[ih] [IP] EFF calls for signatures from Internet Engineers against censorship

[Vint Cerf]

John,

in point of fact, the business models may well have to change or at
least, their implementation. Copying and distribution of digital
content is so easy (and not just on the net) that one has to figure
out different ways to render the copying and distribution unfruitful.

v


On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 7:55 AM, John Curran <jcurran at istaff.org> wrote:
> On Dec 21, 2011, at 1:06 AM, Jorge Amodio wrote:
>
>> I believe what is really necessary, is some movement to reduce the
>> level of mistrust from both sides.
>>
>> IMHO lack of dialog and engagement is a big issue, even if one tries
>> to engage and participate in a cooperative manner, the stakes are so
>> high and the money/profit driven engine is spinning so fast that it is
>> almost impossible in some circumstances obtain positive and effective
>> results.
>
> Agreed.  For example, SOPA effectively asserts that "the government
> has the right to prevent party A from communicating in advance with
> any/every given party B if party A's communication is alleged to be
> illegal."
>
> Regardless of whether we're talking about the Internet, or the
> telephone, or a public square, the above belief in contrary to
> many peoples values (including my own), and it appears almost
> impossible to reconcile with standing US policy of objecting to
> another country's policy to prevent communications of the media
> or the various activist citizens because it is illegal by the
> laws of that country.
>
> Principled discussion of the issue would be enormously helpful,
> but that doesn't occur in Congress unless the administration
> forces it to occur ("we can't effectively do our job in these
> other areas if you undermine our principled position this way")
> Alas, that is not occurring in this case, and so instead we must
> fight an inherently repugnant idea solely via its various legal
> and technical blemishes.
>
> If someone wants to sit down and say "You have a right to not
> have your content illegally reproduced all over the Internet so
> let's brainstorm", you'll find there are many advocates of SOPA
> who are willing to constructively engage.  Attempting to do the
> same starting with the assertion that "Your business model is
> fundamentally flawed and you must change" obviously may not work
> as well. The voice of the Internet technical community is being
> perceived as overwhelmingly in that latter camp.
>
> /John
>