tristanb: I'm amazed there are people who support these laws! Whose side are you on?!
I think the pre-existing copyright laws are imperfect, and I think the planned surveillance, entrapment, and restriction of traditional freedom is wrong and unjustified.
Further, this is just going to open the door for all kinds of surveillance and intrusion.
It sets a very dangerous precedent for warrentless communication search and surveilance.
For example, I do not wish to recieve a court summons for downloading open source software just because some corporate idiot on a whim thinks it violates a microsoft/apple/sun copyright of patent. Nor do I wish to be stopped in the street by a police officer who wants to check if the underwear brand I bought from ebay are genuine.
tristanb: I try to educate everyone I know on how to use torrents and get these things for free. The only "theft" is that being committed by overpaid drug-addled record company execs and overly-sexed "rockstars". They don't deserve a cent.
How do you suggest independent film makers and authors are compensated for their work? Is there any creative work at all that you value and are willing to pay for?
tristanb: If someone takes a screenshot of this post, I don't expect to be paid royalties. I am paid to work, I get paid for my work. I don't get paid for a copy of it.
Some people are paid only per copy. Many independent software developers for example. What do you suggest? Go work for a corporation instead?