
I agree with him that copyright limits are way way too long. Thanks to Mickey Mouse for that. At most they should last long enough for the holder to make a profit off his/her hard work, creativity and investment and provide for his immediate heirs. That would be about 20-25 years. But one year? Five years? As a copyright holder who struggled for years to finally come up with a profitable copyrightable work, I can only say "Fuck you."
Lord, the arrogance of those who wish to profit off other's work.

mike bell · 7 months ago

I never heard him directly support stealing anything. Did you even watch these videos? He is saying it is a civil liberty for people to be able to use the Internet and their cell phones without their every move being tracked and watched because of copyright laws. Look up the FRA-law that was recently passed in Sweden..

The FRA law (FRA-lagen in Swedish) is a Swedish legislative package that authorizes the state to warrantlessly wiretap all telephone and Internet traffic that crosses Sweden's borders. (from wikipedia)

If you dont see how this is a violation of someones civil liberties, I can only say "FUCK YOU". Lord, the arrogance of those who wish to profit.

KrisinIL · 7 months ago

He did tuck the idea of shortening the duration of copyright coverage in there, however. He mentioned five years. You can agree with what he says concerning the intrusion of the state into the lives of its citizens, but still realize that there are other items on his agenda that don't have much, if anything, to do with his primary concern.

DavidinPS · 7 months ago

Listen carefully. I believe he is advocating that as long as file sharing of copyrighted material is done in private on the internet that it is okay and that no one has the right to investigate. I'm totally willing to be corrected if I am hearing him wrong.

And yes, I see how unwarranted eavesdropping on people's email etc is a violation of civil liberties. But so is entering someones home in search of evidence. We don't then say, well, as long as the illegal activity is being done in the privacy of your home, it is A-OK

Please, also tell me why I should not profit from my creativity, hard work and persistence.

KrisinIL · 7 months ago

I'm in the same boat, and I agree with you all the way. This discussion has centered on Mickey Mouse and the RIAA for so long that few people realize that there are individual writers, musicians, and artists whose ability to earn a living could be seriously damaged by shortening copyright protection to the degree Falkvinge feels is valid. Part of the reason copyright was put in place was so that individual creators could earn a living from their work and thus be able to continue to create. Information may want to be free, but artists want to be paid.

Indigo · 7 months ago

Aargh! It's Talk-like-a-pirate Day again, matey!

Sorry, you shouldn't tempt me like that. What exactly is that all about? European Libertarians? Post-Marxist Anarchists? Weird Kids United? Geek Squad? I love that they got a representative onto the E.U. parliament, that's the fun of European politics. But seriously . . .

Heraclitus · 7 months ago

Steal other peoples' work indeed.

The producers of artistic work get pennies; the distributors and marketers get .95 on the dollar. Then they use the creators as a shield.

There is definitely wealth transfer involved in defeating corporatist copyright, but the transfer isn't from producers to consumers, it's from middlemen to consumers.

The artist serves only as an icon.

DavidinPS · 7 months ago

This is a side argument. In my case, I did not get "pennies". The corporatists got 60 cents, I got 40 on the dollar. Quite happy with the deal actually seeing as how they took all the financial risk.

Please cite reference to your ".95 cents on the dollar" figure.

trinu · 7 months ago

If you're so intent on getting proof, why don't u cite the evidence in the case u provide. How do we know you're not an RIAA/MPAA troll?

DavidinPS · 7 months ago

Um, I'm using myself as a source. I know the terms of the contract better than all but a few others. I can't do any better than that.
I'm assuming from the sound of the post, that .95 cents is quoting some other source. Or, if not, pulling it out of his ass.