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

[John Curran]

On Dec 21, 2011, at 9:06 AM, Paul Vixie wrote:

Robert Heinlein, writing as Dr. Pinero, wrote:

There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back.

Paul -

  The parties are not seeking to "guaranteeing their profit" by stopping the
  clock of history.  They are seeking effective enforcement of existing laws
  which make it illegal for US citizens to download copyrighted material from
  non-authorized sources.

  Vint said it correctly: "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."

  That implies that the laws be changed so that this behavior becomes legal,
  to better reflect reality of the new digital age,  Until then the "clocks of time"
  are actually stressing against enforcement of existing laws, and until we get
  those laws changed, the copyright industry is quite legitimate in asking for the
  government to adopt meaningful enforcement mechanisms.

  Do you think that there is support in Congress (the legislative body duly
  elected by the people) to decriminalize copying and distribution of digital
  content?  Unless that's the case, their requests are keeping with public
  interest that's historically been expressed in copyright law.

  As you are aware, I'm dead set against SOPA.  I just want to be very clear
  that there is an intellectually honest argument for why better mechanisms
  for copyright enforcement over the Internet are needed.

/John

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