Gamers' Advocacy Group to Fight Anti-Streaming Bill

[Matthew Lynch]

Wi

It astounds me how blatantly ignorant this legislation is.

Its basically useless, because it does absolutely nothing to give the copywrite holder anything.

And while we are at it.. Is it not funny how if you were to steal a copy of a game, film, album, book, in physical format it would be considered a misdemeanor, however if you stream or download the exact same thing your life is essentially ruined with a felony charge. (because once youve served your sentence for a felony, it basically destroys your ability to get a job, make a living, support yourself, basically be anything but a drain on society, etc.)

So the moral of the story is, If you steal something from someone or a store, its no where near as bad because either the owner or the store have already purchased it from the publisher. But if you infringe on the copywrite, your directly taking money out of that publishers pocket, so you must be made to pay to the point you wish you were dead.

Sounds an awful lot like the using litigation to protect corporate interests. But yeah, lets make sure we protect those poor poor publishing corporations even beyond what falls within the standing of "usual" punishment.

Absolutely, positively agreed! That is precisely the problem with many "criminal" activities in general (i.e. Punishment WTF?) that pervade the United States, and this bill is no different. A felony for what is bits of data that one merely watches?!? As you state, what of those who actually steal physical merchandise in "real life?" Surely one could argue that is by far a greater offense, whereas I see no feasible reason that a Youtube video could undermine a publisher, let alone affect their profits beyond infinitesimal percentages (possible for the better, no less).


But my overall feeling? The U.S. government: STAY OUT OF THE INTERNET. It is nice here without you, and that is all.

What I find most outrageous is that clearly this is legislation put forth by corporate interests that will be our dime as tax payers just to see the legal process through. Shouldn't the nation focus its "internet policing" on issues that could actually help everyone (e.g. hackers, cyber-crime, ect.) or, crazy as it sounds, work out the plethora of issues of high importance? As with the California Law, I am left curious as to the priorities of politicians given the state of affairs across the country. The Economy, education, military spending -- there isn't even a need to list the obvious "should be" priorities over a damned video game or youtube video. In this case, the internet is an especially wide battlefield and the idea of the government trying to throw themselves into the fray is ludicrous given the circumstances.

But here is what I really want to know:

How can this Anti-Streaming nonsense possibly land someone a felony charge, But GE got away without paying taxes? Just one of many questions of a similar nature, really.

Watch the links that me or VMmies posted here. It will clear up everything nicely and put your fears txo rest.

 

[stoffregen89]

Really dont hope this get passed... If USA starts a law more countries are bound to follow up on it.. and this law is really too stupid to get passed

 

[savandicus]

I'm almost getting tired of chastising people on the internet over this, this bill is not making illegal something that's currently legal, it's just adding additional punishment to already illegal activities.

Like it or not, posting a let's play on Youtube is already in violation of the game's copyright. All this bill would do is add more fines and jail time to the crime.

That's interesting, considering that Let's Play is considered a deviant work, which means that all you would need to technically acknowledge it properly as such is a fair use notice, unless of course they change the definition of Fair Use again.

I'm pretty sure posting a thorough playthrough of a video game falls outside of fair use, even if you're making "witty" commentary overtop of it.

I think you've miss understood how things work at the moment. If someone posts a lets play onto youtube then the game company has the right if they wish to demand it removed and for no more of their content to be put on youtube. If they did this then posting a lets play would be an infringment of copyright and an offense. However because lets plays are at their core free advertisement and the lets play's actually gain companies alot of profits because people see them and then buy the game companys allow them to post their content.

TLDR: If i post a stream of Starcraft 2 on youtube, its not a violation of copyright.

 

[(LK)]

It's infuriating to live in California and to have to sit there and watch every bad copyright law in the US knowing that at least one of your senators probably sponsored it in the first place.

It's terribly frustrating when you write to your representatives to oppose a law, when you know they're one of its' strongest supporters or even the person who wrote it. Feinstein in particular has a talent for sending letters of reply that feel like you're being patted on the head like a child: "That's nice, dearie. Go on and play, now"

 

[(LK)]

(whoops, double-post)

 

[Arkhangelsk]

"Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Are they just gonna throw this away? The government is full of shit.

 

[Mad1Cow]

Could someone explain to me how anyone ever thought this was right? Oh because all 10 year old gaming nerds are about as morally wrong as a rapist, I'm sorry...if it really is just people like Activision who worry that a video game enthusiast won't play a game because they've already seen someone play it, that's the biggest load of bull ever. In many cases, people have bought games because they've been able to make an informed decision based on the footage. For sense this no makes and I don't know why anyone would support it...

 

[dee_dubs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYoCHMaUak

Im worried but this guy has an interesting point.

He's basically saying that even if the bill passes, it's too much effort to track down and charge every person who is breaking this law, but I doubt that's the way this would be enforced. I think it's much more likely they will target a few high profile cases, and very publicly rake them across the coals in an attempt to intimidate everyone else (like what has been done with a lot of piracy cases in the past).

 

[Pat8u]

I support Notch and X on this one Yes is someways devs can already take down vids on youtube all this is doing is making it a jailble offense THIS should not be passed

 

[Pat8u]

Not to sound like a dick, but this is an american problem.

This law has no effect on other countries like Britain as we have our own laws and procedures,You have the bill of rights and use the first amendment etc. while we use another way entirely.


Now this would be more serious if the U.S government was telling us that The whole world had to follow this law but its not.

If it did go through, it wouldn't spell the end for "Let's play" videos as people from other parts of the world that U.S laws do not effect can and will still make them.


However I am hoping that this bill doesn't go through as I have seen quite a few good Let's play videos come out of the USA...........that and I'm against any government deciding to control what is and always has been a free rights service.

Ahh so tb safe but you know the us will try to take over the internet cause they failed with the taking over the world thing

 

[Pat8u]

Well being in the middle of a Crash Bandicoot LP I say SUPPORT THE HELL OUT OF IT!

I want to watch this lp link please

 

[EHKOS]

Well being in the middle of a Crash Bandicoot LP I say SUPPORT THE HELL OUT OF IT!

I want to watch this lp link please

Well being the modest person that I am I will warn you I'm new at it and have shit commentary. If commentary isn't your thing I can also direct you to the best CB Lper, one GarlandtheGreat, also on Youtube.

Mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOWyRxSivA

His:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0asnLZeYvE&feature=channel_video_title

 

[Ranorak]

I'm curious what would happen if I, as a European, would post a Lets Play video on Youtube, and the copyright holder decides to be a dick and sue me.

Would the US government ask for me to be deported and serve jail time? Even though it's not a crime here to upload said videos?

I'm by no means a lawman, even of my own country's rules, but it seems really odd that a country can punish me for breaking their rules if I'm not a citizen.

 

[Tiger Sora]

Boy I'm seeing alot of hate missiles directed at this bill, good. The real problem with this bill is it would make millions of people criminals, and it's just unenforceable due to the mass population size thats doing this.

It'll never pass, or if so, glad I'm Canadian.

 

[Ziggy the wolf]

um...why the hell does anyone care?! i mean it is something you can watch if you don't think you will be able to see how it goes. also it can also be seen as a walk through and helpful to gamers who are not that good at their hobby.

 

[DTWolfwood]

They are already sending out CD's to all the popular movie and tv show streamers on Justin.tv

I guess this law would actually give those CD's some power eh?

"Cease and Desist" FYI

 

[Gindil]

I'm curious what would happen if I, as a European, would post a Lets Play video on Youtube, and the copyright holder decides to be a dick and sue me.

Would the US government ask for me to be deported and serve jail time? Even though it's not a crime here to upload said videos?

I'm by no means a lawman, even of my own country's rules, but it seems really odd that a country can punish me for breaking their rules if I'm not a citizen.

You might be interested in this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.300128-The-cost-of-the-war-on-piracy-Extradition-to-the-US?page=1]

 

[Ranorak]

I'm curious what would happen if I, as a European, would post a Lets Play video on Youtube, and the copyright holder decides to be a dick and sue me.

Would the US government ask for me to be deported and serve jail time? Even though it's not a crime here to upload said videos?

I'm by no means a lawman, even of my own country's rules, but it seems really odd that a country can punish me for breaking their rules if I'm not a citizen.

You might be interested in this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.300128-The-cost-of-the-war-on-piracy-Extradition-to-the-US?page=1]

That was indeed very interesting, and more worrying.
While I never hosted a website with the sole purpose of streaming other people's tv shows.
I do fear for the future if I could be forced to go to another country for a law they made up, while being perfectly legal here.

In fact, this is already the case.
As a citizen of the Netherlands. I can legally download music off the web.

Spoiler: Article 16b: A breach of the copyright ... is not considered ... the duplication, which stays limited to a few examples and can solely be used for practise, study or personal use by the duplicator. Artikel 16b:

Als inbreuk op het auteursrecht [..] wordt niet beschouwd [..] de verveelvoudiging, welke beperkt blijft tot enkele exemplaren en uitsluitend dient tot eigen oefening, studie of gebruik van degene die de verveelvoudiging vervaardigt of tot het verveelvoudigen uitsluitend ten behoeve van zichzelf opdracht geeft.

This is done so that any one can copy a copyrighted product for teaching purposes or personal use only. We do, however, pay a additional tax on empty CD and DVD's to compensate.

However, the way America has been policing the internet lately. Lets not even begin to discuss that the internet is by no means under American law, or anyone's for that matter. I could get arrested and deported to America for something that is perfectly legal here.

This stuff is insane and it just shows that Copyright laws are more important then people.

 

[The Lugz]

That's interesting, considering that Let's Play is considered a deviant work, which means that all you would need to technically acknowledge it properly as such is a fair use notice, unless of course they change the definition of Fair Use again.

I don't think that fair use has changed meaning. It's just that now you have to spend millions of dollars in court to prove you're in the right.

it's the golden rule, whoever has the gold makes the rules.
been like that since the dawn of civilization it's nothing new I assure you

 

[Matthew Lynch]

Boy I'm seeing alot of hate missiles directed at this bill, good. The real problem with this bill is it would make millions of people criminals, and it's just unenforceable due to the mass population size thats doing this.

It'll never pass, or if so, glad I'm Canadian.

Exactly. I live in the UK but one of my fic co authors lives over in the US...he and I both agree that the FBI probably has much better things to do...like hunting down REAL criminals then going after 9 year old kids who posted a video commentary.

NOT TO MENTION that if a 9 year old kid got jail time...for 5 years...it would be political suicide.

Finally, and I have said this hundreds of smegging times. This isn;t making new things illegal. The guy on VKmies link said that you can ALREADY get 5 years in the slammer for breaking copyright. Its not making anything illegal that isn;t already illegal. Has any of you hate missile launcher actually READ THE BILL?