Ashcroft is back!

[LadyLaw]

http://www.aclu.org/Privacy/Privacy.cfm?ID=15143&c=252


The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today regarding the Child Obscenity Protection Act ("COPA").

Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Child Online Protection Act imposes draconian criminal sanctions, with penalties of up to $50,000 per day and up to six months imprisonment, for material judged "harmful to minors."

The speech that is criminalized under the law includes sexual advice and education, web-based chat rooms and discussion boards involving sexual topics, and websites for bookstores, art galleries and the news media.

Dr. Mitch Tepper, an ACLU client who attended today’s argument, said he fears that some communities will be offended by material on his website, which provides sex information for the disabled including articles such as "Sex Toys and Where to Purchase Them," and "Hands-Free Whoopie."

"While a government attorney in Washington might say my website is not ‘harmful to minors,’ a prosecutor in some other community may think differently, and as a result I could wind up in jail and bankrupt from huge fines," Dr. Tepper said.

Briefs supporting the ACLU challenge were filed by a broad range of mainstream media and arts organizations, including the Association of American Publishers, American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Recording Industry Association of America and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts."

[Peaches]

What are your professional views on how broad the scope is and if it will pass? From what I remember, in the other attempts COPA encompassed such an obscure notion of what was harmful that had it passed, it was going to be very touchy for anyone in the adult industry and therefore was widely panned by the legal profession. On the surface, it looks like this might still be the case?

[Mike AI]

I personally feel if COPA would have passed original scrutiny you would have seen a stronger adult business on the net. It would have killed lots of free porn, and put porn where it belongs behind credit card sales.

It would have helped create some time of ground rules for professionalism.

COPA is not an Ashcroft thing - its a Clinton thing!

[JR]

this is all enevitable. the debate and fight will continue as long as a 12 year old can walk into his library at school and look at free pics of a drunk teen fucking a donkey.

something will definately happen in the end. there will be some sort of regulation, although it most likely will be pretty weak. I agree with Mike that it is a good thing... not a bad thing and it will be good for businessmen and bad for the GFY "i do it for the beer money" crowd.

[Almighty Colin]

Originally posted by Mike AI@Mar 2 2004, 06:42 PM
COPA is not an Ashcroft thing - its a Clinton thing!
Clinton did sign COPA into law. Supreme Court reversed it.

[JR]

Originally posted by Colin+Mar 2 2004, 04:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Colin @ Mar 2 2004, 04:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--Mike AI@Mar 2 2004, 06:42 PM
COPA is not an Ashcroft thing - its a Clinton thing!
Clinton did sign COPA into law. Supreme Court reversed it.[/b][/quote]
How can this be possible? I thought Bush and Ashcroft were the original thought police bent on taking away everyones rights.

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by JR+Mar 2 2004, 07:28 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JR @ Mar 2 2004, 07:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -Colin@Mar 2 2004, 04:25 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Mike AI@Mar 2 2004, 06:42 PM
COPA is not an Ashcroft thing - its a Clinton thing!
Clinton did sign COPA into law. Supreme Court reversed it.
How can this be possible? I thought Bush and Ashcroft were the original thought police bent on taking away everyones rights.[/b][/quote]
Yeah Bush will definately take heat for this....

Not much real news anymore, you have to filter it out. All we get is propaganda from both sides!

:angry:

[Winetalk.com]

I support COPA.....ir's GOOD for business,
fuck the GFY midgets

[LadyLaw]

Originally posted by Peaches@Mar 2 2004, 06:37 PM
What are your professional views on how broad the scope is and if it will pass? From what I remember, in the other attempts COPA encompassed such an obscure notion of what was harmful that had it passed, it was going to be very touchy for anyone in the adult industry and therefore was widely panned by the legal profession. On the surface, it looks like this might still be the case?
Peaches:

The Supreme Court has to decide if the COPA definition of "harmful to minors" is unconstitutionally broad" and infringes on "lawful and valuable speech for adults". The question of what is "harmful to minors" under the current version of COPA will be based on "contemporary community standards.

I doubt COPA will pass the First Amendment requirement that restrictions on free speech be narrowly tailored to meet a compelling government interest. "Harmful to minors" under "contemporary community standards" is a recipe for disaster, as NO ONE knows what that means, including webmasters and prosecutors.

I imagine at some point Congress will come up with a law that is more clear.

[Peaches]

Originally posted by LadyLaw@Mar 2 2004, 10:38 PM
I imagine at some point Congress will come up with a law that is more clear.
That would be good for everyone, including us, IMHO.

You'd think they would have put something decent together by now. :( The gay marriage thing is going faster, lol!

[Mike AI]

2 Key Words that need to be stand out is

Narrowly Tailored.

[JR]

Bush is Jesus.

[JR]

what would be really comical is if they captured Osama Bin Laden in late October.

[PornoDoggy]

Originally posted by JR@Mar 3 2004, 12:30 AM
Bush is Jesus.
What does that make Ashcroft?

[Joe Sixpack]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy+Mar 2 2004, 09:45 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PornoDoggy @ Mar 2 2004, 09:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--JR@Mar 3 2004, 12:30 AM
Bush is Jesus.
What does that make Ashcroft?[/b][/quote]
Mary.

[JR]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy+Mar 2 2004, 09:45 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PornoDoggy @ Mar 2 2004, 09:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--JR@Mar 3 2004, 12:30 AM
Bush is Jesus.
What does that make Ashcroft?[/b][/quote]
Ashcroft is just another disciple. they are all the same. little Bush bots.

i actually just got back from watching An Anatomy Of An Ass Whippin' and was not very impressed. one of the most successful films ever and it would not have even been fit for the History Channel without Mel Gibsons name and marketing savy behind it.

[OldJeff]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy+Mar 3 2004, 12:45 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PornoDoggy @ Mar 3 2004, 12:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--JR@Mar 3 2004, 12:30 AM
Bush is Jesus.
What does that make Ashcroft?[/b][/quote]
The Holy Shit ?

[Almighty Colin]

Free porn will always find a way. The dream of controlling free porn turns out badly in the end.


* Two points for anyone that gets the reference ;-)

[Meat]

Hey LadyLaw, looking forward to seeing you in Amsterdam in a few weeks:))

[Winetalk.com]

Originally posted by Meat@Mar 3 2004, 09:49 AM
Hey LadyLaw, looking forward to seeing you in Amsterdam in a few weeks:))
so does she!
;-))

http://www.sergesmuseum.com/uploaded//_DDEA1152_41.jpg

[chodadog]

Sex education for children is going to be criminalized under this law? Just how braod is it? That seems absurd.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally posted by chodadog@Mar 3 2004, 10:32 AM
Sex education for children is going to be criminalized under this law? Just how braod is it? That seems absurd.
..along with parents who smoke at home
;-)))

[RawAlex]

Gee, harmful to minors? Let's see. No more easy access to strip club websites (promo only, because strip clubs are HTMs (harmful to minors). Chat rooms might discuss sex, that would be HTM. Erotic Stories, gun makers, Mcdonalds, model glue, solvents, catholic church, greyhound buses, teletubbies, the movie listings at hbo... all potential HTM depending on how you look at it.

The term is so overtly broad as to cover ANYTHING that could harm a child in ANY manner.

I would wish that someone would get up and say "The internet is an adult place. Children are allowed in, but it is the individual parent's responsiblity to control, guide, and assist their child to have the best internet experience possible".

Not going to happen.

Clinton signed it. The Court slapped it down once. Ashcroft and Bush didn't want to do back to try to make a new law in term 1, so they are taking it back to court (timed well) to play to their conservative core. Once the court slaps it down (and they will, there is not new on this one that I could find) they will use this as a talk point during the election, something that "parents everywhere should be concerned about. If I am re-elected, we will work with the senate and the house to find a way to keep our children safe from the purveyors of obscenity and smut on the internet and in our public places". It plays to every parent out there.

Alex

[Winetalk.com]

Originally posted by RawAlex@Mar 3 2004, 10:45 AM
Gee, harmful to minors? Let's see. No more easy access to strip club websites (promo only, because strip clubs are HTMs (harmful to minors). Chat rooms might discuss sex, that would be HTM. Erotic Stories, gun makers, Mcdonalds, model glue, solvents, catholic church, greyhound buses, teletubbies, the movie listings at hbo... all potential HTM depending on how you look at it.


hahahahahaha
;_)))
good one!
;-))))

[Meat]

Originally posted by Serge_Oprano+Mar 3 2004, 07:04 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Serge_Oprano @ Mar 3 2004, 07:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--Meat@Mar 3 2004, 09:49 AM
Hey LadyLaw, looking forward to seeing you in Amsterdam in a few weeks:))
so does she!
;-))

http://www.sergesmuseum.com/uploaded//_DDEA1152_41.jpg[/b][/quote]
lmao, you and your fucking photos:)

I dont know if thats gonna be repeating this time but we going to have fun, last time Aga was in Amsterdam some drunk jumped in one of the dams to get agas 20 bucks and then figured out the sides were to high to get back out again, last seen swimming off into the sunset...it whould be interesting there thats for sure:)

[Winetalk.com]

Meat, if the lady is unavailable-
\I am NOT going!

She is supposed to be the epitome of my trip!
;_)))

[Meat]

Im sure LittleC will have a bevy of equally exotic and talented young women to entertain, delight Susan and to punish you:)

LOL

[Winetalk.com]

Originally posted by Meat@Mar 3 2004, 12:51 PM
Im sure LittleC will have a bevy of equally exotic and talented young women to entertain, delight Susan and to punish you:)

LOL
great! I need content for my upcoming pay site!


;-))))