Attorney General Pushes Anti-Piracy Agenda In Schools

[Xmuzik]

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/#040306gonzales

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has a message to children about trading music, movie and software files online – just say no. In a move similar to the anti-drug campaigns waged in schools, Gonzales spoke to 7th and 8th graders at Windmill Springs School in California, warning of the dangers of file-sharing. "I'm the top cop in the US,” Gonzales told the children. “I want you to know that if you illegally download a game or music or a video it's stealing, just as if you went into a store and stole blue jeans." Gonzales’ presence capped an impressively aggressive four-day lesson for the students on intellectual property and copyright infringement. Gonzales was joined by the Director of the US Patent & Trademark Office, Jon Dudas, who also spoke with students. Meanwhile, a camera crew from Court TV covered the event for a future program on intellectual property.

Despite the significant effort put behind these types of school programs, a question mark lingers over their long-term effectiveness. Undoubtedly, some behaviors will be impacted, though seasoned programs supporting the war on drugs and smoking have had mixed success. Junior Achievement and various media industry trade groups have already been pursuing a similar school program on copyright infringement for several years. During this period, file-sharing levels have continued to rise dramatically, driven in part by younger users. Meanwhile, increasingly influential blogs have reacting negatively to Mr. Gonzales’ involvement, portraying him as overly sympathetic to the interests of large content holders.

Story by news analyst Richard Menta.

[AuralAssassin]

that'll go over well.

[Hey Bubu]

*puts chaos hat on*
Scaring generations into submission, one kid at a time.

[Nyteshade]

Lol at "Just say no." It worked SO well with drugs.