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El Reg reports
The US Copyright Office is asking the tech industry and members of the public to comment about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and in particular the rules governing copyright infringement.
Section 512 of the DMCA gives ISPs and internet hosts immunity from prosecution if material that infringes copyright, such as music tracks, is taken down promptly if the entity owning the rights to it protests. "Repeat infringers" are penalized.
[...] The DMCA was signed into law in 1998, and since then flaws have been consistently pointed out in the legislation, not least with section 512. So the Copyright Office wants to know how to improve things.
"The Office will consider the costs and burdens of the notice-and-takedown process on large- and small-scale copyright owners, online service providers, and the general public", the request reads.
"The Office will also review how successfully section 512 addresses online infringement and protects against improper takedown notices. To aid in this effort, and to provide thorough assistance to Congress, the Office is seeking public input on a number of key questions."
In the request for responses, the Office posits 28 questions it would like answered, including how the legislation is working in practice, what legal precedents are affecting its operation, and whether takedown notices are effective. It also asks for any academic studies on the matter.
[...] The guidelines for submissions will be posted on February 1 and the open period for comments ends on March 21, so there's plenty of time to get a submission ready. How much good this will do, however, remains to be seen.
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday January 09 2016, @04:56PM
I don't know whether or not that is true. Neither do you, even though you stated that as a fact.
More importantly, the ends don't justify the means. I value freedom of speech, private property rights, and not having victimless crimes over having more shiny stuff.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Wednesday January 13 2016, @04:34PM
There's a lot wrong with current copyright law, true. And some people would in fact write and paint and play music because they enjoy doing so, but Stephen King would write a lot fewer books and your favorite musicians would release a lot less music. It's a fact that you can't live without money in this society, and unless you're rich or retired you have to work. No copyright means writing is no longer a job.
But copyright is way too long, and I think noncommercial file sharing should be legal.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Wednesday January 13 2016, @05:50PM
I don't know what a society with our level of technology without copyright would look like. As far as I know, none exist. I can't draw a conclusion as to whether or not what you're saying is true.
But I ultimately care more about the freedom of speech and private property angle than the discussion about innovation.