How do I get the government to stop helping me?

[rolanni]

If members of the House Judiciary Committee have their way, there will be far fewer vendors hawking illegal copies of your favorite holiday blockbusters in Times Square this time next year.

Several members from both sides of the aisle – including Chairman John Conyers of Michigan and ranking member Lamar Smith of Texas – on Tuesday introduced a bill, H.R. 4279, that would further crack down on intellectual property violations, and create several new government positions with the power to enforce the new law.

Here's the rest of the story, including such gems as:

A provision in the bill allows the government to seize "any property used, or intended to be used, to commit or facilitate the commission of a violation … that is owned or predominantly controlled by the violator or by a person conspiring with or aiding and abetting the violator in committing the violation."

A spokeswoman for the Judiciary Committee said she was looking into whether that would allow authorities to seize a family's computer in a download case.

But, hey, the RIAA loves this thing, so it must be Good, right?

Right?

Comments

[elbales]

Intended to be used?

And how exactly are our illustrious leaders going to determine said intent? You'll have to pardon me if I admit to feeling extreme skepticism.

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

So, does this mean they're going to give a wossname about the PRC's flagrant disregard of Bourgeois copyright law? Or anything else that happens over there? Or is it just folks who run off copies of their favorite shows & albums?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm thinking it'll be a lot easier on the staff -- and a lot more fun, too -- to just terrorize grandmothers and little girls right here at home...