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Anna-aurion

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Name changing

2 min read
I see everyone changing their usernames and I know I won't because I'm happy with my name.

That is all.

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....

1 min read
Um.....

DA..What are you doing?
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You've probably heard a lot on DeviantArt, and possibly some other sites, about a new "copyright bill" that will make it illegal to host copyrighted material on sites like DeviantArt and YouTube, and will make it a felony to draw fanart or write fanfic using characters from anime or whatnot, punishable by jailtime and some huge-numbered fine.

As someone who has actually read through this document outline what the "bill" is for, I can basically tell you what it's about and what all you need to fear from it.

Let me give you a link so you can read along: [link]

First off, it's not a bill for a new law. It's a bill (specifically, S.978) for an amendment, or add-on, to an law that already exists and has existed for some time now, the copyright law. This bill contains recommendations for policies to be added in with the currently existing policies for stuff that the current law doesn't cover. Basically, it's saying "some new stuff has come up that we think needs to be covered in the copyright law along with everything else".

The copyright law itself, which I've already said has been in effect for some time now, already has restrictions on sharing copyrighted material on websites, since back when internet piracy first became an issue. DeviantArt and YouTube already have rules and terms of use that run off of these laws, though they are mostly ignored by the people who upload stuff.

However, what's in this bill that will be added on to the law if the bill gets passed?

Tighter enforcement of copyright on drugs and medicine - Simply put, meant to keep cheap imitation drugs from being imported into the country, since not only do they hurt the pharmaceutical business, they also harm people who use them.

Allowing software companies to get help from the government to enforce copyright on software and stop the sharing of devices which allow people to get around software restrictions illegally - Basically, a further step into preventing software piracy. There are devices out there nowadays (like most everything else in this bill, it's in response to new and emerging technology) that can be used with computers and software to remove restrictions and locks which normally protect the software or prevent unauthorized use. This would allow the people who make that software to get help in stopping and shutting down the organizations that create and distribute these devices.

Allowing music artists to collect royalties when their recordings are broadcast on the radio overseas - America is the only country that DOESN'T allow this, and to do so would be a big help for the music industry, as it would also serve to enforce copyright on downloaded music.

Define copyright infringement by streaming as a felony in appropriate circumstances - HERE's where a lot of people get confused. This only has to do with PIRATES who steal/rip material from official websites and upload it onto their own site, or onto sites like Justin.tv or UStream (YouTube already has this as part of its rules, so that's nothing new) and stream it for personal gain or for profit. This is a willful, intentional violation of copyright, and the only thing about it that's "new" and needs to be added to the existing law is the fact that it involves streaming, which is a fairly new thing.

And now for the things which the bill does NOT involve, though so many people have claimed that it does.

- making drawing fanart a felony
- making writing fanfiction a felony
- making streaming gameplay videos a felony

I've also read up on articles about Google's resistance to the bill. The exec chairman Schmidt says that he's afraid it'll infringe upon "freedom of speech" like how China's government has had their stuff censored so people can't look up certain things on their local Google pages. However, the articles also mention how Google makes most of their profits from advertisements for sites that subscribe to them, including sites where pirated material is distributed, so if they were given a court order to cut links between themselves and any of these websites, it will cut into their profits since they won't be able to advertise those sites anymore. So when you stop to think about that, you start to wonder if Google is really looking out for anyone besides themselves here.

The creator of Minecraft has also expressed a distaste for the bill, but only because he thinks it will outlaw gameplay videos, which it doesn't. Copyright law already outlaws illegal sharing of game SOFTWARE over the Internet, but gameplay videos (AKA "Let's Plays") are not game software. However, instead of fighting the bill, he claims that he and other independent game developers will add on to their ToS that gameplay videos of their game software will be allowed. Another thing to note about this bill is that it does not impose a mandatory enforcement of copyright on all material worldwide; license holders have and will still reserve the right to allow sharing of their material.

Here are some links to other people talking about the bill:
Let's Rant with Frozenfoxy - [link]
*KairiSama21's journal - [link]

As mentioned in the video link given, it is likely that the rumors about the bill were initially started and spread by internet pirates who know they will lose profits and likely be caught if the bill gets passed. Currently I have found this rumor being spread around on DeviantArt by someone who has started a group to "fight" the bill (with online petitions and other useless things) and is attempting to scam points from people by saying they will go towards making it into a super group. Anyone who continues to warn that the bill will make it illegal to draw fanart is either simply misinformed or is intentionally lying to cause panic and get attention.

Hopefully this journal has set you on the right track regarding this bill. If you have any other clarification on the bill and see something here that you think needs to be corrected, don't hesitate to send me a note about it!

copied from here aedelthryd.deviantart.com/jour…

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I have a Tumblr now! anna-aurion.tumblr.com/ <- link to it. Mostly filled with Subway Bros, random stuff, and just awesome stuff.

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COME OUT TOMORROW, SO I MIGHT NOT BE ON FOR A FEW DAYS.

I'M GOING WHEN GAMESTOP OPENS AT 9.

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