By mcneditor editor@moviecitynews.com
MPAA Accuses Wikipedia Of “Gimmick” In SOPA Blackout
WASHINGTON —The following is a statement by Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) on the so-called “Blackout Day” protesting anti-piracy legislation:
“Only days after the White House and chief sponsors of the legislation responded to the major concern expressed by opponents and then called for all parties to work cooperatively together, some technology business interests are resorting to stunts that punish their users or turn them into their corporate pawns, rather than coming to the table to find solutions to a problem that all now seem to agree is very real and damaging.
It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.
A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals. It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”
I have thought highly of Chris Dodd for many years – until today. This astounding and insulting statement shows that Dodd and MPAA aren’t interested in reasonable compromise. I’ve owned a small business for 18 years that now relies on Google and the Internet for our marketing, and I am also an active Wikipedia editor. We didn’t enter into this protest lightly – our attorneys advised us that SOPA and PIPA are a real threat. Why would a guy like Chris Dodd throw down the gauntlet so aggressively? Mega-corporate greed? That explains it.
Poor honest organisations like the MPAA are being bullied by corporate monsters like Wikipedia?
I wonder if anyone would swallow this tripe.
And trying to play the “non-Americans are evil, we will protect you” card was already overused by Bush. People have had their eyes opened since then.
“… administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals.”
SOPA and PIPA won’t affect American criminals?
Here’s a compromise:
let us go fix our Copyright system, back to the duration which was originally passed in 1790. Afterall, with digital technologies, the barriers to publishing have fallen, both in terms of their cost and their time-to-market.
That would mean a max duration of 28 years (14 + 14 extension), instead of the effectively “infinite” system we have now, with Congress passing a 20 year extensions each time that Mickey Mouse gets close to expiring…
And for Dodd: Senator and MPAA CEO … that’s clearly a Conflict of Interest … Recusal is an ethical mandate.
PS: that little icon next to my name? I haven’t signed a legal release for MovieCityNews.com that gives them permission to use my Copyrighted Works. As per the terms of the SOPA/PIPA, this website must be shut down.
“and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals.”
Foreign criminals? Are you talking about my Eastern European friends who live in countries where the average income is below $1000 a month, and who cannot otherwise afford to watch movies?
Business interests? Punish their users?
The decision to blackout Wikipedia was made by the users! What business interest do they have? They are registered charitable organization, hence with no profits. Former Senator Dodd, you are playing fast and loose with the truth. You should think about your actions and words, and judge in your heart whether they accord with honest and righteous motivation or from a shameful attitude.
“…stunts that punish their users or turn them into their corporate pawns…”
“…irresponsible response…”
“…an abuse of power…”
“…a dangerous and troubling development…”
“…intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests…”
“…another gimmick…a dangerous one, designed to punish”
And Wikipedia is being hyperbolic??? Somebody send the good senator a link to dictionary.com so he can look up the definition of “HYPERBOLE”. While he’s in the H’s, maybe he can look up the definition of “HYPOCRITE”!
Yet more confirmation that the major crooks we have to combat seem to be our own politicians and business leaders.
SENATOR Chris Dodd, CHAIRMAN and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. Of course an honest, objective personage such as Mr. Dodd wouldn’t have a conflict of interest. Would he?
How is the Wikipedia blackout punishing elected and administration officials? (In fact, the “blackout” is only a “brownout”, since Jimmy Wales et al. have given instructions how to circumvent it.) Seems to me this is a very responsible way to get users’ attention and to educate them.
wish this arrogant jerk would pull his head out of his ass just in time for a law- abiding gun-toting yank to blow his frigging head off
Here’s a problem. Say you have a son or daughter, and they spend
the weekend at grandmas. Here they download to their hearts contempt,
and even upload the entire series of “Family Guy”, all without the consent
of their grandmother. They continue this cycle over and over, each time
they visit, cause you know; they’re gonna need entertainment.
A year’s gone by and by the federal attorney’s count, old grandma
has uploaded and downloaded enough to be sent to the pokey for
two years. So the FBI kick down her door as she suffers a mild heart
attack. After concluding the situation, the lawyers discover that
grandma isn’t going to jail, and the kids sure as hell aren’t going to
juvie… maybe. But who then, who will be punished? Why, _you_,
of course…
So please, stop this idiocy at it’s roots… SOPA and SIPA do NOT prevent
piracy; it funds sharks in suits to trample on the rights of the innoscent.
Nothing more…
The MPAA: “WE HATED VCRs TOO!”
“It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.”
HYPOCRITE!
Chris Dodd, you are self-serving trash.
Welcome newcomers! And welcome everyone to a post that made it fairly deep without a sanj link!
Is that a BROWNOUT in the Sunny in Philadelphia sense?
And to think I once supported Dodd’s presidential bid.
ELIZABETH WARREN in 2016!
Just to note, Chris Dodd isn’t in the Senate any more. He retired at the end of his term before joining the MPAA. That said, any valid point he might have wanted to make was swallowed up by the hyperbole about the “irresponsbile response” and “abuse of power.”
So pursuing corporate interests is only a good thing when it’s your own? F U MPAA.
Sounds like sour grapes. Getting beat at your own game.
FUCK YOU DODD! Fucking sellout.