European Parliament Opposes ACTA, Votes Wednesday
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 9th Mar 2010 16:58 UTC
Legal We have some very, very good news for Europeans (which happens to include myself): we have the European Parliament on our sides when it comes to battling ACTA. If you may recall, ACTA is basically an attempt by the US to impose upon the rest of the world draconian measures like three strikes laws and the DMCA. All parties within the European Parliament have together put forth a resolution that would effectively tackle ACTA.
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the_leander
Member since:
2005-07-01


A lot of hatred towards intellectual property laws seems to be misplaced. If you eliminated copyright you would eliminate the paychecks of millions that have nothing to do with the entertainment industry.


Yes, because as we all know, before copyright, there absolutely was no music literature or anything else in terms of media. It all sprang into life as a consequence of enacting copyright law. No-sir!

I believe that Hollywood has an unhealthy influence on the world overall but I don't see that as a reason to support piracy.


Strawman. Not one person here so far as I have read "supports" piracy. They do however state that the countermeasures used to stop it end up hurting consumers rather then hardened pirates.

The answer to reducing the influence of Hollywood is in enabling indy and foreign video producers.


That would be great except for the fact that unless you are contracted to an existing media cartel member, getting enough exposure through various mediums such as radio and television is all but impossible (doubly so in the US by all accounts). The internet did shift the balance, but the media giants lobbying of various governments have reduced this rebalancing by getting laws passed regarding content that leave them as gatekeepers.

That includes having a system where there is an incentive to compensate indy producers for their work. If you eliminated copyright Hollywood would just keep


As someone who does produce content, I'll tell you now, the very last thing I want is an RIAA alike dictating the terms by which I can distribute and collect royalties.

It is a nonsense that can be seen for what it is quite clearly in the case of the BPI's insistence that it collects royalties on all music and then (less a substantial fee) redistributes those royalties to producers - regardless of whether or not the producers of this content have agreed to this representation.


their movies in the theaters longer. Theaters ignore most indy movies which means that indy producers that currently rely on media sales would be destroyed.


Indy producers of content if they've any sense build their fanbase via the internet and follow it up with plenty of touring (in the case of music). In many ways the situation for them is not unlike the travelling musicians of old. You sank or swam on talent alone, the internet simply provides you with a bigger audience to begin with. They tour, they sell merchandise and often give away lower quality copys of their product for free in downloadable form. Those who like it have the option of purchasing a physical disk/book etc.

If you treat your customers like criminals, they will repay your contempt with like. Treat them like customers and you may be surprised.

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