Boy Scounts Earn Merit Badges for Piracy

[Lemur]

Well, to be fair, they watch newsreels about the evils of piracy. And then they get the badge.

Be loyal, kind and don't steal movies

LOS ANGELES -- A Boy Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, etc., etc. He is also respectful of copyrights.

Boy Scouts in the Los Angeles area will now be able to earn a merit patch for learning about the evils of downloading pirated movies and music.

The patch shows a film reel, a music CD and the international copyright symbol, a "C" enclosed in a circle.

The movie industry has developed the curriculum.

"Working with the Boy Scouts of Los Angeles, we have a real opportunity to educate a new generation about how movies are made, why they are valuable, and hopefully change attitudes about intellectual property theft," Dan Glickman, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, said in a statement Friday.

Scouts will be instructed in the basics of copyright law and learn how to identify five types of copyrighted works and three ways copyrighted materials may be stolen.

Scouts also must choose one activity from a list that includes visiting a movie studio to see how many people can be harmed by film piracy. They also can create public service announcements urging others not to steal movies or music.

[MSB]

What next!

In the days when I was at Scouts (that's about 12 years ago now) going there was all about having fun and making new friends, not about people lecturing you about copyright. I presume that Microsoft had something to do with this new "award".

[Kralizec]

Laughable.

Also I know over here that you're legally allowed to make as many copies as you want as long as it's for your personal use. I thought that was the case in the USA as well, what's up?

[Csargo]

You choose what badges you wish to get. I know this because I am a Boy Scout. Though I do agree with you it is stupid but they can choose not to earn it.

[BigTex]

Laughable.

Also I know over here that you're legally allowed to make as many copies as you want as long as it's for your personal use. I thought that was the case in the USA as well, what's up?

Thats the law here also, your allowed to make backup copies just as long as you are the only one to use them and don't sell them. Looks like the MPAA doesnt want people knowing that. Guess the MPAA awsumes they can change the law without going through the supreme court.

I presume that Microsoft had something to do with this new "award".

It's the MPAA who created the award. Leave it to hollywood to come up with something like this.
____________________
Speak softly and carry tactical nukes.

BigTex

Ridicolus
"Hilary Clinton is the devil"
~Texas proverb

[Husar]

Laughable.

Also I know over here that you're legally allowed to make as many copies as you want as long as it's for your personal use. I thought that was the case in the USA as well, what's up?

They learn about what's an illegal copy and what not I guess.

Somehow I think it's sad that the companies feel the need to work together with the boyscouts because some parents don't seem to be able to teach their kids what is wrong and what is right...

[Don Corleone]

If this thread is about the evils of copyrighting and why free distribution of music/movies/softwares should be allowed, as somebody who derives their living from intellectual property, I'm here to offer a resounding "NO". Don't get me wrong, it's not just the folks here. I used to work with other chip designers that burn CDs for each other. Never saw it as hypocritical.

If it's about the Boy Scouts and how terrible they are: between requiring them to go atheist, allowing homosexual scoutmasters to take the boys out for the weekend and getting kicked off of all public lands, haven't they taken enough s&*t in the past decade? Can't we leave them alone?

As they are an organization dedicated to civil pride, good citizenship and doing the right thing, wouldn't it make sense that they would start an initiative to highlight that handing out software/music/movies to friends is stealing? Do you want them to stop advocating against doing drugs too? Maybe we should tell them that their principle of non-violent conflict resolution is just a bit too polly-anna or exclusionary for some kids and they need to stop preaching it. Good grief.

If it's about Microsoft's (or the Screen Actor's Guild, or the Recording Industry's) nefarious presence and influence on scouting, how about a little proof?

[Lemur]

Some course materials are surfacing. Very amusing stuff.

"Research peer to peer websites—describe to your troop what they are and how they are sometimes used to illegally trade copyrighted materials," suggests the official curriculum. Of course, if you actually have to explain to your troop what p2p networks are and how they are used, you're probably in Amish country. "There are peer to peer groups who offer legal downloads and those who offer illegal downloads. Make a list of both. Suggest ways to detect peer to peer software like the MPAA Parent File Scan."

And here's the badge, in all its glory (I think this is the real thing):

[Kralizec]

between requiring them to go atheist

I wouldn't be surprised if that happened somewhere, but seeing this made me dig up this old article. Plenty of intolerance on both sides of the divide.

[Lemur]

If this thread is about ...

Oh just stop right there. I posted this thread because it's funny. Boy scouts earning badges for learning about piracy. Come on, man, don't make me spell it out. Jokes are like cats; they die when dissected.

[Devastatin Dave]

Am I missing something? What's wrong with respecting the law? Starnge wordl we live in when being awarded for respecting the law is laughed at. I guess when the boy scouts start giving out badges on how to properly perform oral sex on donkies or write essays on how to properly perforn an abortion using their scout knife, certain members of a certain political spectrum will leave them alone.

[Lemur]

I guess when the boy scouts start giving out badges on how to properly perform oral sex on donkies or write essays on how to properly perforn an abortion using their scout knife, certain members of a certain political spectrum will leave them alone.

And that would be even funnier.

[Devastatin Dave]

And that would be even funnier.

Have any ideas for the design?

[GoreBag]

You choose what badges you wish to get. I know this because I am a Boy Scout. Though I do agree with you it is stupid but they can choose not to earn it.

Well, realistically, if the troop is performing a group activity, everyone who participated will earn the badge.

This is silly. There was never a badge to be earned for respecting the law - it's assumed that a Scout will do that already. "Respecting copyrights", oooh. Congratulations, you really outdid yourself to earn this one.

[Lemur]

Have any ideas for the design?

Here's some starting images, for when you get your Photoshop on:

[Devastatin Dave]

OMG!!!

I can't wait for DA to get a "hold" of this one!!!!

[master of the puppets]

i watched a thing on piracy once, i did'nt get a badge, i just got robbed and keelhauled

[AntiochusIII]

So it's the Scouts vs Pirates game now, huh?

Where are the ninjas!?

[master of the puppets]

... samurang beats all of them.

[Crazed Rabbit]

So making a personal copy is stealing, is it MPAA?

Anways...
Seems lame to make a badge for this. Perhaps badges for not stealing old ladies' purses next? I thought badges were about accomplishing good things, not not doing bad things.

Crazed Rabbit

[Blodrast]

So, how come these classes are necessary ? Why are there no classes for teaching them not to rape, kill, etc ?
Oh, it's because it's obvious that those are evil deeds, and maybe this p2p business is not so black-and-white ?...

Meh, frankly I resent brainwashing at any level or under any disguise.

edit: Lemur, no offense, I get the joke, I just chose to go the serious way, perhaps because I'm bothered by the amount of publicity this stuff gets, and all the indoctrination the **AA are trying to stuff down people's throats.

[BigTex]

Am I missing something? What's wrong with respecting the law? Starnge wordl we live in when being awarded for respecting the law is laughed at.

Firstly there's something wrong with awarding a ribbon for following the law when one of the core beliefs of the scouts is that you are an upstanding citizen. The other problem is the MPAA is not telling the truth about the law, instead their changing it. By the power invested in the great MPAA to all of you who are playing both RTW vanilla and a mod, you have broken the law according to the MPAA. The problem is the MPAA has lost repeatedly in court about the right to make a back up copy, about the right to have a dvd writer, about the right to have tvo, or even a VHS recorder. So now they've decided to instead of changing the laws their going to use propoganda to create new laws.

I guess when the boy scouts start giving out badges on how to properly perform oral sex on donkies or write essays on how to properly perforn an abortion using their scout knife, certain members of a certain political spectrum will leave them alone.

Hmmmm maybe your onto something about the donkey's. As for the abortion, I would certianly hope one could understand how to do that with a scout knife.
__________________
Speak softly and carry tactical nukes.

BigTex

Ridicolus
"Hilary Clinton is the devil"
~Texas proverb

[master of the puppets]

really i have no problem with downloading music, i do it all the time, i just don't sell the copies, there mine.

the boyscouts should be learning howq to be outside anyway, not indoors on the computer.

[Csargo]

So making a personal copy is stealing, is it MPAA?

Anways...
Seems lame to make a badge for this. Perhaps badges for not stealing old ladies' purses next? I thought badges were about accomplishing good things, not not doing bad things.

Crazed Rabbit

Badges are made for learning new skills and etc. Not for accomplishing good things that's part of the motto, law, etc. You have to remember that all these kids are 11, 12, and 13 usually who most likely have no idea about said laws.

[MSB]

Badges are made for learning new skills and etc. Not for accomplishing good things that's part of the motto, law, etc. You have to remember that all these kids are 11, 12, and 13 usually who most likely have no idea about said laws.

Isn't copyrite learning a new skill?

I would doubt that scouts of -13 would remember the copyrite laws into their adulthood anyway. For example I can't remember what I did at scouts when I was 13. All I can remember is putting a fire out with a hosepipe at the fire station .

I thought badges were about accomplishing good things, not not doing bad things.

They were in my day, I don't understand why things have to change. If people are going to buy pirate DVDs/Software then they will end up buying them, no pathetic little lesson when they are -13 is going to stop them!