Lamar Smith Proposes Expanding Hollywood's Global Police Force

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120709/12574819634/lamar-smith-looking-to-sneak-through-sopa-bits-pieces-starting-with-expanding-hollywoods-global-police-force.shtml

by HistoryInAction • 14 years ago

80 24 14 years ago

techdirt.com

Rasiej• 14 years ago

The death of the Open Internet by a thousand cuts starts.

HistoryInAction2• 14 years ago

Yep, push back once, and they'll try, try again until decisively checked... apparently, 2000 in front of the NY Senators wasn't enough ;)

rhizome• 14 years ago

When beaten back, even in the miniscule way that they have, they reveal more and more of their priorities by attrition. The elements that were in SOPA/PIPA/etc. that aren't in this, we can figure are the things that they're secure with, or that they don't care about. Regardless, there's plenty of business intelligence in the selection criteria between then and now.

politician2• 14 years ago

Ah, the good ole boy 21st district candidate. This corrupt politician has free reign as long as his district remains gerrymandered. Just throw a few bones to the rednecks and a few kickbacks to the rich white folk and then collect checks from the MPAA/RIAA.

Seriously, look at this map: http://lamarsmith.house.gov/District/InteractiveMap.htm

politician2• 14 years ago

I just want to clarify my definition of corruption. I believe a politician is corrupt when his or her district looks like the end-game of a round of Go. Or two simultaneous rounds as is the case in district 21.

oacgnol• 14 years ago

It's particularly insidious when you see that a large part of tech-friendly Austin is under the district as well. We are but a drop amongst the sea.

Off-topic: I can't help but to note how meta your username is right now.

pi18n• 14 years ago

brilliant observation

regularfry• 14 years ago

It is utterly mindboggling to me that gerrymandering is legal in the US.

CWuestefeld2• 14 years ago

Not only legal, but required. It's another example of how something that was intended to ensure the voice of minorities, has turned into a tool for entrenching the powerful.

cafard• 14 years ago

Well, as the name tells you, it goes way back.

Iowa, I believe, has a fairly rational process for redistricting. Civic virtue? Lower stakes?

albertsun• 14 years ago

If only some tech billionaire could set up a SuperPAC to defeat this guy in 2012.

Here's his Democratic opponent in 2012 https://candaceduval.nationbuilder.com/contribute

gojomo• 14 years ago

It's a safely Republican district; if Smith was to be defeated, it would have been in the GOP primary. (He cruised to victory over two challengers from more libertarian/tech-friendly backgrounds.)

greenyoda• 14 years ago

If Smith were to be defeated the RIAA would just start throwing money at whoever became the chairman of the committee that he's currently in charge of. (The new chairman would likely be another Republican since they currently have a majority in the House.)

Corruption is so deeply entrenched in the system that you won't get rid of it by throwing out one politician, no matter how influential. The best approach might be to publicize as widely as possible how the system works in the hope that there will eventually be widespread support for reforming it (maybe by passing a constitutional amendment to outlaw the kind of legalized corruption that we call "campaign finance" in the U.S.). If I were a billionaire, that's what I'd put my money behind.

r00fus• 14 years ago

Anyone who thinks Democrats have a monopoly on MAFIAA-corrupted legislators needs to seriously examine this Republican.

A truly corrupt individual.

nhebb• 14 years ago

Historically, contributions by the RIAA have been pretty evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Lobbyists care more about influence than they do about the R or D after the name. Politicians care more about reelection campaign funding then they do about ideology.

Edit - sources:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cycle=2012&cm...

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00139519...

You need to look through the last few election cycles for a full picture. The MPAA, it seems, leans towards Democrats, but they do shift contributions according to which party controls each chamber.

guard-of-terra• 14 years ago

Maybe now countries around the world will see that strong copyright is an one-way street to channel money for USA. And then we'll see adoption of more public-oriented copyright regimes.

damian2000• 14 years ago

I'd never heard of Lamar Smith before, but the name conjures up the image of a sheriff in a cheesy western, ready to cut the bad guys down with a six shooter.

hastur2• 14 years ago

The Committee hearing is happening RIGHT NOW.

You can see the topics and watch a LIVE VIDEO here: http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/Markups%202012/mark_0710...

Note: As can be seen on the topic list, there are a number of different topics, and the IPAA is not being discussed yet as of writing this comment. (This second, they're talking about Child Prevention Act of 2012, HR 6063.)

HistoryInAction2• 14 years ago

It's possible that some disagreements between Republicans and Democrats will prevent IPAA from coming up in today's markup, reports seemed to indicate as of last night.

hastur2• 14 years ago

Good to know, thanks. Where did you learn about that?

BTW, did the stream suddenly die? Or did they finish or go into recess when I wasn't watching?

Lamar Smith Proposes Expanding Hollywood's Global Police Force

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