CALLING ALL LAW STUDENTS/PROFESSORS/LAWYERS

[Jacob]

Ok guys so here is the deal. Lawyers are expensive as shit, and I should know since I'm gonna be one. So our friends in blue need some help. They need guidance on legal questions, help in choosing the right wording when posting things on the board, and some other things that come up. We aren't asking you to defend them (although that would be awesome) we just need answers.

Tomorrow I'm heading to my school to scour the campus for anyone who would be willing to help me answer questions. It would be awesome if we could find a few ninjas who is/knows/can find someone to help. If you are someone who is in a position to ask or to know anything regarding law please contact me or any other member of the staff.

Thank Guys :)

[karma]

Have you tried the Anarchist Black Cross?

[ShadeOfIcarus]

i'm well versed in constitutional and copyright law mostly, but i'm no lawyer, i'll see what i can scavenge at my campus.

[Phara]

Have you tried the Anarchist Black Cross?
What's that? I'm sorry I know google is the first thing I would normally scream, but I'm literally going blind from the amount of windows I already have open.

[ShadeOfIcarus]

Political Prisoner/PoW support fund. I think he meant it as a joke referring to other replies to another forum we've been in. Its:http://www.ninjavideoforum.net/viewtopic.php?id=35559

he doesn't seem to like the idea of lawyers

[karma]

Have you tried the Anarchist Black Cross?
What's that? I'm sorry I know google is the first thing I would normally scream, but I'm literally going blind from the amount of windows I already have open.
Lol - as per usual huh? :P

It's my understanding that they're a loose, global affiliation of lawyers and such who advise or represent people for cases that have to do with class war/struggle, political prisoners... all the anti-capitalist/anarchist stuff that 'respectable' lawyers won't go anywhere near.

[karma]

I think he meant it...
You can pack that in for a start!

[ShadeOfIcarus]

I think he meant it...
You can pack that in for a start!
like butting heads huh.
look at the bloody conversation, one moment you are telling me how useless it would be to hire/write a group of activist lawyers.
After i leave that thread i find that you suggest a.... group of activist lawyers...who don't really have much information on them, all thats mentioned is PP/POW which neither fit the situation.
Logically what is the next step?

Ok, if you meant it... I WAS WRONG...yes i can say those words. Now can we move on from this degenerative banter, or at least open a "lets butt heads" forum so you can get your fix and get back to the situation at hand.

[karma]

like butting heads huh.
Yes :) lots.



look at the bloody conversation,
Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.


one moment you are telling me how useless it would be to hire/write a group of activist lawyers.
After i leave that thread i find that you suggest a.... group of activist lawyers...
Correct. Useless for THAT situation, useful for THIS one :) Different thread, different topic, and different solution.

Simples innit?

And I'm fairly certain you never said 'activist' lawyers in the other thread.


who don't really have much information on them, all thats mentioned is PP/POW which neither fit the situation.
Logically what is the next step?
I don't have much information on them. I've seen fliers at various events and read an occasional article but I've never had reason to call on their services before so I don't know too much about them myself off the top of my head.

Next step? I dunno - email them maybe and see if they can help in any way?

[leftie]

hmmmm, have you looked at the EFF? They defend all the RIAA victims....

Just to be clear, I know almost nothing about law O_o

[Phara]

Karma!

be nice! you're quick with the harsh, have been for years o_O. I heart you though, but be nice.


We actually havent looked into them. I'll put it on my things to do list. I'm on like page 87 of it. :(

[Phara]

hmmmm, have you looked at the EFF? They defend all the RIAA victims....

Just to be clear, I know almost nothing about law O_o
that we have, we're a bit out of their... i don't know. I think everyone is a bit scared of this one/doesnt know how to take it.

[karma]

Karma!

be nice! you're quick with the harsh, have been for years o_O. I heart you though, but be nice.


We actually havent looked into them. I'll put it on my things to do list. I'm on like page 87 of it. :(
I was being nice! I deleted all the worst answers and used smilies and everything.

o_0

He gives as good as he gets, I don't think there's any hard feelings. I suspect he likes to butt heads as much as I do.

[ShadeOfIcarus]

Karma!

be nice! you're quick with the harsh, have been for years o_O. I heart you though, but be nice.


We actually havent looked into them. I'll put it on my things to do list. I'm on like page 87 of it. :(
I was being nice! I deleted all the worst answers and used smilies and everything.

o_0

He gives as good as he gets, I don't think there's any hard feelings. I suspect he likes to butt heads as much as I do.
What he said XD. I just didn't think this was the place to do it is all.

[Phara]

I'm sure you two are going to be tons of fun in CnD. And thank you for said edits.

Ok, back to topic at hand please.

[karma]

Ok, back to topic at hand please.
Yes ma'am :)

[leftie]

hmmmm, have you looked at the EFF? They defend all the RIAA victims....

Just to be clear, I know almost nothing about law O_o
that we have, we're a bit out of their... i don't know. I think everyone is a bit scared of this one/doesnt know how to take it.
If I may ask, why the uncertainty?

[ShadeOfIcarus]

hmmmm, have you looked at the EFF? They defend all the RIAA victims....

Just to be clear, I know almost nothing about law O_o
that we have, we're a bit out of their... i don't know. I think everyone is a bit scared of this one/doesnt know how to take it.
If I may ask, why the uncertainty?
This case is one of those "can't hurt to try" situations. imo go for it.

[valdelaval]

I am a lawyer. I am a new lawyer, but a lawyer nonetheless. If I can help in some way, please let me know.

[wadswerth]

(sun) valdelaval

[emeraldragon]

I am not a lawyer, but I can poke around the law faculty on my campus and see what I can find out.... maybe ill find someone interested enough to get directly involved on our side... worth a try right?

[wadswerth]

Yes it is emderalddragon

[Phara]

Yes please. definitely. thank you.

[Jagos]

I've actually read the DMCA and a few laws regarding copyrights such as the Sonny Bono Act. I'm not all too strong on the law side, but I'm big on economics which is probably what you need also. To show how you haven't affected the MPAA's bottom line.

If you let me know what you're being charged with, I could look it up and find out how to fight back.

[Jay75]

I've actually read the DMCA and a few laws regarding copyrights such as the Sonny Bono Act. I'm not all too strong on the law side, but I'm big on economics which is probably what you need also. To show how you haven't affected the MPAA's bottom line.

If you let me know what you're being charged with, I could look it up and find out how to fight back.
Thanks Jagos, I was wondering if you know of any MPAA cases that have been dropped or suffered problems recently (last 6 months) due to the economic side ("Hollywood Accounting"). Also do have you any knowledge on ICE and their role in piracy recently?

[Jagos]

ICE takes a broad definition of their title for all intents and purposes.

When I say broad, I mean the damn barn is seven football fields wide. Their entire job is all about immigration. Yes, they have enforcement and removal operations, but all movies come with an FBI warning. It's odd that ICE took down a site that's the FBI's jurisdiction. The only thing I can figure is the very fact that the FBI gave them jurisdiction in this field as a test for the future, which again makes no sense. The FBI is kind of having its own problems (Wikipedia, agents cheating on tests, budget, etc.). But here's the things you have to argue for a court:


Prevent terrorism and enhance security
Protect the borders against illicit trade, travel and finance
Protect the borders through smart and tough interior immigration enforcement
Construct an efficient, effective agency
1) Phara and co aren't terrorists.
2) The protection against illicit trade is dubious at best. I doubt everyone traveled to Afghanistan recently, and personal finance on a website. IIRC, hits don't mean that people automatically get money for it. But this one is going to be the most important thing to fight.
3) Main job for ICE
4) We already know that they're redundant. Telling them that may make them angrier. *whistles innocently*

The MPAA is taking a different tactic (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/06/the-riaa-amateurs-heres-how-you-sue-p2p-users.ars).

The Sue and settle is bringing in the money. Basically, it's legal extortion. That's why you haven't heard much from the MPAA. If anything, since Dan Glickman just stepped down, they were quiet for a while. Think of the Col. in Avatar and you have Bob Kerrey (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20011510-261.html). 12 years as senator, he knows people. It's an uphill battle folks. He has influence and lobbying dollars which make it far harder for people to take the small commoners seriously that the laws affect.

-edit- I'm looking into their cyber crimes unit (ICE) and it STILL doesn't make sense! From what I understand, no one on ninjavideo sold anything. No DVDs, No CDs, and explained the rights of music holders on the site. Since ICE is technically the enforcement, that's why they took up arms against piracy. I need the laws used to charge people in order to figure out what can be done against them and the constitutionality of just such an event as "In our Sites"

Also:


The IPR Center also manages and supports the ICE commercial fraud program, which targets criminals engaged in illegal and predatory trade practices that endanger public health, our economy, and restrict the competitiveness of U.S. products in the global market. Successful cases produce significant seizures, civil penalties, and criminal prosecutions.
Technically, the freedom of content made the competitiveness of US products reduced. So here's a recap:

ICE is enforcement branch, but probably worked closely with the FBI.
They enforce laws but it's unsure which they enforced.
Why they picked on the little guys, I have no idea but they did to effectively say they're doing something.

[corgimom]

http://www.facebook.com/notes/legal-information-institute-lii/intellectual-property-law-highlights-from-this-supreme-court-term/425783133449

and

http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100817_protection_of_intellectual_property_core_ of_net_neutrality_debate/

I am also thinking that contacting the Electronic Frontier Foundation could get you the kind of attorney referal you really need.

[corgimom]

Thomas F. Cotter
414 Mondale Hall
229–19th Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-7527
cotte034@umn.edu

[Yaguara]

I'm not a lawyer, but my dealings with contracts and the music business has given me a good understanding of Legalize. So if you need a translator, gimme a shout.