UK internet "3 strikes" scandal: debunking Mandy

[Qubit]

Techdirt does a pretty good job of covering the world of intellectual property and the abuses by Big Media (RIAA/MPAA) in America and the rest of the world including England, of course. They've got governments all over the world in their pocket to work against their people in order to stifle innovation to protect an outdated and corrupt business model - and it seems to be working.

After being wined and dined by Hollywood big cheese David Geffen, our governments' Peter Mandelson has suddenly done a u-turn and is now in favour of 3 strikes. Gosh, what a coincidence! On top of that he's gone on record defending it.:bs::bs:

Here's an article debunking his arguments, from top to bottom, courtesy of Techdirt. Use this as a reference to speak knowledgably if you are challenged about this in conversation or protest.

Techdirt: Peter Mandelson Defends His Sudden Conversion To Kicking People Off The Internet (quite long)

Remember, the Digital Britain report took 3 strikes off the table as a lame-ass idea only a short while ago, but it's suddenly back on the table courtesy of our unelected Mandy and his pal Dave.

And guess what? Five minutes later the BSA is getting in on 3 strikes!:nutkick:

It just gets worse and worse.

Techdirt: BSA Jumps Onto The Three Strikes Bandwagon

Another excellent source of info on these abuses is www.p2pnet.net run by English guy Jon, in Canada.

 

[Jeddy]

called politics. Gay Mandy will suck whoevers **** is offering him the best deal at the time.

The scariest thing is when the tories win the next election he will still be buried in the political system with MASSIVE powers and un-fireable.

 

[Qubit]

called politics. Gay Mandy will suck whoevers **** is offering him the best deal at the time.

The scariest thing is when the tories win the next election he will still be buried in the political system with MASSIVE powers and un-fireable.

Yeah, that's sickening. Regardless, Big Media will corrupt whoever is in power, whether it's Mandy or someone else.

I wonder, if Thatcher had still been in power, would she have been so malleable?

 

[Qubit]

The worst part of this is that it isn't just file sharers who'll get caught up in this. No, as IP tracking has been proven to not be a reliable way of identifying someone, people who never file share are gonna find themselves on the wrong end of the stick - and correcting the error will be an uphill struggle at best.

What a nightmare.

 

[Rastalovich]

We'll be ok, it says england

 

[Youngie1337]

Can I ask a serious question here?

Say I was looking for a game in my drawer and I open the case to find there is no darn CD. I see the serial on the back of the book but no disc. I can't find it and I'm not paying for a game I already have. Would downloading that game and using my CDKEY be illegal? I do own the game and have a legit serial number, how can they class that as piracy?

When something is good enough it will sell, people do respect companies still. Recently I have been purchasing all my software because of my income increasing dramatically.

 

[Rastalovich]

Grey area, and I think all publishers would say ur in the wrong.

Afaic, looking it as the media as a delivery method and the key as a license to use - I'd personally be ok with it.

However, there are versions of software 'meant' to be used as methods of delivery, and there are those that are not meant for distribution.

IF the eula relies more heavily on the license key, i.e. in the realm of online gaming I believe it's the majority of the case, as u can download as well as buy a cd/dvd - even as far as versions of windows u can legitimately download - as long as ur license key is purchased and valid, ur good to go. Infact I would go to the extent of saying these days microsoft care very little where u got the windows install AS LONG as u have a legitimately purchased key. (for example a laptop u bought in a pub with a dodgy install and u go online to purchase a key after it falls over)

How do u read the eula without a cd/dvd would be tricky.

With a legitimately purchased key - I wouldn't personally worry that I've broken laws, perhaps one has been technically fractured, in terms of copying of intellectual property, but on the grand scale of things u have endeavoured to be legal.

There is a question floating around here about, what if u have the original and for some reason u stepped on the cd/dvd or it's hubring has broken (as my vista ultimate ones are) from poxy laptop trays. I'm sure publishers customer services have an answer to this - but it will surely cost u money.

This is another reason to backup ur software, which ur entitled to do, and work off the backup.

 

[Kylevdm]

I do a similar thing Youngie, I hate discs! so I download the isos for my games, I own them all and do not download anything I have not bought. I would convert them myself but that takes forever!

 

[Rastalovich]

Shouldn't take long m8.

Often a fast method of install, and a smaller footprint, can be to copy the contents of the cd/dvd to ur harddrive in a folder.

I guess u go with a no-cd option too.

(we're talking about being legit owners here first, and it'd be best to keep it on those lines as OC3D has strict rules on this subject and we're pretty close as it is)

 

[k4p84]

I use ISO's and daemon tools at work for most of our disks.

Everyone has access to the disks and it means they dont lose the original disks, use them as a coffee mat

 

[Youngie1337]

Shouldn't take long m8.

Often a fast method of install, and a smaller footprint, can be to copy the contents of the cd/dvd to ur harddrive in a folder.

I guess u go with a no-cd option too.

(we're talking about being legit owners here first, and it'd be best to keep it on those lines as OC3D has strict rules on this subject and we're pretty close as it is)

NoCD methods are not being used any more AFAIK, companies finally realise that switching discs is rather annoying. Which tends to lead people along the lines of piracy and the dark side.

But my question wasn't piracy related or talking about piracy rather the law and backbone behind it. So perhaps I should ask the company? But the company is bust now and have no website, I don't see the game around town .

Personally I think that all of the games should be available for download on-line, the internet is where the future is at. With using a tough algorithm for CDKEYS I'm sure there would be little piracy. I don't see how it would increase piracy since people download it illegally anyway, this way would be legal.

But then again I would most likely get banned by my ISP and taken to court over downloading something I already own from Microsoft.com.

 

[Kylevdm]

Agreed!!! I reckon that all games should come with a USB key with the iso on it or available to download even if you buy it in store

 

[Rastalovich]

Game on a chip anyone ?

I seen 4gb usb pens for £2.95 ex today. Manufacturers could use them, cut down on packaging.

Be greener LOL.

 

[Kylevdm]

If they buy in bluk they could more then likely get them for a £1 or 2 for a 8GB version

 

[Rastalovich]

Trouble is, the optical media costs them pennies iirc.

Justifies the pricing, aye

Thing with the usb drive, it could be parted into 2 so upd8s could go on the 2nd part Oo

(there's always upd8s)

 

[sammytomjohn]

but this is just heresay really as it has been mentioned before what happens to people who have their internet piggy banked etc..

 

[Youngie1337]

but this is just heresay really as it has been mentioned before what happens to people who have their internet piggy banked etc..

I didn't mean to completely stop selling discs, they should also have a downloadable version available. Nothing worse than losing your disc and having to go buy another copy of software for £50 when you have the serial code.

 

[Freak]

i wouldnt by another cause i lost the disk.

I would download it from anywhere. legal or not - i have already paid for it and so own it.

 

[Kylevdm]

most manufactures will send you another disc for £7 or so but that is still a rip off!