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SOPA Intellectual Property – Why We Should Protect Creators Authors and Inventors

Who Can Stop Online Piracy – George Mentz, JD, MBA

In the last few years, we have heard many politicians, companies and libertines talking about privacy rights and keeping the internet free and the protections of intellectual property.

Of course, every red blooded American wants to keep the internet open, collaborative, innovative, and even let the debates continue as it is part of our culture.

Overall, there is a big difference between “fair use” and mass piracy and counterfeiting. While the world is big, it is also getting smaller.  When you think about the ease of piracy with technology and the lack of enforceability, we are talking about billions if not trillions of dollars that is being stolen.  Now this money is not being exclusively stolen from Wall Street or Bill Gates, it is being hijacked from local: artists, programmers, musicians, and single mothers and so forth. People who are trying to put food on the table for their families.

Copyright infringement is illegal and so is trademark infringement.  We  should be protected whether  we have created a book, a song, poetry, essays, computer code, pictures, graphics, or other. The music industry survived in a slow conversion to downloading songs for a small but legitimate price.  The book world is going all digital, and hopefully writers will continue to be protected.  Also, the movie world is very dynamic with “on demand”.

However, you must consider that the world is 6 or 7 Billion people, and the USA is a tiny part of that with a meager 350 million or so consumers.  Thus, anyone offshore can  copy some great idea invented or created by a taxpaying citizen of one country and pirate it in other countries. Or, a former disgruntled employee can steal data, content, images, trade secrets and so forth, and sell it offshore and around the world from offshore locations. The bad news is that the major search providers and governments do not seem to have the money or the manpower to regulate or police all of the phony websites or search results, and different laws may apply in different countries.

In a perfect world, you would search Yahoo or Google or MSN and find the company that you are looking for.  However, there are times that you may search for a company and the most meaningful results are some imposter operation offshore that is counterfeiting, pirating, or selling goods which are either the same or confusingly similar to the authentic proprietor.

In the end, billions go down the drain, and the US government and the: states, cities, and counties suffer from losses in tax revenues.

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) if enacted could bar advertising networks and payment facilities from conducting business with infringing websites. This means that the big search engines could not include results with violations.  Presently, the DMCA copyright complaints may work to request that a search engine remove a copyright infringement, but it must be an obvious violation. Also, if you take something down, something else might pop up…

Overall, the SOPA is a key national and international debate.  It must be said that our laws must keep up with technology.  Additionally, there must be a way to protect artists, creative writers, teachers, researchers and inventors.

Here are some US laws, that are on the books but difficult to enforce.  The question is whether new laws will make it easier to stop piracy, trade secrets violations, and counterfeiting and the like.

Here are some US laws, that are on the books but difficult to enforce.  The question is whether new laws will make it easier to stop piracy, trade secrets violations, and counterfeiting and the like.
17 U.S.C. § 501 (copyright infringement);
17 U.S.C. § 506(a)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2319(b) (criminal copyright infringement for profit);
17 U.S.C. § 506(1)(B) and 18 U.S.C. § 2319(c) (criminal copyright infringement without a profit motive);
17 U.S.C. §§ 1203, 1204 (circumvention of copyright protection);
15 U.S.C. § 1114(1) (unauthorized use in commerce of a reproduction, counterfeit, or colorable imitation of a federally registered trademark);
15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (trademark infringement due to false designation, origin, or sponsorship);
15 U.S.C. § 1125(c) (dilution of famous trademarks);
15 U.S.C. §§ 1125(d) and 1129 (cybersquatting and cyberpiracy in connection with Internet domain names);
18 U.S.C. § 2318 (counterfeit/illicit labels and counterfeit documentation and packaging for copyrighted works);
19 U.S.C. § 1337 (unfair practices in import trade);
18 U.S.C. § 2320 (trafficking in counterfeit trademarks);
19 U.S.C. § 1526(e), 15 U.S.C. § 1124 (importing merchandise bearing counterfeit marks)
18 U.S.C. § 2320(h) (transshipment and exportation of counterfeit goods);
18 U.S.C. § 1831 (trade secret theft to benefit a foreign entity); and
18 U.S.C. § 1832 (theft of trade secrets for commercial advantage).
18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7).  (identity theft statute)

 

Let the debate continue.

 

H.R.3261 – Stop Online Piracy Act; House Judiciary Committee; October 26, 2011

Trump Economics – Tax Reform SWOT Analysis – By George Mentz

Trump Economics – Tax Reform SWOT Analysis By George Mentz

Strengths and Opportunities – With a new tax system that applies to C-Corporations in the USA, many things can be affected. If you lower the progressive Corporate taxes, the company will have more revenue in their hands to spend.

At this time, corporate profits are taxed up to 39% before they can pay dividends or retain earnings.

If you lower that rate to 15-20 percent, you would make the USA a corporate tax haven which levels the playing field for many companies worldwide.

If a company has more money due to less taxes, what will the company do? Here are some options

  1. Hire People
  2. Pay employees more money.
  3. Spend it
  4. Invest in People Innovation Technology etc.
  5. Buy and Build things
  6. Buy other companies.
  7. Pay HIGHer dividends
  8. Grant more stock options
  9. Invest more in the community
  10. Provide greater benefits to employees.
  11. Retain more earnings for security.
  12. Grow, take risks, invest more money locally
  13. Repatriate more money from abroad.
  14. Move your headquarters or nerve center from another country into the USA.
  15. Compete better internationally.
  16. and many other ideas.

Many ideas come from thinking about these dynamic shifts. One option is that investors will hold onto great blue chip stocks knowing that they may be able to pay greater dividends too.

Weaknesses – Since the USA has the worst Corporate Tax Rates, the only weakness is that people will pay less corporate tax.  However, that should be offset by money circulation and sales/personal taxation revenues being boosted greatly.

Threats – A potential tax war around the world where countries compete to have the best business environment 🙂

Citations

Deloitte Corporate Rates Worldwide https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/…/Tax/dttl-taxcorporatetaxrates.pdf

Trading Economics http://www.tradingeconomics.com/country-list/corporate-tax-rate

https://www.linkedin.com/today/posts/georgementz

Project Management Certification Training USA – 20 Cities and Worldwide

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10 Great Success Books That Can Change Your Life

If you’ve ever read a great business or success-related book, there are usually a few priceless nuggets in each manuscript which make it worth your time. Here are 10 of my favorite self-empowerment books, and a key idea from each manuscript  that made it worth reading. Any of these authors and their books can seriously boost your mindset and consciousness of success, power and happiness.

1) Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Define your purpose. While this sounds arbitrary, it has several important meanings such as: What do you want to do and how do you want to be? Moreover, discover who you are and why you want to improve. Hill, N. (1960). Think and Grow Rich. New York: Fawcett Crest.

2) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Remembering names and enthusiasm matter. Read this book or take the courses from the Carnegie programs. Either way, you will win. The number one lesson I learned from Carnegie is that other people’s names are music to their ears. Learn names of clients, customers or those in positions of influence. Be enthusiastic with people and miracles will happen. Carnegie, D. (1994). How to Win Friends and Influence People. New York: Pocket Books.

3) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey

Sharpen the saw or stay sharp. This advice to me is extremely important because we must all be students of life, be open to learn and continue to grow. Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. London: Simon & Schuster.

4) Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, MD

Change your beliefs on the inside for greater self confidence. Because he was a plastic surgeon, his thoughts on developing confidence within are much more influential. This is because he helped many people change their looks, yet they still remained dissatisfied until they expanded their world view and developed self regard. Maltz, Maxwell, MD (1960). Psycho-Cybernetics. New York: Pocket Books.

5) The Art of Happiness by The Dalai Lama

Peace and joy can be learned and experienced. His book hits home because this master Buddhist professes that peace and happiness can be cultivated by anyone who wants it. His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler (1999). The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. London: Hodder & Stroughton.

6) The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra, MD

Follow your natural expression. The magic of Dr. Chopra is that he is a master of helping people improve their lives and thinking. Dr. Chopra helps us move toward our purpose, right livelihood and authentic selves. Chopra, D. (1996). The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. London: Bantam Press.

7) The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy

Optimize your thinking for success. This is a classic work because Dr. Murphy is a professional at showing people that they can alter their consciousness and beliefs toward a greater good and prosperity. He is a connoisseur of the use of affirmations as a path to mental transformation for greater relationships, success and career improvement. Murphy, J. (1963). The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

8) Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy

Specify goals and know what you want. Buy any book you can find by Mr. Tracy. He is a consummate professional and a world class writer on the issues of entrepreneurship and management consulting. He famously states that less than 3 percent of people set goals. Tracy, B. (1993). Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed. New York: Fireside.

9) The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles

Gratitude is the key to abundance. If you have not read this 100-year-old book, do it. It is quite an amazing piece of prosperity writing from the turn of the century, and it is concise. Wattles’ opus is still a bestseller as he is the genius who has distilled the ideas of success and excellence into a short revolutionary treatise. Wattles, W.D. (1976). Financial Success Through the Power of Thought [The Science of Getting Rich]. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books. (Written originally around 1910). Or How to Promote Yourself by Wattles. Lulu Press, ISBN-10: 0615223494.

10) As You Think by Mark Allen

Your experience is shaped according to the totality of your thought. Mr. Allen has a couple of super books, a world recognized publishing house and some of the biggest selling clients. Buy any of Mr. Allen’s books to discover timeless secrets of success. Allen, J. (1998). As You Think. Ed. with introduction by M. Allen. Novato, CA: New World Library.

Sometimes it takes a book or seminar like the ones listed above to jolt our consciousness to make your next move in life. Sometimes economies are bad and other times they seem great. Refuse to participate in doom and gloom, and follow your dreams to the best of your ability. Be your best, find your purpose and show the world your excellence and passion.

George Mentz, JD, MBA, CILS, CWM is a best selling success author and award winning speaker/professor who is a wealth management commentator and professor who has authored several books. Mentz can be contacted at www.gmentz.com


 

Dear Friends, Two of the greatest success books for all time are: Think and Grow Rich and the Science of Getting Rich.

I wrote and produced 2 new Audio Summaries of these 2 great books to help people improve their lives, happiness, and success.

The Science of Getting Rich Summary: The Prosperity Manifesto of Wallace Wattles by George Mentz

The Science of Getting Rich Summary: The Prosperity Manifesto of Wallace Wattles
by George Mentz
Link: http://amzn.com/B018YIGCWE
 
Think and Grow Rich - 11 Page Pocket Summary of the Concepts and Philosophy of Dr. Napoleon Hill with Charles Haanel Master Key System Bonus Section by George Mentz

Think and Grow Rich – 11 Page Pocket Summary of the Concepts and Philosophy of Dr. Napoleon Hill with Charles Haanel Master Key System Bonus Section
by George Mentz
Link: http://amzn.com/B018YIX12S
 
Many thanks and regards, G Mentz, Esq.

__._,_.___

10 Trends to Watch in 2015

Here are 10 trends to watch out for in 2015:

1. Technology has made finding oil and gas much more accurate and cost-effective everywhere. Large or luxury auto sales will continue regardless of MPG ratings. Energy independence is a real option in the US and the Americas.

2. People are tired of commuting and will work from home given the option. Thus, less oil and gas is needed due to telecommuting. Lifestyle is becoming more important to working families. Being able to work from home and raise a family could become a civil rights issue.

3. Citizens will take necessary steps to avoid modernized taxes or inner-city taxation. People will buy and build right outside of states such as: New York, California, or outside of cities such as Chicago, Boston, LA or San Fran. States like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and other Federal tax free jurisdiction will gain momentum while acquiring the bulk of the baby boomer retirees who want to stretch their incomes.

4. People will live where there are high quality schools or parents may: a) home school their kids, b) send their children to private schools, c) use tutors, or d) use online study.

5. Cheaper oil may reduce the GDP of countries and super-states such as Nigeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other active regions such as Texas and Alaska. Cheap gas has spurred some consumer spending, but cheaper gas may reduce tax revenue for governments, states and cities.

6. The demographics of fast growing regions such as India, China and Indonesia/Malaysia should continue to drive up energy and commodity costs for the next 40 years. More college grads in the US may leave and work offshore than ever before.

7. Colleges and Universities may crumble in size or fail unless value is provided. There is an ever expanding number of free options: college courses, MOOCS (Massive Courses), open courses, free online diplomas, free or almost free degree options and more. 2015 may be the easiest year in 40 years to get into a graduate school for law or business.

8. The dollar and stock market are temporarily strong and more people will travel internationally as a result of this. Low interest rates and cheap energy are contributing to short-term economic power, building, buying and hiring.

9. Conventional security and conventional policing is changing toward technology quickly. Look for more cameras, more drones, more robots, more tracking, more surveillance, and more uses of stun or paralyzing technology.

10. Branchless Banking may shift to Cyber Cashless Exchanges that are linked, such as: Amazon (a- coin), Alibaba (b-coin) Ebay (e-coin), Google (g-coin) and PayPal (p-coin), and other related companies. It’s also possible big players like Visa, Amex, Discover, and Schwab will do deals with companies like Amazon and Apple to provide branchless banking worldwide.

Investments To Watch

Online Education: DeVry Education Group Inc DV 0.26%, Apollo Education Group Inc APOL 0.77%

Surveillance: Microsoft Corporation MSFT 0.43%, Google Inc GOOG 0.01%

Finance: Charles Schwab Corp SCHW 0.73%

Agriculture: PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund DBA 0.17%

Consumer: eBay Inc EBAY 0.24%, Apple Inc. AAPL 0.6%

Advertising and Media: Yahoo! Inc. YHOO 0.78%, Google

Defense: TASER International, Inc. TASR 1.62%

Dr. jur. George Mentz is a world recognized self-help and wealth management commentator who has several professional development education companies which have trained thousands of professionals in over 40 countries. Prof. Mentz, an international attorney, founder of the Global Academy of Finance and Management ® www.gafm.com , has been a keynote speaker globally in the USA, China, Asia, Arabia, USA, Mexico, Switzerland, and in the West Indies. Mentz has consulted with governments, world leaders and Fortune 500 companies. Mentz has published bestsellers in the following categories: Money and Monetary Policy, Management Science, Mysticism, Religion, Psychology, and in Spirituality. Dr. Mentz can be contacted for speaking engagements at www.gmentz.com or http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgementz *No tax investment or legal advice provided herein. Please consult with a licensed professional in your jurisdiction before making any important financial or legal decision. Mentz is a licensed counselor of law USA. gafm.org

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/15/01/5136829/opinion-here-are-10-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2015#ixzz3tkf4VY9m

500 Words to Inspire – George Mentz Quantum Bliss Bestseller

If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others…

Wake up, be yourself, follow your dreams, and be alive. Boldness is pure energy. Seize the moment and engage life.

Being contemplative-in-action is the secret key to success. Having a focused and harmonious connection to the “Spirit of the Universe” while working effectively toward your highest ideals will continually reveal results.

Remember, you are connected with all possibility. Take hold of your divine rights to health, supply and success. Allow yourself to be great and to do great things. WE MUST CREATE.

Build new ways of doing things, providing service, devising solutions, supply opportunity and help teach others. Follow your labor of love, and your talents will be exposed. If you exercise the practical steps of gratitude, faith, receptivity, visualization and action, then inspiration, also known as the sixth sense, will emerge and you will know when to take action on constructive ideas and fulfill them to completion.

A thankful heart is the powerful path to faith, knowingness, and living with joy. Learn to know forgiveness in your heart. Feel that the supreme forgives all of you. Realize that you have forgiven all transgressions once and for all. With your absolution, you free your mind’s mental and spiritual power. What you now focus upon is expansive in your life. Your spiritual awareness of excellence will enhance your constructive perception and your world. And, your expanded world view improves all of our journeys.

Be patient, be mindful, and strive for a harmonious relationship with your world both inside and out. Your ongoing ideas and flow coupled with action and faith will lead to great heights. Ask and you shall receive, but become ready to receive what you desire and joyfully accept the fruits of the beneficent universe.

Seek a higher purpose and see yourself as you want to be. You are the totality of your actions, omissions, feeling and thought.  Take control of your spiritual mind and you will find purpose and peace.

Life is continuous improvement where we learn to balance our powers of mind, body and spirit. Happiness is subjective and we all must build ourselves from the inside out. If we can cultivate self regard develop harmony with other people, places and things in our environment, we can operate at a higher order of being.

We all have the opportunity to live a supernatural life in which we have a positive impact and meaning for our family, our community and the world. Our constructive actions can improve the prosperity of generations to come where our legacy as teachers of the quantum mechanics of success will never be forgotten.

May the spirit of the universe bless you and your loved ones as you journey onward with quantum bliss.

Quantum Bliss: The Quantum Mechanics of Happiness, Abundance, and Health by George S. Mentz

Quantum Bliss: The Quantum Mechanics of Happiness, Abundance, and Health
by George S. Mentz
Link: http://amzn.com/1785352032