eclectica
2004-11-02, 06:54
It's amazing that 60 million filesharers in the United States continue to be persecuted and treated as criminals when they are clearly in the democratic right. There is an explanation for it. p2p filesharing is a low profile issue and the people sooner think of issues such as Iraq, terrorism, and the economy. Of course ask any of the 6000 or so people sued by the RIAA whether it's a small issue and they will tell you that it's a big issue to them. While we hear of such statistics most of us have no connection to them any more than crime statistics affect our lives if we are not actually the victims of crime.
There's another reason that p2p filesharers have not done well, despite being a large group of people. Because the issue is low profile, it allows for the corrupt politicians to bend to the will of the special interests and lobbyists rather than to the will of the people. The solution is to raise public awareness of the issues of p2p filesharing for the people, and to hold the legislators responsible for their policies.
For the most part neither Democrats or Republicans can be called friends of p2p filesharing. Often the solution lies in other party candidates, who are not as corrupted. If you want to vote for a candidate there are other issues to consider as well. For me whether a candidate is a supporter of p2p filesharing is a good "litmus test", because usually such a candidate would have the courage to do what is right for the people rather than working for special interests. Some other issues you might want to research on your candidate would be how the person voted on: the impeachment of Clinton, the vote to reduce income taxes, the vote on the Patriot Act, and the vote to approve the invasion of Iraq.
The presidential election of 2004 is the biggest attraction of voting this year. I dislike both Kerry and Bush. Ralph Nader is the candidate I recommend voting for because he has a good stance on a lot of issues. On p2p filesharing, he has a great record as being a consumer advocate and will stand up against corporate special interests such as the RIAA, MPAA, and BSA. His organization Public Citizen, that he founded, filed a brief on behalf of p2p filesharers in the RIAA versus Verizon court case. You can read about that here (http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1612).
The following information focuses on some bills that have been passed in Congress or are pending, which affect p2p filesharers.
-Malevolent bills passed towards p2p filesharing
---Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281:) DMCA
105th Congress, H.R.2281 introduced 1997-07-29
House sponsor: Rep Coble, Howard House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02281:@@@P)
105th Congress, S.2037
Senate sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G.
bill status: passed in Senate 1998-05-14, signed by president Bill Clinton, and became law
Senate roll call vote 1998-05-14 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=2&vote=00137)
---P2P Piracy Prevention Act (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:h.r.5211:)
107th Congress, H.R.5211 introduced 2002-07-25
House sponsor: Rep Berman, Howard L. House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR05211:@@@P)
---Author, Consumer, and Computer Owner Protection and Security Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:h.r.02752:) ACCOPS
108th Congress, H.R.2752 introduced 2003-07-16
House sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR02752:@@@P)
---Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02237:) PIRATE Act
108th Congress, S.2237 introduced 2004-03-25
Senate sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. Senate cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02237:@@@P)
bill status: passed in Senate 2004-06-25 with unanimous voice vote
---Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR04077:) ART Act
108th Congress, H.R.4077 introduced 2004-03-31
House sponsor: Rep Smith, Lamar House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR04077:@@@P)
---Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02560:) INDUCE Act
108th Congress, S.2560 introduced 2004-06-22
Senate sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. Senate cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02560:@@@P)
+Benevolent bills passed towards p2p filesharing
+++Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.107:) DMCRA
108th Congress, H.R.107 introduced 2003-01-07
House sponsor: Rep Boucher, Rick House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00107:@@@P)
+++Benefit Authors without Limiting Advancement or Net Consumer Expectations Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR01066:) Balance Act
108th Congress, H.R.1066 introduced 2003-03-04
House sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR01066:@@@P)
+++Consumer, Schools, and Libraries Digital Rights Management Awareness Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:s.01621:)
108th Congress, S.1621 introduced 2003-09-16
Senate sponsor: Sen Brownback, Sam
Based on the list of the sponsors and cosponsors of the malevolent and benevolent bills towards p2p filesharing, we come up with a starting list of the enemies and friends of p2p in Congress.
- p2p enemies -
Alexander, Lamar
Berkley, Shelley
Berman, Howard L.
Bono, Mary
Bono, Sonny
Boxer, Barbara
Case, Ed
Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Coble, Howard
Conyers, John, Jr.
Daschle, Thomas A.
Frank, Barney
Frist, Bill
Graham, Bob
Graham, Lindsey O.
Hatch, Orrin G.
Hoyer, Steny H.
Hyde, Henry J.
Keller, Ric
Leahy, Patrick J.
McCollum, Bill
Meehan, Martin T.
Otter, C. L. (Butch)
Paxon, Bill
Pickering, Charles W. (Chip)
Sarbanes, Paul S.
Schiff, Adam B.
Schumer, Charles E.
Smith, Lamar
Stabenow, Debbie
Weiner, Anthony D.
Wexler, Robert
+ p2p friends +
Abercrombie, Neil
Andrews, Robert E.
Bachus, Spencer
Bartlett, Roscoe G.
Barton, Joe
Bell, Chris
Boucher, Rick
Brownback, Sam
Cannon, Chris
Case, Ed
Christensen, Donna M.
Cox, Christopher
Doolittle, John T.
Filner, Bob
Honda, Michael M.
Janklow, William J.
Kildee, Dale E.
Lewis, John
Lofgren, Zoe
McDermott, Jim
McHugh, John M.
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
Owens, Major R.
Pascrell, Bill, Jr.
Price, David E.
Rahall, Nick J., II
Stark, Fortney Pete
Wilson, Joe
Wynn, Albert Russell
There's another reason that p2p filesharers have not done well, despite being a large group of people. Because the issue is low profile, it allows for the corrupt politicians to bend to the will of the special interests and lobbyists rather than to the will of the people. The solution is to raise public awareness of the issues of p2p filesharing for the people, and to hold the legislators responsible for their policies.
For the most part neither Democrats or Republicans can be called friends of p2p filesharing. Often the solution lies in other party candidates, who are not as corrupted. If you want to vote for a candidate there are other issues to consider as well. For me whether a candidate is a supporter of p2p filesharing is a good "litmus test", because usually such a candidate would have the courage to do what is right for the people rather than working for special interests. Some other issues you might want to research on your candidate would be how the person voted on: the impeachment of Clinton, the vote to reduce income taxes, the vote on the Patriot Act, and the vote to approve the invasion of Iraq.
The presidential election of 2004 is the biggest attraction of voting this year. I dislike both Kerry and Bush. Ralph Nader is the candidate I recommend voting for because he has a good stance on a lot of issues. On p2p filesharing, he has a great record as being a consumer advocate and will stand up against corporate special interests such as the RIAA, MPAA, and BSA. His organization Public Citizen, that he founded, filed a brief on behalf of p2p filesharers in the RIAA versus Verizon court case. You can read about that here (http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1612).
The following information focuses on some bills that have been passed in Congress or are pending, which affect p2p filesharers.
-Malevolent bills passed towards p2p filesharing
---Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281:) DMCA
105th Congress, H.R.2281 introduced 1997-07-29
House sponsor: Rep Coble, Howard House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02281:@@@P)
105th Congress, S.2037
Senate sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G.
bill status: passed in Senate 1998-05-14, signed by president Bill Clinton, and became law
Senate roll call vote 1998-05-14 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=2&vote=00137)
---P2P Piracy Prevention Act (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:h.r.5211:)
107th Congress, H.R.5211 introduced 2002-07-25
House sponsor: Rep Berman, Howard L. House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR05211:@@@P)
---Author, Consumer, and Computer Owner Protection and Security Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:h.r.02752:) ACCOPS
108th Congress, H.R.2752 introduced 2003-07-16
House sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR02752:@@@P)
---Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02237:) PIRATE Act
108th Congress, S.2237 introduced 2004-03-25
Senate sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. Senate cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02237:@@@P)
bill status: passed in Senate 2004-06-25 with unanimous voice vote
---Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR04077:) ART Act
108th Congress, H.R.4077 introduced 2004-03-31
House sponsor: Rep Smith, Lamar House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR04077:@@@P)
---Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02560:) INDUCE Act
108th Congress, S.2560 introduced 2004-06-22
Senate sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. Senate cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02560:@@@P)
+Benevolent bills passed towards p2p filesharing
+++Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.107:) DMCRA
108th Congress, H.R.107 introduced 2003-01-07
House sponsor: Rep Boucher, Rick House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00107:@@@P)
+++Benefit Authors without Limiting Advancement or Net Consumer Expectations Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR01066:) Balance Act
108th Congress, H.R.1066 introduced 2003-03-04
House sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe House cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR01066:@@@P)
+++Consumer, Schools, and Libraries Digital Rights Management Awareness Act of 2003 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:s.01621:)
108th Congress, S.1621 introduced 2003-09-16
Senate sponsor: Sen Brownback, Sam
Based on the list of the sponsors and cosponsors of the malevolent and benevolent bills towards p2p filesharing, we come up with a starting list of the enemies and friends of p2p in Congress.
- p2p enemies -
Alexander, Lamar
Berkley, Shelley
Berman, Howard L.
Bono, Mary
Bono, Sonny
Boxer, Barbara
Case, Ed
Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Coble, Howard
Conyers, John, Jr.
Daschle, Thomas A.
Frank, Barney
Frist, Bill
Graham, Bob
Graham, Lindsey O.
Hatch, Orrin G.
Hoyer, Steny H.
Hyde, Henry J.
Keller, Ric
Leahy, Patrick J.
McCollum, Bill
Meehan, Martin T.
Otter, C. L. (Butch)
Paxon, Bill
Pickering, Charles W. (Chip)
Sarbanes, Paul S.
Schiff, Adam B.
Schumer, Charles E.
Smith, Lamar
Stabenow, Debbie
Weiner, Anthony D.
Wexler, Robert
+ p2p friends +
Abercrombie, Neil
Andrews, Robert E.
Bachus, Spencer
Bartlett, Roscoe G.
Barton, Joe
Bell, Chris
Boucher, Rick
Brownback, Sam
Cannon, Chris
Case, Ed
Christensen, Donna M.
Cox, Christopher
Doolittle, John T.
Filner, Bob
Honda, Michael M.
Janklow, William J.
Kildee, Dale E.
Lewis, John
Lofgren, Zoe
McDermott, Jim
McHugh, John M.
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
Owens, Major R.
Pascrell, Bill, Jr.
Price, David E.
Rahall, Nick J., II
Stark, Fortney Pete
Wilson, Joe
Wynn, Albert Russell