Feds Overstate Software Piracy's Link To Terrorism

Lucas123 writes "Attorney General Michael Mukasey claims that terrorists sell pirated software as a way to finance their operations, without presenting a shred of evidence for his case. He's doing it to push through a controversial piece of intellectual property legislation that would increase IP penalties, increase police power, set up a new agency to investigate IP theft, and more. 'Criminal syndicates, and in some cases even terrorist groups, view IP crime as a lucrative business, and see it as a low-risk way to fund other activities,' Mukasey told a crowd at the Tech Museum of Innovation last week."

He's not overstating the link

[UbuntuDupe]

Overstate? I think it's a bit harsh and premature to claim that he's *over*stating the link between piracy and terrorism. I mean, Mukasey's a good guy, really does his homework. You think he's overstating what his evidence can justify? Really? Okay then, see if you can "explain away" the time they caught an IRA (Irish Republican Army) guy selling disks loaded with illegal copies of Windows at a flea market in Belfast in '86?

Yeah. I think it's time to "think different" about trivializing the connection between software piracy and 9/11.

"Genuine" Windows Vista...

[PlatyPaul]

... Suicide Bomber Edition.

Putting the "death" back in BSOD.

Well then

[Drooling Iguana]

It's a good thing sites like thepiratebay.org are making the sale of physical copies of pirated media much less profitable. Get those Torrents running for Uncle Sam!

Re:Well duh

[Slashdot Suxxors]

Judging from the high quality of his videos, it should be clear to anyone that Osama obviously uses cracked versions of Adobe Final Cut. We don't need the government to tell us that.

I like buying software from terrorists...

[realmolo]

My copy of Windows XP doesn't just *crash*, it crashes into *buildings*.

Re:Well duh

[blhack]

Who needs to sell pirated software when you can get it for free?

Now, most people YOU know would probably know how to get warez for free. Most people I know know how to get warez for free, but most PEOPLE don't.

DO you think the type of person that requires help moving their computer from one room to another would be able to figure out how to work an FTP client, or what a "tracker" was?

This is why my sister always asks me for a copy of Photoshop for her birthday. She has no idea how to get it for free online.
SHHH!!!! Don't tell her I have been secretly slipping her copies of the GIMP all these years.

Kids, if you like a piece of software...BUY IT!

Re:No shame

[eihab]

I'd like to say it can't get any more ludicrous than this, but I bet it can

From his speech [justice.gov]:

That is not to suggest that we've been standing idly by before now. Yesterday, for example, I met with entertainment industry leaders in Los Angeles, where I participated in a roundtable discussion focused on IP issues and enforcement strategies. Earlier this morning, I had a similar roundtable discussion with leaders from Silicon Valley.

Theories about how the "roundtable" discussions went are left as an exercise for your 2 years old...

Warning, buzzword overload !

[DrYak]

They just forgot to find a way to somewhat also cram the "child pornography" keyword together with "terrorist" and "pirate".

Re:I call bullshit

[Anonymous Coward]

The democrats will violate your rights just as quick as the Republicans.

This may be true but you have to admit the Republicans are a lot better at it.

To sum up the article

[Anonymous Coward]

Pirates and Terrorists and Hackers! Oh my!

Wait wait wait

[Dunbal]

People PAY for pirated software? LOL. Glad I'm not funding terrorism, because I don't pay.