Appeals Court Rules Computer Code Is Not "Property" and Can’t Be Stolen

[mrjarrell]

Look for this ruling to applied against the RIAA/MPAA cabal in the very near future. MP3's and digitised movies are just code and can't be "stolen" by pirates. Just copied. I can't help but wonder what the response of the RIAA and MPAA will be. I'm betting Micro$oft is pissed, right now. This puts a serious crimp in their anti-piracy schemes.

Appeals Court Rules Computer Code Is Not "Property" and Can't Be Stolen

 

[Fletch]

Hmmm...

That's a thinker. (I'm in the software business)

 

[Expat]

Wow. That is really interesting. I completely applaud the Court for their finding, but alas I think this will be going to SCOTUS. As you said, the rats at the MPAA/RIAA (one of the most corrupt, criminal enterprises ever to be on the earth) will be pumping money in to help with the appeal. They can not allow this to stand.


By the way, nice to see an interesting thread.

 

[xanderphillips]

I'm betting that they could get people on theft of "Intellectual Property" instead of piracy. I've always hated the term 'Piracy' for theft of software / media. 'Piracy' should be reserved for pirates! (as in theft on the high-seas). To call a kid in the basement of his parents home illegally downloading torrents a pirate sort of belittles the actions of Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd et all. May as well call everyone that shoplifts 'Assassins' or something. Assassination has about as much to do with shoplifting as piracy has to do with software/media theft.

my $.02
Xanderphillips

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Wasn't this already decided in 1985?

Dowling v. United States (1985) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I always thought that was why lawsuits always fell under the guise of "copyright infringement" and not "theft"....

PS - Dowling v. United States was already heard by SCOTUS....

 

[Fletch]

I'm betting that they could get people on theft of "Intellectual Property" instead of piracy. I've always hated the term 'Piracy' for theft of software / media. 'Piracy' should be reserved for pirates! (as in theft on the high-seas). To call a kid in the basement of his parents home illegally downloading torrents a pirate sort of belittles the actions of Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd et all. May as well call everyone that shoplifts 'Assassins' or something. Assassination has about as much to do with shoplifting as piracy has to do with software/media theft.

my $.02
Xanderphillips

Further Proof that Anti-Pirating Laws Are Written by Morons - RPC Comics

 

[J_Wales]

Following a ruling that one's life is not one's property, one may wonder why this took so long?

 

[Expat]

Further Proof that Anti-Pirating Laws Are Written by Morons - RPC Comics

Arrrrrr

 

[xanderphillips]

Further Proof that Anti-Pirating Laws Are Written by Morons - RPC Comics

Thanks, you gave me my first laugh of the day!

 

[IndyDave1776]

Maybe I could still get run up for piracy if I wear a peg leg and a three-cornered hat with a parrot on my shoulder while illictly copying code? Maybe I would have to do it by wireless internet while boating?

 

[rw496]

Interesting questions for robed octogenarians to answer