Compliance Toolkit

In association with Network Liberation Movement

Story: Supreme Court rules against file swapping

Posted by: Arthur B. (Monday 27 June 2005, 9:12 PM)

Perhaps the US doesn't understand the Internet or even software for that matter.

How can you check for copyrighted files without having to enforce draconic measurements on your customers (bye privacy) and without resorting to software that's commercial vendor copyrighted and comes with a "give us your soul" license agreement?

Or are we to assume that everything without a commercial vendor copyright has to be illegal?

What's next? Forcing all consumers in the entire country to only use certain software from certain vendors in a certain way and if not you're not allowed to own a computer or else you go to yail for some years on the basis of being a free market terrorist?

Or how about putting an instant fine on each and every blank CD-R or DVD-R sold because they expect you to infringe so you're presumed guilty until proven more guilty. Oh, hold on, they already do that. But maybe they forgot to factor that revenue stream into their "loss figures".

The US will now face the uprising of copyright stripping tools and services-hosted-overseas. Likely resulting in lobbying for even more control. After the damage has been done they'll cry faul and demand from their overseas partners that something needs to be done about it.

Well, my mummy always thought me: clean up your own mess. Not thinking things thru is no excuse to not deal with the consequences of your actions.

Clearly the market workings have changed. Maybe people feel overcharged somewhat or something. Strong arming them into what can only be the wet dream of financial directors working for the happy few is bound to back fire.