I've been thinking on what Sony and through its proxy, Muso LTD has done here, and I have reached a conclusion. For the first time that I can think of, we may have an actual violation of Title 18 (US Criminal Code), Section 241. Conspiracy against rights. This one is the less sexy version compared to section 242, which deals with race and gender. Section 241 predates the Civil Rights Act, having been passed in 1948. Its been since ignored as the more sexy 242 was far more explicit and dealt with what was at the time the pressing issue of race.
The full text of the statute reads as follows.
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
According to the Department of Justice (
https://www.justice.gov/crt/conspiracy-against-rights)
Section 241 of Title 18 is the civil rights conspiracy statute. Section 241 makes it unlawful for two or more persons to agree together to injure, threaten, or intimidate a person in any state, territory or district in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him/her by the Constitution or the laws of the Unites States, (or because of his/her having exercised the same). Unlike most conspiracy statutes, Section 241 does not require that one of the conspirators commit an overt act prior to the conspiracy becoming a crime.
So why is Sony in trouble? Because for the first time ever we have the perfect storm. Two separate legal entities, Sony and Muso TNT ltd working in concert towards the same goal. Suppressing the speech of anyone bringing up the naughty dog leaks. We know for a FACT they are working in concert because both Muso and Sony itself have been cited as the declaring parties of the various storm of DMCAs. Even here at the Kiwifarms. So we know that the two are working together. They have said so. Worse, they are doing so under the Color of the Law, via the Copyright Act and the DMCA provisions. I have wondered for some time just why it is Sony is using a Britbong shell company to do its dirty work, and I have come to realize its because no American lawyer was willing to do what they wanted them to do. This sort of thing could literally get them disbarred. So Sony had to go abroad and bring in some British scalpers to do its dirty work in America.
Which comes to the true crux of the matter. Unlike Prior fraudulent DMCA takedowns, this one was non specific. They did not go after one guy like most DMCA sheisters. They went after everyone and ANYONE talking about the naughty dog. And the talking about is key, because even videos that showed no Sony property and were just discussing the matter were struck utilizing the authority of federal law. Which means we can show through a massive preponderance of evidence that the goal was not securing their intellectual property under the Copyright Act. It was to use the Copyright Right act to shut down speech Sony had deemed counter to its interests.
In essence, Muso and Sony conspired to deprive through threat and intimidation persons of a state, territory, possession or District of the United States the free exercise and enjoymentt of their first amdnement rights secured by the constitution and laws of the United States. In violation of Title 18, Section 241. Its no accident then that Sony of EUROPE and some bottom feeding London Lawyers did this. This is honestly something worth bringing up with a US Attorney, who unlike a rando internet youtube sperg, has the resources to take on something as large as Sony.
As the primary issues have occurred on youtube, this governing Federal District would be the Northern District of California. Anyone effected should go there, or roll the dice and try and call them.
Additionally, if anyone effected is in New York, the Southern District of New York would be your go too. Even better, they actually have a reporting function.
But my personal favorite would be the Eastern District of Virginia.
www.justice.gov
If any youtuber is in their area, definitely go to them. This district has the most experience in civil rights issues and international shenanigans. Its also the least likely one to look favorably on business and big tech when its involving it.
When you contact them, make sure its clear that YOU are the victim, and the law that has been violated. Rando spergs spamming them won't help. If any US attorney deigns to descend from his (or her) ivory tower, it will be for a US person, who concisely claims someone did unto them in violation of US law. Going to the trouble of showing up in person greatly raises credibility incidentally. They get a ton of nonsense from the internet. Very few people actually go to the trouble of actually going there and putting pen to paper.
