Obama Administration Announces Massive Library Crackdown.

[SunnySong]

June 23, 2010 -- MA



With the threat of modern technology at its doorstep the Obama administration has launched an effort to curtail the photocopying of Library books. "People take copyrighted material out of the library and bring it God knows where."Joe Biden claimed in a speech today. "While our focus is on those people who head straight to Kinkos or other outlets it has come to our attention that many people have photocopying technology right in their own home."


While they may never be able to truly defeat photocopying and drive it from the lurking depths of the home office, copyright protection attack-dog organizations like the Children's Book Association and Suduko Publishers alliance have long dreamed of the day when they would no longer have to pay for their own copyright enforcement. Now that dream is on the verge of coming true, thanks to the Obama administration.

After countless lobbyist dollars from the children's book and magazine lobbies and a brief "public review", the administration rolled out its vision to fight photocopying yesterday afternoon. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden -- whose blunt speech has sometime left him in trouble -- did not mince words.

He states, "This is theft, clear and simple. It's smash and grab, no different than a guy walking down Fifth Avenue and smashing the window at Tiffany's and reaching in and grabbing what's in the window and then setting fire to puppies."


It also implements an interesting provision called "imminent infringement", which allows the government to charge people who they think might be about to infringe with a civil offense (for example taking out more than one library book at a time. ). This is among the first official "thought crime" provisions to be proposed by the U.S. government. The bill also makes it a criminal offense to read magazines on the newsstand without buying them first.


Joe Biden is no stranger to copyright infringement controversy. During the campaign Joe Biden denied that he had possession of a VCR that could record. He claimed such devises would destroy America as we know it and compared their possession to the worst kind of drug. Biden points out that the lack of prerecorded VCR Tapes as well as music formats such as the 8-Track available in stores as an example of the insidious effect of copyright violations.


The library act is just the beginning of course and comes down almost a year after the crackdown on people who draw pictures of Mickey Mouse on thier children bedroom walls.


Linkie Poo pending

[Duer 157099]

1. And just wait til they start handing out fines for magazines in waiting rooms

Hey, if they have to pay royalties to play music, why are magazines able to be read multiple times by multiple people all for the price of a single copy?

[Riftaxe]

2. I am sure the statute of limitation will apply...

at least for the magazines in my Physicians waiting room...surely magazine copyrights don't extend back for 17 years! :rofl:

[SunnySong]

3. Highlights is timeless I tell you. nt

[Old Troop]

5. I'm sure Goofus and Gallant will have something to say about this law.

[WinkyDink]

4. They're all past the statute of limitations.