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

[miltron at mindspring.com]

I see it as a fundmental freedom-of-speech/press/association issue, if the 
information is publicly available anywhere at all.....
M
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cowboy" <curt at spam-o-matic.net>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] Arrested for just telling people where to find 
Copywritedmaterial.


> 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