Feds seize channelsurfing domain

[JimmyJack]

Re: Feds seize channelsurfing domain

No. shutting them down was about copyright violations which they should do. But you need to look at the big picture and what a government can do once they start doing this. Fairness Act, etc. What if they decide they don't like what a newspaper prints about government actions or an opposing view. Another example but a stretch, Facebook is used by sexual preditors to get their jollies, shut Facebook down to protect the children,

Sorry for the politics but I think this sets a bad precedent for the future and further eroding as our rights as citizens.

My heart is with you, Sturgis. I talk to my students about how the mainstream definitions of what is acceptable speech and what is not shift over time. Laws are just words on paper, after all, and humans either enforce those laws (or not).

But as you point out, this is really about Copyright, not free speech. Again, you could make a strong argument that our copyright law doesn't reflect the reality of digital, networked communication. You can argue that corporations have hijacked the copyright law to protect their interests while limiting our access to information (whenever Mickey Mouse nears the public domain, Disney spends a gazillion dollars in Congress and copyright gets extended another 25 years).

But seizing a Web domain over alleged copyright infringement and closing down a media organization in violation of First Amendment principles are two very different things. And nobody on either side of the political spectrum has made a move to do the latter... thank goodness.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Feds seize channelsurfing domain

I would almost be willing to bet my house that a service like Netflix has stopped more pirating than any law enforcement effort. I know at least 3 people personally who torrent about 1/10 of what they used to because they can now watch their favorite shows on Netflix.

I think you're exactly right. Most people want to be law-abiding citizens. If they have a choice, they'll do the right thing. The problem has been that media organizations and other owners of copyright over popular content have resisted giving people a choice and have treated their patrons like criminals rather than provide them with a legal alternative (I'm looking at you, RIAA).