Las Vegas Review-Journal Publishes CEA OpEd Calling Out Senator Harry Reid Killing Innovation By Supporting PIPA
from the wronghaven dept
Well, this is interesting. The Las Vegas Review-Journal (LVRJ) — yes, the very newspaper that was the driving force behind giant copyright troll Righthaven, and whose then-publisher insisted that a single non-commercial infringement was the equivalent of stealing his car — has published an anti-PIPA/SOPA OpEd piece, written by CEA boss Gary Shapiro. Shapiro doesn’t mince words, talking about the importance of innovation and directly calling out Nevada Senator Harry Reid for supporting the bill:
Las Vegas’ role as a leader in innovation is somewhat ironic, given that Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who has never once visited the CES, is a leader in efforts that oppose the type of innovation and technology fueling CES and other events. Unlike the rest of the pro-CES, pro-innovation Nevada delegation, Sen. Reid stands alone. The current innovation-throttling legislative fad is focused on “Internet piracy.” Majority Leader Reid said he would bring the Protect IP Act (PIPA) to the Senate floor this month despite it being opposed by virtually every innovation and technology company and almost everyone who understands and uses the Internet.
It highlights how out of touch Washington has become with modern communication and use of the Internet. The goal of protecting intellectual property from digital theft is the right one, but the overreaching measure Sen. Reid is pushing swiftly through Congress will chill Internet innovation, economic progress and job growth. It’s a product of copyright extremists pouring money — more than $91 million in 2011, more than they’ve ever spent before — into influencing the legislative process.
You would think, at some point, Reid would realize what a mistake he’s making. The companies at CES are not “piracy apologists.” Most of them have big concerns about counterfeit products and trademark violations. In fact, some of the companies here are among the most aggressive on trademark litigation (something I think many go too far on). And yet… when Senator Wyden and Representative Darrell Issa took the stage on Wednesday to explain why they think PIPA and SOPA are dangerous, they got a standing ovation from the audience.
Supporters still want to believe that the “opposition” to these bills is just Google and some random internet kids. If Harry Reid actually ever bothered to come to one of these events — where he could see the innovation and the job creation going on, perhaps he’d realize that the concern is real, it’s serious, and it’s widespread.
Filed Under: copyright, gary shapiro, harry reid, innovation, las vegas, lvrj, pipa, protect ip, sopa
Companies: cea, righthaven, stephens media
Comments on “Las Vegas Review-Journal Publishes CEA OpEd Calling Out Senator Harry Reid Killing Innovation By Supporting PIPA”
What intellectual theft?
Intellectual property is the real strawman used to censor and control markets in an unnatural way that is corrosive to wealth creation and innovation.
Re: Re:
“What intellectual theft?”
Help! Help! I’ve had my intellect stolen!
Re: Re: Re:
You were joking – but I think we may have found the explanation of all the stupid AC’s of recent weeks – they’re stupidly complaining about piracy because they are the victims of intellect theft!
” The goal of protecting intellectual property from digital theft is the right one, but the overreaching measure Sen. Reid is pushing swiftly through Congress will chill Internet innovation, economic progress and job growth. It’s a product of copyright extremists pouring money — more than $91 million in 2011, more than they’ve ever spent before — into influencing the legislative process.”
Well I’m glad they are coming to the table on this but his statement in light of Righthaven is highly hypocritical. The same statement can be said about themselves and Sherman Frederick.
Re: Re:
While it’s certainly a curious development, i would hardly consider most of these associated companies (LV R-J and Righthaven included) to be on the right side of the fence.
If things were different and they had their chance to add their tailored protectionist provisions to the bill, i’m sure they’d be more than happy to pass it at the expense of everyone else in the nation.
Aside from that, i dislike the use of the word “chill” in discussions like these. It fails to convey the severity of the actual effect. Try ‘obliterate’ or ‘prohibit by fear of retaliation from state-protected multinational fraudsters’
Intellectual theft should be encouraged.
Intellectual property should be banned.
How is something that promotes unfit people to command the power to exclude others who may be more capable to create, use and administer anything good for anybody or any economy for that mater?
Re: Re:
din’t someone once say “property is theft” – well intellectual property certainly is!
why is that something called “intellectual property” is neither “intellectual” (more like the opposite) or “property”?
a question that has been bugging me for years
Re: Re:
cf Christian Science, cold dark matter…
quite common really!
Probably True Story of Sen. Reid.
This just in, Sen. Reid is not an idiot. Let us take a moment to role play this…
Hollywood– “Sen. Reid, do we have a great deal for you which will make all your financial problems go away. Forever”
Sen. Reid– “WOW, All my financial problems gone forever. How is this possible?”
Hollywood– “If you pass this bill. You will never have to work again, because we will hire you for millions of dollars each year. Of course you will have to work on your golf swing and sun tan while employed by us.”
Sen. Reid– “Golly Gee Batman, That sounds like a plan. But will you throw in some golfing lessons too”
Hollywood– “Sure you idiot, umm we meant Senator”, “But you must hurry, with this being election year, if you don’t get it passed. We won’t give you anything.”…
Sen. Reid– “Well shoot, I am happier than a teenage girl on prom night”
————–
Remember fellow members of the world. Ask not what your country can do for you. But what Hollywood can do for your senators.
Or maybe, Spain is upset because of the US demanding them pass their version of the SOPA act, so they are demanding it from us. Or else we will go on their special tres, cero, uno report.
Re: Probably True Story of Sen. Reid.
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)
They negotiated on this in secret (WTO member countries) for three years. Now that it’s done, it has to be ratified (I assume – I don’t really know the process regarding treaties world-wide). It’s one thing to get country’s to agree to a treaty, and another to actually see them enforced, but every country that does so will place more pressure on those who don’t.
It’s a world-wide effort by the RIAA/MPAA proxied by the US Government, and our SOPA/PIPA Protect-IP is just one piece of it.
This is an op-ed and op-eds aren’t the newspaper’s stance or opinion like editorials are. Still, it’s amusing that the op-ed appeared in the same newspaper associated with Righthaven.
I did notice that the comments section following the article has already been trolled by the Copyright Alliance, so the astroturf didn’t take all that long to land there. As did some of the silly arguments they use.
The op-ed makes sense, the response from the Copyright Alliance doesn’t hold water on the other hand as it doesn’t examine the problem but simply says it’s ok to break the Internet to protect the copyrights held by the Entrainment and publishing industries. All for the artists. Of course.
Is this like John Wayne Gacy calling someone out as a bad man?
I guess some folks only believe when they can see the $$$
I find it a little amusing, with all the verbage on this issue flying around the internet – I mean he must’ve have read some of it (probably a lot of it given he’s a editor) – but he only “believes” when he hears the same words in a big building filled with businesspeople. It seems some people really need the validation of some external structure they can believe in before they can open their eyes to new ideas.
Oh, as glad as I am that he changed his mind, I WISH he wouldn’t use the “t” word (theft) to describe “piracy”. Like every other copy”right” troll I’ve ever read, they want to equate sharing a file with stealing it, but in sharing a file NOTHING IS STOLEN! If they must call it something other than “piracy”, why don’t they describe what it is, “copyright infringement”, or “borrowing” (except there’s no need to return it after…), or “using – without authorization”,or “failure to ask permission”…
he is no different to the other supporters of SOPA/PIPA. he wont listen to any opposers of the bills. he wont let others express their opinions and real concerns. why? because of the ‘encouragement’ they have received from the entertainment industries and because it will let everyone else know just how internet and technology lacking he and the majority of those in congress really are. nothing like trying to make yourself not look stupid by simply making yourself look, well, stupid!
Mike, question – Would you have published this story, a year ago, when Righthaven was still a functional law firm??
“If Harry Reid actually ever bothered to come to one of these events …”
He would probably end up hospitalized or missing.
Re: Re:
Why, are geeks particularly violent people?
Most of the geeks I know would be thrilled to show off. Geeks like sharing things, particularly things they like.
Whoa..
Mike, be careful publishing snippets of articles from the LVRJ, you might get sued!
Corprate
To the corprate people that want these bills to pass … GO DIE A HOLE!