U.S. Gov't To Target Music, Movie Pirates

[Groovy Man]

U.S. Gov't To Target Music, Movie Pirates
June 22, 2010 - Legal and Management | Digital and Mobile

By Reuters

The United States will go after foreign websites that pirate American music and movie as part of a new national strategy to reduce intellectual property theft, Vice President Joe Biden said on Tuesday.

"This is theft, clear and simple," Biden said at a meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other Cabinet officials to discuss the new strategy, which also includes steps to reduce piracy and counterfeiting within the United States.

"It's 'smash and grab,' no different than a guy walking down Fifth Avenue and smashing the window at Tiffany's and reaching in and grabbing what's in the window," Biden said, referring to the jewelry store in New York City.

U.S. businesses estimate they lose billions of dollars annually due to piracy and counterfeiting of items including films, music and consumer goods, and blame the illegal trade for U.S. job losses as well.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office has battled to close websites in Russia, China and other countries that sell pirated American music and films.

Biden said the United States would exert increased pressure on foreign governments to shut down the sites by "being as public as we possibly can" about illegal activity.

"As we shine the spotlight on foreign governments that have rogue actors doing illicit business within their borders, it's the government's responsibility to respond," Biden said.

Biden did not mention any foreign websites by name. A recent USTR report said China's top Internet search firm, Baidu Inc, was associated with between 50 percent to 75 percent of illegal music downloads in China.

Several Russian websites still provide illegal downloads, even though the most notorious and formerly largest site, Allofmp3, was shut down in 2007, the USTR report said.

U.S. business groups welcomed the plan, which was mandated by Congress in 2008 and also includes steps to ensure that the federal government does not purchase counterfeit goods.

Biden framed that issue as a matter of both safety and national security, noting the risk of sending soldiers into combat with counterfeit Kevlar vests.

The strategy also includes new steps aimed at stopping the importation of counterfeit goods ranging from toothpaste and clothing to auto parts to medicine.

"The theft of virtually everything Americans make, create and innovate has been facilitated by the lack of a comprehensive strategy to put these thieves out of business," David Hirschman, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center, said in a statement welcoming Biden's announcement.

U.S. Gov't To Target Music, Movie Pirates

[Flower]

Good .. this is a serious problem.

On a lighter note, when I saw "Movie Pirates" this is what came to mind ~

[Groovy Man]

The U.S. Gov't has way more serious problem than this...

but, it's good to know Joe Biden is alive...

like Obama, Joe Biden is an empty suit.

[Lord Grendel]

What's new and improved about this policy?

It reminds me of the "War on Drugs", which has been going on for how many decades now? Other than stockpiling the US prison system with offenders I don't see it has worked out very well either.

There is 0 chance the US can pursue all the illegal downloaders and uploaders, the big fish maybe they can get a few of them, but until the US gets serious about illegal counterfeiting in countries like China, I will not have any respect for their position on this issue. Oh and they can't even get China to play on a level field with the value of their currency like everyone else, funny how that works, chase the minnows and ignore the Large predator you are in bed with.

[Magic]

This reminds me of the local flea market raid a couple weeks ago. This flea market is a huge tourist attraction since it has like 1000 vendors and the compound is HUGE. Anyway, there is a couple vendors who sell DVD's, CD's, and Games. They all got raided by the FBI.

Apparently they were selling pirated DVD's and CD's from China.


This isn't to be confused with downloading. This is clever pirates who package and market the pirated DVD's, CD's and Games to look exactly like the official releases. Then market them at a reduced price, usually undercutting the retail price by about a dollar or so.

Some of the pirated goods were available at the booths weeks before the American official release dates, since Russia and China receive new releases before the USA.

Piracy is a huge problem, and it is very costly to everyone.

[Magic]

Originally Posted by Lord Grendel What's new and improved about this policy? It reminds me of the "War on Drugs", which has been going on for how many decades now? Other than stockpiling the US prison system with offenders I don't see it has worked out very well either. There is 0 chance the US can pursue all the illegal downloaders and uploaders, the big fish maybe they can get a few of them, but until the US gets serious about illegal counterfeiting in countries like China, I will not have any respect for their position on this issue. Oh and they can't even get China to play on a level field with the value of their currency like everyone else, funny how that works, chase the minnows and ignore the Large predator you are in bed with.

I have to agree with you, LG. The war on drugs has cost tax payers billions, and we still have a huge drug problem.

The same can be said about the war on Pirates. I personally am upset that billions of tax dollars are spent on this. I feel we have bigger fish to fry than pirates. I would rather spend more money educating our children, dayum, the priorities are so out of whack!

[PinkFreud]

Originally Posted by Groovy Man The U.S. Gov't has way more serious problem than this...

I agree with this. Healthcare reform, government deficits, and the Gulf oil spill are all high priorities than entertainment piracy

[Soot and Stars]

I agree that we have bigger problems as well but this is nothing new with our government anyway! Usually it's just been plain censorship issues as a distraction for bigger problems!

[annie]

Bigger problems indeed, like Iran's nuclear ambitions.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by Magic I have to agree with you, LG. The war on drugs has cost tax payers billions, and we still have a huge drug problem. The same can be said about the war on Pirates. I personally am upset that billions of tax dollars are spent on this. I feel we have bigger fish to fry than pirates. I would rather spend more money educating our children, dayum, the priorities are so out of whack!

I also agree x2!

Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac, Stimulus fraud, etc. *Sigh*

Gotta give the veep monkey something to do.......

[AboutAGirl]

Foreign websites? Only foreign ones? That's like deciding to only target drug dealers who are from other countries.