Copyright Reform Now!!!

Copyright reform is needed now. The entire act from top to bottom. Definitions, remedies, penalties, concepts, licenses, anti-trust issues - you name it, its screwed up.

Thats why music sucks.

I totally agree, in fact I think all of us do, but what can we do to get the ball rolling?

1. I have asked codewarrior, GeorgeZ , Tom Barger and Bill evans to serve on a board of Advisors/directors. Lets get a few more covering different backrounds (Marketing, PR, Lobbying, academia, etc) and get serious about copyright reform.

2. I have reserved copyrightreform.org for the cause. I will give root access over once a board is constituted.

3. Tom Barger did the logo.

For sure man. I can understand some of the fallacies involved, and I'm no student of law.

This is really great news! Any lobbying effort ,litigation, or effort to change things is gonna take bucks. Do you think if there was a PayPal link for people to donate money to the cause that that might help?

Until we set up one at copyrightreform.org ,
there is one on boycott-riaa.com at top left column

also fossil was a lobbyist and goldenpi has volunteered some network admin help...

I've always wondered if people really do donate to places where there is a pay pal link, like I have always wondered if many pay for shareware. Sorry for off topic for a sec. Back on copyright reform though, leflaw, do you know if there are many folks in other sectors (book publishing, graphic arts, etc., the non music bunch) who are similarly upset over the current state of copyright . I mean, this crazy analog v. digital distinction is bothersome. Unless the government wants us back under the thumb of Europe, why didn't they just modify the 1976 Copyright Act instead of passing that Euro Trash DMCA (WIPO by any other name smells as fetid)---------

It beats me. Maybe it was too difficult. Afdter all, it took them 40 years to draft the 1976 act.

As I understand from what I've read here, and at Code's sites, the DMCA must be repealed, bottom line. But, do ALL the copyright laws need to be rewritten, or, in the alternative,
will the folks on the Board that you are establishing, will they be involved in drafting proposed changes? BTW, leflaw,
thank you from all of us for all you are doing!

Look at the way our government deals with laws. A great example is taxation. the IRS doesn't even understand tax laws there have been SO MANY new things tacket to the old laws, its just out of this world. FIXING is too hard I guess, so just add on- its easier (for the legislators).

My wife is a teacher. The DMCA has become a real threat to classroom instruction. Teachers used to use whatever they get their hands on to tech kids.

Now they have to wonder if they're breaking the law if they borrow a butterfly picture for a science lesson.

It's not just music by any means.

It is certainly clear that someone wasn't paying attention or, more likely, didn't understand what they were getting into when the DMCA was passed. We can all see the damage that it's done so far.

I second that buleraser, THANK YOU leflaw. Your doing something that will benefit us all, let us know how we can help (if we can help). I have been emailing senators and representatives, as well as getting my friends to do the same, saying that copyright law needs to be rethought and reworked.

and, thanks to George, Tom, Bill, and Code! it's a time consuming effort that pays nothing and gets too little credit.

These guys are the REAL superstars of civil rights...not cretins like Metallica!

I am seting up an organizational conference call this weekend to set up a board. Thats is my next move. In the interim, You might think about who else we could invite.

Bulk,

With a carefully written copyright reform act we can repeal the DMCA or selectively remove the parts that are particularly odious. Chances are by the time it gets throu congress it would have water subsidies for California and a Roads Project for Tennessee and another Freeway for West Virginia too. Also to have a snowballs chance in hell of passing it will need to have some buzzword/bullet point headings, and probably not be too radical. I would be interested in helping out in research or writing for a draft bill.

This republic NEEDS this kind of thing. For too long, citizens have just been the target of laws, and paying for the porkbarrel stuff. Like serfs, we have our lords tell us what rules we have to live by. And all these pompous congress people stand around thanking each other for their leadership, and asking for unanimous consent to "revise and extend their remarks" (meaning, say one thing in the well, and have another entered in the congressional record). Makes me sick. And, our "pal" , Orrin Hatch, has introduced legislation aimed at repealing the 22nd amendment (the one mandating presidents to be natural born citizens). Orrin couldn't be setting the country up for rule by an Austrian, now could he? Good thing we don't have a Reichstag to burn!

Really. That guys collar is too tight.

I would also link (in one way or another) the push for tort reform in this drive as well. Interesting how those like Sen. "Down-The" Hatch is all for tort reform with respect to the class-action lawsuits against the asbestos industry (a specific example among many) -- yet not only says nothing about, but actually SANCTIONS and APPROVES OF, this massive, across-the-board COPYRIGHT MALPRACTICE being perpetrated by the multinational entertainment-media complex and their pertinent alphabet-soup lobbies. Oh, and did I mention their essentially descending our "legal" system to the level of a corrupt Third World cesspool, to say nothing of the overall diminution[sp?] of our quality of life and the overall, whole-picture societal advances?

We would be interested in working on this. I might even be able to get the political science department at Boise State University interested -- remember, thats a "maybe"... The Department head there is an expert in Intergovernmental relations.

We must stay focused!!!!!!!!!!

The Subpoena and No-Bypassing Copy Protection provisions need to be repealed.

How about digital copies period? Should it be illegal to click and save a gif? How about deep linking?

Any possibility of getting the eff and moveon on board?

By definition we are all breaking the law each and every time we visit a web page unless you implicitly tell your browser to turn off it's cache. Such a sad state of affairs...

Hey Larry, this idea is a hell of a lot better then the Boycott RIAA Week. I'd like to volunteer to help out, just let me know A) who to talk to about info and B) where your needs are.

Also, you might consider scaling back the Boycott RIAA Week and having those people do some real good by joining this instead. My $.02.

Peace, Chuck, chuck(at)fatchucks.com

I didn't start the Boycott-riaa week, but its great to see you here, chuck. Fatchucks.com is a great site, and highly recommended to all.

Fossil - I sent you a dmusic note.

Larry, hate to ask again, but is there any possibility of getting the eff and moveon on board?

Someone will have to ask them. I will ask Fred von Lohman. I don't know anyone at moveon , so they are fair game.

Larry, send me a note with your contact info and I'll call you or reply in context. This idea could be THE ONE, apologies to Jet Li. Chuck

Hey, let me in on this! Also, I would be sure to get some folks from Lawrence Lessig's camp involved, if not the Professor himself.

Shmoo of Electric Gypsy

As I see it, to your average American, copyright reform seems like something that only involves the literati. We have wars going on, everyone is worried about just keeping their house or apartment, companies are going under, people are being laid off, the Patriot Act is now getting a little brother called the Victory Act (ala "victory" tea, victory cigarettes, from 1984 by Orwell), and thus, the problem is...
........How do you get people to see that copyright reform is something that involves them in their daily lives and is something that must be of a high priority.
Seniors can't afford their medicine,
guys and gals dying every day in SandCity...but the morning news on
NBC has become....tada...'THE KOBE BRYANT SHOW'

Any thoughts on how to jack up the importance of copyright reform in the popular agenda?

"Any thoughts on how to jack up the importance of copyright reform in the popular agenda?"

Bulkeraser,

Yes, and we're working on it. Long story short, highlight copyright abuses where people like Diebold or Disney abuse the system and put in terms that Joe Public "gets" without a whole lot of thought. Then, make it easy and fun for the the public to participate in overthrowing this crappy system.

It's going to take some time, but it will get done. Peace, Chuck.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! This page is getting forwarded to my active friends.. this is indeed good news!

George,

I can vouch for the fact that it affects education. I attend U. of Missouri, and I have an instructor that posts articles on her website. If she leaves them there for more than 2 days, she is called by the "library nazis" as she calls them. It's infringement after having articles posted for educational purposes for more than two days.

Some of these things are 60 pages long. I only get two days to stare at my lightbulb (monitor) and read it all.

Do you think it's infringement if I copy them to my hard drive so I can read them later? If so, I better get my pirate hook and get ready to defend myself, eh?

In pushing the DMCA, the RIAA and Congress have greatly impaired my opportunity to read for educational purposes.

TheSherminator-what statute or law generated this "two day limit"?
This is news to me, and any legal citation on statutes,laws, acts, etc. will be appreciated!
-bulkeraser

ps...FatChuck..thanks.
Motivating the public is the key to all this I think. Heck, you have them starving a woman to death in Florida pursuant to judicial ruling (victim is Terri Schiavo), and where is all the public outrage on this one.

What the heck? While I agree copyright reform is needed, I haven't agreed to serve on the board of copyrightreform.org nor have I been asked. Nor do I plan to accept if offered. I am going to be too busy with other things to participate to any level.

I may from time to time contribute an article, I may from time to time have a comment, but I don not intend to be a board member, not now, not in the future..

Bulk, I have no idea where the limit comes from. But I know she hates talking to library people now.

REEDOM!

hmmm..okay. i think it's clear that Bill's name should be expunged from that list, everyone agreed on that one?

LeFlaw.....count me in, if you want.
I do have some qualifications.

I like seeing this happen.
Email me at Operaghost(at)charter.net.
also available by tele, upon request.

No need to be a board member, for me. But this sort of thing needs to happen. It seems that the riaa, and others are just WAY outta control.

As for bill.....we are lucky for the occasional post! YAY bill! I KNEW we hadnt lost you entirely!

~time flies~

sorry for repeat post......but i believe this is what we need.
Boycotting is effective, it helps. look what we have done already.
BUT, its reactive. We need to be PROactive-these ppl are breaking the law, pure and simple.
I say we set it up, and do paypal.
perhaps even charge to be involved.
Boycott-riaa will always be here ( i hope)-im not leaving here anyway...
but...if we had a fund, and the expertise....
see what im saying?

~time flies~

"How do you get people to see that copyright reform is something that involves them in their daily lives and is something that must be of a high priority?"

The ironic fact is that the RIAA is doing that for us. Their actions alone have raised awareness of the problems with current copyright law, as well as the potential for abuse of the DMCA, far better than anything we could have done.

I believe that instead of just saying "Repeal the DMCA," there must be an alternative waiting to be put into place.

I'd love to help, but I don't think I have any way to actually help.

Nonetheless, geographic info. systems specialist at your service. I've thought of a few uses, but none too impressive. But it's worth a mention. If it can go in a database, I can make it sparkle.

I think we have to get focused on what we really need to accomplish.
Before the DMCA/RIAA thing, most people hadn't thought two thoughts about copyright law. And it seems to me, that mostof the copyright law problems involve the DMCA. I believe of course that the DMCA MUST BE REPEALED, and there are probably aspects of the 1976 Act that need work. Certainly, patent law is just completely out of hand. But, the easier things should be done first, and in general, repeal is easier than taking an existing law/Act and trying to change it into a more fair, more equitable thing.

I admit I haven't examined Creative Commons copyright model, but I believe it involves one assigning or selling their copyright. I feel that this assigning or selling a copyright, transferring it to someone else, or to a corporation, is the source of a great deal of evil, and I think that, although I hate the gov telling someone what they can or can't do with their own copyright, I am leaning toward a limited licensing agreement, with people being able to license it for two years, and a mandatory one or two years during which they cannot license it, kind of like farmers who let their fields lie fallow for a time.

For what its worth I beleive Janis Ian may be approachable as a potential board member and possible celebrity spokesperson for this Copyright Reform group.

Her websiste is www.janisian.com

She also has a BB there....

Just an idea anyway...

Copy"right" these days is copyWRONG. Start from there.

I think the whole problem started when we allowed sound recording copyrights in 1972. We didn't consider the nature of the industry. It was mob controlled and piracy driven ( i.e. they conterfitted their own product to avoid taxes, royalties, etc - Read "Hitmen" and "Stiffed"), unlike the other "copyright industries" (book publishing, television, Broadway, etc.)

George, you are right. The traffics stats of this site prove that.

leflaw and George. CodeWarrior, while he was here, on his sites, and in letters to leaders, points out that using a "point of creation" copyright establishment for origination of copyright pursuant to an original work being created, that all webpages are copyrighted, and that everytime someone visits a website,
that the DMCA is violated, since even pages that are public in nature (and thus there is a "general invite" going out by putting a page online) have all copyrighted materials copied to the computer hard drive. Since there is no doctrine of "implied authorization of first time use", and since, ALL materials are copied on a website (even those that say that you must have prior written authorization to copy/use), then isn't he right that every time a webpage is loaded a copyright violation occurs?
-bulkeraser

oh yeah, I meant to say that since the pay is copied in digital form to a visitors hard drive, and may not be deleted from the cache for years, and ALL of it is captured/copied, this would rule it as not fair use given than it is not just a portion but the whole enchillada?

Yes, and you can say the same thing about a television broadcast. Interestingly, a broadcast cannot be registered until it is reduced to a "best copy" - a material object. The waves themselves are not copyrightable.

It all boils down, to me, to the E=MC2 of copyright law -

A copy is a material object.
A Phonorecord is a material object
Obviously.
17 USC 101

Imagine the intellectual havoc that springs from that.

The analog and brick and mortor businesses want to slip undetected into the digital economy. Not so easy.

Most people that own a web page are not going to sue you for looking at it. But it IS a definite DMCA violation, especially if there is a copyright notice on the page.

So who is liable? The computer owner or the browser manufacturer? The user has no control, except to delete the files after the fact.

And what if you memorize something? Once I learn a song, I can play it any time. I've made a mental copy of a copyrighted work that I can reproduce at will and share. Do I have to pay a royalty every time I play the song? Or only when people are listening? How many people?

Larry, any word from Fred at EFF?

Sorry to keep bugging you with it.

Have a great day.

Paul

No, but I spoke with Goucher about a multiple panel. Seems ok...