Copyright abuse

[fingal]

Some good replies up there, thanks. You certainly know a lot between you! I think part of my reason for posting this is my librarian's training, which drummed the idea of copyright law into me.

Since becoming an habitual Net user, I've changed my views. I sometimes watch films online (surely an infringement of copyright) but I stream - rather than download.

I wouldn't dream of copying films, distributing them or anything else like that. I suppose this makes me some sort of information heretic... at least as far as my former teachers would be concerned.

The Internet has changed the way we use information, and blurs the boundaries between what is strictly legal (the letter of the law) and what some people would term, 'minor infringements'.

Then we have the FOSS universe where - very broadly - improving and sharing information is actively encouraged. What a wonderful idea! I hope heretical activities like this will continue to flourish: they certainly make life more interesting.

[bigtomrodney]

The only cool thing about the DMCA is the DMCA Counter Notification Letter which puts the onus squarely back onto the original claimant where it should be.