Entertainment Industry Picked Wrong Time to be Money-Grubbers

One evening in Manhattan in the mid ‘70s I was leaving Rockefeller Center for home and the thunder began.

I could have taken a subway, but chose to dance my way “Singing in the Rain,” literally.

The way things seem headed, if I tried it today the copyright police would be after me.

Yes the industry has slipped some new obstacles past us, but they seem to be losing the war.

Entertainment is about the only bright thing on the horizon in these dismal days. Don’t expect any sympathy from the 99 when all that money is going to the 1ers.

A quietly negotiated Web strangling agreement is being repudiated. A European judge blocked an order requiring social media to insert filters to prevent copyright abuse.

Back in the day many, if not most, would have had no argument with making sure entertainers got their fair share. With the earnings in the billions it is hard to shed more than a crocodile tear.

The concept of making music cheaper and infinitely easier to acquire, might have held the high ground.

Not so when an online bookseller got $15 from me for a Kindle edition by a little-known writer.

Few subjects are less prone to be targets of the Occupy people.

Internet on the Brink

Netizens of the World Wide Web had a shot fired across their bow Friday. At the very least they must realize there is a world out there.

India is one of the biggest Web users in the world.

And this shows Web may be in danger before the U.S. Congress even passes SOPA, if it does.

The Times of India reported Friday that an Indian court in Delhi called in all the powers, Google, Google, Youtube and 18 others to charge them with criminal conspiracy for “selling, publicly exhibiting and … (circulating) obscene, lascivious content,” The Times of India reported. They also were accused of promoting racial hatred and violence, as radio had done before them.

Google said because of the holiday no one was on duty to comment. 
Some are arguing that Hollywood, or perhaps Bollywood, are behind such restraints.

But there has been widespread use of the Internet to spread profanity. In the U.S. there have been several major cases in which coaches at all levels have used the Web to sexually harass or assault athlets.

Internet content has caused riots and death. It also has led to freedom for millions, and brought down dictators.

Google already lost a YouTube case in Italy for material it removed as soon as it learned it was present.
Freedom of speech in the U.S. excludes prior restraint. That means someone may not be stopped from saying, something but can be punished afterwards.

In essence that means the accountability must follow the act. On the other hand, providers can be held responsible for permitting it continues. Racketeeering laws, in the U.S., can be used in such circumstances.

South African Parliament Imposes Censorship On Media

South Africa's parliament passed a bill Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu says will impose tight censorship on the news media and facilitate corruption.

 Although former President Nelson Mandela did not condemn the legislation his foundation said it was concerned about its implications.

News24 said the vote was 259 yes, 41 no ballots asnd 32 abstentions. "In its current form, the bill represents an attack on principles of open democracy that are deeply embedded in our constitution and our national life," the South African National Editors' Forum told allAfrica.com.

South African unions also have opposed the bill. There may be amendments before the final version is passed. With the African National Congress controlling two-thirds of the parliament there is no doubt they can push it through if they wish.

The bill was introduced after several years of reported corruption and President Jacob Zuma's spokesman, Mac Maharaj, was accused if receiving kickbacks from a French arms manufacturer, News24 reported. Maharaj is suiing several journals.

Under apartheid there were strict rules limiting press, such as barring banned people from meeting with reporters or being quoted. Violent methods were employed against some anti-apartheid dissidents.

However, under apartheid a scandal erupted and cost some high-ranking officials their jobs for using government money to try to secretly spread pro-regime propaganda. A Johannesburg newspaper, the Rand Daily Mail, was leaked the information and reported it. It was later driven out of business.
 Under white-minority rule newspapers were a leading supporter of majority rule.

There have been widespread claims of ANC officials manipulating government contracts to enrich themselves. Journalists, of both races, again have been leading the calls for reforms.

Article first published as <a href='http://technorati.com/politics/article/south-african-parliament-imposes-censorship-on/'>South African Parliament Imposes Censorship On Media</a> on Technorati.