6 Strikes – Because the DMCA Wasn’t One-Sided Enough

The debut of the 6-strikes system is now on us, and yet we have to wonder why it’s here in the first place. The US already has a robust court system for dealing with alleged infringers (and tens of thousands that have been targeted by it over the last few years can attest to that) as well as a notice-and-takedown system in the DMCA. So why do we need another system, this graduated response setup?

Star Wars Online

No, this isn’t the MMORPG (I prefer Star Trek Online) Instead, this is about an amazing use of technology to entertain.

As recounted in his tumblr, Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Ryan Weber was bored when stuck in the snow in Boston this weekend. So he created the following cool traceroute.

IPO Admits Censorship Overreach in Consultation Response

The ongoing saga with the UK Intellectual Property Office has taken a few steps forward, since I last talked about it. The situation at present is that they have admitted that some of the redactions were improper, and defended others. Details on what and why follow….

So, I hadn’t shared this with the wide world yet, but I’ve had some progress with my dealings with the IPO and their censorship engine. Last Friday (only a few days later than I had been promised) I got an email saying that they’d reconsidered things, and decided to include all but 4 points. Here’s the email (using the numbering from the rebuttal statement I submitted 6 weeks prior)

Subject: RE: Data from consult-2011-copyright-respond
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:02:09 +0100
From: Hamza Elahi
To: ‘Andrew Norton’ <XXXXXXX@ktetch.co.uk>

Andrew
After the redactions we made to your consultation response, you sent us a document (attached) querying those redactions.
We have now fully considered this in consultation with our lawyers and have decided:
1. To readmit 1-14.
4. To keep 15, 16, 17 redacted. It was felt that the comments made here did not qualify as fair comment.
5. To readmit 18, 19, 20.
6. To keep 21 redacted. It was felt that the comments made here did not qualify as fair comment.
7. To readmit 22.
My apologies for the delay in responding.
Your revised consultation response will appear on the IPO website shortly.
Best regards
Hamza Elahi

Policy Adviser, Hargreaves Review Implementation, Intellectual Property
Office 020 7034 2813
Interested in following Hargreaves Implementation?
Subscribe to updates at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/ipreview-whatsnew-rss.xml

I’m at the point where I’m not even surprised that he’s apparently redacted his own points 2 and 3…

Now, Contrary to what has been said, the updated response STILL isn’t on the site (as of this being published) almost a week later. But let’s break down what’s been allowed, and what’s not.

Here’s what they objected to, and didn’t consider fair comment marked in red. Incidentally, one part (marked in green) was approved.

33 When, if ever, would a collecting society have reasonable grounds to treat members and non-member rights holders differently? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your response.
They always have a reasonable ground to treat members and non-members differently. They should not collect for non-members work, and should not intimidate the public into licenses ‘just in case’ some of their members work is used. However, Collection societies seem to treat non-members as members for the purposes of collecting money.

34 Do you have any specific concerns about any additional powers that could accrue to a collecting society under an ECL scheme? If so, please say what these are and what checks and balances you think are necessary to counter them. Please also give reasons and evidence for your concerns.
I have significant concerns over the current powers such groups have. As stated before, they need a comprehensive audit and restructure, before they can even gain peoples trust or respect. At present, many consider them to be in the same category as low-class debt-collectors, the same kind you see on BBC Rogue Traders or Watchdog, and for the same reasons; underhand tactics, demanding money unnecessarily, and attempting intimidation to bring in funds.

44 What do collecting societies do well under the current system? Who benefits from the way they operate? Please explain your response and provide evidence for it.
As noted in the answer to 22 above, what they do best is intimidation, lies, and deception. Those that benefit from their methods of operation are the groups/organisations that get the major shares of the payouts and the company itself. Evidence is listed above in 22.

65 Do you agree that the imposition of a statutory code should be subject to review? How long should such a code be in place before it is reviewed? Please give reasons for your response.
That would depend on the circumstances of the imposition. However, the saying ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’ should be heeded. They are already getting away with significant abuses, and if, after a code, they continue, they should not get a THIRD chance to abuse their position.

The rest of the redactions, listed previously are acceptable to them now. What’s funny is they’ve said that claims of intimidation, deception, and malpractice “did not qualify as fair comment” in their opinion, but, they admitted in EVIDENCE OF INTIMIDATION, MALPRACTICE AND DECEPTION.

They admitted a phrase about it being a bullying experience, after sourcing the British Chamber of Commerce’s business survey finding the PRS ‘intimidating’(“aggressive” and “threatening” are the words the Chamber picked out in their press release, certainly sounds like intimidation to me.) You can’t say ‘ok we’ll accept your 14 points of intimidation, bullying, deceptive practices and deceit’ then go ‘you can’t SAY they do that though, we don’t think that’s fair comment’. It’s absolutely barmy!

Fair comment (or as it’s now known in the UK, “honest comment”) requires a believe that the statement is true based on the facts known to them. I know my statements are true, however they do not believe that my statements are true, or that they’re my honest belief, because they know differently, even after presenting evidence to back up my claims? It’s an ‘odd’ interpretation of law to say the least.

What’s even funnier, is that earlier this week Techdirt reported on a white paper, detailing problems with collecting rights organisations around the world. Funnily enough, it’s a collection of… intimidations  deceits, malpractice, deception, fraud, and other criminal acts. It’s quite an interesting read. While most of the cases were known to me at the time of the submission, I only picked out those that were less controversial  or done with, to avoid this very rigmarole.

Such cognitive dissidence must have a reason behind it. There’s two ways to find it out. I *could* file a lawsuit (either claiming I’m being libelled by the statement that accompanied the release as it damages my professional standing; I could also file for an Article 10(1) violation of the ECHR) or I could file a freedom of information request with the IPO to try and find out what was discussed about

I went with the latter. Of course, I can still go with the lawsuit if need be.

I’ll let you all know what happens when it happens. And in the meantime, I upgraded the timeline to something with a bit more ‘pizzazz’

IPO Redaction on Dipity.

Dragon*Con EFForums Track Panels 2012

The 2012 Dragoncon EFForums track schedule is up. I’m working the track again this year, and doing a lot of the sound work, and some video. I’m also down for two panels, (plus 3 more in the Brit Track at present that I’m still waiting for details on) and since the schedule is now out, I can reveal them.

UK IPO Redacts Responses Critical of Rights Societies

A major tool in policy-making is the Consultation. It is often the only way for regular members of the public to have any sort of input in the legislative process. The problem comes when these consultations are skewed towards a set response, or worse, evidence is ignored or suppressed; such as in the publication of responses focusing on Collection societies, where critical comments have been redacted, by the IPO.

Why You Should Join the Internet Defense League

If Yes you you can read this remember if you highlight it. That this, is then you not the remember point January 18th, though, is it? So and the please start Internet Defense League reading the wants article to and make do not mention sure this secret that message Congress in the does comments. It will be not our little forget secret. K`Tetch.

A SOPA Response from Rep. Austin Scott [GA-8]

NOTE This was also cross-posted at the Pirate Party of Georgia site

A week or two back, an email was sent to Rep. Austin Scott, who represents Georgia’s 8th District in Congress.

The letter you can read here, but finally we got a response.