Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Moderate Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (2188)	6/17/2003 7:00:58 AM
From: thames_sider	Respond to of 20773

There's a whole section on the programme here... news.bbc.co.uk and a link to watch it, also: bbc.co.uk Andrew Marr, the BBC poltical editor, is an excellent chap; was quite close to New Labour, I think - his views used to be very pro-Blair, back in the mid-90's - but he's more distanced from them now since joining the BBC. Possibly also because they've done so much to disenchant... but that's just IMO, of course.

To: Dale Baker who wrote (2188)	6/17/2003 10:26:18 AM
From: tsigprofit	Respond to of 20773

Hopefully this will change when the US has a regime change in late 2004...t

To: Dale Baker who wrote (2188)	6/18/2003 1:44:28 AM
From: Sultan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 20773

Senator Endorses Destroying Computers of Music Pirates Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Tuesday he favors developing new technology to remotely destroy the computers of people who illegally download music from the Internet. The surprise remarks by Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R., Utah), during a hearing on copyright abuses represent a dramatic escalation in the frustrating battle by industry executives and lawmakers in Washington against illegal music downloads. During a discussion on methods to frustrate computer users who illegally exchange music and movie files over the Internet, Sen. Hatch asked technology executives about ways to damage computers involved in such file trading. Legal experts have said any such attack would violate federal antihacking laws. "No one is interested in destroying anyone's computer," replied Randy Saaf of MediaDefender Inc., a Los Angeles company that builds technology to disrupt music downloads. One technique deliberately downloads pirated material very slowly so other users can't. "I'm interested," Sen. Hatch interrupted. He said damaging someone's computer "may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights." The senator acknowledged Congress would have to enact an exemption for copyright owners from liability for damaging computers. He endorsed technology that would twice warn a computer user about illegal online behavior, "then destroy their computer." "If we can find some way to do this without destroying their machines, we'd be interested in hearing about that," Sen. Hatch said. "If that's the only way, then I'm all for destroying their machines. If you have a few hundred thousand of those, I think people would realize" the seriousness of their actions, he said. "There's no excuse for anyone violating copyright laws," Sen. Hatch said. Rep. Rick Boucher (D., Va.), who has been active in copyright debates in Washington, urged Sen. Hatch to reconsider. Rep. Boucher described Sen. Hatch's role as chairman of the Judiciary Committee as "a very important position, so when Senator Hatch indicates his views with regard to a particular subject, we all take those views very seriously." Some legal experts suggested Sen. Hatch's provocative remarks were more likely intended to compel technology and music executives to work faster toward ways to protect copyrights online than to signal forthcoming legislation. "It's just the frustration of those who are looking at enforcing laws that are proving very hard to enforce," said Orin Kerr, a former Justice Department cybercrimes prosecutor and associate professor at George Washington University law school. The entertainment industry has gradually escalated its fight against Internet file-traders, targeting the most egregious pirates with civil lawsuits. The Recording Industry Association of America recently won a federal court decision making it significantly easier to identify and track consumers -- even those hiding behind aliases -- using popular Internet file-sharing software. Mr. Kerr predicted it was "extremely unlikely" for Congress to approve a hacking exemption for copyright owners, partly because of risks of collateral damage when innocent users might be wrongly targeted. "It wouldn't work," Mr. Kerr said. "There's no way of limiting the damage." Copyright (c) The Associated Press 2003 Updated June 17, 2003 5:54 p.m.