I call bullshit!
"US lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday that would give US authorities more tools to crack down on websites accused of piracy of movies, television shows and music and the sale of counterfeit goods."
"House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas,said the bill "helps stop the flow of revenue to rogue websites and ensures that the profits from American innovations go to American innovators."
"Howard Berman, a Democrat from California who co-sponsored the legislation, said it is "an important next step in the fight against digital theft and sends a strong message that the United States will not waiver in our battle to protect America's creators and innovators.""
I tried to wade through the legalese in the bill but I don't have the time. You can here:
I think the most insightful article on the bill can be found here:
So basically the bill really does nothing but allow the 'victim' to have offending websites shut down. Sounds good but as the article points out there are drawbacks. But all that is beside my point...
...which is; has anyone noticed all these bills written to prevent pirating and protect creators seem to be geared toward movies, music and the like? You know, industries that rake in billions of dollars a year that can afford to lobby our government to write bills that would protect their creations and innovations...all the while every couple years the Orphan Works Bill rears its ugly head. The Orphan Works Bill would essentially strip the automatic copyright laws away making it open season on creations by independent artists. The bill is backed by some big names like Google who stand to make a shit ton of money by legally stealing any art or photography they find online. And everytime the bills comes up we have to fight tooth and nail to stop it.
But when was the last time a bill was written that could potentially strip away the copyrights of Disney or Time-Warner? It just really pisses me off to hear these douchebag politicians use phrases like "our battle to protect America's creators and innovators" when I know it's all bullshit propoganda. Lip-service. When was the last time an FBI SWAT team busted down a door because someone was illegally printing art they stole off of DeviantART? My guess is never...
So, for all the independent artists out there whose livelihoods hang in the balance every time Google decides it's tired of being tethered by the 'antiquated' copyright system I offer our duly-elected politicians a whole-hearted "Fuck You" and the largest middle finger I can come up with! Forget Occupy Wall Street. We need a movement FYW, Fuck You Washington, for that is where the real problem lies.
*Note* As a practicing capitalist I'm all for big corporations because not all are necessarily evil and they only are allowed to go as far as the letter of the law allows. I am currently working on becoming stinking rich myself and believe one can do so without being greedy...
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