BS: The end of Mudcat?

Subject: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:21 PM

Just got this from MoveOn.org:

Dear MoveOn member,

The worst idea to come out of Washington in years (and that's saying a lot) is flying through Congress like a freight train with wings, and we need to move quickly to stop it.

The Internet Censorship Act would allow major corporations to shut down sites like YouTube, Facebook, or even MoveOn.org by claiming copyright infringement—with no proof, and no due process. A simple allegation would force search engines, advertisers, and credit card companies to shut down any site you rely on.1 100 legal experts have written a letter saying it would literally "break the Internet's infrastructure."2

For example, if you (or Justin Bieber) wanted to post a video to YouTube of yourself singing a Beatles song, a record company could force the Department of Justice to shut down all of YouTube. Really.3

The Internet Censorship Act is being rushed through under the radar by massive media companies who've spent so much money lobbying and donating that the bill now has broad bipartisan support. It could come up for a vote before the end of the year, and if that happened right now—before most people had ever heard of it—it would pass easily.

That means we have just days or weeks to raise the alarm and shine the light on what the Internet Censorship Act would do. We've got a plan to launch a major publicity campaign immediately, with online and TV ads, viral media, and a big organizing effort targeting key members of Congress—if we can raise $125,000 today.

There's a growing group of major Internet companies like Google on our side, so we have a real chance at beating this thing. Google says the bill "sets a precedent in favor of Internet censorship and could jeopardize our nation's cybersecurity."4

But now the bill's backers, like Comcast and Viacom,5 have the upper hand. Democrats and Republicans have joined hands to support Internet censorship in a classic case of both parties working for the 1% when they think the 99% won't notice.

The key is to keep the bill from passing long enough to get the word out. Senator Ron Wyden is currently blocking the bill in the Senate, with the support of MoveOn members and other progressives. A new wave of support and public pressure starting today is crucial to defeating this bill and protecting the Internet as we know it.

We're ready to start making and running ads, activating organizers in the states of key congressional leaders, and taking on the Internet Censorship Act's corporate backers directly to raise the profile of this fight. But unlike the other side, we have no deep-pocketed corporate contributors. We just have each other. So can you donate today?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/nointernetcensorship1.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=4

This is a fight we can win, if we jump in right away.

Sources:
1. "House Version of Rogue Websites Bill Adds DMCA Bypass, Penalties for DNS Workarounds," Public Knowledge, October 26, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268060&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=5
2. "Law Professors' Letter on SOPA," Electronic Frontier Foundation, November 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268067&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=6
3. "Why Is Justin Bieber So Hackin Mad?" SaveTheInternet.com, November 2, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268061&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=7
4. "Testimony of Katherine Oyama, Copyright Counsel, Google Inc. Before the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act," House Judiciary Committee, November 16, 2011 (PDF)
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268447&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=8
5. "Understanding SOPA: The House debates the Stop Online Piracy Act," Yahoo! News, November 16, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268445&id=33396-1452401-6BDju%3Dx&t=9

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: gnu
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:28 PM

"... if we can raise $125,000 today."

Yeah. Like You Tube can't pull ten times that outta there ass in a nanosecond? Am I missin sommat here?

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:29 PM

The AVAAZ email newsletter has been focusing on this and has already submitted over 800,000 names to Congress from people objecting to this proposed legislation.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:30 PM

Max started a thread about this a week or two ago and that's what all of the Stop Censorship banners are about.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:46 PM

My apologies, michael. Max didn't start it, but he did comment. It's HERE.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: gnu
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:50 PM

Yes, I know about Max. But what is this plea for $125,000 in donations? Why would anyone ask for donations to total $125,000 when You Tube makes that in less than an hour? Along with other sites?

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 05:05 PM

I dropped myself off the moveon e-mail list because they sent me too much to read. I think they do excellent work, however, and their videos and other press materials are first-rate. I can easily see how they might need $125,000 for a campaign.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 05:53 PM

Thanks kat, I didn't realize the connection.

MoveOn is asking for donations to produce and get on the air some ads that will esxpose this atrocity. Sure, they could ask for $125 million, but how realistic would that be?

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 06:35 PM

While I don't trust the financiers of this bill I don't trust the accuracy of some of its opponents either.

Free speech comes with a bill.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: gnu
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 06:43 PM

I hope Max weighs in on this. If he says it's worth a donation I'll consider it. But, at this point, I don't see why .coms that make HUGE sums of money and stand to suffer can't pony up what is a pittance to them. It just don't add up to me... unless I just don't understand... can anyone explain this to me?

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 08:16 PM

FYI (my emphasis):

According to an article in the Washington Post dated March 10, 2004:

    "The Democratic 527 organizations have drawn support from some wealthy liberals determined to defeat Bush. They include financier George Soros who gave $1.46 million to MoveOn.org Voter Fund (in the form of matching funds to recruit additional small donors); Peter B. Lewis, chief executive of the Progressive Corp., who gave $500,000 to MoveOn.org Voter Fund; and Linda Pritzker, of the Hyatt hotel family, and her Sustainable World Corp., who gave $4 million to the joint fundraising committee."[17]

MoveOn.org ceased receiving any donations to its 527 after the 2004 election, and closed the 527 permanently in 2008. MoveOn's primary source of funding is its members. MoveOn.org raised nearly 60 million dollars in 2004 from its members, with an average donation of $50.

For more info on them, CLICK HERE.

I wrote an op/ed about them when they first started in 1998 and had often spoke with one of the founders, Joan. I later became a member and have never regretted it. I did change my notification thing with them because I was getting so many alerts, etc., but I still donate a little when I can and sign their petitions, etc.

Unfortunately, in the system of government we have right now, it takes fire to fight fire. Funds are needed to counteract Faux news and others who woo the masses with lies and fear-mongering.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:06 PM

I don't buy this BS. You can do a Beatle song if you want to. There's no law being broken. You just can't make a profit from it. Open mics that gets taped and posted all the time. Never gonna happen. Stop wasting our time.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:40 PM

So far as I can see, any site that gives lyrics to help people under what I think is fair usage will be vulnerable under this act.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:43 PM

And it is so nice to know we will be assured of having assholes like josepp around here..................


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:45 PM

(or maybe not, I'm UK - but where's that wind up? - follow US or a fragmented web?)

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: Louie Roy
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:53 PM

I don't quite agree with what josepp posted many mudcatters will remember what happened to the record lady's free music program by one asshole threat with a hole in the wall record store in Florida

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 09:47 AM

See Max's post on the subject. He has been to court trying to fight this stuff on Mudcat. Josepp knows not of what he speaks.

Subject: RE: BS: The end of Mudcat?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 11:40 AM

josepp, if you are going to comment on copyright law, please learn some first.