Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on December 09, 2003 10:27 AM
Right, what does this mean?
It seems that many laws are made that only penalize the law-abiding. Often, we're the only ones following some pathetic rule coz our mums (or the Bible) taught us that that was the right thing to do. I find this often with government agencies; some have actually told me to break their rules and not tell them ("every one does") while I try to explain why I can't!
But this tax seems kind of like insuranxe. X% will steal so everyone pays Y% to cover the fact -- except that insurance is supposed to cover unintentional not willful actions. I guess if enough of us (logically) decide that we can now break copyright law coz we've paid to do so then X quickly increases and Y must too. So the only ones benefitting are the law breakers unless the law is changed so everyone can do it.
So how about an exemption? Register with some authority as a law abider (backed up by credible witnesses) and you're given the benefit of the doubt: innocent until proven guilty with an ID card to prove it. Flash it at the cops when you make some silly, I've-done-that traffic error and they probably let you off -- or punch your card as a warning. Why not? Portable reputation. The end of racial profiling?
Hey, this could have a powerful effect some day. "Do you have your good-guy card?" says the salesperson. "Uh, no" whispers the purchaser, embarrassed, "I, um, left it in my other wallet."
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Re:Lawsuit
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on December 09, 2003 10:27 AMIt seems that many laws are made that only penalize the law-abiding. Often, we're the only ones following some pathetic rule coz our mums (or the Bible) taught us that that was the right thing to do. I find this often with government agencies; some have actually told me to break their rules and not tell them ("every one does") while I try to explain why I can't!
But this tax seems kind of like insuranxe. X% will steal so everyone pays Y% to cover the fact -- except that insurance is supposed to cover unintentional not willful actions. I guess if enough of us (logically) decide that we can now break copyright law coz we've paid to do so then X quickly increases and Y must too. So the only ones benefitting are the law breakers unless the law is changed so everyone can do it.
So how about an exemption? Register with some authority as a law abider (backed up by credible witnesses) and you're given the benefit of the doubt: innocent until proven guilty with an ID card to prove it. Flash it at the cops when you make some silly, I've-done-that traffic error and they probably let you off -- or punch your card as a warning. Why not? Portable reputation. The end of racial profiling?
Hey, this could have a powerful effect some day. "Do you have your good-guy card?" says the salesperson. "Uh, no" whispers the purchaser, embarrassed, "I, um, left it in my other wallet."
Paul Levey, Canada.
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