US Government seeks to make streaming audio/video a felony offense

Looks like the old media lobby is at it again, this time with a new proposed law that would make streaming copyrighted works not only illegal, but a felony. It would also allow the FBI to wiretap your connection if they find your IP logged on a stream of a Lady Gaga music video that was uploaded without the record label's permission.

Personally I think this is ridiculous. Making something as trivial as watching an episode of House via stream a felony is not only absurd, but it bogs down law enforcement with an ocean of stupid offenses to sift through when they could be focusing on more important things. For example, if this bill passes then the FBI gets to blow most of the internet crime division's resources on catching youtube visitors instead of catching guys uploading child porn, conducting hacking attacks on websites, and running Jihadist websites. Then there's the fact that damn near everything on the internet violates copyright, especially under the DMCA. To see what I mean, just listen to what this guy has to say.

[spoiler] Congrats, under the new bill you would have now committed a felony offense, have your internet monitored by FBI agents, and could expect to be arrested [/spoiler]

I lol'ed at the spoiler. Good one. :lol:

Looks like the government sure has its priorities in the right place. Yeah, need to fix those copyright laws so that everyone who uses the internet is basically a felon. Yay! Slaves to the record companies!

Oh and this topped it:
"Under federal law, wiretaps may only be conducted in investigations of serious crimes, a list that was expanded by the 2001 Patriot Act to include offenses such as material support of terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction. The administration is proposing to add copyright and trademark infringement, arguing that move "would assist U.S. law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate those offenses.""

So basically as long as they say that they're invesitigating you for "suspected terrorism (against who, record companies?)" they can wiretap your connection and such? Haha, there goes what "rights" against unfair search you had.

Don't you just love lobbyists? They always work for the better of the American people, they should definintely stay around, its not like its basically bribery or anything.

Or it could just stay the same. The copyright owner decides whether or not the content can be streamed and on which website. Gets taken off if it's found. Works fine.

it wont go through. there is no way. the FBI would have a back log of millions of arrest warrants within an hour.

it wont go through. there is no way. the FBI would have a back log of millions of arrest warrants within an hour.

Neo-ganon

The government really knows how to get under people's skin.

So if someone uploads a music video to youtube and I watch it I can get it in trouble? There's no way that would work. JML897

lol yeah think about how many people do that every day. lol

Hopefully sanity prevails in congress.

If not, "supreme court, your our only hope."

I just love anime, why sould I be housed with murdering bob:cry:

haha, more reason to keep doing what i do.

you f with a corporations' monies, you go to jail. that's america baby.comp_atkins

More like ****ing with anyone who has money and / or power as well as their interests. And that goes for practically anywhere.

Moves like this want me to simply remove piracy laws altogether. I mean, WTF!

They should really be more worried about bigger problems...this is pretty ridiculous

Who the hell proposed this? Ace6301

If clicking on any YouTube link could potentially cause you to unknowingly commit a felony, YouTube would be finished. I can't imagine that Google is going to sit around and not fight this.

I also can't imagine how this could be possibly Constitutional ("YOU CLICKED A LINK! FELONY CHARGES!"), but that's another conversation.

[QUOTE="JML897"]So if someone uploads a music video to youtube and I watch it I can get it in trouble? There's no way that would work. J-man45

lol yeah think about how many people do that every day. lol

It will never pass... its simply impossible to enforce.

Easily the stupidest thing America has done this week.

Easily the stupidest thing America has done this week.

immortality20

Hold your horses, sir!

It's only Wednesday...still a few more days for America to top itsself.

Welcome to America, the land of the free...oh wait.

Welcome to America, the land of the free...oh wait.

rzepak

no business can propose a law, only politicians can do thatsurrealnumber5

Where do politicians get their campaign funding and support for example? Special interest groups. Why is the job of a lobbyist so important and lucrative? It's honestly a plague on all of Washington.

Because it's not the Federal government who really cares if you violate intellectual property by viewing a video on YouTube; broadcasting corporations will be lobbying the Federal government and individual Senators and Congressmen to push for this bill to protect their revenue.

Would it be illegal to watch someone play a game on justin.tv blogtv, and the like? That sucks.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"] no business can propose a law, only politicians can do thatDanm_999

Where do politicians get their campaign funding and support for example? Special interest groups. Why is the job of a lobbyist so important and lucrative? It's honestly a plague on all of Washington.

Because it's not the Federal government who really cares if you violate intellectual property by viewing a video on YouTube; broadcasting corporations will be lobbying the Federal government and individual Senators and Congressmen to push for this bill to protect their revenue.

it makes perfect since for people to try to get special treatment, it however is not a healthy practice for those with power to grant special treatment

War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Big Brother is watching you.

War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Big Brother is watching you.

Vesica_Prime

[QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Big Brother is watching you.

surrealnumber5

Go read Nineteen Eighty Four.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]

[QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Big Brother is watching you.

Vesica_Prime

Go read Nineteen Eighty Four.

This is why a bunch of 60something men who have no idea how to use the internet, should not be making any type of law that has to do with the internet or today's technology

That is totally ridiculous. I really do not understand why the government cares so damn much if someone is watching a Youtube video that wasn't uploaded by the person with the rights to that video. How is that a big deal? How is that in anyway a felony offense? The punishments for copyright infringement/pirating/streaming, etc. do not match the crime in any way. They really need to pull their heads out of their asses or be prepared to charge millions of people, most of which are harmless and innocent individuals, for watching a music video not uploaded by the studio making millions off of the album sales anyway.