BBspot


Archives
 
Top 11
Top 11 Things Geeks Would Do After Being Rescued from a Mine
Classics
How White and Nerdy Are You?
Bush Proposes Faith- Based Firewalls for Government Computers
Microsoft Purchases Evil From Satan
Slashdot Story Generator
Which OS Are You?
Teen Using MySpace to Lure Bands to Los Angeles
The BBook of Geek
Recommended
Fark
Mental Floss
Geek Press
Wil Wheaton
Jonathan Coulton
I-Mockery
Jokes Gallery
Funny Pictures
More Links

Thursday, January 11 12:00 AM ET

RIAA Makes Big Donation to SETI Project; Hopes to Sue Aliens

By Brian Briggs

Los Angeles, CA – The SETI@home project, which uses unused processing power from home computers to analyze radio telescope data to search for alien intelligence, has received a large donation from an unlikely source - the RIAA.

RIAA AliensAccording to RIAA representative Larry Grant, the move is part public relations and part research and development. "We hope to improve our image with many Internet users by funding such a popular project," said Grant, "but also we hope to find another source of income."

Grant explained that broadcast signals travel forever, so it is likely that an alien civilization is picking up our broadcasts. "If they're picking up a broadcast then they are probably recording the songs and sharing them illegally. Copyright laws don't end at the edge of the solar system."

Currently, US copyright laws don't extend into space, but Congress is moving to extend them to extend into the known universe.

"We're not interfering with the project in any way. We just want first crack at suing the aliens when they are found," said Grant. "Just think of it. When the aliens finally figure out what they are doing is illegal it will be thousands of years later. Thousands of years worth of copyright violations? Those judgments will be astronomical!"

Related News

NBC Announces Law and Order: RIAA Series

Typo Prompts RIAA to Prosecute Fire Sharers

MPAA Lobbying for Home Theater Regulations

Many scientists on the project think that suing an alien culture might not be the best strategy for "first contact." However, they feel it's better than the government's plan of bombing the aliens, so they've accepted the RIAA's offer.

The RIAA also suspects that current file sharing programs have figured out how to communicate with alien worlds, but without proof of those alien worlds those violations can't be added to the lawsuits.

More Tech News

Recommend this Story to a Friend
Printer-Friendly Version

 
 
Follow on Twitter Follow Us on Twitter
Facebook Fan Us on Facebook
Amazon Find the BBook

 

  Politics Contact FAQs
A
D

Copyright 1999-2008 by BBspot LLC
BBspot is a satire news and comedy source and meant to be funny. If you are easily offended, gullible or don't have a sense of humor we suggest you go elsewhere.