SOPA

[Charlotte Ryberg]

As I said on AJE's The Stream tonight (@nsryberg): "The blacklist (protest) is not a publicity stunt: it's a preview of life after PIPA and SOPA". That also means life where innovation and creativity is totally frozen because the companies would have legitimacy to sue them into bankruptcy without due process and fair trial, as they tried to do against foreign sites if the law passed.

And all because of a poorly written law, that would drive innovation to, as what Aglrinia said, to countries like Canada.

[Dyakovo]

Did you just wake up?

I've been doing math homework. I'm also starting to see why everybody hates the US government.

You hate the US government because some people are having a temper tantrums?

[Dyakovo]

Sorry? I don't know what either of this are.

The American Constitution prohibits prosecuting someone for acts not previously criminalized. Even if online piracy is viewed as directly equivalent to physical theft in your eyes, SOPA would set a dangerous and unconstitutional precedent for violating the ex post facto clause.

Copyright infringement is already a crime and has been for quite a while...

[Dyakovo]

Obama said he'd veto them before the blackout

No he did not.

The White House released a statement saying they opposed SOPA in its current form.

That does not mean Obama would veto it.

Actually that is exactly what it means.

[Dyakovo]

No, it isn't. Nothing is censored by SOPA.

They could. All the holders have to do is post ten infringing images in this forum, claim copyright and NS will be driven out of the USA.

SOPA is not a law.

[Tekania]

Sorry? I don't know what either of this are.

The American Constitution prohibits prosecuting someone for acts not previously criminalized. Even if online piracy is viewed as directly equivalent to physical theft in your eyes, SOPA would set a dangerous and unconstitutional precedent for violating the ex post facto clause.

Criminal Infringment secion of existing US Copyright law:

§ 506. Criminal offenses6

(a) Criminal Infringement. —

(1) In general. — Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —

(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or

(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.

(2) Evidence. — For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.

(3) Definition. — In this subsection, the term “work being prepared for commercial distribution” means —

(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution —

(i) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and

(ii) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed; or

(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution, the motion picture —

(i) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and

(ii) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility.

(b)(b) Forfeiture, Destruction, and Restitution.—Forfeiture, destruction, and restitution relating to this section shall be subject to section 2323 of title 18, to the extent provided in that section, in addition to any other similar remedies provided by law.

(c) Fraudulent Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, places on any article a notice of copyright or words of the same purport that such person knows to be false, or who, with fraudulent intent, publicly distributes or imports for public distribution any article bearing such notice or words that such person knows to be false, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(d) Fraudulent Removal of Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(e) False Representation. — Any person who knowingly makes a false representation of a material fact in the application for copyright registration provided for by section 409, or in any written statement filed in connection with the application, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(f) Rights of Attribution and Integrity. — Nothing in this section applies to infringement of the rights conferred by section 106A(a).

[Basra]

Criminal Infringment secion of existing US Copyright law:

§ 506. Criminal offenses6

(a) Criminal Infringement. —

(1) In general. — Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —

(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or

(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.

(2) Evidence. — For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.

(3) Definition. — In this subsection, the term “work being prepared for commercial distribution” means —

(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution —

(i) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and

(ii) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed; or

(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution, the motion picture —

(i) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and

(ii) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility.

(b)(b) Forfeiture, Destruction, and Restitution.—Forfeiture, destruction, and restitution relating to this section shall be subject to section 2323 of title 18, to the extent provided in that section, in addition to any other similar remedies provided by law.

(c) Fraudulent Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, places on any article a notice of copyright or words of the same purport that such person knows to be false, or who, with fraudulent intent, publicly distributes or imports for public distribution any article bearing such notice or words that such person knows to be false, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(d) Fraudulent Removal of Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(e) False Representation. — Any person who knowingly makes a false representation of a material fact in the application for copyright registration provided for by section 409, or in any written statement filed in connection with the application, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(f) Rights of Attribution and Integrity. — Nothing in this section applies to infringement of the rights conferred by section 106A(a).

Where did you find this? It looks like copy and paste (I wouldn't want to type all that) which means you, good sir, may be facing up to 5 years in prison if SOPA passes.

[Rinderbraten]

Criminal Infringment secion of existing US Copyright law:

§ 506. Criminal offenses6

(a) Criminal Infringement. —

(1) In general. — Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —

(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or

(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.

(2) Evidence. — For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.

(3) Definition. — In this subsection, the term “work being prepared for commercial distribution” means —

(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution —

(i) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and

(ii) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed; or

(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution, the motion picture —

(i) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and

(ii) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility.

(b)(b) Forfeiture, Destruction, and Restitution.—Forfeiture, destruction, and restitution relating to this section shall be subject to section 2323 of title 18, to the extent provided in that section, in addition to any other similar remedies provided by law.

(c) Fraudulent Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, places on any article a notice of copyright or words of the same purport that such person knows to be false, or who, with fraudulent intent, publicly distributes or imports for public distribution any article bearing such notice or words that such person knows to be false, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(d) Fraudulent Removal of Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(e) False Representation. — Any person who knowingly makes a false representation of a material fact in the application for copyright registration provided for by section 409, or in any written statement filed in connection with the application, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(f) Rights of Attribution and Integrity. — Nothing in this section applies to infringement of the rights conferred by section 106A(a).

Where did you find this? It looks like copy and paste (I wouldn't want to type all that) which means you, good sir, may be facing up to 5 years in prison if SOPA passes.

No he won't. It is perfectly legal to print out copies of the laws of the US. What are you smoking?

[Basra]

No he won't. It is perfectly legal to print out copies of the laws of the US. What are you smoking?

Weed

[Tekania]

Criminal Infringment secion of existing US Copyright law:

§ 506. Criminal offenses6

(a) Criminal Infringement. —

(1) In general. — Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —

(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or

(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.

(2) Evidence. — For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.

(3) Definition. — In this subsection, the term “work being prepared for commercial distribution” means —

(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution —

(i) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and

(ii) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed; or

(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution, the motion picture —

(i) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and

(ii) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility.

(b)(b) Forfeiture, Destruction, and Restitution.—Forfeiture, destruction, and restitution relating to this section shall be subject to section 2323 of title 18, to the extent provided in that section, in addition to any other similar remedies provided by law.

(c) Fraudulent Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, places on any article a notice of copyright or words of the same purport that such person knows to be false, or who, with fraudulent intent, publicly distributes or imports for public distribution any article bearing such notice or words that such person knows to be false, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(d) Fraudulent Removal of Copyright Notice. — Any person who, with fraudulent intent, removes or alters any notice of copyright appearing on a copy of a copyrighted work shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(e) False Representation. — Any person who knowingly makes a false representation of a material fact in the application for copyright registration provided for by section 409, or in any written statement filed in connection with the application, shall be fined not more than $2,500.

(f) Rights of Attribution and Integrity. — Nothing in this section applies to infringement of the rights conferred by section 106A(a).

Where did you find this? It looks like copy and paste (I wouldn't want to type all that) which means you, good sir, may be facing up to 5 years in prison if SOPA passes.

Because I am apparently more informed than you:

105. Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works

Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.

Enacted laws, themselves, are public domain.

[Basra]

Because I am apparently more informed than you:

105. Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works

Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.

Enacted laws, themselves, are public domain.

I'm a little butt hurt now.
Querey: How old does something have to be for it to be considered public domain?

[Tekania]

I'm a little butt hurt now.
Querey: How old does something have to be for it to be considered public domain?

Depends:

EDIT: Hell, I was going to post it but it's just too long... here's a link to US Code Title 17 Chapter 3 and all its sections.

[Drumm]

SOPA and PIPA are ridiculous. The internet is a crucial part of modern society. They need to think of something else to stop piracy.I've tried seven times looking things up on wikipedia, forgetting about this ridiculous proposal.

[Treznor]

Because I am apparently more informed than you:

105. Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works

Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.

Enacted laws, themselves, are public domain.

I'm a little butt hurt now.
Querey: How old does something have to be for it to be considered public domain?

I don't think that matters any longer. Public Domain works can be copyrighted anew.

[Tekania]

I'm a little butt hurt now.
Querey: How old does something have to be for it to be considered public domain?

I don't think that matters any longer. Public Domain works can be copyrighted anew.

That's not what that says. It merely is a case affirming the applicability of overseas copyrights to be on equal footing with their US contemporaries as established by international convention.... As such those copyrights made overseas for the works sites in the case are merely put on equal footing to contemporary works under US copyright.

[Rhodmhire]

I like how Jon Stewart literally did the exact same SOPA joke that I did and whereas I failed miserably he got his audience and viewers laughing hysterically.

All the while I remain impoverished and unable to maintain my stand-up job for more than a week at any given place before getting canned.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I don't think that matters any longer. Public Domain works can be copyrighted anew.

That's not what that says. It merely is a case affirming the applicability of overseas copyrights to be on equal footing with their US contemporaries as established by international convention.... As such those copyrights made overseas for the works sites in the case are merely put on equal footing to contemporary works under US copyright.

It's not a conspiracy for perpetual copyright: it will enter public domain again after 70 years for most works. Previously people used to moan about being given an inferior term just because of their nationality.

[Novaya Tselinoyarsk]

I like how Jon Stewart literally did the exact same SOPA joke that I did and whereas I failed miserably he got his audience and viewers laughing hysterically.

All the while I remain impoverished and unable to maintain my stand-up job for more than a week at any given place before getting canned.

That's because their families are held hostage and only let go if they continue to act like they like what he says.

[Salandriagado]

That's not what that says. It merely is a case affirming the applicability of overseas copyrights to be on equal footing with their US contemporaries as established by international convention.... As such those copyrights made overseas for the works sites in the case are merely put on equal footing to contemporary works under US copyright.

It's not a conspiracy for perpetual copyright: it will enter public domain again after 70 years for most works. Previously people used to moan about being given an inferior term just because of their nationality.

Unless Disney say it doesn't

[Rhodmhire]

I like how Jon Stewart literally did the exact same SOPA joke that I did and whereas I failed miserably he got his audience and viewers laughing hysterically.

All the while I remain impoverished and unable to maintain my stand-up job for more than a week at any given place before getting canned.

That's because their families are held hostage and only let go if they continue to act like they like what he says.

Oh well that makes me feel a lot better actually.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I like how Jon Stewart literally did the exact same SOPA joke that I did and whereas I failed miserably he got his audience and viewers laughing hysterically.

All the while I remain impoverished and unable to maintain my stand-up job for more than a week at any given place before getting canned.

You're not alone. I've been wondering whether the lawmakers were inspired by NSWiki articles regarding Simtropian (one of my game issues testing country) copyright and piracy law...

I don't mind them generating ideas from these, but they are clearly unworkable too.

It's not a conspiracy for perpetual copyright: it will enter public domain again after 70 years for most works. Previously people used to moan about being given an inferior term just because of their nationality.

Unless Disney say it doesn't

The steamboat will eventually run out of steam and Disney will have to rely on PR to urge good faith use.

[Wiztopia]

Does anybody here seriously support SOPA?

FreeLaannds, I think.

Why would anybody support it? The only way to combat piracy is to go after the problem which is bootleggers. A person just downloading a tv show or an episode they missed is not the problem.

[Tekania]

FreeLaannds, I think.

Why would anybody support it? The only way to combat piracy is to go after the problem which is bootleggers. A person just downloading a tv show or an episode they missed is not the problem.

Indeed, I download Sherlock because it doesn't air where I am at.... And doing so doesn't stop me from buying the DVD's when they come out.

[Cromarty]

SOPA is dead and now PIPA is dying. No doubt the arm chair crusaders will be crowing about 'their victory' over 'tyranny' and citing the black out as the reason.

[The Soviet Technocracy]

SOPA is dead and now PIPA is dying. No doubt the arm chair crusaders will be crowing about 'their victory' over 'tyranny' and citing the black out as the reason.

y u mad tho