INTERIOR, SOULLESS CORPORATE OFFICE. DUSK.
A dark, sleek office room, filled with cigar smoke, expensive
gadgets and designer furniture. The cigar smoke rises above
Hollywood executive GOLDBERG like a whirlwind, framing his
grinning face...
He dials his Blackberry phone to the hum of his $9000 Dell PC,
while leaning back into his chair a little.
GOLDBERG
(on the phone)
Is this The Agency?
UNKNOWN OPERATOR (v.o)
(in a clearly american accent)
How can I help you, Mister Goldberg?
GOLDBERG
I would like to order a raid.
UNKNOWN OPERATOR (v.o)
Yes sir, what do you want with it?
GOLDBERG
I want a heavily armed para-military squad,
carrying the latest gear. I want two helicopters,
half a dozen paddy wagons, the whole works.
UNKNOWN OPERATOR (v.o)
Would you like dogs with that?
GOLDBERG
Yes.
UNKNOWN OPERATOR (v.o)
Is the recipient an organization or an individual.
GOLDBERG
(smiles)
Both.
UNKNOWN OPERATOR (v.o)
Alright, sir. Must be quite a party you're planning.
GOLDBERG
(ecstatically)
Party? I'm about to destroy democracy as we know it!
Nobody, henceforth, will ever be able to make
millions off of stolen media without repercussions!
GOLDBERG
(looking at the viewer ominously)
Nobody.
Every time I see things like this, Accelerando is the first thing I think of. Also, if you like that, you'll probably like Life Artificial by David A Eubanks:
Actually, the footage looks great for an anti-copyright advert. "If you are suspected of copyright infringement, we send in police with weapons, in a helicopter".
From the outside it kinda looks like New Zealand is just trying to make 'murrica happy on this one, so I'm not sure they would be so lucky elsewhere (ie not the UK/CAN/NZ)
No, they can't do that everywhere. For example, in Sweden, China, Iran, France they would not be allowed to do that. It can be only done in anglo-american countries.
Comments
I find it a little scary that Hollywood can order armed men in helicopters to raid a man's home, anywhere in the world.
IIRC Accelerando (linked below) by HNs very own cstross postulated something similar in 2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerando_(novel)
Yeah, but in that case the RIAA/MPAA had sold off the collections rights to organised crime. This is the _cops_.
But if the "state"(s) co-ordinates a raid that rests on illegal arrest warrants, is this not also organised crime?
Every time I see things like this, Accelerando is the first thing I think of. Also, if you like that, you'll probably like Life Artificial by David A Eubanks:
http://lifeartificial.com/
It would have been nice if Hollywood supplied them with a better camera. That said, the footage looks fine for an anti piracy ad, on VHS.
Actually, the footage looks great for an anti-copyright advert. "If you are suspected of copyright infringement, we send in police with weapons, in a helicopter".
From the outside it kinda looks like New Zealand is just trying to make 'murrica happy on this one, so I'm not sure they would be so lucky elsewhere (ie not the UK/CAN/NZ)
No, they can't do that everywhere. For example, in Sweden, China, Iran, France they would not be allowed to do that. It can be only done in anglo-american countries.
the pirate bay might argue with you about sweden.
and Julian Assange too.