MAFIAA

European link tax, compulsory copyright scanning sent back to the drawing board

"The law will now be sent for a full reconsideration and debate inside the parliament, during which activists will try and remove the controversial Article 11 and 13. Article 11 has been referred to by campaigners as instituting a 'link tax', by forcing tech companies like Google and Facebook to pay to use snippets of content on their own sites. Article 13 adds rules that make tech companies responsible for ensuring any copyrighted material is not spread over their platforms. Those rules could force technology companies to scan through everything their users post and check it doesn't include copyrighted material."

Continue ReadingEuropean link tax, compulsory copyright scanning sent back to the drawing board

Kim Dot Com resigns from Mega to pursue plans for NZ political party

"Internet mogul Kim Dotcom said on Thursday he was resigning from his new venture Mega to focus on fighting extradition to the United States and his plans for a New Zealand political party. The 39-year-old, who was arrested when armed New Zealand police involved in the US probe raided his Auckland mansion, confirmed that he had resigned as a director of Mega at an August 29 board meeting. Dotcom said he was still working on development of a web-based music service called Megabox. The extradition case has dragged on in the courts and is subject to numerous appeals, with Dotcom estimating earlier this year that his legal bills could exceed US$50 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKim Dot Com resigns from Mega to pursue plans for NZ political party

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

"Dotcom said his plans were still embryonic but the yet-to-be-named party would launch on January 20, the second anniversary of an armed police raid on his Auckland mansion which resulted in him being charged with online piracy. The Internet mogul revealed few details of his platform beyond saying he wanted to improve New Zealand’s information technology infrastructure, including 'fair Internet pricing and no more data caps'. Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and is free on bail as he fights extradition to the United States, also took a swipe at Prime Minister Key, whom he accuses of bowing to Hollywood pressure by pursuing the case against him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMegaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

Record labels ask UK broadband providers to collect data on illegal downloads

"BT, Virgin Media, BSkyB and TalkTalk are being asked by music and film companies to sign up to a voluntary code for policing illegal downloading. Negotiations have been underway for some months with the BPI, which represents the major labels including Warner, Sony and Universal, and the British Video Association, whose members include the BBC and Hollywood studios. Measures could include throttling internet connections to slow them down, blocking users from particular sites, disconnecting offenders from broadband for a limited period, and ultimately prosecution. In order to implement these measures, broadband companies would need to keep a list of those customers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRecord labels ask UK broadband providers to collect data on illegal downloads

Larry Lessig Threatened With Bogus DMCA Notice; Decides To Fight Back

"As we've discussed, unfortunately, it's been almost impossible to win a 512(f) claim over a bogus DMCA takedown. The entertainment industry has fought hard to make sure that sending totally bogus DMCA notices that censor content are basically unpunishable, unless they can show a willful and intentional decision to ignore fair use and censor the content. Liberation doubled down even after being told that Lessig believed the video was fair use. On top of that, by filing the lawsuit himself, and seeking the declaratory judgment, instead of being sued first, it means that Liberation can't just dismiss the lawsuit (they're now the defendant, not the plaintiff)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLarry Lessig Threatened With Bogus DMCA Notice; Decides To Fight Back

U.S. film and music industries roll out new anti-piracy program

"The steps announced by the big Internet firms include pop-ups, which force users to acknowledge warnings, and mechanisms to slow a user’s access to near-dialup speeds. Some critics say that redirecting users is equivalent to a 'browser hijack'. 'It’s an elaborate surveillance system,' said Corynne McSherry at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. 'There will be innocent people caught up in this system, it’s inevitable.' Internet subscribers 'face consequences based on nothing more than an accusation,' McSherry said. Participating in the program are Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T, Cablevision and Verizon — covering some 85 per cent of US residential customers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. film and music industries roll out new anti-piracy program

Justin Bieber: Sen. Klobuchar ‘Should Be Locked Up’ For Felony Streaming Bill [2011]

"During a radio interview, the host asked Bieber about the law, explaining how it would make streaming a felony, and his response was that Klobuchar 'should be locked up,' a point he reiterated a few times. They then go on to discuss it a bit, and Bieber talks about the importance of being able to upload and stream videos and to perform other people's songs. He talks about how people 'need the freedom' to perform songs. He also notes that it's 'awesome' when others perform his works." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJustin Bieber: Sen. Klobuchar ‘Should Be Locked Up’ For Felony Streaming Bill [2011]

Who Gave Hollywood’s Representatives the Same Exact DMCA Question?

"The Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet (a part of the House Judiciary Committee) held hearings on the role of technology as it relates to content creation and copyright. In the span of less than 15 minutes, two separate representatives -- both representing parts of Los Angeles, asking questions one after the other asked THE IDENTICAL question to a panelist. Sure looks like someone is feeding them their questions, but next time they might want to keep track of who they told to ask their misleading question...." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWho Gave Hollywood’s Representatives the Same Exact DMCA Question?

Administration Can’t Let Go: Felony Streaming Provisions Of SOPA Are Back

"We've been working our way through a paper released last week by the Commerce Department, concerning copyright reform, and will have a much more detailed post about it soon (there's a lot in there), but over at the Washington Post, they're highlighting the silly recommendation to bring back the plan to make unauthorized streaming a felony. This was a part of SOPA and was widely discussed. This got a fair amount of attention when Justin Bieber was asked about the law, and said that Senator Klobuchar should be locked up. It's no surprise that this is coming back. It's one of the points that's been raised a few times since the death of SOPA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAdministration Can’t Let Go: Felony Streaming Provisions Of SOPA Are Back