Re: [DMCA-Activists] Leaflets

[Edward Bishop]

Yes, I guess we have all had that experience. It is difficult 
to explain in a few words about DMCA. That is why I am writing
to this group, to find out how others are getting the message 
across.

When I talk about these things I don't even mention DMCA. Instead
I say, "A russian was arrested for enabling blind people to read
ebooks. It's only illegal in the US". Sure, it is oversimplifying,
but it is true, and it is outrageous, and people can understand it.

Or I say that "Disney lobbied congress to have copyright extended 
indefinately, which is against the constitution". Granted, some
people will just say "so what?", but those people will think twice
when Disney whines about piracy.

I also talk about fair use. These issues actually resonate with a 
large number of people.

And I tell people that the technology is stealthily being moved into
place to allow big media to dictate what they can watch, when they
can watch it, where they can watch it, how they can watch it.

You may think that it is not worthwhile trying to influence public
opinion. I disagree, and so apparently does big media, who are 
spending big advertising bucks trying to portray themselves as
victims in the copyright wars.

So, is there anyone out there who is interested in some grassroots
organizing?

-Edward

--- Dan Barrett <address@hidden> wrote:
> Summary: what can't people do now that they could prior to DMCA?
> Twaddle:
>   I'm not sure the general public can make the leap from DMCA to their own 
> lives no matter how hard we leaflet.  At this point, it's still a fairly 
> complex topic (ever try to explain your DeCSS t-shirt to a colleague in 
> thirty seconds or less?  I end up either oversimplifying or sounding like the 
> Unabomber).
>   The other day I was trying to make a point about the implications of 
> so-called "Digital Rights Management" schemes to one of my most cynical, 
> well-informed friends -- like me, a card-carrying member of the ACLU.  She 
> cut me off:  "Who cares?  I just want to rent movies without having to go to 
> the video store."  That's what it boils down to.  As Jello Biafra put it, 
> give me convenience or give me death.  I have watched people apply for a 
> credit card to get the following items for "free": 
> - a bag of Skittles
> - a pair of sunglasses
> - a paper-thin beach towel
> - a t-shirt with the credit card company's logo on it
>   
>   If you're willing to trade all control over personal financial data for a 
> freaking beach towel, then you're not going to understand the implications of 
> the DMCA until you get burned.  It won't sink in until you cannot do 
> something which you used to be able to do (e.g. check out a book from the 
> library).
> Similarly, corporations think the disemboweling of fair use is a great idea 
> until they get burned: witness MIT Press's recent decision to assert their 
> fair use rights in the face of unreasonable demands from the copyright 
> holders 
> (http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/lessig/blog/archives/2003_03.shtml#001018).
>   So, how has DMCA changed our rights, in concrete terms?  That's your 
> leaflet 
> material.
> 
> Yours,
> d.
> 
> -- 
> http://www.offthehill.org/~dan


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