Article 13 has passed.

[Major-Tom]

Maybe I do, maybe I don't, question is, are you a cop and/or is your last name Juncker?

Nah man, I swear I'm not a nark. I'm just looking for some *sniffs* rare Pepes.

Don't have any Pepes, but I do have some dank ass Peeps.

[Nunavutialand]

Well. Frak.
At least now I get to set up my illegal meme trade.

got a license for that mate?

[Kaggeceria]

Nah man, I swear I'm not a nark. I'm just looking for some *sniffs* rare Pepes.

Don't have any Pepes, but I do have some dank ass Peeps.

NARK

[Albrenia]

Wow. I go to sleep and this thread explodes.

People are really freaking out about this aren't they?

[GlobalControl]

Well. Frak.
At least now I get to set up my illegal meme trade.

got a license for that mate?

Got a permit for that License mate?

[Kaggeceria]

Wow. I go to sleep and this thread explodes.

People are really freaking out about this aren't they?

People need their memes.

[Escocaria]

Fuck the EU, let the whole thing burn.

[Major-Tom]

Wow. I go to sleep and this thread explodes.

People are really freaking out about this aren't they?

People need their memes.

Memes and alcohol, the only two things I've noticed that transcend ideology and bring people together.

[Nunavutialand]

Fuck the EU, let the whole thing burn.

EU is mass clickbait because at the moment it's just the E and not the U.

[Kaggeceria]

People need their memes.

Memes and alcohol, the only two things I've noticed that transcend ideology and bring people together.

"They may take our lives, but they will never take our memes!"

Seriously, though. How long are people in EU nations going to tolerate it's increasing authoritarianism before they start to realize something's wrong?

Have Europeans really been this thoroughly pacified?

[The Lone Alliance]

Just another reason to say "Fuck the EU".

The EU has become a absolute joke and they have the nerve to wonder why far right parties are rising. They are so out of touch its not even funny. I hope more countries withdraw from the EU.

If only because the United Kingdom is currently scoring success after victorious success in their negotiations with the EU, right? Yeah, I can see how that is an example to emulate vigorously.

Partly because the person in charge of negotiations is someone who didn't want to leave in the first place.

Hell maybe she thinks the more she fucks up the better the chance of undoing her nation's "Wrongthink" for leaving.

"They may take our lives, but they will never take our memes!"

Seriously, though. How long are people in EU nations going to tolerate it's increasing authoritarianism before they start to realize something's wrong?

Have Europeans really been this thoroughly pacified?

Most of them have, the ones that aren't are accused of being Russian spies.

[Nunavutialand]

actually i might consider taking up pakistani citizenship now.
could also go for qatari if i wanted.

[Kaggeceria]

Just another reason to say "Fuck the EU".

If only because the United Kingdom is currently scoring success after victorious success in their negotiations with the EU, right? Yeah, I can see how that is an example to emulate vigorously.

Partly because the person in charge of negotiations is someone who didn't want to leave in the first place.

Hell maybe she thinks the more she fucks up the better the chance of undoing her nation's "Wrongthink" for leaving.

"They may take our lives, but they will never take our memes!"

Seriously, though. How long are people in EU nations going to tolerate it's increasing authoritarianism before they start to realize something's wrong?

Have Europeans really been this thoroughly pacified?

Most of them have, the ones that aren't are accused of being Russian spies.

I don't really think Russia has to do much to destroy Western Europe. They're doing a fine enough job of that themselves.

[Vassenor]

So even when it's explained how this is not a MEME BAN people won't shut up about it.

[Kaggeceria]

So even when it's explained how this is not a MEME BAN people won't shut up about it.

Usually when you say you "explained" you actually didn't.

[Vassenor]

So even when it's explained how this is not a MEME BAN people won't shut up about it.

Usually when you say you "explained" you actually didn't.

Your pathetic attempt at a gotcha has been noted and laughed at.

They have done it. They have actually done it.

Now the EU will censor copyrighted images and content, which also include parodies and non-profit works. Smaller companies are basically screwed now and won't be able to compete.

Not to be dramatic or anything but this could very much be the end of the internet as we know it.
I'm so fucking done, the EU is a fucking joke now.

The UK Society of Authors seems to disagree. Here are 12 reasons they support the measure (which, by the way, doesn't go into effect until it is ratified in January by the EU congress):

The Copyright Directive seeks to modernise copyright for the digital age. As well as forcing platforms such as YouTube and Facebook to take greater responsibility for the creative content they host, it contains the following much-needed provisions which would strengthen the rights of authors:

- A transparency obligation, which would force publishers to be more transparent when reporting information to authors related to accounting and the exploitation of their works.

- A contract adjustment mechanism (or “bestseller clause”) allowing authors to claim additional remuneration when sales are much better than expected.

- A dispute resolution mechanism, enabling disputes over these two issues to be submitted to an alternative resolution procedure.

Various tech giants have spent millions of pounds lobbying against the Directive, and their campaign has been characterised by a loop of misinformation and scaremongering – this briefing from the British Copyright Council explains more. This led MEPs to reject the Directive when they first voted on it in July.

Here's a 12-point breakdown of what the Directive actually is:

1. Creators and performers are also users of copyright works — it’s about a fair deal for all.
2. The proposals aim to benefit all creators: professionals will be paid for use of their work, while creators of user-generated content will get all the rights they need through the upload platform.
3. Most creators are individuals and small businesses — the proposals ask internet giants to follow the offline norm and pay a fair share for creative content used on their platforms.
4. Creators have always been inspired by works that went before — the proposals don’t stop anyone standing on the shoulders of giants; they hold the ladder.
5. People will still be able to link to and share other people's content — hyperlinking is explicitly excluded from the proposals.
6. The proposals state clearly that they don’t apply to online encyclopaedias like Wikipedia and other non-commercial services.
7. Parody is not threatened (and neither are 'memes') — it’s already covered by an exception to copyright and the proposals say rightsholders can’t prevent uploading of works covered by exceptions.
8. The proposals aren’t censorship: that’s the very opposite of what most journalists, authors, photographers, film-makers and many other creators devote their lives to.
9. Not allowing creators to make a living from their work is the real threat to freedom of expression.
10. Not allowing creators to make a living from their work is the real threat to the free flow of information online.
11. Not allowing creators to make a living from their work is the real threat to everyone’s digital creativity.
12. Stopping the directive would be a victory for multinational internet giants at the expense of all those who make, enjoy and enjoy using creative works.

If the Directive is voted down again on 12 September it is unlikely to pass into EU law before the UK leaves the European Union. We will then have lost a once in a generation opportunity to make our copyright law fairer for authors and other workers in the creative sector.

Just saying, it pays to look at all sides.

[Norte Prata]

EU = Oceania

[Vassenor]

EU = Oceania

Have you actually read 1984?

[Ungvarnfjall]

We should vow to become underground meme rebels. Paint mocking spongebob on the blank alley walls of France. Fly Kekistan flags in Prague. Imitate salt bae across Denmark. Yell 'YEET' in the streets of Germany.

Become a legend.

[Radical Republic]

lol im in america, land of the free and home of the memes
(nvm the fcc repeal)

[Vassenor]

lol im in america, land of the free and home of the memes
(nvm the fcc repeal)

Even though this isn't a meme ban.

[Syrixia]

Congrats European Parliament, you've given the Brexiteers huge ammunition.

which is fine by me because i support brexit but jesus christ theresa may botched it and botched it bad

[Kaggeceria]

Usually when you say you "explained" you actually didn't.

Your pathetic attempt at a gotcha has been noted and laughed at.

The UK Society of Authors seems to disagree. Here are 12 reasons they support the measure (which, by the way, doesn't go into effect until it is ratified in January by the EU congress):


Just saying, it pays to look at all sides.

Your snark is just... stale.

And I don't really give a shit what the Society of Authors says. They're wrong.

It would mean that any website or platform that allows users to post images, footage, sound or code would have to use content recognition technologies — branded "censorship machines" by critics — to filter out just about anything that infringes on a copyright, and either prevent the platform from uploading or push it to seek licenses.

These algorithms could mean that even internet meme culture, in which people use common images to create running jokes, could be unintentionally scuttled.

Try harder, please.

[Hurdergaryp]

lol im in america, land of the free and home of the memes
(nvm the fcc repeal)

Even though this isn't a meme ban.

But leave it to certain corners of the internet to enthusiastically pretend that Article 13 is nothing less than mass memecide.

[Vassenor]

Your pathetic attempt at a gotcha has been noted and laughed at.

Your snark is just... stale.

And I don't really give a shit what the Society of Authors says. They're wrong.

It would mean that any website or platform that allows users to post images, footage, sound or code would have to use content recognition technologies — branded "censorship machines" by critics — to filter out just about anything that infringes on a copyright, and either prevent the platform from uploading or push it to seek licenses.

These algorithms could mean that even internet meme culture, in which people use common images to create running jokes, could be unintentionally scuttled.

Try harder, please.

"This could mean this" =/= "this is this". Also note the use of the word "unintentionally". Bans are usually intentional. Try harder please.