Why we can't record our TV shows (was: In case you have not seen it.....Linux Media Center)

[Ben Scott]

On 3/27/07, Ted Roche <tedroche at tedroche.com> wrote:
>> Rather scary how a mere discussion of the legalities elicts such a
>> furor,  another chilling effect illustrated... when you can't discuss
>> the issues (and use illustrations such as links of the sort of things
>> that are under fire), what's left but to cave in and give up?
>
> Point of clarification here: you pointed to a resource that had an rss
> feed of BitTorrents of other people's copywritten material. I had no
> objection to the discussion. I objected to the link.

  "Me too."

  Again, the courts recognize the concept of "intent".  If you post a
link to an RSS feed that collects links to BitTorrent servers that
track the distribution of copyvio material, the *intent* is still to
enable the distribution of copyvio material.  Saying "I didn't do it;
I only told them where to look" may not be sufficient legal defense.
It certainly sounds like grounds for a trial, and that's something I'd
like to avoid.

-- Ben