Disney's Bob Iger Refuses To Talk With Tech Companies Over SOPA

[Rich Johnston]

Jerry Iger was a cartoonist who worked for and with Will Eisner. His grand-nephew, Robert Iger, is now CEO of Disney, and the man who persuaded Marvel to sell to Disney. He is a keen supporter of SOPA and PIPA legislation.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein has trying to broker some kind of agreement between IP owners and tech companies over the current legislation being discussed. The Huffington Post reports;

Walt Disney Co. President and CEO Bob Iger declined the invitation on behalf of content providers. "Hollywood did not feel that a meeting with Silicon Valley would be productive at this time," said a spokesperson. The meeting took place with only tech companies present. Feinstein, once a reliable vote for the existing version of Protect IP, is now working hard to amend the bill, according to Senate Democratic aides.

This isn't just supporting legislation. This is declining to even hear or discuss arguments against it. Now that's just being pig headed. Or mouse headed if you prefer.

[Andy]

I'd love to know what the real expression of the person in the mouse head is.

[D.N.Alien]

Jerry Iger was a cartoonist who worked for and with Will Eisner. His son, Robert Iger, is now CEO of Disney

I know research is a lot harder than just pulling facts out of thin air, but Robert Iger is not Jerry Iger's son.

[Matt Adler]

I know research is a lot harder than just pulling facts out of thin air, but Robert Iger is not Jerry Iger's son.

Correct. He is his grand-nephew. Sorry Rich, but this was an easy one to Google. Would have taken you two seconds.

[Comics Cavern]

Wow. There's really more outrage over Rich flubbing a line in the article than there is over Iger's belief that the law is a commodity you can purchase?

[Matt Adler]

Wow. There's really more outrage over Rich flubbing a line in the article than there is over Iger's belief that the law is a commodity you can purchase?

The latter surprises me less than the fact that Rich could get such easily available info wrong. Usually it's just typos with him.

[Meyeraustin]

Wow. There's really more outrage over Rich flubbing a line in the article than there is over Iger's belief that the law is a commodity you can purchase?

Hyperbole much? He was asked to go somewhere voluntarily and chose not to.

[erikhol]

People like Iger don't want to listen because it interferes with the MASSIVE and unchecked control they could wield if this legislation passed. And all the money (they think) they will recoup after people stop stealing from them.

I really wish these companies would realize that downloading isn't as big a problem as they make it out to be. I smacks of insincerity when they list so many thousands or million of dollars lost to downloading; just because a million people downloaded you're movie, doesn't mean that same number of people would have paid to go to that movie. The fact the illegal downloads are free simply makes the numbers inflated and grossly exaggerated.

Plus, I don't recall Hollywood exactly going broke this past decade. This is all driven by rich executives and millionaires who think they will be even more rich if they can't squish that pesky little minority called "The Public".

[gojirast]

Marvel has lost my readership over Disney's position.

DC has lost my readership over Warner's position.

It goes without saying that both media conglomerates will also not be selling me a single thing in the future.

[Meyeraustin]

Marvel has lost my readership over Disney's position.

DC has lost my readership over Warner's position.

It goes without saying that both media conglomerates will also not be selling me a single thing in the future.

Well then you no longer matter.