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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMicrosoft censoring Windows Live Messenger chats for copyright infringement
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/26/microsoft-censoring-windows-live-messenger-chats-for-copyright-infringement/Tech giant Microsoft is actively intercepting and censoring conversations in its Windows Live Messenger program, utilizing a block list to prevent users from trading links to a popular peer-to-peer media sharing website known as The Pirate Bay.
While its not surprising that a corporate block list would include The Pirate Bay, one of the Internets most notorious havens for media sharing in violation of copyright laws around the world, at least one branch of the website devoted to legal peer-to-peer sharing is also being blocked.
In a trial-run Monday morning, Raw Story discovered that Microsoft is also blocking The Promo Bay, where artists submit their materials to be discovered by a mass audience.
Artists the world over use The Promo Bay to help develop a global fanbase, utilizing the very technologies that have caused such consternation among the entertainment industrys largest players.
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Now correct me if I'm wrong Doesn't Microsoft have a stake or connection with itunes? Doesn't this just boil down to ONE thing --In an age where writers can self publish and musicians can basically create CDs on their own; All this "Privacy acts" and Law enforcement busting people I have to ask -aside from actually getting those who are infriging- COULD it be that by censoring sites like Promo Bay they are making it harder for writers musicians and even independent movie makers (think you tube) to succeed in any way shape and form without a corporation behind them.
Basically all this 'copyright' protection seems to be protecting corporations more than the actual artist.
Corporations can be very controling. Let me give you an example: A group-I absolutely love-did a 25 year box set CD dvd thing. NOW the group has has two different companies produce their albums. The hits through out their 25 year career. BUT the DVD showing all the music videos ONLY has videos from when they where with the first company. So in sense the company was going to profit the most.
Another example. A friend of mine has a relative -semi famous- did work in the late 60s early 70s. Wrote songs recorded them. My friend was explaining to me now that this relative does NOT have control of the songs. Not only can the company who produce the songs OWN rights BUT this relative has to have permission to perform said songs.
So really who is being protected and WHO is getting screwed.
Pab Sungenis
(9,612 posts)I'm going to post a link that Microsoft would block for copyright infringement.
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/6555980/Bearding_the_Lyons
Go ahead, click on it. Feel free. I give you permission.
I do so because I own the copyright on that material, and agree to let it be shared. It's a recording of a play I wrote, along with the script and information on amateur theatrical rights for anyone who wants to perform it. Since the deck is stacked against upcoming writers when it comes to getting our material published I decided to just put it out in the wilds and see if anyone bites.
I already had one fight about this with Ioshunt, a popular torrent search engine. Someone claiming they owned the rights tried to file a DMCA takedown with them and I had to fight to keep it up.
I could make a case that by not allowing me to share perfectly legal links to material I own the rights to, Microsoft is participating in restraint of trade.