There's also the issue of how to pronounce Bydgoszcz without sounding like an idiot..

I'm an atorney representing said kitten.

If you do not cease and desist using my client's cuteness to convey a counter-point *immediately*, I will be forced to serve you summons for a suit worth eleventy-million $CAD ('cause we know the USD is squat) in loss of royalties and possibly damage to the client's reputation.

This image is completely and originally the kitten's work, and therefore IP. Failure to... wait, you uploaded to TPB? Now there's NO hope :(

*legal disclaimer: I am not an atorney of law, and this sarcastic comment on copyright bullshit is not representative of /. as it my own

'Fanbase' has connotations I think are a bit misleading. They're not doing it for the groupies, to get famous or even for money. They're known for running TPB, sure, but it's not to get an identity fanbase.

These fellows don't live off ads on TPB.. they *are* a smart bunch which is why they operate a webhosting company Sweden. They're legit in terms of how they make money (ie, not from the tracker ads), but controversial for believing in IP reform.

I for one, welcome our monopoly restructuring overlords.

Way to have a closed mind on the issue.

Yes, there will be people who take from the system and do nothing to support it (just like shoplifting, social security fraud, etc). However there are already examples of works being provided liberally or gratis and money being made from either 'bonuses' along side paid versions or outright donations from people who enjoy the works. The "pay how much you want to" model isn't a failure, especially compared with the status quo. This is just one of the extreme examples of where IP can go.

Radiohead's last album was released for free... they didn't break up after making the amount of money they, did they?

Thanks for subscribing to the notion of copyright protecting businesses from the evil, greedy consumers. Generalising an issue based upon money isn't very deep on the thought level. Why should non-commercial private use of media be paid for?.. because of laws passed in the 1700s to provide the aristocracy a monopoly on the distribution of information? Where would we be today without the piracy of the printing press' patent?

You run a company based on IP.. I understand, since I'm moving into the games profession (though, programming) myself. Gaming is definitely a difficult case in terms of providing revenue streams with piracy lurking about, but the music and movie industries are becoming ridiculous monopolies that serve nobody but investors.

I'm not saying you should provide free gratis and make money solely from Tshirts bearing logos.. we should all think outside the box since IP controls practically everything a consumer can do. Games are a different kettle of fish, so don't take the harsh rebellion against the MPAA and RIAA (who are right pricks) to be one on the games industry too.

As if. It's "open" here as long as you have the right spiel. We're just as pissed off about it here as anywhere. Though, here I was pissed off at the US trade dept, not realising the EU were 'as bad', so I can see where your confusion originates. .. and remember the whole net-censoring fiasco we have right now?