My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me - Disraeli
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EFF cautions Hollywood on 'piracy' laws
INTERNET FREEDOM FIGHTER the Electronic Frontier Foundation has sent an open letter to Hollywood warning that non-creatives are damaging the industry and calling on the movie studios to kick out the old guard.
The film industry's support of regulations like the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) has lead the EFF to contact its members so openly, and it has directly criticised the entertainment industry leaders while calling for everyone else to be more reasonable.
"Dear Hollywood," says the letter that is signed by "The Internet", "You don't need us to tell you that your position on anti-'piracy' laws has been unpopular recently. Last month's historic protests, with millions of Americans registering their opposition, have made that point pretty clear."
Rather than repeat those arguments then, the EFF takes a different tack, and reminds Hollywood that the internet can actually be very good for the creative industries, and should not be treated like an enemy.
"We're writing today to tell you that the Internet can be great for creators and their community, but your own leadership refuses to recognize and take advantage of its promise," it says. "It seems they'd rather spend your membership dues on lawyers, lobbyists and astroturf than innovation."
Nothing about Hollywood's approach so far has worked, says the letter, and it recommends that the present industry leaders either step aside or learn to embrace the internet.
"We humbly suggest that you stand up and tell them to either embrace the age of the Internet or get out of the way so that new, forward-thinking industry leaders can take their place," it adds.
"For one thing, although the studio heads and MPAA leadership claim this legislation is about your jobs, they're curiously silent about the fact that entertainment spending and revenues are up across the board. In the words of one recent study, the sky isn't falling - it's rising." µ
Tags: Internet
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The EFF cannot change copyright law to allow piracy, with their threats and annoying lawsuits. Copyright holders are obligated by law to enforce their copyright or lose it. Additional laws are being written to insure that copyrights are not infringed by social media. Get use to it.
@Michael -- The EFF can most certainly represent me. The Hollywood you seem to be defending is most definitely not working in my best interests. Expansion of power, erosion of constitutional rights, bribery in the form of massive political contributions to politicians that implement legislation they want.
And you have the audacity to say the EFF doesn't understand online business when the primary reason Big Media is purchasing legislation is to prop up a failing business model rooted in ignorance and a bygone era of physical media? Impressively ballsy.
Anyone trying to demonize the EFF and defend Hollywood is either exceptionally brainwashed by media propoganda or is being paid to do so.
The EFF is actual a bunch of shills for corporate interest, not Netizens. Do some research and see who they actually work for and then you won't be so naive.
The EFF should not presume to represent me or anyone else who happens to use the internet. It's basically Google's farm team, and they should be trusted about as much as big G.
The truth is that the biggest internet companies desperately crave the product of Hollywood. A EFF's presumption that they can save "the internet" from "Hollywood" is just self-aggrandizing nonsense that shows how little EFF actually understands about how online business works.
As a user of the free internet of course the EFF represents you, even if you don't recognize it
To make such an asinine comment can only lead to a conclusion that you are more likely a MAAFIA troll
What a surprise to see you here. Tell me, do you work directly for one of the studios, or are you employed by the MPAA?
Because it's BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS that no one with any brains at all would post something slagging the EFF like you did without getting paid for it.
Everything I've ever seen the EFF do I've been behind 100%. Arguing they're trying to dupe consumers into something that's not good for them with absolutely no facts to back it up smells a lot like a corporate shill. The EFF has no vested interested in duping the consumer. They don't make money off the consumer. Hollywood on the other hand will take every penny we have and strip us of our rights to refuse their content if they can.
The EFF is a bunch of self-serving talking heads who are duping consumers into thinking they represent their best interest when they do not.