For Bryan McCarthy, the thought that he could ever end up arrested and charged with “criminal copyright infringement for ‘reproduction and distribution’ of copyrighted material.” probably never crossed his mind. His website, the now defunct Channelsurfing.net, didn’t host any content. Instead, his site posted links to other sites that would stream live sports broadcasts.
In an ever growing environment that favors money over freedom, that is enough to get you arrested and your life turned upside down.
If you follow me on twitter (@nothingrightcom, just for the record), or if you follow anyone who regularly posts something other than what they had for lunch or that they are out of the shower now and feel good, you will see links to articles that link you to information. Does this mean these people, including myself, are guilty of copyright infringement?
On Thursday, McCarthy was arrested in Texas for those very charges. “Brian McCarthy allegedly sought to profit by intercepting and then streaming live sporting events, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to make a quick buck through what is little more than high-tech thievery,” Southern District of New York Attorney Preet Bhara commented.
Related: Suppression of information real reason to attack Wikileaks
If the digital police get their way, the answer to that may soon be yes.
The internet is the last thread of truly free speech left on the planet, and is a vehicle for truth and equality. The fact that some people get in that vehicle and take it for a joyride, is not cause to lay on this level of suppression.
In fact, the motive is much deeper.
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak saw that the internet was being used to communicate, across the world, the struggle of Egyptians to finally see freedom and democracy after decades under a totalitarian regime, so he shut the internet down.
Libyan lunatic Muammar Gaddafi followed suit in Libya, trying desperately to keep the Libyan people from leaning on each other for strength as they are fighting off guerillas hired by Gaddafi to squash the uprising, regardless of human rights, or the welfare of his own people.
You see, when you shut down the last truly free medium that absolutely anyone can use to call for justice, freedom, or democracy where they don’t exist, you leave the communication to the wealthy, who can afford the ad space in print media and air time on television and radio.
Bryan McCarthy is being used as an example. Someone who possesses no copyright material, broadcasts no copyrighted material and duplicates no copyrighted material is being held by authorities because he has a site that indicates to people that their are people who are possessing, duplicating and reproducing potentially copyrighted material for others to watch.
Just another example of conservatives showing that it isn’t “limited government” they want, it’s “selective government” that targets issues they feel are important.
From all of us who posts links on a regular basis, hang in there Bryan, we’re behind you.
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