This is the modern version of shooting trespassers on your farm.

First is was Liberman... :) You know, if he knew how much HE violated copyright law EVERY DAY then i'm sure he would reconsider. I've read up on the copyright law's (because of my job) and found (as i'm sure everyone here does) that it's a violation of copyright laws to let someone BORROW a cd/video! It's technically illegal to save webpages, write down things you read on the net, record TV shows, etc. etc... Boy, these senitors aren't to bright, are they? :) The only thing that is legal is to make 1 copy of a cd/tape/record for personal use, unless the copyright aggrement says otherwise.

he'll fail just like the people who thought that shutting down napster would work.

The first time it gets into the court system it will be shot down---my computer blew up in
my face and now I can't see---I believe there are more sophisticated ways.



JJK

I always get a kick out of how many silly laws are on the books. While for sure these may sound silly and made up,they are in fact really laws in the states/cites mentioned.

No one may catch fish with his bare hands in Toltec, Colorado. In Chicago, it is illegal to fish if you're in your pajamas. It's against the law to get a fish drunk in Oklahoma. Muncie, Indiana, enacted a law where it is forbidden to carry fishing tackle into a cemetery.

In North Carolina, it is against the law to use elephants to plow cotton fields. A law in Detroit, Michigan, prohibits crocodiles from being tied to a fire hydrant. In Nevada you can't Ride a camel on a highway. It's illegal to take a deer swimming in water above its knees in North Carolina. In Las Angeles, it is against the law to have a hippopotamus in one's possession. In Ohio its forbidden do to any whale fishing in any of the state's lakes, streams, or rivers... on Sundays. Fairbanks, Alaska says you can't allow any moose to have sex on city streets or to give a moose alcoholic beverages at anytime.

In New York, you can if you like remove frogs from ponds, but only between June 16 to September 30th and only between sunrise and sunset. I wonder if Dennis from SoFo knows that dogs in Madison, Wisconsin are banned from "worrying" the squirrels that live in the park by the capitol building. No dog may be tied to a shade tree in Birmingham, Alabama. In Sterling, Colorado, it is unlawful to allow a pet cat to run loose without a taillight. In Zion, Illinois, it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats or any domesticated animals. In Chicago, it is illegal to take a French poodle to the opera. Cats in International Falls, Minnesota, are not allowed to chase dogs up telephone poles.

Search Google.com (Groups) (used to be Deja.com). Type in Orrin Hatch and see what comes up. As far as I am concerned, he represents all the stereotypes of shady name calling fact twisting politicians that ever existed.

BillyBoy,

"In Sterling, Colorado, it is unlawful to allow a pet cat to run loose without a taillight."

I think cats should have taillights. They should probably be electric. A small torch at the end of the tail could work, but that might spread to the rest of the cat's fur and that could be a fire hazard and harmful to the cat.

-- Seeker --

Orin Hatch has a little known brother named Booby....and a cousin they call "Down The Hatch". Needless to say Orin is a boob who's had one too many.

These are classic...

If your planning on visiting the greater Mt. Rushmore area:

Hotels in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are required by law to furnish their rooms with twin beds only. There should be a minimum of two feet between the beds, and it is illegal for a couple to make love on the floor between the beds.

What, you're going to Washington DC:

The only acceptable sexual position in Washington D.C. is the missionary-style position. Any other sexual position is considered illegal.

Heading North?

A law in Alexandria, Minnesota makes it illegal for a husband to make love to his wife if his breath smells like garlic, onions, or sardines.

Possible reason why Microsoft software is buggy:

In the state of Washington there is a law against having sex with a virgin under any circumstances. (including the wedding night).

The main reason Hatch's proposal is a non-starter (or ought to be) is that contrary to any law I can think of, it involves the state delegating its power of arrest, trial, and prosecution to an individual/corporation. Somebody steals your hubcaps for their own car, you can't (legally) steal or destroy their car. Many court decisions have even limited the use of "deadly force" when a robber comes in your home if the crook isn't armed etc.

So, while not a real threat, it does serve to reveal the current mindset of some "content" owners.

I'm more troubled by the Sen. Fritz Hollings (SC) bill that would open the door to the content guys forcing PCs/electronic manufacturer to incorporate anti-piracy controls in their designs. I can't honestly defend Napster etc., but the Hollings proposal would go too far.

G

I think many of the problems with the current crop of propossed laws as they pertain to technical issues especially for computer related topics is those writing the laws are mostly computer illerate; like I mean TOTALLY CLUELESS and most too close to special interest groups that help them get relected.

Not to pile on any one senator in particular, (and the House members are the same) I just get this mental picture of ALL of them fumbling around at their keyboard just trying to start up their PC, if they even have a PC. Also... many of our elected officials at the national level refuse to reveal their emails or don't even accept email. And these are the guys trying to impose unworkable laws on the rest of us. How typical.

Clueless is right:

http://wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,59305,00.html

JTH