The Internet has growing pains right now. The whinging from the corporations is effecting recent government policy decisions about what and how things are downloaded on the net.
“Hollywood studios, recording labels, artists and internet service providers have created a program to alert internet subscribers when their accounts are used to access movies, songs and other content that entertainment companies consider unauthorized.
The new “copyright alerts” system is intended to educate consumers about online piracy by sending up to six electronic messages notifying subscribers when their accounts are used to download or share such content. Internet service providers in the U.S. would send the alerts to a subscriber after receiving a notice from a copyright holder.”
You see friends, money is being made on the Net, but not enough…never will it be enough. Presently commercial greed is in the drivers seat, so hang on tight for awhile, it is going to get bumpy.
“Consumers who ignore the notices could face “mitigation measures,” such as slower Internet connections or redirection to a special website that provides information about copyright protections. Internet service providers would not be required to terminate any subscriber accounts or hand over subscriber names to copyright holders.”
You feel that? That was your activity online being monitored to even a greater extent than what it is now. Let’s take a peek at who is organizing this little shindig.
“Among the groups and companies participating in the new program: the Motion Picture Association of America and member companies including Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; the Recording Industry Association of America and member companies including Universal Music Group Recordings and Warner Music Group; Independent Film & Television Alliance; and internet services providers including AT&T Inc., Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc.”
Yep. The usual suspects, righteously protecting their products the world wide. One commenter on the article describes my attitude toward these new measures perfectly…
“This seems like a good incentive to develop some hardcore personal encryption software.
I’m paying them to transmit my bits and bytes, not to look at them. This is a principle I do not plan to simply roll over and abandon.”
8 comments
July 12, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Vern R. Kaine
So movie and record companies can’t protect their IP? Ya, we’re all entitled to free music and free movies. :)
My problem isn’t with the rights protection, it’s with the practical application of the “new rules”. I experience throttling down of my internet speed or disconnection in the US when I use a file-sharing program to download LEGAL material.
Also, if I’m paying Netflix $10 a month flat rate, why can’t I download a full-length movie that’s in their available listings so that I don’t have to rely on a streaming connection, such as when on a flight and not wanting to drop the $15 for a movie there.
This is what I don’t like – the corporations aren’t protecting revenue, they’re forcing it with overarching moves likes this to make up for a $hitty revenue and distribution model.
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July 13, 2011 at 9:45 am
Bleatmop
Corporate America to world: You will have your privacy after we’ve thoroughly investigated your every action and aspect about you and deemed that you have not and could not have done any wrong in our eyes. All personal information will be kept strictly confidential and will only be sold to other corporations, governments, and private individuals when we unilaterally change our licensing agreement without notice or recourse. Thank you, and remember, big brother may not be watching, but we are.
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July 13, 2011 at 9:49 am
Bleatmop
“So movie and record companies can’t protect their IP? Ya, we’re all entitled to free music and free movies.”
Sure they do. They just don’t get to a) assume the role of the police and b) assume guilt and violate privacy without cause. That is unless you live in the USA where the patriot act allows them to do both.
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July 13, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Vern R. Kaine
I agree, I just think we’ve already jumped the shark. Our calls and emails are already listened to, so might as well ad Internet traffic to the pile (sigh).
Corporations lobby government, government lets them write over-arching laws, freedom goes out the window. Like I said, there’s a huge difference to me between protecting profit (ethically) and forcing profit, which is what these corps are doing.
Btw, just watching “The Yes Men Save The World”. Hilarious, sad, scary, maddening. http://www.theyesmensavetheworld.com. Anyone else seen it?
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July 13, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Vern R. Kaine
We’re all tagged cattle, dude!!! Watch “Hot Coffee”. (Yes, I’m on a documentary kick lately!!)
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July 14, 2011 at 8:39 am
The Arbourist
Watched the trailer Vern and the blurb on Democracy now, it looks very interesting.
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July 14, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Bleatmop
Lol, you seem to be the go to guy that I know of when it comes to documentaries. I quite enjoy them too, but get distracted by my video games too often to watch as many as I’d like.
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July 15, 2011 at 9:24 am
Vern R. Kaine
I watch zero regular tv except for news, and where I used to watch a lot of movies I’m now much more selective, so that creates a convenient gap to stick the docs in between an HBOGO and Netflix subscription.
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