On My Honor I'll Respect Your Copyright!

This Eagle Scout is heartened to learn L.A.-area Scouts can now earn the "Respect Copyrights Activity Patch" after completing a rugged-outdoorsy curriculum developed by the MPAA—presumably including a chapter on how to identify plants by their gene patents and a midnight-campfire session of s'mores and file sharing horror stories.

Richie Farbman, 13, is raring to go, eager to warn others about the dangers of illegal downloading while adding to his more than 20 activity badges.

"I think it's really good to get the message out that it's bad," said the Redondo Beach Scout. "You can see your friends doing it and tell them why it's bad. I think if you're a role model, you can stop people."

But Richie said he knew his perspective wasn't shared by many of his classmates. "A lot of people don't think they're going to get in trouble," he said, "so they do it anyway."

Young Richie, 83-year-old Gertrude Walton is going to need your help crossing the street to the courthouse. Because she's dead.

The inspiration for the new badge came from Hong Kong, where the local Boy Scouts organization had its members pledge not to use or buy pirated materials. In addition, the Scouts agreed to search Internet file-sharing sites and turn in sites and users they see violating the law.

On the plus side, at least the shirts are already brown.

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