The more dangerous it is for the public to handle copyright works the less they will. In other words, soon the term ‘copyright’ will become a kiss of obscurity for any independent artist’s work. This means that works are already polarising into two groups: a) works only safe to watch at a distance, at a cinema, on TV, or hear on a radio (as long as no camcorder or other recorder is present), b) works safe to keep in one’s personal collection, share with one’s friends, and build upon and publish. The second group is soon going to dwarf the first group. Before long copyright works will go the way of lead paint, prohibited from the presence of children, banned from the home and workplace without special permit, and considered hazardous material for use only in extreme cases, e.g. by the military.

If it isn’t copyleft, share alike, CC0, or otherwise stipulated as safe for handling by the public then don’t touch it with a barge pole. Until copyright is abolished we’re going to have to be extremely careful to treat copyright works for the toxic waste they are.

1. The busllshit with the RIAA/MPAA/whoever else is just a small subset of the bigger problem with corporate capitalism — namely, corporations themselves. So long as the corporation — a mere business structure — is regarded as a legal “person”, they’re going to keep damaging the surrounding culture, even AFTER they inevitably end up “permitting” drastic copyright and patent reform (which they will, because they really have no other choice — attempting to “preserve” the current system just fails at every turn, and pisses us off.)

2. But consider: copy”right” and patents are the way they are because corporations are regarded as “persons”, and thus, granted really big advantages in terms of lobbying and protection from “unreasonable” search and seisure, and such.

So what needs to happen, is for the p2p/copy”right” reform/patent reform debate needs to be seen as a subset of the “corporate watchdog” movement. (Of course, actually daring to question anything a corporation does will inevitably get you branded “anti-capitalist” or “anti-business”, or “communist” or “Marxist”, or some other bullshit — but you have to ask yourself whether you really care about that.)

That’s one of the really common ways to stave off any fundamental sociopolitical change here in the U.S. — trot out the accusations of “socialism”, keep telling us all about the mythical “free market” (while granting corporations the same rights as REAL persons, and using hte patent system to micromanage what constitutes “permitted” competition.)

The reason that works, is because Americans are, by and large, not merely ignorant, but BOASTFULLY so. (Remember that “Freedom Fries” thing a few years ago? That’s basically what passes for political discourse in this country — that and debate over Obama’s middle name).

So do yourselves a favor: look into your local version of corporate law — are they regarded as “persons” in your jurisdiction? If so, you’re basically fucked, as far as actually being able to reign them in, in any real, lasting way.

‘We are not going to take this shit, ANYMORE!’

NOT ONE MORE PENNY FOR YOU FROM ME MPAA!!!!.i will now download like a MOTHER FUCKER! and unlike before i will not buy your content when it FINALLY becomes available.so well done,your total lack of regard for your fellow humans rights has lost you a customer that probably spends a hundred times more a year than the average joe on the street that doesnt file share!

SO FUCK YOU MPAA AND FUCK THE GOVERNMENTS WHO SWALLOW YOUR BULLSHIT!!!!

This is right. So guess what we should do next?

I seriously give up, the only people who get fair trials and fair sentences are actual criminals!
You can kill someone and it will cost you less than this.

Should be renamed to “The Recording Industry Attacks Everything”. The *music* industry is flourishing, despite these parasites.