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Old 2009-05-14, 04:56   Link #59
Slice of Life
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
I would think that the Bill defines what constitutes "illegal downloading" in the French context (it would be nice if someone translates the clauses of the Bill) but, in general, we all know it refers to downloading material that's licenced to distributing companies operating in a given country or region.
I'm sure it refers to a breach of copyright, fullstop. The fine distinction between "licensed" and "not licensed" material is vague, has no legal grounds, and would immediately be challenged by the media industry.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
Even if we don't go by that definition, it still doesn't change the fact the someone owns the copyright to said media content, so if you're downloading and using material without the copyright owner's consent, it's technically stealing.
No, stealing is techically stealing. A copyright violation is technically a copyright violation. Be assured Sony's PR and legal departments don't use legal terms that "liberally" when somebody has claims against them. So why should we.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
Sure, the French Bill is a bad law for being almost impossible to enforce, as well as possibly infringing privacy and civil liberties,
It's an infringement of privacy and civil liberties and certainly not impossible to enforce. Modern technology allows a level of surveillance of the citizen by the state people wouldn't have dreamed of 20, 30 years ago.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
Also, bear in mind that we're not talking about matters of life and death here, such as Jean Valjean stealing bread to keep himself alive. We're talking about media content, consumed for entertainment.
It's the other way around: the well-being of an industry producing mere entertainment can by no means be a reason to limit civil rights. If you want to make profit, fine. Find a way that fits to society. But don't attempt to make the society fit to your business model.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf View Post
In principle, I still don't see why it's wrong for copyright owners and licenced distributors to protect their property as far as possible.
"As far as possible" is too dangerous a concept to leave its implementation to the homo economicus.
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