TV Schedule

US Border agents turning into copyright police?



  3. commandercool
  4. related topics
New trade agreements in the US, Canada, UK, and many other undisclosed countries will allow the government to confiscate any laptops, iPods, and other electronic devices with material that infringes on copyright laws.

A lawyer does not have to be present, and at the discretion of the agent, any suspicious material can be destroyed.

The first thought is "border checks are already long as it is..." but what is worse it that even copies of legal CDs, DVDs can be confiscated.

This legislation is still in draft form, but there is little reason to believe that it wouldn't come into full effect. Last month, US border agents were allowed to hold laptops for up to 7 days and copy their entire contents.
commandercool

19 responses // US Border agents turning into copyright police?

  • Roosevelt's famous assertion: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

    Neocon revision: "We would-be dictators have nothing to fear but a public that's free from fear."

    Please, Ahura-Mazda! After the next election, let reason, freedom, and courage prevail, regardless of how they are attacked.
    Scarabus
  • Are they going to go through my ipod and have me prove I own every album on there?? Ridiculous.
    BetterWatching
  • BW, there's no way they're going to confiscate every laptop and every MP3 player and every similar doohickey. The question is, Which *will* they confiscate, on whose orders, and why? Are you on a no-fly list? Do you look Middle Eastern? Do you look like a rebellious believer in free speech? Or did you just rub the agent the wrong way?
    Scarabus
  • what a ridiculous idea. this will only make the lines longer.
    lizzieism
    1 response to this
  • Say it together now people, on the count of three. 1, 2, 3, POLICE STATE!
    uglycasanova10
  • That's one of the worst policies I've heard of this month.
    When will people come to realize that you can't "own" information?
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • http://current.com/items/76352702_getting_into_the_uk
    I do not think the calibre or culture of the staff on our borders will allow any quallified opinion on what is pirated and what is genuine. You may aswell assign them as thought police to randomly abuse unlucky individuals.

    Checkout how the British border police behave in the linked VC2 Current Pod
    Purdey
  • So do we need to bring receipts of all our purchases, including the non existent ones from online distributors, with us to pass through security.

    So, let me get this straight, we have people working at Heathrow who have not passed proper criminal background checks, but you might get nicked for possessing an 'illegal' mp3? That's progress in combating terrorism right there!
    _Hayko
  • "Last month, US border agents were allowed to hold laptops for up to 7 days and copy their entire contents."

    Goodbye, rights...
    PoisonTheMonkey
  • This is unbeleiveable who is defending the constitution that they took an oath to defend? Maybe it's time to stop buying cd's and dvd's and maybe even laptops... someone's boycotting our rights.
    Enjoy_Cannabis
  • People allow the government to do as they wish. The government cannot do what they want if people speak up (in a huge locust like mass) and defiantly scream, "NO!"
    J_Jammer
  • Imagine all of the good that the resources invvolved with developing this bill could do...like a profiling database or building a wall...oh wait a minute.
    foot
  • Them: can you prove you didn't steal this music?
    Me: Can you prove you didn't steal this country?
    Simon_S
    1 response to this
  • Isn't this what another Regime did at another time, on another scale?
    Oh yeah, they were called NAZI'S
    brad62
  • fuck it im flying from mexico.
    intercitty
  • Are you kidding me? This is getting out of control and nothing will change. It's just going to get worse and worse, and everyone isn't going to do anything about it except accept it. Soon enough, we will see a modern version of the Boston Tea Party... hopefully.
    cerealforeal
  • besides the fact that it feels creepy and invasive for a stranger to be going through my laptop and ipod, how is one susposed to "prove" that the media belongs to me?
    crazykatlady

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.