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Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick

Fri, Jun 20th 2003 5:56pm





New Bill Injects FBI Into P2P Battle

from the when-do-they-go-after-jaywalkers dept

Howard Berman (the Democratic Congressman from Disney) has introduced a new bill that would basically let the entertainment industry pretend they were FBI agents in dealing with copyright questions. The plan calls for the FBI to develop a "warning" that includes the FBI symbol, that copyright holders could "issue" to anyone they thought was violating copyrights. So, if you're an average person, and a document shows up with the FBI symbol on it, you're going to assume that it's coming from the FBI - which it isn't. The bill also would require the FBI to get more active in enforcing copyright law. This is, once again, showing a bit of disconnect between what the government and its citizens think. Considering most people think that downloading music is no worse than jaywalking, it seems a bit beyond their wishes to have the FBI breaking down doors on music downloaders.

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  1.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 20th, 2003 @ 6:36pm

    Stepping on the Tiger's tail

    Might want to watch your wording about "pretending to be FBI agents", because no major corporation is going to do that. The quickest way to earn the anger of FBI agents is pretending to be one of them.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
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    Mike (profile), Jun 20th, 2003 @ 6:38pm

    Re: Stepping on the Tiger's tail

    I think it's pretty clearly explained in the article. If they're hadning out "warnings" with the FBI seal on it, don't you think the recipients will think they're getting them from the FBI?

    It's not my language that's the problem, but this bill.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 20th, 2003 @ 6:45pm

    Re: Stepping on the Tiger's tail

    That's a pretty different statement. Videos already show the FBI seal when issuing the standard warning message, but people know the FBI does not produce videos.

    But just as a friendly warning, law enforcement does have special treatment in store for people who state or imply being one of them. It violates their sacred brotherhood.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
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    Mike (profile), Jun 20th, 2003 @ 6:53pm

    Re: Stepping on the Tiger's tail

    Who are you warning?

    Anyway, all videos have the FBI warning at the beginning. That's different.

    This is a special warning to send to those who are "suspected" of file trading. And it comes directly from the copyright holders *with* the FBI seal. If I received something directed at me, that included the FBI seal, I sure as hell would assume it was coming from the FBI.

     

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  5.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 20th, 2003 @ 7:04pm

    Re: Stepping on the Tiger's tail

    The Bureau won't be satisfied unless any such letter makes it clear it does not come from the FBI. That's if this bill passes. The congressmen are setting themselves up for making enemies either way.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 22nd, 2003 @ 10:08pm

    At least it doesn't have the FBI setting children

    Let's look on the bright side. At least the RIAA isn't asking for the FBI's right to incenerate children -- yet.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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