SCOTUS rulings and replacements Re: [extropy-chat] finding old (and new) sf

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Brett Paatsch <bpaatsch at bigpond.net.au> wrote:

> Joseph Bloch wrote:
> 
> > One word of caution to those who might be interested in doing the
> same; 
> > with the recent SCOTUS rulings about copyright and such, it might
> be 
> > worthwhile to retain some sort of proof of right to own such
> digital 
> > copies.
> > 
> > I will probably be keeping the covers in a box, against the day the
> > Copyright Enforcers come to my door.
> 
> What SCOTUS ruling is that Joseph ?

I believe the case is MGM v Grokster or something along those lines. It
was issued in the last two weeks, and as I had predicted, it pretty
much puts the power in the copyright holder, all this new fangled
anti-IP propaganda notwithstanding.

> 
> Brett Paatsch
> 
> I'm boning up my Australian-based understanding of the SCOTUS, now
> that Sandra Day O Connor has retired and President G W B will get a 
> shot at first her replacement and then likely, pretty soon given his
> health and age, Rehquirst's) ?

Yes, and the big change will be O'Connor, who was a swing vote who
often wrote moderate, hair-splitting decisions that left issues for
another day. If Bush puts, say, a constructionist in her place (like
that recently promoted black lady judge) it will be a great day for
libertarians. If he puts in a fascist like his friend Alberto Gonzalez
it will be a bad day.

> 
> Also, when reading about possible replacement justices I see that
> liberal and conservative are talked about as if those categories are
> opposites. Is that the case in the US?

Yes, but liberals here are not libertarian, they are democratic
socialists, i.e. welfare state proponents, with a dash of anti-crime
fascism in order to get elected.

Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com


		
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