[Wsis-pct] HR 4077 (was Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] FBI Seizes Indymedia Servers in the UK)

[Taran Rampersad]

Richard Stallman wrote:

>    The seizure of Indymedia servers is just a tip of the iceberg. Consider
>    HR 4077 - relevant in the US, and wherever TRIPs will enforce it:
>
>What is HR4077?  Is that a bill being considered?
>  
>
Yes, Lessig mentioned it in his weblog. Of course, Lawrence Lessig might
be wrong, but I sincerely doubt it.

>The use of the term "theft of intellectual property" is an indication
>of how the authors of this bill are giving way to the propaganda
>of the publishers.  The only way to steal a copyright or a patent
>is to pretend to be the owner of it.
>  
>
That won't stop the bill from passing unchecked.

>If this is adopted as a law in the US, it will apply only to US
>activities and US entities.  The US government cannot enforce such
>laws on foreigners.  Indymedia's server became vulnerable to US
>law even though it was in the UK because the server was operated
>in the UK by a US corporation.  That is to be avoided.
>  
>
They can't enforce these laws on foreigners? Don't forget just last year
an Australian court was the court chosen for a libel case for a company
in the U.S. which had allegedly slandered an Australian resident; I
don't have the details at my fingertips but this is a real case. It's
also what people involved in law call a 'precedent'.

This is the internet. The rules are different, that's why there's a WGIG
- at least, that's what some of us hope.

-- 
Taran Rampersad

cnd at knowprose.com

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