[LINK] Does copyright have a future? [WAS: iinet wins!!]

[Kim Holburn]

On 2010/Feb/09, at 9:24 AM, David Boxall wrote:

> On 7/02/2010 5:14 PM, Frank O'Connor wrote:
>> ...
>> Enforceability of copyright probably isn't the issue ... that's a
>> simple problem of evidence and process ...

It's definitely not a simple process.

There's the problem of going from an IP address to a person -  
definitely not a simple process.  There could be a network of  
computers, there could be multi-user computers, wireless connections,  
malware, trojans not to mention mistakes and time inconsistencies in  
the ISP logs.

Then if you had someone's computer and had to determine what was  
infringing material and what wasn't I bet even with the co-operation  
of the owner it wouldn't be simple.  Do you have a receipt for  
everything on your computer? Do you have a receipt for every book in  
your collection?  Every CD and DVD?

Then with protocols like bittorrent to prove that someone downloaded  
say a movie from you?  After going through the same process on them  
that we've just been through on you, maybe they got only pieces 24 and  
135 from you.  Is that copyright infringement?  And even proving that  
wouldn't be simple.

And allowing companies to go down these paths would mean severe  
intrusions into people's personal privacy and for what?  Something you  
can maybe buy for $12.99 from Woolies?  What kind of society would we  
become?

> If truly simple, wouldn't enforcement be common? Copyright privileges
> are often infringed. If enforcement is simple, why isn't it practised?
>
> I reckon it's time that 18th century child of 16th century censorship
> was replaced with something that's viable in the 21st century.

-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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