Legal Issues

Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
alberto gonzales, bad laws, congress, copyright



Representative Actually Introduces Version Of Alberto Gonzales' Attempted Copyright Infringement Law

from the you-want-to-bet-on-that-pony? dept

Back in May, when US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales started pushing his ridiculous bill that would make copyright law much stronger we figured that it was simply Gonzales' way of actually doing something unrelated to the widespread scandals coming out of his office. Given that nearly all of Congress seemed pretty pissed off at Gonzales (which still seems true today), we didn't think anyone would actually introduce the proposed bill. However, there's always someone. Rep. Steven Chabot has introduced a bill that's very similar to what Gonzales proposed, including making "attempted copyright infringement" a criminal offense. It also increases the time copyright infringers can spend in jail. As the EFF notes, Chabot's bill goes even further than Gonzales' proposal in that it allows judges to apply statutory damages separately on each song of an album, rather than on the entire album (even as the recording industry only registers the copyrights on the entire album at a time). There are no co-sponsors to the bill and it seems unlikely to get very far, but it's disappointing that it's even been introduced at all. Why not head over to Washington Watch and give your opinion on the bill.

12 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

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  1. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 5:59pm
    by Anonymous Coward

    Gonzales does not recall suggesting that bill.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 6:20pm
    by Mitch the Bitch

    OK try this....

    What were you talking about with your co-worker at lunch 2.5 years ago this Monday. I want to know EVERYTHING you said, and if you confuse ANYTHING you will get a 250K fine and go to jail for 2 years.

    Go ahead, start...

    Oh yea, by the way we didnt actually find ANY crimes at any point in this little investigation but you being confused during your testimony must ABSOLUTELY mean your Boss is guilty of something somewhere and must be removed...

    Dhimmicrats are all idiots....

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 7:03pm

    Gonzales does not recall suggesting that bill.

    by Under Surveillance

    Ha!

    Maybe we should make "attempted perjury" a crime.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 7:08pm
    by Anonymous Coward

    Dhimmicrats are all idiots....

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Chabot

    Actually, the numbnuts is a Republican from Ohio...and yes, they're all idiots...
    Thanks for playing, we have some wonderful parting gifts!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 7:45pm
    by Anonymous Coward

    Nader for President!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 8:33pm

    Re: Mitch

    by friggincrazy

    Just because it's hard for you to understand doesn't mean that everyone else is stupid

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Jul 27th, 2007 @ 10:07pm

    Re:

    by Anonymous Coward

    OK try this....

    Try recalling parts of any conversations or even who contributed to the conversations or even that a conversation took place regarding any relevant decision YOU made, or should have made, or should have been aware was being made.

    Go ahead, start...

    I don't think work would like real examples here, but any competent person could give hundreds. Word for word, no. But the general "he recommended this", "she said that". Not to mention reproducible research, memos, email, and minutes from meetings to jog the memory. People with real jobs do this all the time. If you make a decision, you have to have justification for the decision and may have to justify your decision to the boss. This almost always involves research and communication.

    Of course if you don't want to remember......

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Jul 28th, 2007 @ 4:46am
    by Overcast

    Next - even *thinking* about thinking about copyright violation will be punishable.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Jul 28th, 2007 @ 7:37am

    Re:

    by Sean

    "What were you talking about with your co-worker at lunch 2.5 years ago this Monday. I want to know EVERYTHING you said, and if you confuse ANYTHING you will get a 250K fine and go to jail for 2 years.

    Go ahead, start...

    Oh yea, by the way we didnt actually find ANY crimes at any point in this little investigation but you being confused during your testimony must ABSOLUTELY mean your Boss is guilty of something somewhere and must be removed..."


    And I guess in your world absolute power doesn't result in the total loss of personal freedoms. You might want to think things through before you start posting.

    Believe it or not those guys that wrote Constitution knew a little something about democracy.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Jul 28th, 2007 @ 7:32pm

    Re: US Constitution

    The Constitution may not be perfect, but it sure beats what we are currently living under.

    The Founding Fathers knew enough about democracy to make their government a Republic, NOT a democracy.
    --
    Texas Concealed Handgun License Courses

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Jul 29th, 2007 @ 5:17am

    Re: Re: US Constitution

    by Anonymous Coward

    yeah, they knew that a democracy would require the immediate abolishing of slavery and equal rights for everyone, not just white property owners. couldn't have that so we have a republic.

    still better than anything that has preceeded, but it's time to take it to the next level...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. Jul 30th, 2007 @ 7:03am

    democracy vs republic

    by Gene

    >>yeah, they knew that a democracy would require the immediate abolishing of slavery and equal rights for everyone, not just white property owners. couldn't have that so we have a republic.

    It's the United STATES of America...not the United PEOPLE of America. The intent is that each state is a member and will govern itself.

    >>next level.

    I have no idea what this could be, but I think we need to go BACK to what the Constitution and get rid of 70% of the federal government and the various programs that take from one group of citizens and give to another group.


    "Social security" will be insolvent then year I turn 65. Talk about getting nothing for something.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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