Congress Bill S.978: End on Interwebs

[Emp]

Article:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/ten_strikes?akid=700.450896.5hVZPC&rd=1&t=1

Bills exact wording:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s112-978


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hytigOSjJxc&feature=player_embedded

^The video helps explain all this if your "dead in the head"

Those in favor of the bill:

[SPOILER-BOX]Interests that support this bill:



Book, newspaper & periodical publishing
Printing and publishing (printed & online)
Recorded Music & music production
Movie Theaters
Motion Picture production & distribution
Entertainment Industry/Broadcast & Motion Pictures
Commercial TV & radio stations
TV production & distribution
Telecommunications
Computer software
Attorneys & law firms
General business associations
Chambers of commerce
Professional sports, arenas & related equip & svcs
Teamsters union
Entertainment unions

Top recipients for ALL supporting interest groups

Name Amount Received Vote On Passage Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV] $2,335,183
Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY] $2,016,955
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY] $1,650,251
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA] $1,163,223
Sen. Michael Bennet [D, CO] $767,772
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT] $737,110
Sen. Robert Portman [R, OH] $714,176
Sen. Mark Kirk [R, IL] $471,721
Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR] $423,313
Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA] $413,000
Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28] $454,598
Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1] $360,989
Rep. Michael Capuano [D, MA-8] $320,580
Rep. Patrick Meehan [R, PA-7] $249,800
Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13] $243,319
Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7] $239,300
Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12] $218,080
Rep. Gary Peters [D, MI-9] $216,748
Rep. Nancy Pelosi [D, CA-8] $213,550
Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14] $209,610
Specific Organizations Supporting S.978



American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Directors Guild of America
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States
Screen Actors Guild
Motion Picture Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
Independent Film and Television Alliance
National Association of Theatre Owners
Ultimate Fighting Championship
American Federation of Musicians
American Intellectual Property Law Association
NBC Universal
Viacom
Sony Pictures Entertainment
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Association of American Publishers
Association of Independent Music Publishers
American Photographic Artists
AT&T
Broadcast Music, Inc.
Business Software Alliance
CBS Corporation
Church Music Publishers Association
Entertainment Software Association
Graphic Artists Guild
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
National Association of Broadcasters
National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Music Publishers' Association
National Basketball Association
News America Holdings
Newspaper Association of America
Picture Archive Council of America
Professional Photographers of America
Professional School Photographers Association
Reed Elsevier
PPL & VPL
SESAC
Software & Information Industry Association
Time Warner
Universal Music Group
Magazine Publishers of America
The Walt Disney Company
Writers Guild of America, West
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Entertainment Merchants Association
Global Intellectual Property Center

[/SPOILER-BOX]

Those against it:

[SPOILER-BOX]Interests that oppose this bill:



Human Rights
Militias & Anti-Government Groups
Consumer groups

Top recipients for ALL opposing interest groups

Name Amount Received Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY] $2,200
Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY] $600
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA] $500
Sen. Al Franken [D, MN] $500
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT] $250
Sen. Jim DeMint [R, SC] $0
Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH] $0
Sen. Max Baucus [D, MT] $0
Sen. Kent Conrad [D, ND] $0
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC] $0
Rep. John Boehner [R, OH-8] $250
Rep. Chellie Pingree [D, ME-1] $250
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5] $250
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10] $0
Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2] $0
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30] $0
Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3] $0
Rep. Dennis Rehberg [R, MT-0] $0
Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4] $0
Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12] $0
Specific Organizations Opposing S.978



U.S.W.G.O.
Demand Progress
Electronic Frontier Foundation

[/SPOILER-BOX]

Source for groups^: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s978/money

[FOkyasuta]

Oh geez. This was the last thing i needed to hear. Aaaand it looks like something might have a shot of coming over here. Not good.

[Seth Astra]

I have a rather hard time believing that, just from the title of the video. Of course, I don't feel like watching it or anything, but it seems highly pointless. What is the point of it, exactly? I highly doubt that video game companies support this, as I don't see how such videos could affect their profits in a negative manner. Anyone who isn't as lazy as me care to explain this?

[Emp]

I have a rather hard time believing that, just from the title of the video. Of course, I don't feel like watching it or anything, but it seems highly pointless. What is the point of it, exactly? I highly doubt that video game companies support this, as I don't see how such videos could affect their profits in a negative manner. Anyone who isn't as lazy as me care to explain this?

Video game corps would never agree to this. To put it simply, a lot of video gamers base their decisions on what videos show them, what ppl say in reviews, etc. If this bill is passed in its current wording, then basically all your video game reviews, gameplay videos, etc of your favorite video games will be deemed illegal and will have to be taken down.

Guess what? You will buy a game that you nothing about until purchase it that is.

[FOkyasuta]

Video game corps would never agree to this. To put it simply, a lot of video gamers base their decisions on what videos show them, what ppl say in reviews, etc. If this bill is passed in its current wording, then basically all your video game reviews, gameplay videos, etc of your favorite video games will be deemed illegal and will have to be taken down.

Guess what? You will buy a game that you nothing about until purchase it that is.

Just like the olden days.

[Seth Astra]

HU also helped explain it via a chat box we're both on. So basically, it's not intentionally doing this, but the wording may cause such a thing to occur anyway? Geez, Government is really overly complicated.

[Xefi]

America: Land of the Free!....maybe. :cat:

[Tyreek]

This would be an absurd bill to pass. Companies like Capcom usually depend on gameplay videos for user feedback and such. No way game companies could support this when this is the most streamlined way they've been doing things for years.

[blace]

Not to mention it also helps promote singers and other aspiring artists.

It just seems like a sure fire way to slow down the economy even further, while we fill in the politicians wallets.

[Powder Keg]

Then no one's going to buy games. It will never be like the old days because gaming is mainstream now, and there are thousands more than there used to be a year.

These people who propose these bills really need to get a life, and a hobby.

[BIG OLAF]

America: Land of the Free!....maybe. :cat:

Nope. Hasn't been for probably the past 100 years.

[Shinji Kazuya]

Just like the olden days.

Yup. Used to buy a monthly game maganize (a very good one too) 14 years ago.

[NoiseHERO]

Can't they just like give video game reviewers the license to do make vids? I doubt a company/website like gamespot is going to be strongly affected...

Aspiring artists...? They own their own work that they can do whatever they want with it right? <_>

[Nitro Vordex]

‘(A) the offense consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works; and

‘(B)(i) the total retail value of the performances, or the total economic value of such public performances to the infringer or to the copyright owner, would exceed $2,500; or


‘(ii) the total fair market value of licenses to offer performances of those works would exceed $5,000;’; and
So, I have to ask: How would someone lipsyncing to a song on youtube cost the owner of said song 2500 dollars? And how exactly would a company lose money by someone else streaming a video game for other people to watch? I would assume anyone streaming it privately isn't doing it to make a profit, so I highly doubt they'd be making any money from it. They're not claiming the video game is their work. I'm not entirely sure what this bill was REALLY supposed to be against.

[amtalx]

It won't pass. Calm down people.

[Randomness]

So, I have to ask: How would someone lipsyncing to a song on youtube cost the owner of said song 2500 dollars? And how exactly would a company lose money by someone else streaming a video game for other people to watch? I would assume anyone streaming it privately isn't doing it to make a profit, so I highly doubt they'd be making any money from it. They're not claiming the video game is their work. I'm not entirely sure what this bill was REALLY supposed to be against.

Especially when copyright violations and such are usually civil matters, and don't need statutory law, since case law already provides recourse?

Then again, it seems like 80-90% of Americans don't realize that courts actually can make law. Which is why I find the constant complaints of "legislating from the bench" stupid, because making case law is part of a judge's job. It's like people think the only source of law is legislation. (Which it is in some countries - but not the US)

[Emp]

So, I have to ask: How would someone lipsyncing to a song on youtube cost the owner of said song 2500 dollars? And how exactly would a company lose money by someone else streaming a video game for other people to watch? I would assume anyone streaming it privately isn't doing it to make a profit, so I highly doubt they'd be making any money from it. They're not claiming the video game is their work. I'm not entirely sure what this bill was REALLY supposed to be against.

No one said that the companies would lose money if someone streamed a video of some video game. If you watched the video, the guy clearly states that videos and reviews actually create profit cause they intend to persuade ppl to buy the games.

As for what you said about not claiming the video game is their work, you are right about that but let me state this. Yes its not their work, but if this bill passes then your infringing on the copyright. He says that any copyrighted material cannot be displayed or performed without the consent of the copyright holder. Basically in the bills current wording in relevance to video games, the bill is against illegal display and performance of video games such as gameplay videos and streams.

[Emp]

Sorry for double post..

I added info to the opening post. Click the spoilers in the opening post to see who approves of the bill and whose against or just click this link:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s978/money

Also I think this bill may apply to screenshots of games as well. Any screenshots like those you guys post on here might be deemed illegal if this is passed which sucks.

[Tyreek]

That would mean all our contributions to this site would be reduced to a steaming pile shit if they have their way. Which I doubt.

[Sinue_v2]

Nope. Hasn't been for probably the past 100 years.

Yeah, them's were the good ole' days when a man was free to work a job 60+ hours a week in horrid conditions so long as he lived in company housing and bought all their good through the company store. You just weren't free to leave the workplace on break... or, you know, when it was on fire. While the coal miners plight and Triangle Shirtwaist Co. fire are extreme examples, it should be noted that the luxury of "free time" in which to "pursue happiness" is a relatively modern invention for anyone other than the wealthy. One can argue that debt bondage is a thing of the past (except for many migrant workers, and other forms of rampant human trafficking, like sex slaves, still quite prevalent even here in America), and equally that debt bondage is still very much alive in the form of a relatively flat living wage forcing everyone onto 18~25% interest credit lines and home remortgaging just to stay afloat. At least in the latter case, there is the escape of bankruptcy.

Free? I'd say there's no such thing as true freedom in any form of a society wherein the unlimited rights of individuals is forced into finite confines of laws and regulations for the sake of living and working together as a collective whole. If the dream of freedom died, I'd say it probably happened sometime between the constitutional convention (when blacks, natives, and women were considered subhuman) and Shay's Rebellion. From there, it was simply on the life support of the frontier territories where civilization to enforce societal rules was sparse. That's since gone bye-bye long ago.


Insofar as this bill is concerned, it's nothing to really be concerned about. The wording is rather vague, but to argue that it will criminalize game reviews and posting of consumer opinions is slippery slope logic of horrendous proportions. If it ever does become an issue, and someone tries to pull that shit, you'll see it quickly amended. The videogame buisness has grown into a major industry which rivals (and is more relevant and technologically innovative) than Hollywood and music. It has also proven to be extremely resilient to recession. Much moreso than other industries, at any rate. Nobody is going to fuck with that cash cow. Hell, the Supreme Court recently struck down age-restrictions on sales of violent video games as a violation of the first amendment - even when they won't make the same concessions for pornography. (Hint: Videogames make more than porn, and there will be less resistance to the ruling due to our lovely puritanical values putting a far greater taboo on titties than on decapitations.)

I'm more worried about gene patenting issues in the hands of scientific illiterates and the lack of a cohesive and rational energy policy.

[Keilyn]

If it passes it will go on appeal...

The way American Senators and Congressmen get paid is by introducing some crazy bill which causes every major global company affected to send their lobbyists to bribe our senators and congressmen for their vote. Usually a bill doesn't pass and the newspaper USA TODAY tends to uncover the scandals and usually print out in full dollar amount the record of bribes.

The sad thing is no kind of justice affects these politicians as everyone denies everything.

The thing about bills like this is that they extend too much into other realms. When one bill is made which affects a category directly, it means it extends into subcategories and usually at appeal a bill gets overturned (even if signed into law) because the bill itself becomes far too difficult to actually exercise or enforce if applied.

The other problem about bills such as these in the United States is that our government is a Federalist Government. It means the states maintain their own individual government apart from the centralized (federal) government based in Washington D.C.

The bill hurts small states the most who use more communication technologies to promote their fragile economies and there is no way in hell that as a union at the local level people will shut up and say nothing about someting this big.

So relax, a fight does exist and the internet itself is a measure of promotion that really sends a message across. I personally think its another scare. ^_^

Well those are my two cents.

[SStrikerR]

I'm wondering why anybody would make a big deal about this. This is just another case of "stupid shit that will never pass"

[NegaTsukasa]

This bill is the last thing the government needs to be worrying about, if even that.
there is much larger crap to take care of.

95% of the internet is media based. and in a day and age such as this, this bill will be the bullet to the head. Entertainment businesses/industries are acting so selfish now its sickening.
What have they got to lose!? seriously!

And even if this does get passed, people are still going to post media anyway. And I doubt the government can send 99% of America to jail or rob them of their own money for fines. >.>

[NegaTsukasa]

I'm wondering why anybody would make a big deal about this. This is just another case of "stupid shit that will never pass"

agreed. but y'know, its the thoughts that also count on something like this, and whom supports it that shows or does enough damage emotionally to the mass public.

It'll probably never pass, but when I see something like this being acknowledged and supported one way or another in our world today, it reminds me of how stupid our government and how selfish our big industries can be to the world.

[Alisha]

epic fail