Imagine firebombing the homes of the stock market analysts and brokers who lied to individual investors or—even better—the indicted co-conspirators of any one of the recent corporate fiascos. Out of the question, right? This is America, after all. Land of the free and home of the brave and all that.
If you download music or other media files on your computer over the Internet, one certain senator would very much like to destroy your computer. Even if you’re engaging in legal activity like, say, using the Internet to move media files between your computers on different networks.
Showing his enormous ignorance of not only intellectual property law, but also of his pseudo-conservative personal property roots, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) actually said that he favors using technology to remotely destroy the computers of those who illegally download music on the net.
During a Senate judiciary committee hearing yesterday, Randy Saaf of Venice, California-based MediaDefender (a vendor of technology designed to disrupt music downloads)—testified that he was not interested in destroying anyone’s computer. This comment apparently piqued Hatch’s interest according to a Ted Bridis story that ran over the AP wire: “I’m interested,” Hatch interrupted. He said damaging someone’s computer “may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights.” Hatch reportedly went on to acknowledge that legislation would be required that would exempt copyright owners from the liability presumably associated with damaging computers. “If we can find some way to do this without destroying their machines,” Hatch continued, “we’d be interested in hearing about that. If that’s the only way, then I’m all for destroying their machines….”
After taking a day to reflect on his statements, Hatch didn’t back down today. Reinforcing his message, Hatch issued a statement that makes his position clear in an alarming self-parody: “I made my comments at yesterday’s hearing because I think that industry is not doing enough to help us find effective ways to stop people from using computers to steal copyrighted, personal or sensitive materials. I do not favor extreme remedies—unless no moderate remedies can be found. I asked the interested industries to help us find those moderate remedies.”
It’s the red pill, Senator, the red pill.
Update: EFF staff attorney Gwen Hinze has a better metaphor: “This is an entirely unreasonable proposal, tantamount to a debt collector sending you two warnings that your car payment is late and then claiming that he is entitled to burn down your garage.”
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