Often it is easy to let our emotions get in the way of our rational thoughts, and our lack of the ability to perform the Kolinahr makes it even more difficult to set aside our desire for personal and short term pleasure, in favour of the greater good and long term enjoyment for all of us. For our movement to thrive, we must be able to move past our selfish desires and keep our eye on promoting our movement and embracing what it stands for.
Recently many pirates have been circulating their pleasure over Louis Vuitton’s lawsuit against Warner Brothers for falsely claiming that a bag in the movie “The Hangover Part II” (not to be confused with their previous intellectual property battle before the film was released on DVD, which was against the tattoo artist that did the design on Mike Tyson). Claiming that it’s good that they are getting a taste of their own medicine and that maybe now they will see how abusive their own actions are.
While it would be nice for Warner Brothers to realize that their practices are abusive, they never will… they will look at these two issues as two totally separate things. Furthermore, if Louis Vuitton wins their court case it could have a major impact on the future of filmmaking, especially for indy films. Props are very common in films because they allow the director to convey a scene without spending a massive amount of money for the real thing (it’s acting, after all). This trial going to court poses a risk that a jury may side with Louis Vuitton and create a precedent that you cannot film a movie with props.
The dangers of the precedent aside, we should fight for intellectual property reform… that’s our core platform. Without the need for intellectual property reform, we would have never become a movement. As a civil liberty movement (which goes hand in hand with our arguments against current intellectual property laws), we should realize that rights apply to everyone. If we don’t defend Warner Brothers now, then we are not standing up for our beliefs. Yes, it’s hard to stand up for someone who hates your very being, but we are better than them.
As pirates we must stand together and give Warner Brothers our support, we must stand hand in hand with them and say “We know that you hate us, but that is for something different… as long as someone is trying to stop your right to free speech, we will defend you”. If you look at what you believe in, you will realize that defending them might be difficult, but it is the right thing to do. We must always stand against people who try to hurt free speech or by profiting off the creation of others through the disguise of “Intellectual Property”.
Keep your eye on the prize pirates, always defend what is right… do not let your emotions get in the way of truth and righteousness. We are the bringers of the new era and every action counts.
+1!
does anything more need to be said?
Thank you for your kind words!
I was re-reading this post, and it could be assumed that I am saying that I believe in the same rights for corporations as I do for people. I do not necessarily believe that, but I do believe that every person and corporation should have the right to free speech and from abusive intellectual property claims.
🙂 Hope that clears up any confusion on the matter.
I for one would recommend Louis Vuitton to get a sense of humor.
The whole point is for the annoying and obnoxious character to claim it is a Louis Vuitton bag when it obviously is not! Can’t they see that?
“Recently many pirates have been circulating their pleasure over Louis Vuitton’s lawsuit against Warner Brothers for falsely claiming that a bag in the movie “The Hangover Part II” ( … ).”
You didn’t finish the sentence.
Other than that I completely agree, we cannot claim rights for ourselves and then not take the fight just because we don’t like the abused party.
Well I don’t know about you, but I think I’d have to take up the Delvian Seek to deal with the likes of Warner Bros.
But you’re right. We do need to defend Warner Bros on this one–if not specifically for them then for the smaller filmmakers who would be seriously harmed by such lawsuits.
Even if they will never love us, it demonstrates to the world at large that we are not petty and vindictive children (like many of them see us as) but rather have a true ideological standpoint that we stick to.
Yes, rights are for everyone.
“many pirates have been circulating their pleasure over Louis Vuitton’s lawsuit against Warner Brothers”
“As pirates we must stand together and give Warner Brothers our support”
I fall into both camps. I support WB on this particular issue, but that does not mean that I refuse to let myself feel a healthy amount of amusement at the irony and schadenfreude inherent in the situation.
The situation feels similar to the not-Voltaire quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Given an anti-free-speech zealot whom I vehemently oppose and despise; in the case of their speech being curtailed, I would not change my opinion of them simply because they are now a victim as well as a would-be oppressor, but I would (hope to) support their right to speech anyway. While simultaneously smirking “dumb-ass” under my breath at them for their short-sightedness.