[lbo-talk] Bush admin wants to criminalize "attempted" copyright infringement

[Mr. WD]

> And note how the RIAA has managed to dramatically up
> the hysterical ante on copy protection rhetoric and
> law.
>
> By the lights of this proposed statute, a person could
> do long time for FTP'ing to Belgium a ripped recording
> of Britney Spears lip sync'ing (but live, on stage).
>
> Imagine: an unauthorized someone "imports" a live
> performance of "Hit Me Baby" and DHS springs into
> action as if a team of atomic rifle armed terrorists
> is hover biking towards the White House.
>
> If that isn't surreal I don't know what is.

What else do you do when the cultural zeitgeist is moving against you?

 You freak out and enlist the state to start making examples of
people.  While apparently most Americans oppose media piracy, younger
people just don't care nearly as much:

Attitudes regarding pirated content differ sharply by age, however.
Just 50% of respondents ages 18-25 believe downloading unauthorized
content is wrong compared with 75% of respondents ages 45 and over.

"Downloading will be a phase for some, but these young consumers still
represent a threat to the music and movie industries," said John
Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. "Young adults are
the key consumers for music and movies. Even a temporary lull in their
purchasing can have a big impact."

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/3831/parks_associates_internet

-WD