Leaked UK government plan...

[loopy2222]

BREAKING: Leaked UK government plan to create "Pirate Finder General" with power to appoint militias, create laws

A source close to the British Labour Government has just given me reliable information about the most radical copyright proposal I've ever seen.
Secretary of State Peter Mandelson is planning to introduce changes to the Digital Economy Bill now under debate in Parliament. These changes will give the Secretary of State (Mandelson -- or his successor in the next government) the power to make "secondary legislation" (legislation that is passed without debate) to amend the provisions of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988).

What that means is that an unelected official would have the power to do anything without Parliamentary oversight or debate, provided it was done in the name of protecting copyright. Mandelson elaborates on this, giving three reasons for his proposal:

1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements (for example, he could create jail terms for file-sharing, or create a "three-strikes" plan that costs entire families their internet access if any member stands accused of infringement)

2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement. (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove websites, block URLs, etc)

3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live; also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web)

Mandelson is also gunning for sites like YouSendIt and other services that allow you to easily transfer large files back and forth privately (I use YouSendIt to send podcasts back and forth to my sound-editor during production). Like Viacom, he's hoping to force them to turn off any feature that allows users to keep their uploads private, since privacy flags can be used to keep infringing files out of sight of copyright enforcers.

This is as bad as I've ever seen, folks. It's a declaration of war by the entertainment industry and their captured regulators against the principles of free speech, privacy, freedom of assembly, the presumption of innocence, and competition.

This proposal creates the office of Pirate-Finder General, with unlimited power to appoint militias who are above the law, who can pry into every corner of your life, who can disconnect you from your family, job, education and government, who can fine you or put you in jail.

More to follow, I'm sure, once Open Rights Group and other activist organizations get working on this. In the meantime, tell every Briton you know. If we can't stop this, it's beginning of the end for the net in Britain.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/19/breaking-leaked-uk-g.html

[bluefeather]

Oh my:eek:
Letter to MP template and petition needed on here methinks.:D Nip it in the bud before they have a chance to put a spin on it.

[Ian2day]

I dont need much more proof that the government is an active party in the theft of Intellectual Property from the individual. Look at its industry co-colaborators. All engaged in abhorent activitys in the false guise of this and that. When in reality it is all about the fight for CONtrol of your mind, body and soul.

[djhooker]

they can create all the shitty laws they want, when it comes to the internet, you're in bandit country, and them hackers won't take no shit from these cunts. in fact fuck em, we'll just create our own internet!

where there's a wall there's a way.

[phemohilia]

they can create all the shitty laws they want, when it comes to the internet, you're in bandit country, and them hackers won't take no shit from these cunts. in fact fuck em, we'll just create our own internet!

where there's a wall there's a way.



Ahhahahahahahahaha!!!! Awesome!!! :D

[rollotomaz1]

I can see where this ones going to end up, the very telephone lines and optical apaches we use will be soon under government control, then they can pull the plug from their keyboard as and when they want, without a connection we are in the dark forever.

So powerful is the W's 3 becomming for the layman they are really worried they will loose overall control, its our own achilles heel if this happens, what's next what's fecking next :mad:.

Better break out the carrier pigeons if they haven't all died from the bird flu.

[spongeblip]

So wait.. they want to target internet pirates above and before Somali pirates? :D:D:D:D

Oh retarded overlords, why do you embarrass yourselves so with your illiterate plans and your mediocre minds with your teeny tiny phallus's? :rolleyes:

I want to propose a new white paper to counter Mandelson's et New Labour's idiotic plans..

Penis Mandate Statutory Instrument H.R.H. Spongeblip I 2009 :rolleyes:

Section 1:

A: "No man with a penis below 7 inches is to":

1. pass the gates and progress into parliament and/or
2. obtain a position of power.

Someone please do pass the message on.. Yes that's right, I said Tits to Mandelson :p

[Ian2day]

Never heard of pirate radio?

[spongeblip]

Never heard of pirate radio?

True.. lol..

My sister's dad has been on the run from "them" since the late 80's. They have tried to "collect" his equipment endless times, yet he always seems to be on air a couple of hours later.... :D