Senate Legislation to Make Pirating Films a Felony
Quote:
A bipartisan Senate duo, Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation yesterday that makes it a felony to use a camcorder to record the theatrical presentation of motion pictures. Language in The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, will also make it easier to prosecute people who illegally distribute copyrighted material before its legitimate release.
Feinstein, who recently endorsed Senator John Kerry's, D-MA., presidential bid, called the legislation an attempt to address the problems created by piracy. Cornyn said, ''Copyright piracy is a serious threat not only to the entertainment industry but also to a U.S. economy struggling to get back on its feet.''
The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, joins a bill recently sponsored by Congressmen John Conyers, D-Mich., and Howard Berman, D-Calif. The representative's legislation is an attempt to make camcording movies a federal offense.
A bipartisan Senate duo, Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation yesterday that makes it a felony to use a camcorder to record the theatrical presentation of motion pictures. Language in The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, will also make it easier to prosecute people who illegally distribute copyrighted material before its legitimate release.
Feinstein, who recently endorsed Senator John Kerry's, D-MA., presidential bid, called the legislation an attempt to address the problems created by piracy. Cornyn said, ''Copyright piracy is a serious threat not only to the entertainment industry but also to a U.S. economy struggling to get back on its feet.''
The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, joins a bill recently sponsored by Congressmen John Conyers, D-Mich., and Howard Berman, D-Calif. The representative's legislation is an attempt to make camcording movies a federal offense.
Ummmm geez thanks. I don't know how to thank our wonderful Government. What would we do without these guys? We should be so thankful that they are so so good and embroiling our Armed Forces into seemingly every incident worldwide. Nice to know people can go bankrupt from corporate corruption(Worldcom, Global Crossing etc) yet have the individual have their foot held to the fire. Oh yes thank you for giving me the "real" meaning of our Constitution which grants you every power under the sun. Why not just make everything a felony? I'm totally sure our "Struggling Economy" is the result of video cameras being snuck into Theaters. Geez nice to know why people are getting laid off and jobs moving overseas. It's the damn camcorders!! Put Tarrifs on them...Ban them!
Comments
Originally posted by Powerdoc
I vote we kill them
And make a movie about it.
Originally posted by Akumulator
And make a movie about it.
And then pirate it.
Originally posted by Powerdoc
I vote we kill them
Powerdoc gets my vote!
Viva le France!
Originally posted by tonton
So you are saying that people who film movies using camcorders in the theater should not be prosecuted? That people who distribute films and music pre-release should get off scott-free?
This issue has nothing to do with simple file sharing. Read the proposal before you shoot anyone. The proposal is fair.
I don't know anyone who films movies using a comcorder in the theatre. If I did, I'd slap 'em upside the head with a bottle.
I just got a DUI. About 1200 dollars got me out of it. We call it diversion. I could have killed your kid, or someone got 7 bucks from New Line and does three years.
people our age are a huge voting block. if we voted on issues like this they would be out of the house and senate.
republicans, vote this jackass in texas out. democrats, vote her out. get these people out of office now before this country becomes a nightmare.
Originally posted by tonton
So you are saying that people who film movies using camcorders in the theater should not be prosecuted?
In the big picture I definitely think I should be able to bring a camera into a public theater. If I illegally distribute the film, prosecute me.
IT'S ILLEGAL! Boycotting your senators because they're reinforcing legitimate laws is ridiculous.
That should last all of one challenge.
this is the stupidest pile of crap to be pushed in a while. i hope they all lose their senate seats because of it.
Originally posted by bunge
In the big picture I definitely think I should be able to bring a camera into a public theater. If I illegally distribute the film, prosecute me.
It's not a "public theater." It's a private theater, owned by the movie company, which they allow you to pay to enter. You're on their property, and under their rules. And the ticket you've bought entitles you to WATCH the movie, not create your own duplicate of it.
People who pirate films, music and books are the ones who ought to be shot.
Originally posted by Kirkland
People who pirate films, music and books are the ones who ought to be shot.
Alrighty I'll go get you the 12 year old, the 70 year old, and half your friends, and then shoot away buddy.
Originally posted by Anders
Hmm. Whats the difference between a felony and other crimes?
Well there is differents level of crimes, felony is a step higher than the first grade one.
One day someone will decided that pirating films are worse than raping victims ...
High quality copies find there way on to P2P networks too.
Felony?
Hell yes. I'm all for it.
Originally posted by Kirkland
It's not a "public theater." It's a private theater, owned by the movie company, which they allow you to pay to enter. You're on their property, and under their rules. And the ticket you've bought entitles you to WATCH the movie, not create your own duplicate of it.
People who pirate films, music and books are the ones who ought to be shot.
Originally posted by ThunderPoit
yes its illegal, yes pirates should be able to be prosecuted, but a felony? all this is about is the gov't bending over to make some private industry happy. ya, sure, happens all the time, but
In truth the punishment should be in line with what was taken. If someone is videotaping, they should be thrown out of the theater, perhaps barred from it, if that's possible. The studio should be able to take them to small claims court (we'd have to figure out how much revenue is stolen through the taping of a film). Now, if they're distributing, then that should be a felony.
Same with music. Though with individual songs being worth less, there's less culpability. However, for distributors, chances are they distribute far more copies than movie thieves do, which may still take them into felony territory.