general media Cosplay to become a criminal offense with new international trade agreement

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,674]

Source: http://goboiano.com/original/3219-anime-and-cosplay-fans-could-become-criminals-with-new-international-trade-agreement

 

You read that right, cosplay or any fan content for that matter could become a criminal offense. No, we're not talking about a pesky little C&D because that would be just too... reasonable. From the source:

 

 

 

Under the TPP, it doesn't matter if the original creators file a complaint or not, fan works are automatically be illegal across the board. 

 

As for the punishment, here is the proposed text:

 

Penalties that include sentences of imprisonment as well as monetary fines sufficiently high to provide a deterrent to future acts of infringement, consistently with the level of penalties applied for crimes of a corresponding gravity;

 

So... how exactly will it be picked out what qualifies a criminal offense?

  

...with the new provisions, the average fan can get tangled into a legal battle. Any derivative work, like fan art, cosplay or doujin manga, can fall under a criminal offensive even if the original rights owner doesn't file a complaint.

 

Thoughts?

Edited August 27, 2015 by Hyric

[碇 シンジン 27,437]

So if I cosplay Twilight Sparkle and make completely show accurate costume suit with original materials and talent im criminal?

[Megas 27,957]

So basically it's another SOPA? No matter how many times people petition to strike these things down, no matter how vicious the backlash is, government and corporate suits who really don't know(or care) seem to be hellbent on turning normal people into criminals over the smallest things possible

[Castle Bleck 19,401]

Some laws were simply made to be broken.

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,674]

So if I cosplay Twilight Sparkle and make completely show accurate costume suit with original materials and talent im criminal?

Yup. And you could face a hefty fine or even imprisonment.

 

So basically it's another SOPA? No matter how many times people petition to strike these things down, no matter how vicious the backlash is, government and corporate suits who really don't know(or care) seem to be hellbent on turning normal people into criminals over the smallest things possible

Astounding how these guys still have any respect from people whatsoever because they clearly have none for the likes of us "lowly peons."

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Just another example of the immaturity of some of these lawmakers...

[TopQuark 409]

I doubt such a thing would be enforced in most places, especially the Internet.

[jaysen 14]

Even though it might become illegal, chances are people aren't going to care if you dress like a horse from a show for little girls or dress up like a girl from an obscure Japanese game. It's probably going to be something so unenforceable that nobody is going to care. 

[Flamestreak1990 1,204]

essentially this just is outlawing the drawning of or dressing as certain things or characters...... think about how stupid that law would be

Edited August 27, 2015 by KingF1@m31990

[Cleverclover 1,526]

Wow, just wow. 

 

So, what? Should we now expect a greater police presence at cosplay-heavy events such as Comic Con, who are fully prepared to arrest anyone who made their own costume?  

 

Hell, if that's the case, I guess we should also expect the police to be busy on Halloween as well, checking each kid they come across and making sure that their costume was bought and not made. 

 

What a joke...

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I don't recognize International "law" as it is. I'll dress up as I see fit as it's my human right to free expression and I'm willing to resist, violently if need be, anybody that attempts to enforce such a law.

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,674]

I don't recognize International "law" as it is. I'll dress up as I see fit as it's my human right to free expression and I'm willing to resist, violently if need be, anybody that attempts to enforce such a law.

And probably end up shot or choked to death.

[Passion 3,489]

Nobody is going to take on the execution of this law. Simply become it will be impossible to successfuly implement and control it. It'll be one of those laws that will sink into the dephts of abyss, as people will do as they see fit anyway.

 

Problem is, cosplaying, fanart etc is a major, MAJOR tool of advertisment and income.

 

I'd wonder how would companies like, for example, Blizzard react to the fact that their fans, who are the MAJOR motor force behind their market and a thriving society that forms a somewhat living organism in itself, are being legally prosecuted against Blizzard's will.

 

If I'm getting this right...

[Ben the Brony 239]

Alright, let's take a quick look at the TPP-IP. First of all, this document seems to be beefing up the ability of Companies to enforce Copyright. One of the Purposes of the TPP-IP is

 

"To maintain a balance between the rights of intellectual property holders and the legitimate interests of users and the community in subject matter protected by intellectual property"

 

In Layman's Terms: To keep a balance between the Company, and the person(s) using their Products.

 

Also, as everyone knows, if you're not making money off of another Companies Product, then the Companies Usually don't care.

 

In short, The TPP-IP Agreement won't affect your ability to Cosplay, as long as you aren't making money while doing it.

[Twisted Cyclone 🚓 6,262]

*Facehoof* This world is turning into one big huge international police state....

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

And probably end up shot or choked to death.

Perhaps but free human beings have an duty to resist tyranny. Laws like this violate human rights.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

I don't think they're really gonna go through with a stupid law like this. Cosplay ir fanart has done no harm since I think it falls under fair use. It doesn't violate copyright or any other offense.

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

That's a very stupid law.

 

It's like making it illegal to remix a song.

[Hocus Pocus 636]

Some laws were simply made to be broken.

 

Like buildings.... Or people! (I couldn't resist, I'm so sorry)

 

But in all seriousness, this is pathetic. I'd honestly be surprised if this goes anywhere, but the fact that politicians keep trying to push stupid laws like this through is rather unnerving.

[Film Reel 75]

I am now listening to the sound of the whole internet universally face palming to the mere thought of something as stupid as this. Good bye to half the internet, please be expecting C&Ds and court orders on your way out. Also really this is coming like a year after they pass a law on allowing parodies and other content based off of copyrighted material. This is why I hate politics and politicians!

[Snuggle Fiend 135]

I read into it, the UK isn't part of the trans-pacific agreement. Hehe, take that coporation! :3

[long gone 8,929]

Alright, let's take a quick look at the TPP-IP. First of all, this document seems to be beefing up the ability of Companies to enforce Copyright. One of the Purposes of the TPP-IP is

 

"To maintain a balance between the rights of intellectual property holders and the legitimate interests of users and the community in subject matter protected by intellectual property"

 

In Layman's Terms: To keep a balance between the Company, and the person(s) using their Products.

 

Also, as everyone knows, if you're not making money off of another Companies Product, then the Companies Usually don't care.

 

In short, The TPP-IP Agreement won't affect your ability to Cosplay, as long as you aren't making money while doing it.

I like how people are ignoring this post. Something like this would never come to fruition or enforcement anyway.

[Ben the Brony 239]

I like how people are ignoring this post. Something like this would never come to fruition or enforcement anyway.

It seems people don't read previous posts before posting their own. I also love how nobody even takes the time to Read the document in question.

[Guest]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Even if it gets passed into law, the moment they try and enforce it people will create a big media explosion and it'll mess up their shit.

[Shift 4,274]

The TPP was stopped quite some time ago, you're fairly late. At the end of July/early August, when the voting of the TPP was supposed to happen, a lot of countries backed out of the deal due to some major issues and public protests. It's either stopped fully or getting a major rewrite at the moment.

 

I made a thread about it in the debate pit, but few people seemed to pay it any mind.

 

Source: KnowYourMeme has a very well-written entry about the TPP, and the entire website was basically protesting and there was a huge 'party' once news of the outcome of the voting was made public.