As reported by Wired News earlier today, the U.S. Congress is moving to push new laws and regulations against P2P networks, making it a criminal act to share "even one file".
A draft bill obtained by Wired News, recently circulated among members of the House judiciary committee, would make it much easier for the Justice Department to pursue criminal prosecutions against file sharers by lowering the burden of proof. The bill also would seek penalties of fines and prison time of up to ten years for file sharing.
In defending the Pirate Act, Hatch said the operators of P2P networks are running a conspiracy in which they lure children and young people with free music, movies and pornography. With these "human shields," the P2P companies are trying to ransom the entertainment industries into accepting their networks as a distribution channel and source of revenue.
"Unfortunately, piracy and pornography could then become the cornerstones of a 'business model,'" Hatch said in a statement. The illicit activities of file sharers "then generate huge advertising revenues for the architects of piracy."
This is a perfect example of how corporate interests dominate the political process in some countries. Obviously, it's in the corporate interest to punish people unfairly for 'stealing' property, suing them for large amounts of money didn't seem to do the damage they wanted. So instead of being a monetary problem, it's now a personal attack on people who enjoy their product. How is that a business model? I'm not sure.
And the fact they are calling the P2P networks a hub of terrorists and kiddie porn addicts is hardly accurate at all, it's mostly made of people who enjoy music, and want music. Nobody advertises their P2P network by talking about kiddie porn, or how to plant a bomb. It's so frustrating when a load of crap such as this is shoved down unsuspecting peoples throats, or people who just don't know better.
It's a sad day for justice, and music technology.