"Makers Against Takers": Viacom drums up 'Net censorship support with tasty half-muffins

[DainBramaged]

It's no secret that major copyright owners like Viacom have been working with members of Congress on legislation to censor so-called “rogue sites” on the Internet. With today's introduction of the Stop Online Piracy Act, such legislation is finally moving forward in both the House and the Senate. Now all it needs is support—and how better to obtain that support than by passing out free muffins with a large chunk missing?

That was the Viacom strategy this morning, when employees received free “half muffins” with an attached label saying, “Looks like someone stole a chunk." The Mystery of the Missing Muffin is meant to remind workers that online infringement “means money out of your pocket." Viacom wants employees to start lobbying Congress directly on the issue, creating “grassroots” support for the bill from those who don't have a car and driver to take them to work.

This week is the company's "Content Theft Awareness Week," and an e-mail to employees made the stakes clear: "Jersey Shore has been viewed illegally online 125 million times this year. South Park almost 150 million times. And just a single raid can turn up 40,000 counterfeit SpongeBob products. You may not always see the effects—especially here in the US—but make no mistake: content theft is a global crime wave."

Employees who do show their support can earn "prizes like tickets to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or VH1 Storytellers, MTV swag bags, and more."

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/10/makers-against-takers-viacom-drums-up-net-censorship-support-with-tasty-half-muffins.ars

[PoliticAverse]

1. "Jersey Shore has been viewed illegally online 125 million times this year"

If they're arguing that watching Jersey Shore is criminal I tend to agree...

[DainBramaged]

2. Every time someone watches Jersey Shore, a book commits suicide

[NICO9000]

3. Except for Snooki's book!

She's an author, doncha know?

http://www.amazon.com/Shore-Thing-Nicole-Snooki-Polizzi/dp/B004WB19MG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319683109&sr=8-1