SOPA - It's really bad and you (yes, YOU) should call your Senator

[migopod]

So what is the solution to stop people stealing intellectual property?

You'll never be able to stop all of the people from stealing intellectual property any more than you'll be able to stop all of the people from stealing regular property, but based on what I've seen the best way to limit it is to make content available in a way that's convenient and relatively inexpensive to consumers. DRM and increasingly restrictive IP laws like the DMCA and the like have made legitimate fair use less convenient and haven't solved the issue of infringement. Personally I hardly ever get stuff illegally any more unless I can't obtain it from Netflix (for video content) or the Ubuntu 1 music store (for music).

[Bonehead]

So what is the solution to stop people stealing intellectual property?

If musicians, writers, artists and workers were the people that actually held the copyright, none of this would be a problem.

I write intellectually property for a living. I don't own a single copyright or patent to any of my work. In my field (programming), it's common practice to do a lot of copying - more than most people would like to admit, even in the larger companies.

I believe it's similar to music record labels. The artist don't own the copyright, the labels do.

From what I see, copyrights are not used to protect the IP creators. They are used by these third parties/middlemen against their competitors. The independent artists, whom the copyright is intended to protect, don't have the legal teams required to chase down people and apply the copyright.

[rudd]

Personally I hardly ever get stuff illegally any more unless I can't obtain it from Netflix (for video content) or the Ubuntu 1 music store (for music).

Agreed, Netflix has done more to curb movie piracy that any of the varied but consistently stupid schemes of the studios. Make content readily and conveniently available at a reasonable price, unfortunately greed gets in the way

[epeemike81]

still more work to do, but a good start:

[Gav]

What I find hilarious is that these guys have been getting SOPA hatemail.

[Inquartata]

Low information voter much?

Huh. I didn't realize it was up for referendum.

[peet]

Agreed, Netflix has done more to curb movie piracy that any of the varied but consistently stupid schemes of the studios. Make content readily and conveniently available at a reasonable price, unfortunately greed gets in the way

Exactly; just like iTunes did with music. It speaks to the music and movie industries' lack of vision for the future of media delivery (hell, the *present* even...) that a computer company had to come along and show them how it's done. And now Apple sells more music than anyone else in the US.

They just don't seem to get it that their old business model is dying and they better get with the new way or wither away. They're so stuck on this idea of selling little shiny plastic circles, and it'll kill 'em.

Another way to look at it: When you find yourself having to sue your own customers in court to protect your business model, you're doing it wrong.

-p

[Purple Fencer]

They just don't seem to get it that their old business model is dying and they better get with the new way or wither away. They're so stuck on this idea of selling little shiny plastic circles, and it'll kill 'em.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvXo4sGB7zM

Specifically around the 1:45 mark

[edew]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvXo4sGB7zM

Specifically around the 1:45 mark

I like that part where Eva Braun says, "Don't cry, Disney owns that emotion."

[Purple Fencer]

I like that part where Eva Braun says, "Don't cry, Disney owns that emotion."

Probably the best and most pertinent quote from the clip.

I'd have to watch more of the original film, but was that Eva? I thought it was one of the secretaries.

[edew]

Probably the best and most pertinent quote from the clip.

I'd have to watch more of the original film, but was that Eva? I thought it was one of the secretaries.

You're right. Eva is the one in the white with flowery pattern across the front.

[edew]

BTW, and not to indirectly godwin this thread, there's still one person from that bunker who is still alive today, Rochus Misch, the tall guy at the beginning of the clip.