Scratch
archived forums
#1 2011-07-13 06:37:46
- GarSkutherGirl
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-04-27
- Posts: 1000+
Petition against Bill S. 978
Petition against Bill S. 978
Here they go again: Big business's lobbyists are launching another attack on Internet freedom. Senators are considering a "Ten Strikes" bill to make it a felony to stream copyrighted content -- like music in the background of a Youtube video -- more than ten times.
As the writers at TechDirt point out, under this bill you could go to jail for posting video of your friends singing karaoke:
The entertainment industry is freaking out about sites that embed and stream infringing content, and want law enforcement to put people in jail over it, rather than filing civil lawsuits.... We already pointed to one possibility: that people embedding YouTube videos could face five years in jail. Now, others are pointing out that it could also put kids who lip sync to popular songs, and post the resulting videos on YouTube, in jail as well.
That's right: Ten strikes and you could get jail time. Less than a month ago, the Hollywood industry magazine, Variety, reported, "Industry lobbyists pressed House members on Wednesday to pass legislation that would make illegal streaming of movies, TV shows and other types of content a felony...."
There's the bill. Post here if you want to go against it.
Petition wrote:
GarSkutherGirl
TinyTorchic22
GLaDOS2
ipodbiped
imsosuperswell
3DSfan12345
jackerulez
spongebob123
geonoTRON2000
imnotbob
MaxTheWeirdo
SpriteMaster
scratcher7_13
wiimaster
higejolly
slapperbob
wmays
Last edited by GarSkutherGirl (2011-07-15 06:19:54)
Oh, the glory of it all - adorable cat people dressed as video game characters!
Offline
#5 2011-07-13 07:27:26
- 3DSfan12345
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2011-04-02
- Posts: 500+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I support.
R.I.P Scratch 1.4
July 7,2009-May 5,2013
Offline
#6 2011-07-13 07:46:41
- imsosuperswell1
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-12-04
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I support this petition. LET US RUMBLE!!!!!!!
Did you get the idea from me?
Offline
#7 2011-07-13 10:06:24
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I support. Why is it legal to have your neighbor over to watch a movie that you legally own, yet illegal to do the same thing online?
Yawn, another boring text signature. I should really make something better.
Offline
#8 2011-07-13 10:13:29
- spongebob123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-05-10
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I want to go against it.
Offline
#9 2011-07-13 10:27:54
- Ace-Of-Hearts
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-05-03
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
Why are you petitioning against it if it won't pass?
Offline
#10 2011-07-13 10:33:57
- soupoftomato
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
Ace-Of-Hearts wrote:
Why are you petitioning against it if it won't pass?
This.
I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos
Offline
#11 2011-07-13 10:55:56
- illusionist
- Retired Community Moderator
- Registered: 2008-07-02
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
Congress is the legislative branch of the US government. They make up and vote on laws, or "bills" at a federal (nationally effective) level. State legislation only has the power to make state laws.
The are two main unnamed groups of people in the house of representatives, and senate as shown here:
Everyone has their own way of thinking, but each individual congressman/woman usually has beliefs similar to those of the rest of their party.
Certain people will vote for S. 978 and some will vote against it.
A petition might be a way to influence their opinion, if you have a way to send it to them. But I don't think they will be afraid of a list of Scratch usernames.
Offline
#12 2011-07-13 10:59:46
- soupoftomato
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
illusionist wrote:
A petition might be a way to influence their opinion, if you have a way to send it to them. But I don't think they will be afraid of a list of Scratch usernames.
It wouldn't be to scare them, it would just show people don't want it.
But in that other thread Demosthenes said a bill like this was proposed as a threat almost every year, and Cheddargirl said they can only sue the video maker if they can prove their losing 5000 dollars or something.
I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos
Offline
#13 2011-07-13 13:42:27
- cheddargirl
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2008-09-15
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
soupoftomato wrote:
illusionist wrote:
A petition might be a way to influence their opinion, if you have a way to send it to them. But I don't think they will be afraid of a list of Scratch usernames.
It wouldn't be to scare them, it would just show people don't want it.
But in that other thread Demosthenes said a bill like this was proposed as a threat almost every year, and Cheddargirl said they can only sue the video maker if they can prove their losing 5000 dollars or something.
It's $2500 (minimum economic damage).
I'll just post my previous reply than explaining it all again:
cheddargirl wrote:
Um, I don't know if anyone else has read the bill fully, but it says:
Makes unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty of up to 5 years in prison. Illegal streaming of copyrighted content is defined in the bill as an offense that "consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works" and has a total economic value, either to the copyright holder or the infringer, of at least $2,500.
Read the part that I underlined. I don't think most of the video game walkthroughs and such similar content will cause that much economic damage from one user. Unless the video game company has proof of such an economic loss, I don't think it would be wise for the companies to push with some kind of lawsuit against the video uploader; it possible they can ask for the website owner (YouTube, for example) to take it down (after all, if a company wants to pursue with damages, they need the content removed first before proceeding), but that will not prevent users from re-uploading the content if the video game companies have no proof of economic damage and do not follow through.
It sounds more like people who post and embed music videos and TV episodes online are more at risk than the other cases provided based on the bill. Lip-synching kids and karaoke singers, I think they're less likely to be a target (unless you could prove that the lip-synching and karaoke can cost $2500+ in damages).
Everything is better when you add a little cheddar, because when you have cheese your life is at ease
Offline
#14 2011-07-13 13:45:14
- bananaman114
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-03-15
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
cheddargirl wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:
illusionist wrote:
A petition might be a way to influence their opinion, if you have a way to send it to them. But I don't think they will be afraid of a list of Scratch usernames.
It wouldn't be to scare them, it would just show people don't want it.
But in that other thread Demosthenes said a bill like this was proposed as a threat almost every year, and Cheddargirl said they can only sue the video maker if they can prove their losing 5000 dollars or something.It's $2500 (minimum economic damage).
I'll just post my previous reply than explaining it all again:cheddargirl wrote:
Um, I don't know if anyone else has read the bill fully, but it says:
Makes unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty of up to 5 years in prison. Illegal streaming of copyrighted content is defined in the bill as an offense that "consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works" and has a total economic value, either to the copyright holder or the infringer, of at least $2,500.
Read the part that I underlined. I don't think most of the video game walkthroughs and such similar content will cause that much economic damage from one user. Unless the video game company has proof of such an economic loss, I don't think it would be wise for the companies to push with some kind of lawsuit against the video uploader; it possible they can ask for the website owner (YouTube, for example) to take it down (after all, if a company wants to pursue with damages, they need the content removed first before proceeding), but that will not prevent users from re-uploading the content if the video game companies have no proof of economic damage and do not follow through.
It sounds more like people who post and embed music videos and TV episodes online are more at risk than the other cases provided based on the bill. Lip-synching kids and karaoke singers, I think they're less likely to be a target (unless you could prove that the lip-synching and karaoke can cost $2500+ in damages).
Oh no, my singing broke 499 windows statewide. This might be a problem 
the sun still shines
Offline
#16 2011-07-13 14:47:12
- GeonoTRON2000
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-12-24
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I Agree With This Petition!
Offline
#18 2011-07-13 15:23:24
- MaxtheWeirdo
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-03-18
- Posts: 500+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
Sign me up, please!
Offline
#19 2011-07-13 17:20:35
- veggieman001
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-02-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
I don't agree with the petition. I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
Posts: 20000 - Show all posts
Offline
#20 2011-07-13 17:21:55
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
veggieman001 wrote:
I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
+1
Last edited by kimmy123 (2011-07-13 17:22:05)
Offline
#21 2011-07-13 17:31:13
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
kimmy123 wrote:
veggieman001 wrote:
I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
+1
personally hearing music on youtube makes me want to go buy the cd
PesterChum Handle: annoyingAnchorman
durp yo terezi sup sup gotta beat john gotta beat john
Offline
#22 2011-07-13 17:49:09
- veggieman001
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-02-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
imnotbob wrote:
kimmy123 wrote:
veggieman001 wrote:
I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
+1
personally hearing music on youtube makes me want to go buy the cd
Some music on YouTube is legal. Record labels and bands post music all the time. You could listen to those, or listen to the 1:30 iTunes previews, or find it on an internet or regular radio station. There are plenty of legal alternatives.
Posts: 20000 - Show all posts
Offline
#23 2011-07-13 17:54:30
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
veggieman001 wrote:
imnotbob wrote:
kimmy123 wrote:
+1
personally hearing music on youtube makes me want to go buy the cd
Some music on YouTube is legal. Record labels and bands post music all the time. You could listen to those, or listen to the 1:30 iTunes previews, or find it on an internet or regular radio station. There are plenty of legal alternatives.
But if you have a cd player, maybe headphones, and the cd, you can listen to it anywhere!
Last edited by kimmy123 (2011-07-13 17:54:42)
Offline
#24 2011-07-13 18:13:45
- GarSkutherGirl
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-04-27
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
kimmy123 wrote:
veggieman001 wrote:
I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
+1
-500
It could cause GLaDOS2 to be SHUT DOWN. Frink America. Hope your happy with all the frinked up people you have. Round people about that EAT EVERYTHING, or stick people without homes or jobs, or innocent people being tossed in jail for being on the internet.....
Oh, the glory of it all - adorable cat people dressed as video game characters!
Offline
#25 2011-07-13 18:39:31
Re: Petition against Bill S. 978
GarSkutherGirl wrote:
kimmy123 wrote:
veggieman001 wrote:
I think it's perfectly fine that people want to protect the things that they made and put work into if they're going to lose $2,500 or more.
+1
-500
It could cause GLaDOS2 to be SHUT DOWN. Frink America. Hope your happy with all the frinked up people you have. Round people about that EAT EVERYTHING, or stick people without homes or jobs, or innocent people being tossed in jail for being on the internet.....
I didn't really think of that....
I change my +1 to -1
Last edited by kimmy123 (2011-07-13 18:39:46)
Offline