Escapist Shutdown!?

[Weasel124]

It's known that FBI have shut down the site megaupload.com and rumours have just reached my ear that they're planning on making a great, big shutdown on the Internet about copyright. YouTube and similar stuff are already in the risky zone.

I'm getting really nervy here now; do you think there's any chance that The Escapist can be shut down??

 

[TorqueConverter]

Yes we routinely host copyrighted material here. You know, we're super librial here and hate the man. America is the man. We hate America. All you need to do is look at all the posts about ninjas, pirates and who would win in a fight. Yes pirates. That's what we are all about. Pirates


Fuck no! This site does not condone illegal activity. It's not going to get shut down because it simply is doing nothing wrong.

 

[Doitpow]

It could be shut down because of the the gameplay footage they show in reveiws acutally.
and the corporate logos Yahtzee uses. (actually this sounds a little silly)
and the cut up trailers moviebob shows in his reviews.

 

[Hateren47]

Does The Escapist host stuff that would enable content owners to shut it down according to the PIPA? Yes, yes it does. I see at least 6 images on the frontpage just now that The Escapist can't possibly own the copyright on and a few more which they may or may not. That should be enough to have the site taken offline long enough for them to lose money in ad revenue. Link to a Rick Astley video on the forum? Site can be taken offline. Hell most of the forum avatars are enough to technically take it down.

At least to my understanding fair use is pretty much out the window even if it's still there. If you have your site offline for weeks, not making money, waiting for a judge to get to your case it might as well just be illegal.

I'm not american, though, so I don't really have to care and I could be wrong.

 

[Hookman]

I don't see a reason why they would. As a site, we are nowhere near as high-profile as megaupload and while there may be some copyrighted material on here it is not enough for a site-wide shutdown.

 

[JesterRaiin]

This site does not condone illegal activity. It's not going to get shut down because it simply is doing nothing wrong.

Oh the ignorance, sweet ignorance.
No illegal activities on the Escapist ? Well, i have a bad news for you.
Contrary to popular belief, the law isn't set in stone - it's set of rules that can be interpreted in different ways. Under SOPA, ACTA or similar acts and agreements one can't be sure what is allowed and what isn't.

BTW :
http://boingboing.net/2012/01/25/insane-english-copyright-rulin.html
Welcome in the world of "I ownz, yoo pay"...

 

[Realitycrash]

Seriously doubt they will touch the Escapist. What a shit-storm it would generate..

 

[Phlakes]

...No...

Megaupload was taken down because it was used for lots of piracy. What's the worst this site has done? Put up game trailers? They probably have permission from the publishers for that anyway.

 

[Thyunda]

This site does not condone illegal activity. It's not going to get shut down because it simply is doing nothing wrong.

Oh the ignorance, sweet ignorance.
No illegal activities on the Escapist ? Well, i have a bad news for you.
Contrary to popular belief, the law isn't set in stone - it's set of rules that can be interpreted in different ways. Under SOPA, ACTA or similar acts and agreements one can't be sure what is allowed and what isn't.

BTW :
http://boingboing.net/2012/01/25/insane-english-copyright-rulin.html
Welcome in the world of "I ownz, yoo pay"...

But that ruling is totally fair. I mean, I assumed the two posters were by the same creator. It's the photographer's style, it's totally fair to slap somebody else away from it.

You CAN copyright ideas. That's what the whole point of copyright is.

 

[Yopaz]

Seriously doubt they will touch the Escapist. What a shit-storm it would generate..

Yeah. No-one said a thing when Megaupload, MediaFire, videobb or any of the other recently closed sites were closed. They will probably take our feelings into consideration and leave us alone so they wont have to get rude emails and discussions about how they suck in various forums all over the internet.

 

[JesterRaiin]

This site does not condone illegal activity. It's not going to get shut down because it simply is doing nothing wrong.

Oh the ignorance, sweet ignorance.
No illegal activities on the Escapist ? Well, i have a bad news for you.
Contrary to popular belief, the law isn't set in stone - it's set of rules that can be interpreted in different ways. Under SOPA, ACTA or similar acts and agreements one can't be sure what is allowed and what isn't.

BTW :
http://boingboing.net/2012/01/25/insane-english-copyright-rulin.html
Welcome in the world of "I ownz, yoo pay"...

But that ruling is totally fair. I mean, I assumed the two posters were by the same creator. It's the photographer's style, it's totally fair to slap somebody else away from it.

You CAN copyright ideas. That's what the whole point of copyright is.

No, you <link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity>CAN'T. Or rather "that shouldn't be allowed".

The more we copyright, the more we restrict our creativity.

 

[Lilani]

Why the hell would they shut down this website? Contributers are so hardcore anti-piracy here that its a surprise the site didnt come out in support of SOPA.

Where did you get that impression? I feel quite the opposite about the Escapist. When Extra Credits was here, they had an episode on Piracy, specifically listing certain situations where there is nothing morally wrong with pirating a game (it wasn't originally made in their language, not released in their region/region locked, etc). The only part of the Escapist that is severely anti-piracy is the forums, in that they don't let us post links to pirated stuff or admit to pirating something.

 

[Thyunda]

This site does not condone illegal activity. It's not going to get shut down because it simply is doing nothing wrong.

Oh the ignorance, sweet ignorance.
No illegal activities on the Escapist ? Well, i have a bad news for you.
Contrary to popular belief, the law isn't set in stone - it's set of rules that can be interpreted in different ways. Under SOPA, ACTA or similar acts and agreements one can't be sure what is allowed and what isn't.

BTW :
http://boingboing.net/2012/01/25/insane-english-copyright-rulin.html
Welcome in the world of "I ownz, yoo pay"...

But that ruling is totally fair. I mean, I assumed the two posters were by the same creator. It's the photographer's style, it's totally fair to slap somebody else away from it.

You CAN copyright ideas. That's what the whole point of copyright is.

No, you <link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity>CAN'T. Or rather "that shouldn't be allowed".

The more we copyright, the more we restrict our creativity.

I'm arguing against your example specifically - there are other cases I'd be on your side with - but your example was an example of blatant deception. Those two images belong in one photographer's portfolio. Not two.

 

[JesterRaiin]

You CAN copyright ideas. That's what the whole point of copyright is.

No, you <link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity>CAN'T. Or rather "that shouldn't be allowed".

The more we copyright, the more we restrict our creativity.

I'm arguing against your example specifically - there are other cases I'd be on your side with - but your example was an example of blatant deception. Those two images belong in one photographer's portfolio. Not two.

Yep, but just imagine - in the world of total "copyrightism" there's no place for creation. No matter what you'll try to do there's risk that someone, somewhere already copyrighted that or something similar. That's what i'm talking about... :|

 

[Something Amyss]

It could be shut down because of the the gameplay footage they show in reveiws acutally.
and the corporate logos Yahtzee uses. (actually this sounds a little silly)
and the cut up trailers moviebob shows in his reviews.

RIP fair use, you had a good run.

 

[SneeringCanuck]

No, because last I checked this is not a torrent site.

And besides, it's largely unknown on the internet.

 

[Thyunda]

You CAN copyright ideas. That's what the whole point of copyright is.

No, you <link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity>CAN'T. Or rather "that shouldn't be allowed".

The more we copyright, the more we restrict our creativity.

I'm arguing against your example specifically - there are other cases I'd be on your side with - but your example was an example of blatant deception. Those two images belong in one photographer's portfolio. Not two.

Yep, but just imagine - in the world of total "copyrightism" there's no place for creation. No matter what you'll try to do there's risk that someone, somewhere already copyrighted that or something similar. That's what i'm talking about... :|

And in a world where anything goes, why be original? You can make more money printing a Bart Simpson t-shirt than making your own design.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Yep, but just imagine - in the world of total "copyrightism" there's no place for creation. No matter what you'll try to do there's risk that someone, somewhere already copyrighted that or something similar. That's what i'm talking about... :|

And in a world where anything goes, why be original? You can make more money printing a Bart Simpson t-shirt than making your own design.

Exactly.
Unfortunately, with every SOPA or ACTA we're closer to this reality.