RIAA Applauds Creation of Intellectual Property Task Force

[Miniver]

From Slyck.com

RIAA Applauds Creation of Intellectual Property Task Force
April 13, 2004
Thomas Mennecke

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has jumped on to the RIAA bandwagon by creating the so-called "Intellectual Property Task Force." Faced with increasingly sophisticated methods of piracy, the task force was created to help deal with the horrors of intellectual property theft.

The business of intellectual property theft, more commonly known as piracy, has taken many forms in recent years. Until the advent of commonplace digital replication, most piracy was relegated to VHS. Although this was a concern to copyright holders, the distribution method of such a bulky medium was less then desirable.

As we move into the age of cheap CD/DVD burners and broadband, the story has changed dramatically. Just about anyone with 50 bucks or an Internet connection can become a potential pirate. With the minimal cost of such an operation, copyright holders have been turning to the US government more frequently for help. The result has been the introduction of a wide array of legislation, such as the NET (No Electronic Theft) act and the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act.) In addition, copyright holders have also been able to enlist the help of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), and the DOJ.

Specifically, the DOJ announced on March 31 the creation of the Intellectual Property Task Force. Attorney General John Ashcroft named David M. Israelite, Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Attorney General, to head the task force.

“Today’s establishment of the Intellectual Property Task Force is a milestone in the Justice Department’s efforts to protect intellectual property rights,” said Attorney General John Ashcroft. “I have asked the Task Force to look at ways the Department can strengthen and improve our efforts to combat theft of intellectual property."

Mitch Bainwol, Chairman & CEO of the RIAA, weighed in on the issue.

"We applaud the Justice Department's formation of an Intellectual Property Task Force. We are pleased that Attorney General Ashcroft continues to make intellectual property an important issue. David Israelite is an exceptional choice to lead this timely effort. We look forward to working with him and the Task Force."

Although the DOJ's press release does not get too specific, it is hinted that physical piracy will be the primary target of this new task force.

"Well-organized criminal enterprises have recently begun to increase the scale, scope, and sophistication of international piracy and counterfeiting. Given the simplicity of disseminating millions of copies of stolen software, music, video, as well as other products and programs around the globe with a single computer click, and given the inconsistent enforcement of existing laws worldwide, it is imperative that intellectual property rights be reaffirmed and vigorously protected."

Considering recent evidence that suggests that file-sharing may actually promote music sales, one has the question the necessity of such a task force.

Link: http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=449

[Arch Stanton]

"horrors of intellectual property theft"? who writes this bullsh1t.

now this seems cause for worry. no longer do they have to convince the courts to act. they now have a branch of the government working only for them.'

ashcroft is a nutsack

[Lehk]

Seems to me that the task force will be more interested in the guys selling Windows for $10 on the street, THESE ARE ACTUAL PIRATES and they are bad for everyone, back home a computer store was shut down after selling pirate copies of windowsXP to customers who didn't know better, the result was alot of headaches for the people that bought windows then had to buy it again when they found out it was a cracked copy and couldn't be updated

[moneoa]

the task force was created to help deal with the horrors of intellectual property theft.

The horror....oh god the horror, I ran out of hard drive space.....god help the horror!!!!!!!!!
The horror of getting a corrupt file?
The horror of using your download cap for the month?

Yeah there are some horrors of file trading allright :gj

[moneoa]

I still laugh when I think of the word pirate...always brings to mind an actual pirate (eyepatch included)
Standing on the street going "arghhhhh but me warez matey"

[Miniver]

You can read the Department of Justice's press release here:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_ag_199.htm
You can read the RIAA's press release here:
http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/033104_3.asp

[Krell]

I still laugh when I think of the word pirate...always brings to mind an actual pirate (eyepatch included)
Standing on the street going "arghhhhh but me warez matey"

LMAO!

I actually do that imitation, and invariably it is followed by remarks from others like "hey can you get me a copy of . . . "


"anyone with 50 bucks or an Internet connection can become a potential pirate." This is bullshit, you cant become a potential pirate, you either are or you are not. Ths fact is, YOU ARE. What this should say is, that youre a potential TARGET. The reason that the gov is going after broadband users instead of street pirates, is that it is cost effective and easy to get people.

Lazy bastards . . . . you'll never take me alive !! buwahahahahaha


.

[moneoa]

LMAO!
"anyone with 50 bucks or an Internet connection can become a potential pirate." This is bullshit, you cant become a potential pirate, you either are or you are not.
.

lol
Krell man, taking hope from so many potential pirates, for shame.
Hey if I buy a house coat do you think I could potentially be Hugh Hefner?

How about if someone is full of s#it, they can be a potential Senator?
I like that...... :cross

[risingfoam]

i am sleepy.
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all i got to say on this topic is that in the end p2p will still be around.

[Miniver]

ashcroft is a nutsack

I agree 100%