[BC] Arrested for just telling people where to find Copywrited material.

[Cowboy]

On Tuesday 23 October 2007 07:48 pm, David Lawrence wrote:
>  On 10/21/07 8:25 AM, one Cowboy <curt at spam-o-matic.net> wrote:
>  
>   >>  Though not hosting an actual content himself, and rather merely
>   >>  providing links to where particular titles can be found, he was
>   >>  nonetheless apparently charged for the "facilitation" of copyright
>   >>  infringement.
>   >
>   >  So, help me out here, is it illegal to know a thing,
>   >  or to admit that you know a thing ?
>   >  George Orwell ?? Anyone ?
>  
>  Oh, come on. He doesn't just know - by publishing the locations and noting
>  how to use the links, he's willfully encouraging the illegal activities. Why
>  publish otherwise. You're smarter than that.

 You miss the point.
 He's apparently "published" nothing new, but merely a compilation
 of a few searches.
 Can the same not be said of Google, or Yahoo ? 

 While I agree a single site with this compilation is of questionable morals
 or scruples, I fail to see how this rises to the level of even a misdemeanor,
 let alone high crimes.
 Certainly it qualifies as bad judgment, both for the site owner/author and
 whomever is hosting it, and I'd not be surprised to see it taken down
 for what it is, but arrest and prosecution seems a bit much.

 On Tuesday 23 October 2007 07:48 pm, David Lawrence wrote:
>  On 10/21/07 4:01 AM, one Mark Humphrey <mark3xy at gmail.com> wrote:
>  
>   > Imagine the harm Public Libraries are doing!  Not only do they explain
>   > how to find copyrighted material, but share it, too. This used to be
>   > considered a good thing.
>  
>  Again, you're smarter than that. The libraries aren't peeling off digital
>  copies to all comers - when someone checks out a disc, they, and only they,
>  can use it. No other library patrons can come along and do the same until
>  the borrower brings it back.

 Partially true.
 Libraries for years have provided access to photocopy machines, where one
 could copy the pages of books, so you're only part right.

-- 
Cowboy