Oct. 13, 2004

Ashcroft promises to get tough on pirates

By Jesse Hiestand for the Hollywood Reporter

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft vowed Tuesday to marshal the full force of the Justice Department and FBI in prosecuting movie piracy, illegal file sharing and counterfeit intellectual property both domestically and abroad.

Ashcroft said the stepped-up campaign was vital to protecting the nation's economy, which loses about $250 billion annually to copyright, trademark and patent infringement.

"These recommendations are a blueprint for the most aggressive, the most ambitious and the most far-reaching law enforcement effort ever undertaken to protect intellectual property and counter intellectual theft," Ashcroft said at a press conference in the U.S. Attorney's Los Angeles offices.

Ashcroft said he will immediately implement the recommendations of the DOJ's Taskforce on Intellectual Property, which spent six months evaluating the issue.

Most of the recommendations center on heightened criminal enforcement like adding five new Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Units to the 13 already in place in U.S. cities. The DOJ further called on the FBI to assign more special agents to intellectual property investigations and for a nationwide and international crackdown on copyright theft by crime syndicates.

Ashcroft even suggested that the high profit margin of copyright theft could become a source of terrorist funding as more traditional avenues of fund raising are cut off.

The wide-ranging campaign targets all types of counterfeit goods, from prescription drugs and batteries to auto parts and DVDs. It also takes aim at the theft of trade secrets and suggests that enforcement be complemented by a nationwide education campaign focusing on peer-to-peer networks and the FBI's new anti-piracy seal and warning.

The campaign was praised by Hollywood's trade groups.

"By expanding the number of CHIP units and the number of able prosecutors devoted to investigating and prosecuting IP cases, the Department of Justice is appropriately and vigorously defending a sector of our economy worth over $626 billion," MPAA president and CEO Dan Glickman.

Added RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol: "No administration has ever mounted such a comprehensive approach to defending America's gift to the world -- our creativity. For those who work in the community of record labels, songwriters and artists, the commitment of focus, energy and resources outlined in this report is music to our ears."

On the international front, the DOJ recommended that federal prosecutors be stationed in U.S. embassies in Hong Kong and Budapest and foster closer ties with foreign investigators to more quickly prosecute these cases. The DOJ also intends to amend extradition treaties so that intellectual property crimes are covered and help copyright owners press civil claims against infringers.

The task force recommended passage of several recent or pending bills that would, for example, put a premium value on a copyrighted work that hasn't yet been released to the public.

The report also offered suggestions for future legislation like criminalizing attempted violations of copyright law and the possession of counterfeit goods with the intent to sell them.

Industries-based copyrighted product accounted for $626.6 billion in annual gross domestic product in 2002, or about 6% of the American economy. These companies also employ about 4% of the nation's workers.

That about does it for me. GW has sealed his fate in my eyes. Being corporate friendly will only take you so far. Being overly corporate friendly is disgusting. I will vote AGAINST W's crew but not FOR anyone else.

"The task force recommended passage of several recent or pending bills that would, for example, put a premium value on a copyrighted work that hasn't yet been released to the public."

in other words.. we cant impose neo-corporate fascism until you lower the burdon of proof to nothing.

It is impossible to express my feeling on this in english. There are no words strong enough. 'Dispair' comes close.

"The report also offered suggestions for future legislation like criminalizing attempted violations of copyright law and the possession of counterfeit goods with the intent to sell them."

i see.. so attempted murder should carry the death penalty. and posession with "intent"... the "thought crime" again.

i love how this article attempts to soften these terrible copyright bills by referring to them indirectly and referring to any information posted to the internet as "attempted copyright theft".

I wish i could steal a copyright.. that would be pretty cool. I'd make millions from those royalties. I guess if i could get someone on the inside to change what little physical paperwork is likely left in the process.. then hack the databases.. i might actually be ABLE to "steal" a copyright.

"suggests that enforcement be complemented by a nationwide education campaign focusing on peer-to-peer networks"

peer to peer is bad for the state
peer to peer is bad for your computer
peer to peer users rape small children
peer to peer is a vehicle for smut
peer to peer is used to assassinate government officials
peer to peer is used as a delivery system for terrorist explosives
peer to peer is not your friend
peer to peer users are terrorists
"say no to peer to peer"
"just say no"

reminds me of escape from new york/LA, and also another infamous and failed government "war on conduct"

"ustice Dept. wants new antipiracy powers
posted by dubstylee on October 12, 2004 @ 09:27pm


The U.S. Justice Department recommended a sweeping transformation of the nation's intellectual-property laws, saying peer-to-peer piracy is a "widespread" problem that can be addressed only through more spending, more FBI agents and more power for prosecutors.

In an extensive report (pdf) released Tuesday, senior department officials endorsed a pair of controversial copyright bills strongly favored by the entertainment industry that would criminalize "passive sharing" on file-swapping networks and permit lawsuits against companies that sell products that "induce" copyright infringement.

"The department is prepared to build the strongest, most aggressive legal assault against intellectual-property crime in our nation's history," Attorney General John Ashcroft, who created the task force in March, said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon.

In an example of the Justice Department's hunger for new copyright-related police powers, the report asks Congress to introduce legislation that would permit wiretaps to be used in investigating serious intellectual-property offenses and that would create a new crime of the "importation" of pirated products. It also suggests stationing FBI agents and prosecutors in Hong Kong and Budapest, Hungary, to aid local officials and "develop training programs on intellectual-property enforcement."

The Recording Industry Association of America applauded the report, saying that "for those who work in the community of record labels, songwriters and artists, the commitment of focus, energy and resources outlined in this report is music to our ears." The Motion Picture Association of America joined the applause, thanking the Justice Department for "defending our country's economy against pernicious IP pirates."


----
ASSCROFT IS ENDORSING INDUCE/PDEA..

IDIOT, LOCO, BAKA, FATUUS EST!

John Ashcroft is the most dangerous man in Amerika.

And close behind him are those who vote for the Republicans and their ilk.

Does this news article make you squirm, Sherm?

losing the war on terrorists eh? lookin to beat someone else up? lets forgot the real threat and get them pirates...ARRGGG

*sigh*

So, lets get this clear:

A copyright holder now could, if they wished to, sue a p2p user. They wouldn't know the identity until after the case was filed, but they would have a rough idea of the region they are in. Using logs as evidence, no need for a ciminal-case proof 'beyond reasonable doupt', a p2p user sharing, say, ten albums would be liable for damages of ... ten albums, ten tracks each, 100 items...Assume maximum possible damages demanded...

fifteen million dollars, plus legal fees.

And now there are suggestions that prosecuters need *more* power?

"America's gift to the world"--a gift is freely given, not overpriced. Thank you, Mitchy for the "gift."

Kerry and Bush both suck.

Vote for Badnarik . . . the Liberetarian candidate.

With a "War on Drugs" and now a "War on Copyright Infringers" I just don't see how we are going to be able to successfully wage a War on Terrorists and prevent nuclear proliferation. The US is a rich country with a lot of willpower, but even superpowers have finite resources.

If the FBI is going to spend lots of time chasing P2P users, pot smokers, etc. they are going to miss those suitcase nukes and sarin bottles which terrorists are surely going to try to slip into this country sooner or later.

i would if i thought he could win. unfortunately all voting for him now would do is increase dubya's chances of winning. so...

www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com

"Kerry and Bush both suck.

Vote for Badnarik . . . the Liberetarian candidate."

No way will I vote for this man. Why would I when he doesn't have even a hope of a prayer to get even 5% of the vote. Until the political system is reformed and ALL canidates get equal coverage and treatment a vote for someone other than a Republican or a Democrat is a wasted vote. Some will not agree with me. Some will flame me for this belief. No matter. Tell me how it is not a wasted vote and I will consider throwing my vote that way.

I do agree with most Libertarian philosophy. But StinkMonkey has a good point. Realistically, Badnarik doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of even coming close to winning.

Of course, one could argue that in this particular election a vote for either the Repubican or the Democratic candidate is a wasted vote.

And we need to remind ourselves that the issue at hand goes beyond copyright infringement; it's part of a concerted crusade for information micromanagement on a global level!
(Most citizens don't yet have a clue what may ultimately be in store for them, until it's too late one day.)

"The report also offered suggestions for future legislation like criminalizing attempted violations of copyright law and the possession of counterfeit goods with the intent to sell them." There are those words again--"attempted violations" and "intent to sell"--what constitutes an attempted violation? Trying to download something and failing? Searching for it on a P2P program, or what? If the DOJ begins fining people, it would appear that George has found a new way to help pay off the national debt. And with millions of Americans to sue, he just might be able to do it without raising taxes.

The same old kind of speech that was used many years ago to declare war on drugs. It failed. We all know the CIA has a link to the drug world because it brings in mucho bucks for them. The same for will happen for piracy.

the FBI dictating laws.. this sound like gstapo to you?

As long as we have a president who calls it the internets, we are doomed.
DESPAIR (sorry, my spellcheck tourettes)

According to these guys, everything aids terrorism. Can we not claim that Ashcroft is aiding terrorism by diverting FBI resources away from REAL intelligence gathering?

OK, I got my laughs in for today.

“intellectual theft”

Alright, would whoever out there stole Ashcroft’s brain, please return it. He’s obviously not functioning well without it.

Ashcroft goes if Bush goes. That's pretty much all anybody needs to know.

Isn't Ashcroft the one who said he would leave even if Bush won, because he needs to make more money in the private sector to send his kids to school?

Looks like the Senate may get tough on Ashcroft:
http://www.theregister.com/2004/10/13/patriot_act_tour/

Patriot Act tour carried a hefty price tag

"The GAO report was produced at the request of Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. After auditors briefed Conyers on their findings last month, the lawmaker accused Ashcroft of violating federal laws that prohibit the executive branch from conducting "propaganda" or legislative lobbying with public money. He asked the Justice Department's Inspector General to open an investigation."

a "Vote for Badnarik" is a vote for Bush.

"Ashcroft even suggested that the high profit margin of copyright theft could become a source of terrorist funding as more traditional avenues of fund raising are cut off."

Of course, the key word here is "could", which allows you to make anything up and offer it as reasoning.

What about taxi drivers? Since most of New York's taxi drivers are reportedly foreigners, this could be a source of terrorist funding.

Clear Channel could be sending coded messages to the terrorists.

The RIAA could use the funds from suing people to fund terrorism.

Hell could freeze over.

"There are those words again--"attempted violations" and "intent to sell"--what constitutes an attempted violation?"

"Attempt" is often defined as taking a "substantial step towards the commission of the crime."


"Of course, the key word here is "could", which allows you to make anything up and offer it as reasoning."

Counterfeit goods do fund terrorist activities. See the book "Funding Evil" by Rachel Ehrenfeld. Also see the Treasury Department's "Operation Green Quest.

ShadowMom: Tom Ridge (former governor of PA), now Mr. Homeland Security, is leaving because he "needs to make more money in the private sector to send his kids to school."

Thanks, Lachatte--no wonder I couldn't find it. I can always count on someone here to jog my memory.
mroop--If they want real pirates who sell other people's work, I'm all for it. And I do understand that it probably funds terrorist activities--but if they try to lump a college student downloading music files to the war on terror, they have more than one screw loose, and more than one industry's hands in their pockets.

Darn--not lump, compare, compare, compare!!

As someone who consistently votes third party I'm voting Kerry this election and encourage everyone who wants to see extremist policies like this to be curbed should do the same. Remember the old saying, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Republicans control the entire ball game in Washington and that's just insane. Anything Bush and company wants, Bush gets, they now have absolute power. There is little chance of Congress changing, 99% of all Congressional incumbents get re-elected. The only chance we have to break up this monopoly is to get a Democrat in the White House.

The last major party Presidential candidate I voted for was Bush Sr. The stakes this time are too high, maybe the highest since the 1930s, to allow junior have a mandate with no worry about re-election. He (and Ashcroft) will unleash the Justice dogs on us like no one has ever seen in history to appease his corporate masters. I'm surprised they would show their hand before the election however.

How the hell is he going to inforce it overseas? He can't even find Bin Laden...its all bullshit from the planet of the apes administration. And yes I will NOT vote for the Bush Monkey this time...and I will not do another dumb thing like voting for Ross Perot. You have to vote for Kerry to get rid of Ashcroft and the rest of the skull & bones secret society "New world order" decievers VOTE BUSH OUT! ITS TIME

"I'm surprised they would show their hand before the election, however."

Especially with many polls showing such a close race.
But maybe they're counting on gaining additional support from the entertainment world (which can more than offset people that they disenchant)?

"You have to vote for Kerry to get rid of Ashcroft and the rest of the skull & bones secret society 'New world order' decievers."

The first part of what you say is true, but Kerry is a Skull-and-Bones man, too, and might still lead us down a path of globalism. Obviously, though, we would be foolish to not vote against Bush and Ashcroft -- no matter how you slice it -- for a number of reasons (we KNOW how bad they are and how bad they could yet become with four years of unaccountable opportunities).

Funding terrorism from piracy? Truely, has anyone of these yoyo's tried p2p to find out what they are putting down and out?

How in the heck does p2p fund terrorism when no money is passing hands, did I miss something here?

Since p2p is being lumped into the mix with the selling of counterfit goods, I had to ask that.

I think they mean true piracy--not copyright infringement--selling illegal copies around the world and sending the money to some very bad people. Copyright infringement is different in that no profit is realized. That's what I meant earlier when I said they should not insinuate that a college kid downloading music files is somehow supporting terrorism. I wish we had one day when everyone in the administration was forbidden to use the word "terrorism" publicly. I don't think they could do it, since they seem to believe all evils in this world are a direct or indirect result of terrorism.

(Although it is mildly amusing to count how many times they use the exact same phrases over and over and over...)

"I wish we had one day when everyone in the administration was forbidden to use the word 'terrorism' publicly. I don't think they could do it, since they seem to believe all evils in this world are a direct or indirect result of terrorism."

Globalism in general, and this Administration in particular, feeds off the fear of terrorism stemming from the 9/11 disaster -- a disaster that they were complicit in not preventing.
Their war on terrorism is the dynamo that propels their agenda which is so antagonistic to individual liberties, and that in itelf is not without design.

Too bad more Americans just don't know enough about what makes evil minds tick -- and I'm not just referring to terrorists, either!

Shmoo has already commented that Ashcroft is the most dangerous man in America. I totally agree; and the next worst is the man that we must vote against on November 2nd.

Yeah mroop. they most certainly do make LOTS of money for terrorist activities by sharing their music collections over kazaa.

Why didnt I ever think of that.. i could pay off my student debts that way!

If I could just hack into the communications channel hooked up to Bush's back, I would feed him the line...
"DOWN with the RIAA" in the middle of his monologue...
but wait, that would make him MORE popular...

never mind.

He's too busy worrying about OB-GYNs getting stifled in the pursuit of practicing their love with women all across this country. I'm sorry, but no matter how many times I read that line from his speech, I am astounded he would utter such words in public.

Could be worse though...he could have bemoaned proctologists practicing their love with women across this country.

By the way, in my opinion, John "Let the Eagle Soar" Ashcroft appears to be mentally ill.
http://www.symbolman.com/corpabuse.html

http://www.socialistworker.org/2002-1/398/398_04_JusticeSingAlong.shtml
"March 15, 2002 | Page 4

THINGS ARE getting bad at the Justice Department these days. Not only does Attorney General John Ashcroft make his staff endure a daily prayer meeting, but he’s also making them participate in sing-alongs.

A group of Hispanic Justice Department employees recently were summoned to Ashcroft’s office, thinking that perhaps their boss was attempting to open a discussion about how to make the Justice Department more diverse.

Instead, Ashcroft handed them copies of a patriotic song he had written called "Let the Eagle Soar"--and commanded them to translate it into Spanish.

Ashcroft is so proud of his "musical achievement" that some Justice Department staffers are complaining that he hands out copies at meetings and strong-arms employees into singing along.

"Have you heard the song?" one employee asked a reporter. "It really sucks."

--Observer, March 3, 2002"

Sorry I have to go, I hear the door bell, OH NO! Its Ashcrofts FBI men, there looking for a place to plant thier new micro Identity probe on me and I just took a an Exlax.

Boycott the RIAA-crack music.
VOTE the garbage OUT!!

Listen to Jazzmary2U's music. "Nuevo" is my favorite. http://jazzmary.dmusic.com/

oh so now im a terrorist now
FUCK YOU JOHN ASHCFROFT
how dare you say that about us you fucking asshole
shit, another facsist.another idiot
what are they gonna do put 1/3rd of the plabet in jail???
good luck

Dubya, Ashcroft, and Rumsfeld are the three most dangerous men in America.
Those who know or suspect this to be true have just one chance, just one day, to sweep them all out -- that special first Tuesday in November. Hallelujah if that happens!! (And woe to us if it DOESN'T!)

George was right last night about people praying for him. I'm one of 'em. I'm praying for him....to get defeated!