US House Passes Bill Targeting Net Song Swappers

[Mace]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Users of Internet "peer to peer" networks, already dodging lawsuits from the recording industry, could face up to three years in prison under a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The House voted to enlist the government to a greater degree in the entertainment industry's fight against those who copy its products over the Internet.

Those who secretly videotape movies when they are shown in theaters would also face prison sentences of up to three years under the bill, which passed by voice vote.

"The Internet has revolutionized how Americans locate information, shop and communicate," said Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, a sponsor of the bill. "We must not let new Internet technologies become a haven for criminals."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=575&ncid=738&e=6&u=/nm/20040928/wr_nm/tech_copyright_dc

Why are we crowding our prisons with non-violent criminals?

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. to make sure there is no room for

dick cheney and the treason bunch

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. yes they can swap bust stories with...

the non-violent drug offenders, while Halliburton execs rape Iraq

[catchthefever]

3. Wow

With all the starving children, homeless families, unemployment, you'd think they'd HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO.

[bemildred]

4. You and whose army of cops?

They can't do shit about the internet.
If they could, they would have years ago.
What a bunch of corrupt political hacks.

[Syrinx]

7. yes they can

And they will. I've been saying this for 3 years. If the neocons "win" this election, the internet is due for some major changes.

[bemildred]

11. China is doing their best, and losing.

The internet is designed to route around obstacles.
The can shit-can it or live with it, and the former is
no longer possible.

[starroute]

5. Copyright violation has *never* been a criminal offense

It's not just that file-swappers are not violent criminals. They are not criminals *at all*.

Copyright violation is a civil offense. You suspect someone has ripped you off, you take them to court. Period. No crime, no jail, no nothing.

This is not only a horrendous extension of criminal law into non-criminal areas, it's also an attempt to use our tax dollars to protect big corporations against ordinary citizens. I can't even begin to find the words to describe how loathsome I find that.

[countmyvote4real]

6. Hello, Fascism.

Actually it's been here for quite a while. Most notably since * was selected there seems to be no shame in it.

[andino]

8. hehehe

I think they just pissed off, at last estimate, 60% of internet users. Seeing as how there are about 90 million people on the internet... Well that's a SHIT LOAD of voters!!!

POST THIS STORY EVERYWHERE!!!!!

[chenGOD]

9. Perhaps you mean 60% of American internet users...

Us furriners will continue to stea^H^H^H^H^preview music as we see fit.

[andino]

10. Your right

Sorry about that. Still that is a shit load of voters who will be pissed at the repukes for making them criminals.