4 ms·

Either something is illegal or it isn't. There isn't some magical gray zone where someone can feel like something should be illegal and therefore the actions o

by Teever 7y ago

Either something is illegal or it isn't. There isn't some magical gray zone where someone can feel like something should be illegal and therefore the actions of someone else are illegal.

zouhair 7y ago
Here are some lock picking tools on Amazon[0], should they be made illegal for sell? Can you see the magical grey zone? [0]: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Z1V1LBQ?tag=duc12-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Z1V1LBQ?tag=duc12-20&linkCode=os...
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  I was thinking something similar. People use email or FTP, HTTPS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Intel, AMD, to share pirated material. Do we shut them down as well? Also, I am pretty sure that the person(s) behind popcorn have a copy of their code somewhere else (or at least they sync/backup to their machines every so often. So they will be fine. I think that this is just a tap on the back so they know that someone is NOW actively chasing them.
  - toyg 7y ago
    Man, they’ve been “chased” basically from day 1, this is not their first DMCA rodeo. It’s just that the studios have been forced by the pandemic to concentrate exclusively on online channels. See for example the latest Trolls movie, which just made $100m in his first week on streaming: that’s considered fantastic (and possibly a turning point) but it’s still half of what the previous movie made with a classic release in theatres a few years ago. Most “tentpole” releases are on hold and they have to keep pumping ads to keep the hype up. Cashflow must be fairly tight. So the studios right now need all the help they can get, in order to squeeze money out of digital channels. Taking “off the board” alternatives like PopcornTime, even if just for the 2 weeks DMCA forces ISPs to obey, increases their chances. I would expect they’re ready to repeat the trick a few times from a few different entities, at least until the pandemic is over and people can go back to real (overpriced) popcorn.
- zo1 7y ago
  Not OP, but No, looks 100% legal. We need to not get into the trap of arbitrary and ridiculous "grey" zones of legality. Yes, we know that set can be used for illegal things, but they can also be used for legal things. Next up: Mandatory Registration and "licensing" for locksmiths. Because that becomes necessary if we start going down the path of legislating lock picking tools.
  - iamnothere 7y ago
    As well as registration of machine tools and licensing of machinists, after all those can be used to make lockpicks (and guns)!
wolco 7y ago
If things were that simple. Take parking. You can only park Between 9-4 on weekend in the summer on the left side of this street only if you are not in front of a fire hydrate or a drive way. That's before you take into consideration hidden signs because of tree growth forbiding parking. People fight tickets all of the time because of complex or gray situations.
DanBC 7y ago
> Either something is illegal or it isn't. The legislative branch makes laws. The judicial branch interprets and applies those laws. It's possible for reasonable people to read law and disagree about what is or isn't allowed, which is why case law is a thing.

by Teever 7y ago

Either something is illegal or it isn't. There isn't some magical gray zone where someone can feel like something should be illegal and therefore the actions of someone else are illegal.

zouhair 7y ago

Here are some lock picking tools on Amazon[0], should they be made illegal for sell? Can you see the magical grey zone? [0]: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Z1V1LBQ?tag=duc12-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Z1V1LBQ?tag=duc12-20&linkCode=os...

HenryBemis 7y ago
I was thinking something similar. People use email or FTP, HTTPS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Intel, AMD, to share pirated material. Do we shut them down as well? Also, I am pretty sure that the person(s) behind popcorn have a copy of their code somewhere else (or at least they sync/backup to their machines every so often. So they will be fine. I think that this is just a tap on the back so they know that someone is NOW actively chasing them.
- toyg 7y ago
  Man, they’ve been “chased” basically from day 1, this is not their first DMCA rodeo. It’s just that the studios have been forced by the pandemic to concentrate exclusively on online channels. See for example the latest Trolls movie, which just made $100m in his first week on streaming: that’s considered fantastic (and possibly a turning point) but it’s still half of what the previous movie made with a classic release in theatres a few years ago. Most “tentpole” releases are on hold and they have to keep pumping ads to keep the hype up. Cashflow must be fairly tight. So the studios right now need all the help they can get, in order to squeeze money out of digital channels. Taking “off the board” alternatives like PopcornTime, even if just for the 2 weeks DMCA forces ISPs to obey, increases their chances. I would expect they’re ready to repeat the trick a few times from a few different entities, at least until the pandemic is over and people can go back to real (overpriced) popcorn.
zo1 7y ago
Not OP, but No, looks 100% legal. We need to not get into the trap of arbitrary and ridiculous "grey" zones of legality. Yes, we know that set can be used for illegal things, but they can also be used for legal things. Next up: Mandatory Registration and "licensing" for locksmiths. Because that becomes necessary if we start going down the path of legislating lock picking tools.
- iamnothere 7y ago
  As well as registration of machine tools and licensing of machinists, after all those can be used to make lockpicks (and guns)!

wolco 7y ago

If things were that simple. Take parking. You can only park Between 9-4 on weekend in the summer on the left side of this street only if you are not in front of a fire hydrate or a drive way. That's before you take into consideration hidden signs because of tree growth forbiding parking. People fight tickets all of the time because of complex or gray situations.

DanBC 7y ago

> Either something is illegal or it isn't. The legislative branch makes laws. The judicial branch interprets and applies those laws. It's possible for reasonable people to read law and disagree about what is or isn't allowed, which is why case law is a thing.