Bill S.978: What's the Prob?
- Thread starter Mistaza
- Start date
Isn't it streaming not pirating?
cyberjim2000
Veteran
This will be interesting to see what this will do to "Let's Play" videos, speed runs, and amateur video game reviews.
NickKmet
Regular
De-Ting said:
No. Pirating is a more general term. Streaming applies only to media streams, not downloads like torrents. This law would, for example, make it a felony to watch copyrighted material on youtube, even if you had no warning that it was copyrighted.
That's a pretty big fucking deal if you ask me.
madster111
Rookie
Is anyone else seeing the very worrying trend the world has been following for the last few years?
We're not gonna be able to shit without our governments permission soon, and telling your friend what happens at the end of that movie will be 15 years of jail time.
We're not gonna be able to shit without our governments permission soon, and telling your friend what happens at the end of that movie will be 15 years of jail time.
@madster111
Funny you should mention that.
http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_147_ ... s-riaa_p2/
Hopefully #2 doesn't happen in real life.
@MattAY
From my understanding, now that I did more research, was that yes, it would be a felony to upload such videos, as the bill was more likely designed to stop people from uploading T.V episodes, full movies, or music videos; all of which are copyrighted material. It's just an unfortunate interpretation of the wording that affects videos of games.
However, the line "public performances by electronic means" is really concerning, mainly because it affects more than just video game footage.
Funny you should mention that.
http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_147_ ... s-riaa_p2/
Hopefully #2 doesn't happen in real life.
@MattAY
From my understanding, now that I did more research, was that yes, it would be a felony to upload such videos, as the bill was more likely designed to stop people from uploading T.V episodes, full movies, or music videos; all of which are copyrighted material. It's just an unfortunate interpretation of the wording that affects videos of games.
However, the line "public performances by electronic means" is really concerning, mainly because it affects more than just video game footage.
cyberjim2000
Veteran
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtex ... l=s112-978
Here you guys go. In case, you guys don't understand the bill itself... here's the bill for us to read.
Here you guys go. In case, you guys don't understand the bill itself... here's the bill for us to read.
Eyebrowsbv31
Rookie
Rakon said:
Two D's and a R, being screwed by both parties.
Per usual.
NickKmet
Regular
MattAY said:
Technically, when you stream content, you are downloading it. That's one of the reasons this is a big deal. You could literally be charged with a felony just for watching it yourself. That's how poorly this bill is worded.
As mistaza pointed out, the phrase "public performances by electronic means" has a lot of implications in terms of any media, anywhere.
Madster is pretty much right. The attempts by the entertainment industry to criminalize a lot of this stuff are indicative of the industry's inability to adapt to the internet as a whole. Basically a bunch of last resort, extreme measures that they think will somehow save their profits. Bunch of shit if you ask me. Most people won't understand what this law means, and most people will continue to break it if it ever passes.
LinksOcarina
Rookie
Um...
There is nothing to worry about because even if this passes (which it won't since it's worded horribly anyway and will never pass in congress) the companies will have to choose if they will enforce it, and 9 times out of 10 they don't give a damn anyway and won't enforce anything.
So there is very little to worry about.
There is nothing to worry about because even if this passes (which it won't since it's worded horribly anyway and will never pass in congress) the companies will have to choose if they will enforce it, and 9 times out of 10 they don't give a damn anyway and won't enforce anything.
So there is very little to worry about.
NickKmet
Regular
LinksOcarina said:
The RIAA spent years suing people for downloading the equivalent of $20 in songs, always winning millions in judgments. It took them years to figure out it made them look like assholes and that it did nothing to combat piracy. You think the comparative organizations in film and television will figure it out any faster?
But yeah, probably won't pass.
LinksOcarina
Rookie
yeah, because technically everyone is already breaking the law when they do lets plays or use game footage and music in videos without compensation. People have been breaking the law for years now, and the bill only tightens the reigns a bit more than it should. So nothing will change.
keepithowitis
Rookie
^It could make a minimal difference if they don't start actually cracking down on pirating. If they do there could be a ton of people sent to prison or fined in the near future. I'm assuming "copyrighted material" translates to music as well as games and movies, and music is pirated by a huge population of people in proportion to other copyrighted material. If this law passes and the government simultaneously starts to actively scan or shut down torrent sites/crack down on torrent users, there could be a lot of people getting fucked.
cyberjim2000
Veteran
LinksOcarina said:
I found this video from Notch's blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib7-vSrp6y8
Pretty much explains the bill itself and the impact Let's Play videos have on the industry. I personally don't watch them since I don't like to be spoiled but people like them, I guess.
