Bush signs PRO-IP Act into law

From Joystiq.

In a bid to avoid the lowest presidential approval rating in 70 years*, President Bush signed the PRO-IP Act into law today. While not quite on par with, say, an ultimate solution to the world economic crisis, the law will create new jobs, er, one new job: The Intellectual Property Czar.

Backed by the RIAA and MPAA, the PRO-IP Act has drawn criticism for its potential for extreme punishment. In its proposed state, the act could grant the government permission to seize all computers and compatible devices from a home if a single, pirated MP3 was discovered on one of the machines.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/bush-signs-pro-ip-act-into-law/

Basically, what this does is if they happen to look through a random ipod one day, and find ONE mp3 that was not acquired through a legal source, that person would lose all computers they had, and everyone single piece of equipment that could play them (PS3, 360, PSP, for some examples.)

The sad thing is this was passed 100-0.

No senator said no to it.

WHAT?!

Wow, this is really not good.

Well looks like all 100 senators are backing something at least...

It's harsh - but I have never agreed with piracy, nor have I ever believed that 'soft' measures will be effective in curbing it. So I certainly won't complain about this. It wouldn't affect me anyway, since I don't pirate. The only people it WILL affect are people who do pirate. And the phrase "screw them" is how I feel about them. Bellyaching that it's becoming more dangerous to enjoy intellectual property illegally isn't going to win any sympathy votes from me.

Also, that makes about as much sense as taking every gas operated mechanism from a person if they steal gas.

-TheSecondSign-

If you steal gas, you're probably going to jail or facing a hefty fine anyway. So losing your gas appliances is the least of your worries.

You aren't stealing you are merely created a duplicate and then taking that duplicate, its entirely different if you think about it.trickmyster13

You aren't stealing you are merely created a duplicate and then taking that duplicate, its entirely different if you think about it.trickmyster13

No, it really isnt...

How do you tell if the music is pirated? :?bededog

Yeah, how can they?

I hope my sister hasn't done anything like that on my computer.

It's harsh - but I have never agreed with piracy, nor have I ever believed that 'soft' measures will be effective in curbing it. So I certainly won't complain about this. It wouldn't affect me anyway, since I don't pirate. The only people it WILL affect are people who do pirate. And the phrase "screw them" is how I feel about them. Bellyaching that it's becoming more dangerous to enjoy intellectual property illegally isn't going to win any sympathy votes from me.

pianist

The day the industry provides a means to test-drive their products before buying it is the day people stop downloading music for preview purposes. I know a good many folks who go through this routine to check out albums they're interested in before buying them. With CDs costing between $12-$30, they should offer more than cover art to tell us the quality of the product.

Also, getting rid of DRMs so that when new technology comes along, people won't have to re-buy their entire catalogueswould be a start. The movie industry gives people the option of a rental, and with new tech provide better quality product. With music and new tech, it's less quality and more restrictions.

If the RIAA had some service where you could stream music from a huge database, so you could preview music before you buy it, I'd imagine many would stop downloading. There ARE many, though, which are just out to steal and not purchase any of it. Those I know who "preview" download tend to have music libraries of 200+ albums, in comparison.

Just providing a different perspective Pianist. Just imagine going to a car dealership and wanting to buy a car, but you're only allowed to see a piece of paper that shows what it's all about, and a nice little blurb about how it's a fun ride. You're not allowed to see it, not allowed to test-drive it, but you can choose the colour of it. I'd reckon most people would shy away from dealerships like that.

[QUOTE="trickmyster13"]You aren't stealing you are merely created a duplicate and then taking that duplicate, its entirely different if you think about it.Taegukki

No, it really isnt...

Yes it actually is...

How are they gonna get ahold of people's computers and Ipods???

Are they gonna go door to door or something lol. I don't understand.

How are they gonna get ahold of people's computers and Ipods???

Are they gonna go door to door or something lol. I don't understand.

-Halftime-

I'd imagine they get an IP of someone who pirated, they get that person's address from the Internet provider, and they go for it.

Seriously, 80% of America is going to get their computers/mp3 players seized if this is as bad as it sounds...Forerunner-117

Oh, good, the record companies are trying to punish their bands' fans again. That will definitely earn them favor.

I'm waiting for the day that the internet is banned on account of the fact that it can be used to transmit pirated items. :P

Oh, good, the record companies are trying to punish their bands' fans again. That will definitely earn them favor.

I'm waiting for the day that the internet is banned on account of the fact that it can be used to transmit pirated items. :P

GabuEx

Aye. it's absolutely ludicrous.

[QUOTE="-Halftime-"]

How are they gonna get ahold of people's computers and Ipods???

Are they gonna go door to door or something lol. I don't understand.

Lockedge

I'd imagine they get an IP of someone who pirated, they get that person's address from the Internet provider, and they go for it.

Ahhh i see.

But couldn't that be bypassed by proxies and things of that sort? I still don't see how this is going to work.

Ahhh i see.

But couldn't that be bypassed by proxies and things of that sort? I still don't see how this is going to work.

-Halftime-

In practice, what these measures are really used for are to scare people out of pirating by saying "THIS COULD BE YOU". If someone downloads one single song, it's rather unlikely that anything is going to happen.

Well, and prosecuting grandmas who don't own computers. The RIAA does that too.

Whoa whoa whoa....no senator missed the vote or desented?!

Who knew Congress could work?!?!?!

Whoa whoa whoa....no senator missed the vote or desented?!

Who knew Congress could work?!?!?!

hokies1313

They're very good at coming to unanimous bad decisions. :P

[QUOTE="Lockedge"][QUOTE="-Halftime-"]

How are they gonna get ahold of people's computers and Ipods???

Are they gonna go door to door or something lol. I don't understand.

-Halftime-

I'd imagine they get an IP of someone who pirated, they get that person's address from the Internet provider, and they go for it.

Ahhh i see.

But couldn't that be bypassed by proxies and things of that sort? I still don't see how this is going to work.

True enough in some cases. Most people aren't so careful, though.

Honestly, I think that with iTunes' reception, if the industry would come up with a better way to distribute music, and offer "better quality", then they'd be set without passing all these ridiculous restrictions on all media.

I think this states the case somewhat well.

I mean, I'm not as radical as the idea tossed forth there, but it's basically right. Once sales slow, the industry will change platform and force people's hands into buying new versions of their music, because breaking the DRM locking up the music files would break the law...

Honestly, how could they tell? I've gotten CDs that, for whatever reason, iTunes couldn't find the info to, so I had to fill out the information myself, so they couldn't just assume songs with no information (or little information) were pirated.yabbicoke

Probably because you weren't connected to the internet, or there was a connection problem.

And yeah, if the RIAA has its way, and they've successfully sued someone over it before, copying music from CD to a computer or an MP3 player would be illegal. You'd need to buy a physical copy and a digital copy.

wow so even if you have a huge music library(cds) and wanted to put them on your psp and converted them to mp3 so you can do it you get dinged for that.

wow this country really needs to get with the times and think things out a little more.

:lol: That's absolutely ridiculous.

So they can just steal all your stuff because you may or may not have a single legally acquired MP3 on a single device in your possession? Sounds like something that violates the common sense law to me.foxhound_fox

So how did a law so senseless get passed?

cool..

*downloads ps3 games*