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EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

theverge.com

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Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#771

Post by zipwitch »

linuxftw wrote: post #724
0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #711

>However, those backing these provisions say the arguments above are the result of scaremongering by big US tech companies, eager to keep control of the web’s biggest platforms. This is the most hilarious quote in the article. The only thing this will do is entrench massive players like Google and Facebook who already have these systems in place. I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while ha…

> Do these politicians really not understand the awful implications of these filtering systems for free speech and fair use? They believe what their wealthy donors tell them to believe. It won't affect the well connected politicians in any measurable way, they'll still be wealthy. Meanwhile, independent organizations will suffer while the big players get all the sweet licensing deals. Regulations are ALWAYS about pun…

That is certainly how they are often used in the America and the West today, but always seems a gross exaggeration. For example, regulations against child labor.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#773

Post by bcheung »

0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #711

>However, those backing these provisions say the arguments above are the result of scaremongering by big US tech companies, eager to keep control of the web’s biggest platforms. This is the most hilarious quote in the article. The only thing this will do is entrench massive players like Google and Facebook who already have these systems in place. I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while ha…

The stronger they push ridiculous laws like this the more it will force perfectly legitimate business to go underground. We will end up with all the problems of prohibition all over again.

> is intended to give publishers and papers a way to make money when companies like Google link to their stories

So Google should pay you when they send you more traffic? More traffic = more money. Most companies would be overjoyed if someone sends them free business. Google and countless others even provide tools like Adwords so you can monetize your site if you can't figure out how to do it yourself.

I wonder how long until companies outside of Europe decide it's easier just to block all traffic from Europe in protest.

This is a weakening of safe harbor provisions. This law makes it extremely difficult to have a platform with any kind of user generated content. As long as a company is taking reasonable measures to combat piracy, hate speech, etc, they need to be granted indemnity from the actions of rogue users.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#774

Post by cynoclast »

0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #711

>However, those backing these provisions say the arguments above are the result of scaremongering by big US tech companies, eager to keep control of the web’s biggest platforms. This is the most hilarious quote in the article. The only thing this will do is entrench massive players like Google and Facebook who already have these systems in place. I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while ha…

>I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while having any understanding of how the internet works.

Who do you think has their arm up the politicians' ass and making them talk?

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#775

Post by snr »

Am I wrong in seeing merit in the argument for blocking people/entities from re-posting copyrighted content and simultaneously holding the platforms accountable? Of course, they should exempt businesses valued below a fair figure like $50M so as to not bother startups with compliance expenses.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#776

Post by anonytrary »

> Article 13 requires certain platforms like YouTube and Facebook stop users sharing unlicensed copyrighted material.

How is this different than making gunmakers responsible for shootings? Continuing with the analogy, the only option the gunmaker has is to essentially close up shop. Seems like an impossible law to follow. "Develop better algorithms for filtering inappropriate material or you're gonna be sorry" sounds like tyranny.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#777

Post by drak0n1c »

dmix wrote: post #511
zmmmmm wrote: post #235

This is such a great outcome for Google, they could not have gotten such a good outcome if they had bribed the legislators directly. They've essentially enshrined the infrastructure Google has already as a legal requirement for the bare minimum threshold to host a web site now. Google can sit back and stop worrying about there ever being competition from Europe now.

It's funny how many laws meant to punish the mega-corps, as they get designed with mega-corps entirely in mind, end up hurting small/medium businesses (and future mega-crops) and further solidifying the mega-corps position in the market. I don't think it's surprising the global economy is littered with long-standing monopoly with little competition. It's not merely economies of scale, vertical integration, and other…

Accidental regulatory capture seems to be more common than nefarious intentional corruption when it comes to policy reinforcing monopolies. History is littered with examples of well-intentioned policies backfiring.

The rat pelt bounty in French Vietnam led to rat breeding. The US luxury tax led to the wealthy saving more money and mass layoffs in the luxury industry. Bank regulations in the wake of the financial crisis gave big banks a competitive advantage over small banks.

These aren't apples to apples examples, but they show how regulatory action often has unintended consequences due to the complexity of the real world.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#778

Post by bcheung »

linuxftw wrote: post #724
0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #711

>However, those backing these provisions say the arguments above are the result of scaremongering by big US tech companies, eager to keep control of the web’s biggest platforms. This is the most hilarious quote in the article. The only thing this will do is entrench massive players like Google and Facebook who already have these systems in place. I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while ha…

> Do these politicians really not understand the awful implications of these filtering systems for free speech and fair use? They believe what their wealthy donors tell them to believe. It won't affect the well connected politicians in any measurable way, they'll still be wealthy. Meanwhile, independent organizations will suffer while the big players get all the sweet licensing deals. Regulations are ALWAYS about pun…

It's also a form of control.

"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#779

Post by DINKDINK »

apocalypstyx wrote: post #726
DINKDINK wrote: post #699

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no need for violence and no need for taxation in such a system. The two parties willingly choose a court to fall back on if their contract needs arbitration. >if the contract is violated and the violator taken to court and the court rules against them and they refuse to pay restitution? If you're entering into a contract with someone and you're worried they won't pay restitution, mandate terms in the contract…

And if the collateral holder doesn't want to return said collateral? And while this may work(1) for a theatre-model (where the consumptive act can be funneled into a tightly-controlled venue (which is something I already posted about a few day ago, so I won't repeat that but what is necessary)), how is any mechanically reproduced media to be distributed to individuals? That is to say, DVD and Blu-ray and such media,…

We can use a simple hypothetical test for many of these issues: Say I read and memorize a book of poetry which statists and corporatists categorize as "copyrighted". I then go into my friend's house and tell him these poems aloud.

You either believe that I have the right to my own memories and I can talk to my friend or you think I should be fined/imprisoned to subsidize a particular business model.

Re: EU approves internet copyright law, including ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’

#780

Post by anigbrowl »

0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #711

>However, those backing these provisions say the arguments above are the result of scaremongering by big US tech companies, eager to keep control of the web’s biggest platforms. This is the most hilarious quote in the article. The only thing this will do is entrench massive players like Google and Facebook who already have these systems in place. I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could support this law while ha…

Maybe it's time technologists stopped assuming they're the cleverest persons in the room and rectified their ignorance of law and economics before assuming they're in the right about everything. I'm not a fan of onerous copyright legislation but simply asserting that 'information wants to be free' is stating an opinion, not some scientific law. Hackers and developers are just as subject to the Dunning-Kreuger effect as anyone else.
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