• Streaming Ponies Soon To Be a Felony?

    by
    Apparently a new bill has popped up, attempting to turn any form in internet streaming with copyrighted works into a straight up felony.

    It hasn't actually passed yet, but if something like this does manage to make it through, I wonder what the implications for Season two would be?  I think only a handful of us actually have the hub... most of this community is built around youtube streams of the show.  

    Though the big question is, would this even be heavily enforced?  Isn't it technically illegal as is?

    Anyway, I am in no way a laywer or someone who knows a large amount about this.  I just like poni.

    You can find the full article below!

    New Streaming Bill
    Tuesday, May 17, 2011 op
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    122 comments:

    1. Narwhals' BendMay 17, 2011 at 4:30 PM

      NOOOOO I DONT HAVE HUB!

      ReplyDelete
    2. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:31 PM

      and yet piracy's illegal and look at how well that's enforced

      ReplyDelete
    3. Marius MalekMay 17, 2011 at 4:31 PM

      It will get scrubbed, time and time again bills like this that attempt to restrict our rights on the internet have popped up. And every time we've gunned it down.

      Worst case scenario, if this does happen, we'll just get people to host it on international servers where US law doesn't apply.

      ReplyDelete
    4. The FerretMay 17, 2011 at 4:31 PM

      Harrassing lawyer friend as we speak will send seth any info i can dig up asap!

      ReplyDelete
    5. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM

      this would be a tragedy. The internet episodes are no doubt what hooked a huge portion of the community in the first place! Even for those with the hub, episodes are on very infrequently...

      Hooves crossed, lets hope this ends well for us

      ReplyDelete
    6. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM

      @The Ferret
      Careful. He might sue you fro harrasement.

      ReplyDelete
    7. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM

      If it does happen, just proxy from another country.
      And torrents will ALWAYS be there somewhere.

      ReplyDelete
    8. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM

      Wait what a 3% chance of no ability to watch Season Two what is this

      Also that counter looks like it's about to hit Sonic Rainboom speeds, dude.

      ReplyDelete
    9. Narwhals' BendMay 17, 2011 at 4:35 PM

      @Display Name
      I hope to see my first million switch! I keep missing them!

      >3 hours later
      >FFFUUUUUUUU

      ReplyDelete
    10. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:35 PM

      "So what are you in for?"

      "Uploading My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic episodes to youtube."

      ~Scratch

      ReplyDelete
    11. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:36 PM

      I HAD the Hub until my cable provider got bought out. Hubworld.com still hasn't switched the channel finder to accompany the buyout so I have no idea if I still have it :,(

      ReplyDelete
    12. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:37 PM

      Someone needs to sneak into Congress and make sure this bill doesn't pass.

      ReplyDelete
    13. The FerretMay 17, 2011 at 4:37 PM

      @anonymous *Grins* the advantage of being intimately acquainted with him means that he likes me harassing him. I don't involve masses of paperwork. *snerk*

      ReplyDelete
    14. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:38 PM

      @Scratch:

      ...And suddenly prison got 20% cooler as Pensivepony realized all his cellmates were closet bronies.

      ReplyDelete
    15. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:39 PM

      @The Ferret
      Now I feel like I know too much.

      ReplyDelete
    16. The Letter JMay 17, 2011 at 4:39 PM

      If this does pass, what are the chances that Hasbro/the Hub will grant permission to stream episodes. They must realize that they will lose a large portion of their fanbase if they don't. I'm sure Laura Faust would argue for us :)

      ReplyDelete
    17. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:39 PM

      Fuck the police, its for Ponies.

      ReplyDelete
    18. rabbitMay 17, 2011 at 4:41 PM

      I seriously doubt this law would pass, and on the off chance that it does, again, I doubt it would do anything. Just look at all the anti-piracy bills there are and how effective they are.

      ReplyDelete
    19. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:43 PM

      Regarding only a relative handful having the Hub as a channel and the potential end of the pony-watching community: I understand that they're not available to everyone, but what about the official episodes (available two at a time) on the official website?

      ReplyDelete
    20. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:43 PM

      Aren't there streamable episodes on the hub website? Does that law make watching the most recent episodes on the hub's own website illegal too?

      ReplyDelete
    21. ThornMay 17, 2011 at 4:43 PM

      Yeah, that'd suck. At least I live in Canada, but still.
      Guess we'd just all have to rely on torrents more. Worst case scenario, this stuff isn't easy to enforce. Look at video game piracy, and what percentage of people actually get in legal trouble for that.

      ReplyDelete
    22. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:46 PM

      THIS. IS. INTERNET!

      ReplyDelete
    23. flashfox466May 17, 2011 at 4:47 PM

      This won't pass and even if it did, it would be kicked out by the supreme court as unconstitutional (I doubt Obama would even sign such a bill). You can't charge someone with felony for what is closest resembling theft.

      ReplyDelete
    24. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:47 PM

      I estimate with the help of a calculator that the counter should reach 6,000,000 within 4.16 hours. That is 3 in the morning for me. FfffffffffffffffffUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

      ReplyDelete
    25. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:50 PM

      I thought I recall Lauren Faust was ok with the first season being put up on Youtube?

      ReplyDelete
    26. DR SHRUBBERY!May 17, 2011 at 4:50 PM

      @Anonymous
      It's not that easy. I've been to the capital building, and security is a BITCH. We'd need to assemble a squad of super bronies to pull that off.

      ReplyDelete
    27. ZettaLuxMay 17, 2011 at 4:51 PM

      I got into the franchise from Youtube. I hope this won't pass.

      ReplyDelete
    28. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:51 PM

      Guess a lot of bronies are gonna end up in prison then.

      The Aryan Brotherhood and all those other prison gangs are gonna have the shit tolerated the fuck outta them. They won't know what just happened.

      ReplyDelete
    29. geldonyetichMay 17, 2011 at 4:53 PM

      I could see streaming giants such as YouTube to simply fold up rather than deal with that much litigation.

      Of course, I suppose Hasbro would appreciate it if we bought the episodes off iTunes instead of downloading streams off YouTube or whatnot.

      ReplyDelete
    30. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM

      i really don't think it'll pass. But if it does i will personally lead a march to the supreme court and demand an over ride for the bill ( if you guys help of corse i wont do this alone)

      ReplyDelete
    31. ZarkanorfMay 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM

      I don't think it will pass; I HOPE TO GOD it doesn't pass.

      ReplyDelete
    32. Landon KempMay 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM

      I seriously hope that doesn't pass, since Youtube is the only way I can watch this show. All this Internet restriction stuff is basically a violation of the First Amendment of Free Speech, isn't it?

      ReplyDelete
    33. Lectro DubMay 17, 2011 at 4:54 PM

      I don't think so! Not in MY Equestria!

      ReplyDelete
    34. kwjMay 17, 2011 at 4:56 PM

      I hope it doesn't pass please please luna don't let it pass

      ReplyDelete
    35. ZarkanorfMay 17, 2011 at 5:00 PM

      Oh, yeah; if this does pass, wouldn't that mean Youtube is fucked? Synchtube, definitely.

      ReplyDelete
    36. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:01 PM

      @Marius Malek With that bill they'll be able to create a China-esque firewall to block any protected content...

      Will we fight for our internets as we so call, or will corporations take over democracy on the long run?

      ReplyDelete
    37. HeartlessMay 17, 2011 at 5:01 PM

      This will not happen, if it does than it will be destroyed shortly. As long as we vote against it we can win. Get ready for a major change if it does. WE all vote no. We will stop this law. And let it begin.

      ReplyDelete
    38. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:02 PM

      It's only a bill yep it's only a bill and it's sittin on Capitol Hill

      ReplyDelete
    39. HeartlessMay 17, 2011 at 5:04 PM

      If you agree contect me. Email on the next Drawfriend

      ReplyDelete
    40. BejotyMay 17, 2011 at 5:04 PM

      Well, not necessarily.

      From my understanding, YouTube is the one legally responsible for content on the site. There are loopholes, agreements, and settlements made all over the place to avoid legal action, but essentially it's up to YouTube to find and screen the violations first. As the law stands now, the repercussions aren't dire enough to fully enforce the smaller infringements.

      (This info was told to me by a prominent YouTube vlogger with experience in copyright meddlings, so if anything is inaccurate, whatever =P)

      ReplyDelete
    41. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:08 PM

      I really hate this bill as I like to stream shit on occasion, and this would seriously fuck that up. As far as getting the episodes and whatnot, worst comes to it I redirect all of you here:

      https://www.torproject.org/

      Don't be a dumbass with it and you'll be fine.

      ReplyDelete
    42. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:10 PM

      It sounds like a self defeating bill; trying to squeeze more money and views out of people, but instead alienating them from products and services that they would have paid more money for than the few dollars they would have supposedly gained from the limitations put forth.

      Also, so what if it WILL be considered illegal, it pretty much illegal now isn't it? And we all see how well that is enforced...

      Madness...

      ReplyDelete
    43. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:11 PM

      Dosen't the government have more important things to worry about?

      Here I am, waiting for Obama to make another badass declaration about how Kim Jong Eal (however you spell that) or Kadhaffi (again, spelling lol) have a bad case of bullets in the brainpan, and then this comes up.

      *sigh*

      oh well. USA! USA! Usaaa...

      Im a patriot, and even /I'm/ sick of this shit.

      ReplyDelete
    44. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:12 PM

      If this bill passed, I guarantee that every congressman would be replaced.

      ReplyDelete
    45. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:13 PM

      If this passes(which I doubt it will)I'm sure we could figure out some way to bypass this, otherwise we'd be forced to watch them either on the hub or their website. I also doubt that this would be harshly enforced so I'm not gonna worry; I mean all we're really doing is helping Hasbro advertise why would the give up free ads?

      Though I'll consult a lawyer I know(still don't worry my friends)

      ReplyDelete
    46. ThesynMay 17, 2011 at 5:13 PM

      no they couldnt possibly keep us from ponies >.<

      ReplyDelete
    47. crazyredemuMay 17, 2011 at 5:17 PM

      Im a war vet, they pass this law I would become a felon....AWESOME!!! I want as many titles as I can get!

      ReplyDelete
    48. NaxtsMay 17, 2011 at 5:20 PM

      I really doubt this will affect us much. From the way I see it, the bill isn't going to pass.

      If it does. It'll put a few blocks in us, but it won't change anything really. After all. If there's a will, there's a way.

      ReplyDelete
    49. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

      I'm an eurofag, and it's a shame how little people know about this and the F***ING ACTA. As USA tries to replace the current WIPO system with worse alternatives to shove down our ass, our politicians dance to their song, and we get fantastic laws as the "Sinde" one, here in spain.

      Is this democracy? Or the oligarquic (Hope this word exists) recording industry trying to save a business model that doesen't work anymore?

      PS.: They may take our lifes, but they'll never take our PONIES!!

      ReplyDelete
    50. Aquaman52May 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM

      No chance of this being passed. It's like music piracy: sure, it's illegal, but if you actually want to prosecute someone for it, it turns into a Category Five shitstorm that just isn't worth it for the minimal amount of content being used without permission.

      Regulating the Internet is one of those things that everyone always says needs to be done, yet will never actually happen. Even if it did pass, Hasbro would have to take the initiative if they wanted to bring charges against anyone streaming MLP, and they've demonstrated quite clearly that they don't really give a flying fuck what we do with the show as long as people keep buying their toys. So we're probably the safest out of anyone with regard to this sort of thing.

      ReplyDelete
    51. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM

      This reminds of that ACTA insanity that took hold of /b/ last year...

      ReplyDelete
    52. kjh242May 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM

      @DR SHRUBBERY!
      A squad of super bronies? why not just get a squad of human soldiers and convert them to brony-ism? from an older newspost about that german air force base and the american marines(?), it shouldn't be that hard.

      ReplyDelete
    53. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:23 PM

      I have the hub but I cant watch it because it conflicts with my schedule.

      ReplyDelete
    54. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:25 PM

      According to the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, we're probably all criminals already.

      http://books.google.com/books?id=Tu5RB6YHf10C&lpg=PP1&ots=51Ya4U8XFt&dq=lynch%20in%20the%20name%20of%20justice&pg=PA43#v=onepage&q&f=false

      Also, this is the Internet.

      ReplyDelete
    55. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:26 PM

      I love seeing my colors on the front page

      ReplyDelete
    56. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:30 PM

      Oh, I know! Streamers!
      Streamers?
      Yes the streaming giants make too much money not to lobby that out of existence. Google lobbied against Verizon for the nets. Google owns YouTube.

      ReplyDelete
    57. MournMay 17, 2011 at 5:31 PM

      This was around for quite some time. I even heard that it was brought up by someone who doesn't even know what IP means. But if it passes, I'll pirate my ponies instead of streaming.

      ReplyDelete
    58. EpicSammichMay 17, 2011 at 5:37 PM

      @pyritie

      They're currently sending out over 20,000 subpenas to pirates across the U.S. Luckily, I'm not on the list yet.

      ReplyDelete
    59. ShaicoMay 17, 2011 at 5:37 PM

      If this does pass, then yet again another show that USA has ruined for the other countries that aren't USA.

      I have no fucking HUB in Asia, and all I want to do is watch ponies.

      ReplyDelete
    60. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:38 PM

      Oy. Copyright law is already too restrictive as is... Please somepony clarify: If this law is passed, the companies have to choose to enforce it yesno?

      Let's hope Hasbro just ignores this. Toy company, probably will...

      ReplyDelete
    61. EwyndallMay 17, 2011 at 5:38 PM

      As far as I am aware, copyrighted material shouldn't be streamed anyways, shared, distributed, etc. without consent of the copyright owner.

      Guess that's the reason why Youtube shoots down any video an alleged copyright owner points out, without question.

      I keep wondering myself how Youtube is able to do this. Just think about it as if you would buy a video then grab a projector and start playing it on the local square. That's illegal as hell.

      What I can see as a possiblity for loopholes are the many factors playing in this together:

      1) It's the user who uploads copyrighted material and noone can do anything to prevent it since there's no such thing as to filter out copyrighted uploads (while being uploaded).

      2) YT is just providing a platform.

      3) They are in fact responsible for what they have on their site, but then again, imagine browsing through ALL the videos on Youtube to check:
      a) in creative videos the music/video footage is properly credited
      b) check that the uploader has or does not have the right to upload the video.
      That's plain insane.

      I imagine sueing Youtube for infringement of copyrights but then again, it would be a hell of a trial.


      Anyways, I don't see how that bill would change any of this.

      ReplyDelete
    62. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:41 PM

      Gentlecolts, there's only one way to ensure that this bill doesn't pass...

      We must make Obama...a brony.

      *cue evil laugh*

      ReplyDelete
    63. Hikuro14May 17, 2011 at 5:42 PM

      Youtube would be screwed if this happened.

      ReplyDelete
    64. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:45 PM

      lol silly politicians thinking the internet cares about what they say.

      How can apparently clever people totaly not "get" the internet???

      My favorite: "You cannot watch this in your country"

      ..country?? "My" country?? Does it own me or something? I live on Earth, thanks, and my proxy says I can watch anything I like lol.

      ReplyDelete
    65. EwyndallMay 17, 2011 at 5:45 PM

      @Ewyndall
      Erm, just read the bill.
      Never mind what I said. I was pretty the laws covering intellectual property rights in my country and the USA are somewhat similar, being a well organized field of law on an international level.
      It seems I was mistaken there.
      Looks like at the moment in the USA "holding a public performance without a proper license is not a felony". In my country, it is.

      Oh well. Gotta see what happens, but anyways,this is the internet. I would miss ponies on YT, but I'm sure people would find ways to download it.
      The only way to completely stop illegal downloading of copyrighted materials is to shut down the entire internet and that won't happen ^-^

      ReplyDelete
    66. EwyndallMay 17, 2011 at 5:51 PM

      Last note, offtopic

      mfw I realized I will be asleep when the counter goes past 6 million :( (1:50am here)

      ReplyDelete
    67. BagOfChipsMay 17, 2011 at 5:53 PM

      This has been around a while and hasn't gone through. Doubt it will.

      ReplyDelete
    68. Parallel LogicMay 17, 2011 at 5:54 PM

      Streamers can face prison/fine if:
      >> They show 10 or more instances in any 180-day period and
      >> The licensing costs exceed $5,000
      [link]

      I think what's a little ironic here is that it's already a felony under the NETAct to reproduce or redistribute work (I believe YouTube provides such a service)
      [link]
      [link]
      It sounds to me like the major change proposed here is that streaming content, where the content is only available for a short time, will be included in that list of felonies.

      I don't think PensivePony, et al. would be affected by this development.

      And worst comes to worst, we watch the episodes right off the Hub, perhaps a week after they air. We'll still be able to follow the episodes.

      ReplyDelete
    69. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 5:58 PM

      @DR SHRUBBERY!

      It's fucking Pony's Eleven time now...

      ReplyDelete
    70. YomandudeMay 17, 2011 at 5:59 PM

      Time for a proletarian uprising.

      ReplyDelete
    71. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:00 PM

      "So what're you in for?"

      "Murder, rape, drug-running. You?"

      "I watched a cartoon online."

      ReplyDelete
    72. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:00 PM

      AMERICA: FUCK YEAH!

      ReplyDelete
    73. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:05 PM

      SILLY BITCH! YO' BILLS CANNOT HURT ME, 'CAUSE I'M THE BRONYNAUT!

      ReplyDelete
    74. JeanSpliceMay 17, 2011 at 6:16 PM

      ya know how many bills pass each year? like 4. this ain't gonna happen, by the looks of this article, no one's even sent it to congress, it's just on somone's list of
      "Things i think they should change"

      also, if we do get sent to the prison, i say we make a new prison gang, The Cutie Mark Killers, anyone?

      ReplyDelete
    75. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:18 PM

      This will not stop me...

      ReplyDelete
    76. 8ftmetalheadMay 17, 2011 at 6:19 PM

      They're also trying to screw us over in new zealand. Blocking internet access and handing out $15000 fines to anyone who is found repeatedly downloading or sharing copyrighted content.

      The laws don't work, because they're thought up by politicians, not people who do the downloading.

      ReplyDelete
    77. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:31 PM

      This is just another step in the US Government's plan to make every citizen a criminal, and to legitimize their constant use of unconstitutional spying on us.

      Nothing will actually change, it'll just give them another excuse to ruin your life if they feel like it. It's basically just terrorism, applied by the ruling regime to its own subjects.

      ReplyDelete
    78. Shadow PhoenixMay 17, 2011 at 6:34 PM

      It won't pass.

      If it turns out that the US is run by Trollestia, we must simply develop a Pony Proxy and hide the MU links with it. Bam, no way to confirm/stop streaming unless the file owners go after the actual links. We know that Hasbro won't do that, so poni is safe.

      ReplyDelete
    79. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 6:34 PM

      I always buy the newest episodes off of itunes - 3 bucks a pop and at 720p + surround? awesome.

      Youtube is good for spreading the show and does increase the revenue, but Hasbro needs the potential buyers to actually spend money on the show, in form of episodes/Hub subscription/toys.

      do your part!

      ReplyDelete
    80. PecanMay 17, 2011 at 6:35 PM

      Well, it does say that an Authorized stream is okay... Would the classic "We took you're silence as a yes" fly here?

      But, in all honesty, I thought Hasbro knew that quite a bit of there fan base was coming from online. Wouldn't they be okay with a stream, if the other alternative was the possible loss of who-knows-how many fans?

      ReplyDelete
    81. Black YousaMay 17, 2011 at 6:44 PM

      @flashfox466
      This is the same president who wanted NASA to help homeless people we're talking about, here.

      ReplyDelete
    82. Reginart-RenartMay 17, 2011 at 6:49 PM

      I would hate it for this bill to be passed, but as far as it relates to the MLP community, I think we've forgotten one thing:

      Hasbro has legal streams of episodes on their website.

      So even under worse case scenario and the bill passes and it gets enforced with a thorough combing of Youtube to remove and monitor every single little video that gets uploaded there, we'll still have ponies.

      Mind you, I don't think this kind of bill would ever pass.

      ReplyDelete
    83. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:09 PM

      I'm not a lawyer but i would think that one of two thinks will happen.
      1. Best case senario, The bill is squashed and things continue as they have before
      2. Worst cast senario, the bill get passed but is weekly enforced at the federal level. THey don't actively seek out the people, but Youtube will ban anyone who posts such content
      But I believe the former is the most likely

      ReplyDelete
    84. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:17 PM

      Seth, I think it's time to buy Equestriadaily.ru.

      ReplyDelete
    85. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:28 PM

      If this happens, which it probably won't, but if it did, I would kindly ask anonymouse to crash the internet and plunge the world into an anarchic wasteland.

      ReplyDelete
    86. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:37 PM

      How hard would it be to get the creators to authorize us?

      ReplyDelete
    87. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:38 PM

      @Anonymous

      Not your personal army!

      ReplyDelete
    88. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:52 PM

      10 bits says it'll die in committee and never make it to the voting floor, just like a majority of bills introduced to congress. Or maybe it'll die in a joint committee. But there's almost no chance for it to reach the president's desk.

      ReplyDelete
    89. KrugerMay 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM

      So a DUI is a misdemeanor, but the life threatening act of watching something online is a felony?

      lolwhut?

      ReplyDelete
    90. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 8:23 PM

      inb4 streaming nope.avi on loop.

      ReplyDelete
    91. 8-Bit64May 17, 2011 at 8:29 PM

      streaming ponies is already illegal without hasbro's consent... this law is only going to increase the sentence if caught... nothing's going to change...

      ReplyDelete
    92. B-ManMay 17, 2011 at 8:31 PM

      You know, I can see making money off of others work being bad...

      ...but FFS, a lot of times streaming on the web is free advertising for people. It's not like people claim to own it.

      Hm...you know, a massive boycott of entertainment could be constructed if this passes. Don't buy DVD's; don't watch episodes and let the ratings drop. If they want to play the pocketbook game...

      ReplyDelete
    93. B-ManMay 17, 2011 at 8:33 PM

      The companies that are probably running this forget the power that the consumer can hold over them. Just drain their profits as much as you can.

      ReplyDelete
    94. HayatecooperMay 17, 2011 at 8:50 PM

      "The court finds you guilt, do you have anything to say before we haul you off to the cells?"

      "Yes your Honour. Do I get the Hub there I would hate to have to Steam MLP again."

      These are going to be the best court cases ever.

      ReplyDelete
    95. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 8:58 PM

      Yeah and even if you're really worried about being caught... just upload videos through a proxy that is based in another country. Boom, you're instantly operating outside of the US' jurisdiction. This is why internet laws don't really do much... they only apply to one country.

      ReplyDelete
    96. krazykatboyMay 17, 2011 at 9:04 PM

      @Anonymous
      Agreed. Unless the law goes international (Yeah, like that'll happen) the sheer number of proxies, uploaders, and loopholes will make it impossible to be enforced.

      ReplyDelete
    97. B-ManMay 17, 2011 at 9:04 PM

      Even then, they're probably hard to enforce on a massive scale, with the scope of the Internet and all.

      ReplyDelete
    98. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 9:37 PM

      lol what a world we live in were it will so be as illegal to stream ponies as it is to kill people...remind me not to piss off anyone on youtube

      ReplyDelete
    99. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 10:31 PM

      Fortunately Hasbro doesn't give a shit.

      ReplyDelete
    100. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 10:37 PM

      I wouldn't worry about it seeing as that streamers aren't getting any revenue from showing MLP. And it's only a bill at this moment in time.

      ReplyDelete
    101. AngrytigerPMay 17, 2011 at 11:34 PM

      "criminals are stealing, trafficking, and profiting off the investment that our workers devote to creating the quality films and TV shows that entertain a worldwide audience and bolster the American economy"

      Really? I'm "profiting off the investment that our workers devote"? First, I'm not making a dime. Secondly, MLP is created by a Canadian studio, is it not?

      Secondly, explain to me how removing streams will better serve the purpose of 'entertaining a worldwide audience'. Didn't know they had the Hub outside the U.S. Fucking government.

      Sethisto, be a dear and post an announcement if this bill passes, I want to remove my MLP videos if it does. I can tolerate losing my channel and all videos on it, but I ain't going to jail over it.

      ReplyDelete
    102. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 11:38 PM

      Fortunately it's possible to upload ponies from places that aren't the US, and everyone would be able to watch them just as well.

      And then there's proxies.

      And then there's public wireless APs.

      And then there's the fact that Hasbro still wouldn't care - and if they did, consider the wonders destroying someone's life for uploading ponies would do for their reputation.

      And then there's all the general piracy and it's illegality, which doesn't seem to matter much in terms of enforcement of the law.

      Interesting news, but nothing to worry about.

      ReplyDelete
    103. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 12:20 AM

      nothing to worry about


      but i wonder when all these old folks are gonna die. streaming is good for business. hell, illegal downloading revolutionized the music industry. its not like anypony claims to own the shit they put up.

      friendship and tolerance but damn, old people who are disconnected from reality shouldn't be in politics

      ReplyDelete
    104. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 12:53 AM

      @AngryTigerP:

      It more than likely will pass: but Hasbro clearly don't mind about MLP:FiM (they'd never even have this fan base were it not for YouTube). If they did mind, believe me they'd have said, and YouTube makes it easy for them to contact you.

      Please keep the ponies up.

      ReplyDelete
    105. AngrytigerPMay 18, 2011 at 1:06 AM

      @Anonymous

      Making it a federal offense, as this bill does, means that it may be out of Hasbro's hands.

      I repeat, I am NOT risking my status as a not-criminal to have some videos up on YouTube. It's not worth it. You want to risk criminal charges, be my guest. It's really easy for you to stand from the outside looking in and just say "oh, don't worry about it" when there's no threat hanging over your head.

      ReplyDelete
    106. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 1:33 AM

      Let them make it illegal. I don't care. I know this is the internet and it can never be moderated by some faggy laws. Internet is freedom and we will never let them take that away. Never.

      ReplyDelete
    107. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 1:36 AM

      This will be a US only thing right? No probs! Eurofriends will host the videos somewhere.

      ReplyDelete
    108. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 2:50 AM

      Havent they been flapping their gums about this since the first ever music downloads? Oh its all well and good but theres one small problem they can place a bill to do this, but....they will find it VERY hard to enforce. There are alot of people out there who are getting more tech savy and are finding and exploting loopholes in rules to continue. OH sure the goverments want to be able to control the internet, so they can do what they like as its the last known "Free" media left, but the best thing is, they wont nore will they ever.

      Music Artist (and some of the ones who claim that downloads are killing their livlyhood) thrive on music downloads of all sorts, its how they got known.
      Youtube isnt streaming its uploading and not file shareing. And there are TONS of copyrighte matrial on there.
      I belive they would mean if you stream a LIVE video of something copyrighted so that others can view it for free.

      And I think someone asked about offical sites, they wont be affected as they own the rights to broadcast so they can do it on their own website/s should they wish

      ReplyDelete
    109. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 3:37 AM

      They'll probably try to enforce it using the military like they want to with the COICA bill. Meaning it'd be an international thing. It'll probably get held up being debated for months then forgotten till someone proposes it again next year.

      ReplyDelete
    110. DashieMay 18, 2011 at 5:05 AM

      @8ftmetalhead
      Yeah, we're protesting that on sep 1st in dunners.
      If this law passes I'll be annoyed, we can't even watch it in NZ so blocking mlp from YouTube would be a kick in the teeth.

      ReplyDelete
    111. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 6:09 AM

      I refuse to watch my little pony on youtube and torrented everything easily enough, but thats because I'm a nitpicky asshole.

      There are always ways around this sort of thing. There's absolutely nothing to worry about.

      ReplyDelete
    112. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 6:12 AM

      People who think that they can do jack shit about about what we do on the internet have been around as long as the internet has. This isn't really much of a threat.

      ReplyDelete
    113. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 8:29 AM

      >mfw I have an account on japans' Nico Nico Douga and this won't do a toot to ep uploads

      Nothing to see here, move along

      ReplyDelete
    114. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 8:35 AM

      Also, this won't go international if it passes, it'd have to go through the UN for that and they give as much of a shit as Hasbro does

      ReplyDelete
    115. semerlMay 18, 2011 at 9:25 AM

      If this doesn't exemplify despotism, then fuck the police anyway.

      ReplyDelete
    116. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 1:17 PM

      This whole Friendship Is Magic fandom explosion is a viral marketing wet dream come true. What has drawn us here is the animated series and Hasbro is not crazy enough to stop free distribution of this, their advertizing vehicle. As a matter of fact, if they ever do release a bluray edition of Season One, it won't be before Season Two starts. The redistribution of the episodes is a large part of what has fed the online discussion of MLP. As long as the things we want have yet to be created (DVD's, soundtracks, show-accurate merchandise) we are going to gravitate to sites discussing this lack and we are going to share what we can put together ourselves. Our discussions and creativity attract more fans who also get creative and convert yet more fans and so on. For Hasbro, it is better to not rush out and produce whatever the FIM fandom desires and instead wait for interest to build up to the point that TV and Radio news agencies report on pony mania.

      Now wash rince and repeat and perhaps you can see that a bill that makes streaming copyright material a felony only really benefits the old media, TV and radio. TV and radio networks are there to make money selling advertizements, the content is just a way to attract viewers. The companies that stand to lose the most are those that have adopted viral marketing strategies. They depend on people sharing copyright material illegally to have the greatest impact.

      ReplyDelete
    117. ShikoMay 18, 2011 at 1:22 PM

      Doesn't anyone know more about that? Someone who is a lawyer or something? I want to know how high chances are that this actually will happen ... I'm really worried about the internet's and bronydom's future.

      ReplyDelete
    118. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 1:48 PM

      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PLEASE give this a grimdark tag!

      ReplyDelete
    119. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 2:30 PM

      america, fuck yea

      ReplyDelete
    120. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 6:05 PM

      I'm not too worried about it. Imagine all the angry Youtube fans... there would be problems at the very least. I doubt MILLIONS of people would sit idly by while such a large source of entertainment is taken down. In my opinion that would be as stupid as trying to stop Football from being a sport.

      ReplyDelete
    121. StorytellerMay 20, 2011 at 2:43 PM

      I doubt this'll be anything of a problem. I mean, the way things are going, the SHOW is pushing the TOYS rather than the other way around. They'll let us put the ponies on Youtube for two big reasons:
      1. The Internet revolution that would surely follow is a headache nopony needs.
      2. Keeping the ponies on Youtube is free advertisement for Hasbro, and I'm sure pony toy sales have gone way up since the show came on, and would shoot right back down if Youtube could no longer show it.

      ReplyDelete
    122. EwyndallMay 24, 2011 at 1:16 PM

      I still think, somehow, someway, the best solution to all the piracy/streaming/sharing matter would be if politicans, corporate leaders, lawyers AND people from the internet who actually use it (like, Youtube representatives, major site leaders) would sit down together and discuss it.

      I'm trying to figure out what so damn difficult about this.
      Let's take traditional legal thinking:
      a)Stealing someone else's property is illegal. OK
      b)Making profit from someone else's work without consent is illegal. OK

      These are pretty understandable and alright, but as we can see the entire issue circles around making profit.

      The problem with the internet, which pretty much screws up the classical legal thinking, is that people on the internet don't make money out of sharing the content (ok some do but those are rare). That's what all the goofing around is about for the last 2 decades.

      Now there's one more thing:
      c)You can aslo cause "harm" if your actions make someone else lose potential profit (i.e. if you give out copies of a book for free to 1000 people that means the publisher/writer suffers a loss of 1000xbook price).

      This is the only reason how they can get a grasp on the entire phenomena.

      In my opinion, the problem is that the general legal thinking is always somewhat behind the actual happenings of real life, and this is an excellent case to prove it.
      Of course they want to punish it, otherwise they would accept streaming legal and that would fgo against the classical thinking.

      I understand their reasoning and I understand the publishers, writers, etc don't want to lose money to streaming, I agree it's their right. But they don't understand the traditional ways don't work anymore.
      We will download stuff from elsewhere. Unless they can control the entire internet, including Asian and Russian servers and such, they really can't do anything about it.

      Maybe it would be the right time to think of a new approach?

      ReplyDelete

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