Damion Chaplin
10-23-2006, 03:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Scouts_Piracy_Patch.html' target='_blank'>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Scouts_Piracy_Patch.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Boy Scouts in the Los Angeles area will now be able to earn an activity 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."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/SCOUTS-PIRACY-PATCH.jpg" /> <br /><br />OK, ok, I know this is "old news" at this point, since it was on Slashdot last Friday, :wink: but we here at DMT have the exclusive scoop on the optional additional badge that one can get to put near your Respect Copyrights Badge to show everyone just how serious you are about it. Catch the exclusive look after the jump!<!><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/SCOUTS-PIRACY-PATCH2.jpg" /> <br /><br />The FBI Warning of Doom Badge can be worn on the sleeve or on the side of your uniform under the sleeve - anywhere where someone will only get a split-second look at it. When your scoutmates see your badge, they'll not only know their rights (or lackthereof), but will also know that you're not playing around when it comes to artists' (and studios') intellectual property.<br /><br />The above badge and commentary are of course in all good fun. I used to be a Boy Scout and I think by and large they teach useful skills and (dare I say it) good values. An activity badge for learning about the evils f copyright piracy? Ridiculous. How about a more useful badge, like for building or using a computer in the first place? Maybe some of these exist, and maybe piracy awareness is part of one's social duty, but I think the Boy Scouts of America have better things they could be spending their resources on (like the dangers of sweatshops that produce scout uniforms :wink: ).