Nick Dynice's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week

from the favorites dept

Sat, Mar 26th 2011 12:00pm — Nick Dynice

This week's favorites post comes from Nick Dynice, a long-term, insightful member of the Techdirt community.

This week Mike and fellow contributors have been on a rampage, taking NYT to task with 7 posts, as of Friday afternoon, about the ridiculousness of the pay-wall.

But, my favorite post of the week was on Paul Vixie's explanation of why COICA is a dumb idea. Whenever the not-so-tech savvy entertainment industry and government get together to come up with a way to beat the emergent nature of the internet (which was designed as a worldwide copy machine that can survive a nuclear war), they just can't win. In this case, Vixie suggested that if the US government mandates DNS blocking with COICA, there will be the unintended consequence of incentivising someone to create an alternate DNS, which will break the universal naming premise that made the internet a success, and will not stop infringement. When Vixie is developing his own tech solutions, he actually thinks through all of these scenarios since he has to live with results -- unlike our Congress critters, who are out of office in a matter of years. Whenever I read about cases like this, I know there is some 80's movie narrative that explains the point pretty well and shows how things can spiral out of control. There is always some sort of pompous villain who creates obstacles for our heros. One such narrative is in the film Ghostbsters. In the scene where the character Walter Peck from the EPA shuts down the Laser Containment Unit because it is "in violation."

Peck shuts it down and all of the ghosts that the Ghostbsters had caught are released back into NYC. It is Putts Law in action. "Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand."

My other favorite post was about how The Newspaper Guild has a problem with Huffington Post using a different compensation model than legacy news organizations. Ironically (or not) plenty of anonymous critics came by to contribute their counter arguments to Techdirt for free in the comments.

The second most popular post was about the "infringement vs. inspiration" debate. If being inspired by or borrowing something is piracy, then let's all be pirates. The flood of troll commenters missed the point, as they always do, by insisting that the same examples Mike used were indeed determined to be infringement by law. But laws are man-made construct that can be changed and, in fact, were more permissive in the past. Isn't it time they change to reflect current realities?

The post with the most comments by far this week (a couple hundred so far) was regarding the tortured legal interpretations that many lawyer critics are using to defend the accidental seizure of a domain that took down 84,000 sites, with Mike debating many ACs with lots of "lols" and "insightfuls" being awarded. A truly religious debate.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

138 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

vivaelamor (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:31am

A bit ironic
I couldn't help thinking back to Bill Murray's anti-tech rant.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 12:28pm

But laws are man-made construct that can be changed and, in fact, were more permissive in the past. Isn't it time they change to reflect current realities?

I wish they would do that with speeding laws, and with credit card laws too. If people aren't paying their credit cards, why not pass a law that allows us to just ignore the balance once every 2 years and get a complete reset without risk? Why can't I drive my Audi at 100 MPH on a highway who's speed limits were set in the 50's for cars with all the grip of greased plastic?

Oh, wait. Perhaps there are other reason that just what a noisy minority wants. Perhaps those who enjoy piracy aren't really looking at the long term effects. Perhaps maybe by allowing freedom to use other people's copyrighted works without permission we would get a flood of great, wonderful, incredibly artful... more of the same? I like the idea of that route being blocked so people actually have to move forward, instead of just repeating the past.

You get your bonus cup of koolaid today for your insightful, meaningful summary of everything Mike hopes that masses fell for this week.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- vivaelamor (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 12:44pm
  
  Re:
  "I wish they would do that with speeding laws, and with credit card laws too."
  
  Way to miss the point, again. The point isn't that we should change the law because people are breaking it, the point is that people are breaking it because it is bad law. If speeding laws are being broken because of their impracticality then yes, they probably should be changed.
  
  "Perhaps maybe by allowing freedom to use other people's copyrighted works without permission we would get a flood of great, wonderful, incredibly artful... more of the same?"
  
  Great, so you admit that you're against that sort of thing. If only we had a name so that fact could haunt you. Culture is built on "more of the same", even the culture that doesn't attract lawsuits.
  
  "I like the idea of that route being blocked so people actually have to move forward, instead of just repeating the past."
  
  Yes, because it's the people doing YouTube mashups who are stuck in the past.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 2:30pm
    
    Re: Re:
    The point isn't that we should change the law because people are breaking it, the point is that people are breaking it because it is bad law. If speeding laws are being broken because of their impracticality then yes, they probably should be changed
    
    But aren't the impractical? The interstate system was built in a time where cars had poor traction, poor stability, were death traps in an accident, and took forever to stop with their heavy weights and inefficient breaking systems. Modern cars, even the lowest economy car, has abilities that far surpass the cars of the 50s, example, and have safety features that they could never have dreamed of at that point. Yet, here we are, still driving along at speeds that are "safe" for those very poor quality cars.
    
    It's like having high speed internet and a low bandwidth cap, or building an amazing new football stadium with a single 3 foot door as the entrance and exit for 100,000 people.
    
    People break the speed laws every day, they are bad laws.
    
    But you see, underlying all of it is a legitimate government interest: The safety of the people, to keep us literally from harming ourselves. Our desires, our wants, and our actions sometimes can cause harm we cannot see or understand.
    
    So claiming that copyright should go because it is a "bad law" or "many people are breaking law" just isn't a very good argument.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - vivaelamor (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 2:41pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "So claiming that copyright should go because it is a "bad law" or "many people are breaking law" just isn't a very good argument."
      
      It also isn't an argument anyone made here. I mean, I'm all for scrapping the vast majority of copyright law, but that wasn't what we were talking about.
      
      As you bring it up though, there's a key difference between speeding laws and copyright laws. One's aim is to save lives and the other is to create an economic incentive (American and British copyright, anyway). The simple idea that we shouldn't scrap copyright because we shouldn't scrap speeding laws doesn't even glance at the difference between the two.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 2:44pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Economic interest and public safety are both valid government concerns. Should they ignore one or the other to make your life easier?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 3:37pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Government intervention in economic interest has dire consequences. The government should be a neutral party and allow to come up the best of the ideas put forth.
        
        For them to support copyright enforcement is a step in the wrong direction. Once the government goes down that road, it's like a bull in a china shop simply because of how hard it is to change the protocols put forth.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        vivaelamor (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 3:55pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Economic interest and public safety are both valid government concerns. Should they ignore one or the other to make your life easier?"
        
        Should they need to? That seems like a false dichotomy. Scrapping copyright would have no effect on public safety and the arguments used to scrap copyright wouldn't apply to scrapping speeding laws. You seem intent on tying the issues together when the only thing they seem to have in common are that they're both laws people tend to ignore.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 4:30pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I once committed an act of copyright infringement so harsh that a bunch of people died. Some were left in a coma and traffic was backed up for days. I was even charged with vehicular manslaughter, that's how bad it was.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:07pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        What safety concerns are there about copyright?
        
        And if economic concerns are really a problem then, weaker copyrights is better than a stronger one because it allows more people to make use of something to make money creating a bigger market thus moving more money thus creating more jobs, thus generating more wealth instead of the current system that locks people out and don't generate nearly us much as others could be doing.
        
        Just look at Google they alone make are a fourth of the size of the music industry and they give a lot for free.
        
        Want people want to have more Googles instead of EMIs?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Failed your economics class, eh? That's ok, so did most of the jokers here.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        vivaelamor (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:19am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Failed your economics class, eh? That's ok, so did most of the jokers here."
        
        Put some more effort into it. The only replies you're likely to get to that one are comments on how much your trolling sucks. Like this one.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Failed economics leads to chapter 11, who is there already?
        Hint is not Google, but Warner Music seems the most likely to go next, how do you feel seeing the music empire croumble under their own weight?
        
        I feel invigorated, is good to see people who brought so much misery to all of us go down like that, despite all the weasel moves, all the backdoor agreements, there is nothing saving them from that bitter end.
        
        That should just be a very clear message that those who go against the grain will be hammered back into compliance with society, not the other way around I'm afraid.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Richard (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 3:08pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      
      It's like having high speed internet and a low bandwidth cap, or building an amazing new football stadium with a single 3 foot door as the entrance and exit for 100,000 people.
      
      People break the speed laws every day, they are bad laws.
      
      You actually make a very good case for reviewing speed limits - which totally undermines the point you were trying to make. Well done!
      
      But you see, underlying all of it is a legitimate government interest: The safety of the people, to keep us literally from harming ourselves. Our desires, our wants, and our actions sometimes can cause harm we cannot see or understand.
      
      So, in spite of your reasonable preceding arguments your trump card is:
      
      Nanny knows best!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 4:36pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You actually make a very good case for reviewing speed limits
        
        Actually, no. The point is that, unless you look at the bigger interests and the overall reasons, it is pretty easy to come up with reasons to get rid of laws or to modify them. But when you actually look at the bigger picture (something Mike hates to do), you can see reasons why those laws are in place, and you can see the benefits to society of having them.
        
        Now, don't get me started on the question of why you can die for your country at 18, but can't drink or gamble until you are 21. That one is harder to explain :)
        
        So, in spite of your reasonable preceding arguments your trump card is:
        
        Nanny knows best!
        
        Not even close. "Nanny" doesn't know best, or know anything. The law is one of those things that doesn't evolve very quickly, which helps it to avoid being "flavor of the day". It's why bills can't be passed without a number of steps and the agreement of both houses and the President, because otherwise the law could shift rapidly to pander to personal wants instead of longer term needs.
        
        The laws are written like this for a reason. If you want to change the copyright law, work to change the law. Just ignoring it and working against it, bitching all the way and looking for loopholes to avoid it doesn't help your cause. It just makes you look arrogant, willing to ignore the "overall good" for your own personal gain.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 6:42pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "The law is one of those things that doesn't evolve very quickly, which helps it to avoid being "flavor of the day"."
        
        It depends on who's pushing for the laws. Big corporations got the DMCA passed relatively quickly in response to the uprising of digital technology and increasing Internet communications. ACTA seemed to be going along pretty quickly, though some public resistance seems to be slowing it down, but the point is that the laws are going in the wrong direction. Heck, industry was even invited to the negotiations and the public wasn't. and, so what if laws are slow to change, what's wrong with demanding that bad laws change fast. I demand that these bad IP laws change immediately and I want most of them completely destroyed. They're bad laws, if they changed tomorrow it would be too late because they should have been substantially repealed a long time ago.
        
        "bitching all the way"
        
        Perhaps part of what is required to change the law is to inform people about its problems. In other words, we need to make public complaints about the law. The government certainly doesn't seem to listen to anyone other than their corporate sponsors. So part of the purpose of this discussion is to help get more support that opposes the laws exactly to influence its change.
        
        "and looking for loopholes to avoid it doesn't help your cause."
        
        What's wrong with looking for loopholes to avoid it? Instead of supporting copy'right' content, and hence supporting those who make copy'right' content (which gives them money that can be used towards more frivolous lawsuits, campaign contributions, and lobbying) we can find loopholes through supporting those who make CC licensed content. Corporations always find legal loopholes, why should they be the only ones allowed to do so? What, you expect me to resist copy'right' by buying copywritten material from those corporations responsible for these laws? No, I think a loophole is in order.
        
        and if you're referring to things like fair use, then it's legal and there is nothing wrong with using such loopholes. It's kinda stupid to try and change an aspect of a law that doesn't need changing, why not just exercise those legal 'loopholes' that were intentionally put there for good reason. Nothing illegal about it.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 6:57pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Let me be more specific so that there is no ambiguity here. The word "loophole" generally refers to not breaking the letter of the law, but breaking the intent of law. If you are using the word 'loophole' to refer to things like fair use, the intent of the law has not been broken because fair use was intentionally put in the law so that people can exercise it. When corporations use legal loopholes, which they often do, they break intent of law without breaking the letter of the law.
        
        So when I say that corporations always find legal loopholes, they are breaking the intent of law. But using fair use isn't really a loophole because the intent of law wasn't broken. So there is a distinction between using fair use as a 'loophole' (because it's not really a loophole since the intent wasn't broken) and big corporations breaking the intent of law as a loophole.
        
        Otherwise, I'm not really sure what you mean by loophole. If you're using the word "loophole" to mean "breaking the law" you should have just said breaking the law, since the word loophole (with reference to law) is mostly associated with finding something that doesn't break the letter of the law but breaks its intent.
        
        and, if breaking the laws is what you meant then I agree, we should not resist copy'right' laws by intentionally breaking them (though, if your radio is on too loud and your neighbors can hear it, it could technically be infringement. If you watch a movie and you invite too many friends over to watch it with you, you could technically be infringing). and most on Techdirt agree with that too, including MM.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:12pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No, when I use the term "loophole", one example would be the way that torrent sites aren't infringing, but exist only because of infringing content. People acting that trackers and torrent files aren't part of the process of infringing, etc. You know, pushing the limits of the law, playing games to avoid prosecution. Some people may call them "playing by the rules", but at the end of the day, the intentions remain the same: to pirate stuff.
        
        Fair use isn't a loophole. It is a legal grey area that has few (if any) absolutes to it.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:36pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Oh wait so we will get rid of the loopholes?
        
        Fantasty, when ICE will stop using them?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:47pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "but exist only because of infringing content."
        
        Not all torrents direct to infringing content, some direct to content that doesn't infringe. The law does take down torrent sites that mostly just direct to infringing content, so I'm not sure what your point is, but those that exist to direct to non-infringing content should remain.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:13pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Quote:
        you can see reasons why those laws are in place, and you can see the benefits to society of having them.
        
        Actually is exactly why I can't see those benefits is the why I complain about it all the time.
        
        What I do see is EMI going under and Google going up, you don't need to be a rocket scientists to see which approach is bringing in money but despite that simple observation of how things work people choose to ignore economics and go with the absurd that copyright has become.
        
        Quote:
        The laws are written like this for a reason. If you want to change the copyright law, work to change the law. Just ignoring it and working against it, bitching all the way and looking for loopholes to avoid it doesn't help your cause. It just makes you look arrogant, willing to ignore the "overall good" for your own personal gain.
        
        That is exactly what everybody in here is doing including you, nobody here is happy with the laws the way they are, everybody wants to change them in one direction or another, you are just sad that we want something different from what you want and that we actually do have appealing ideas to spread around.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:26am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You're a small minority. The majority of people on this planet don't rip off music. Why should the laws be changed for you? That's some serious narcissistic and sociopathological thinking. Might want to get that checked out. I'm sure you're still under your parent's insurance, right?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:39am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Yah right LoL
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:05am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "The majority of people on this planet don't rip off music."
        
        [citation needed]
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:07am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        If we really are such a small minority, then why is the **AA so worried about us? We're too small of a minority to be a huge factor in their revenue stream.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:25am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "The majority of people on this planet don't rip off music."
        
        Then why do the labels act as if that isn't true?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Richard (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:35pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You're a small minority. The majority of people on this planet don't rip off music.
        You'd better have this argument with your alter-ego here
        
        Just shows how you guys don't care about logic or self consistency but just bleat on with self contradictory nonsense. We don't need to dismantle your arguments - you do it yourselves.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 2:04pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        To be fair, it's all they have left, really.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 3:55pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They want us to change the laws by being quite about them and hoping they magically change themselves.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:21pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And by the way the first step to change laws is bringing attention to them, which is what a lot of people are doing it right now.
        
        One way to do that is ignoring the law and showing to you people how things really work.
        
        Doesn't matter what you think or want things to be, the reality on the ground is that anyone can pirate anything and there is little or nothing you can do about it.
        
        Even you can check that out by yourself and get all the proof you need, just try to copy a CD, it is as simple as a drag and drop operation, then you can send that to all your friends by email, USB, HDD, internet, BluTooth, LAN or the internet.
        
        Have you tried a program for rats? Microsoft did they offer rewards for people denouncing others ask them if it stopped anything.
        
        What all this nonsense copyright created was ways for people to fight back and continue to do the same things they been doing but legally.
        
        Welcome to Jamendo, Magnatune and Linux.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Greevar (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 4:17pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Speed limits were put in place because it was determined that it would reduce fuel consumption, not just make it safer. To say that speed limits are impractical is completely wrong. With a regulated speed limit that the majority of traffic obeys, it's actually safer because everyone is going the same speed. This a makes it safer to change lanes and otherwise navigate the roads because it's consistent.
      
      Copyright has none of these features. It doesn't make the economy less dangerous, the lack of it makes it more progressive because of the lack of restriction. Nobody will come to harm because someone decided to ignore limitations.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - jhwaaser (profile), 18 Jul 2011 @ 10:32am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Copyright has none of these features. It doesn't make the economy less dangerous, the lack of it makes it more progressive because of the lack of restriction. Nobody will come to harm because someone decided to ignore limitations.
        
        So you say. As a former journalist, whose work was copied or referred to in Forbes Magazine, (I was never able to locate the reference, so I can't comment whether it was "fair use" or plagiarism, though I always assumed the latter) I can assure you that people are hurt when copyright laws are broken. People who create work are entitled to be paid for its use, and the use without a reasonable payment constitutes theft, just as if the user had reached into the author's pockets and withdrawn the money. You obviously don't seem to grasp this concept, which likely makes you as guilty as the thief.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 8:55pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Quote:
      But you see, underlying all of it is a legitimate government interest: The safety of the people, to keep us literally from harming ourselves. Our desires, our wants, and our actions sometimes can cause harm we cannot see or understand.
      
      Stop the fantasy now please, we all know that speeding limits are now revenue factories for the states and counties, they have been long ago transformed into something else and it has nothing to do with safety.
      
      Also, no government should prevent their own people from harming themselves if that is what they want to do.
      
      I remember reading about how the government forcible took people from their houses in New Orleans and shot their pets was that good?
      
      But I do think you are right on harms we can't see, copyright is a horrible concept that was enacted not to protect people but to protect kings and queens, it is unbelievable that in the 21th century we still have granted monopolies by the state.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:29am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Fantasy? Speeding limits don't save lives???? Go educate yourself, you silly freetard.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        The eejit (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:14am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Actually, there were a number of reports and studies showing that speed cameras (such as the Gatso) has a margin of error as high as +-10%. That's a LOT of margin.
        
        Like the one about New York, I think, where speeding fines brought in nearly $150m/year. I'll try and dig them out for you.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:32pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Now I am interested in that...
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jay (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 1:18pm
  
  Re:
  "I wish they would do that with speeding laws, and with credit card laws too. If people aren't paying their credit cards, why not pass a law that allows us to just ignore the balance once every 2 years and get a complete reset without risk?"
  
  Do we really need to get into the financial crisis currently happening because of Wall Street, government, bad incentives, and over extended credit?
  
  " Why can't I drive my Audi at 100 MPH on a highway who's speed limits were set in the 50's for cars with all the grip of greased plastic?"
  
  Wow... It's like a Speed limit MUST occur to ensure safety...
  
  Better yet, the tickets and technology for the speeding is without flaw
  
  You sure dipped in the hatorade today...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 4:38pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Jay, if you are aware of it, the number of "unlimited speed" locations in Germany are shrinking all the time. Most of the Autobahn now is limited at 120-140kph. It's done to promote safety in areas where unlimited speed is no longer in the public's best interest, even if they could still do it.
    
    As for the "speed cameras" thing, poor application of a law doesn't invalidate the concept, only where some politicians are willing to go to make money. Plus linking to techdirt is never a good idea, because the site is only Mike's opinions, not facts.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      
      coldbrew, 26 Mar 2011 @ 5:37pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      RAT SHIT, BAT SHIT, DIRTY OLD TWAT,
      69 ASSHOLES TIED IN A NOT,
      HURRAY...LIZARD SHIT...FUCK!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:25pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Which is besides the point, the real point is with unlimited speeds accidents increased?
      
      If not why do we have those speed limits?
      More people die in auto accidents than they die in war zones, more people die of some diseases than all the wars combined
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 1:20pm
  
  Re:
  The phrase "blocked route" doesn't exactly scream "moving forward."
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jay (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 1:22pm
  
  Re:
  And because I missed this part when I hit enter:
  "Perhaps maybe by allowing freedom to use other people's copyrighted works without permission we would get a flood of great, wonderful, incredibly artful... more of the same? I like the idea of that route being blocked so people actually have to move forward, instead of just repeating the past."
  
  Not your choice, not your problem.
  
  People create from what they like and do so in various ways. Some draw based on Mickey Mouse on DeviantArt, others make music based on samples. Having the government or any one entity "control" that expression is beyond stupid and intruding.
  
  Thanks for stopping by, see you next time.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 1:34pm
    
    Re: Re:
    It's also counter-productive.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:29pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Here is what more of the same sounds like LoL
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaFTm2bcac
    
    From the 60's to this day Amen break is being used without permission by thousands of people. There is even one company trying to steal the copyrights of that one break for themselves.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 8:45pm
  
  Re:
  Quote:
  
  Oh, wait. Perhaps there are other reason that just what a noisy minority wants.
  
  If the people doing it are a noise minority then there is no real problem is it? and one can make the same statement about you people, you are just a minority screaming loud.
  
  Quote:
  I like the idea of that route being blocked so people actually have to move forward, instead of just repeating the past.
  
  Hmmm...like the Amen break that created entire new genres of music based on a six seconds drum beat that was stolen and it is used to this day.
  
  Check out the history of the Amen break on Youtube.
  
  The good thing about it is that you can't do nothing about it, you can destroy business but society will continue its march to progress with or without people like you, society want be curraled into the tragedy of the anti-commons.
  
  Quote:
  You get your bonus cup of koolaid today for your insightful, meaningful summary of everything Mike hopes that masses fell for this week.
  
  In reality the anonymous are the master puppets
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 12:32pm

I'm tired of anologies involving cars.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Greevar (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 4:19pm
  
  Re:
  Let's use bacon!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Rose M. Welch (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:35pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Everything is better with bacon. :)
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Greevar (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:51pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Infinite bacon is even better!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Rose M. Welch (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:45pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Now I want bacon. Dammit.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 6:29pm

"If This Is 'Piracy' Then I Support Piracy"

One reason the article was problematic was embodied in its title. The article was directed to what were considered creative uses of existing works. In the lexicon of copyright law such uses are generally termed "derivative works", and "fair use" is a legitimate issue to be raised and considered.

"Piracy", however, is generally something altogether different. It is not the creation of a new work based upon a preexisting work, but typically the creation of a copy for consumption by others in lieu of purchasing or otherwise securing a lawful copy.

For a coherent discussion to ensue, the distiction between what have been called "creative uses" and "consumptive uses" should be kept in mind.

While there may be some exceptions, for the most part industry associations such as the RIAA, the MPAA, and the BSA have expressed positions regarding "piracy" that generally embody the above distinction, i.e., copying and distribution that reflects a "consumtive use".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 7:35pm
  
  Re:
  "In the lexicon of copyright law such uses are generally termed "derivative works", and "fair use" is a legitimate issue to be raised and considered."
  
  I think you missed the word "if" in the title. Not that he supports breaking the law, just that if such and such were (perhaps legal) piracy (if there is such a thing as legal piracy. For instance, say if copy'right' law didn't exist and people copied all they wanted and it is still considered piracy) then he supports 'piracy'.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:32pm
  
  Re:
  Hmmm...like the RIAA, the MPAA and the BSA all going against the expansion of fair use for the blind?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:10pm
    
    Re: Re:
    No, the concern they have expressed does have merit, but it gets lost in the hyperbole "they hate the blind".
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:25pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Hmmm...that is why even the politicians did say no to them?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:28pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I like the term hyperbole it describes exactly what the industry tries to do, it spreads all the hyperbole about harm, losses, the end of the world all the while claiming increased sales and bla bla bla.
      
      They call sharing culture, breaking the breath with thy brother a crime now, that is real hyperbole.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:29pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Oh just to fuel the this even more I just remembered that Christ was the first pirate of all times, when he multiplied the fish.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:05pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Oh like the hyperbole of trying to mix safety issues with copyrights and try to make them seem the same?
      
      Or the hyperbole of people trying to justify irrational laws that do more harm than good trying to expand copyrights?
      
      Or the hyperbole about how the intent of congress is all about the people and their needs while passing laws that only benefit a few that can "donate" to political campaigns or the hyperbole about how politicians get invited to dinners and come out defenders of the just and right cause of copyrights?
      
      You think people are stupid?
      You think people don't see what is happening?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:35am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Yes, they see you spreading FUD. Too bad the MPAA can't fine you every time you jokers post FUD.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:52am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Please Ahab, if it is just FUD and pirates are just a minority why don't you go give a talk to thousands of people and call the all freetards and thieves, then I want to see how you will get out of there.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:02am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Cpt. Ahab, the only thing bad is that you couldn't find anything let alone fine anybody, because I would love to see you fining people for expressing anything.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:19am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The only FUD is the argument that content would die without copy'right'. It was the spreading of FUD that got Congress to pass the absurd 95+ year copy protection laws that we currently have.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Too bad the MPAA can't fine you every time you jokers post FUD."
        
        Yet IP maximists claim that it is their critics that are unable to entertain opposing views.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:20am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I responded to a specific instance. In now way did it embrace views pertaining to anything else.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:53am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You could have fooled me, with that "their claims have merit".
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Quote:
        The treaty also creates a bad precedent by loosening copyright restrictions, instead of tightening them as every previous copyright treaty has done, said Brad Huther, a chamber director. Huther concluded in a Dec. 2 letter to the U.S. Copyright office that the international community �should not engage in pursuing a copyright-exemption based paradigm.
        
        Source: WIRED - Copyright Owners Fight Plan to Release E-Books for the Blind
        ��By David Kravets on December 11, 2009 at 1:48 pm
        
        The only concerns the industry had was that copyright was being given an exception, they had no real problems and they couldn't even point to anything bad that could happen, all they had was wild assumptions and no merits to their claims, which we all knew even politicians saw that and that is why those exceptions passed and we never heard of anything bad happening after that.
        
        So what merits exactly are you talking about?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:07pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You know what would happen to you if you spoke in front of a million people and said to them that crap?
      
      You would need the army to get out of there.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:56pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "No, the concern they have expressed does have merit, "
      
      Because without 95+ year copy protection lengths, artists would starve and no one would ever create any art. Yes, that has merit alright. and at least someone has made some false argument that 95+ year copy protection lengths are somehow beneficial to society, despite the fact that such an argument has absolutely no merit, or else we wouldn't have such absurd laws. Or what about any of the following links?
      
      http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110324/16194713614/drop-p2p-file-sharing-due-to-limewir e-shutdown-pyrrhic-victory-recording-industry.shtml#c906
      
      Why should I believe that any of their concerns have merit. Copy protection laws themselves have no merit, at least not our laws, not in terms of serving the public interest. Yes, their concerns have merit in terms of contributing to income inequality and helping the *IAA make money for doing no work, but that's not something I'm all that concerned with. Copy'right' should be substantially repealed and I don't care if these special interest groups go out of business, I hope they do.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:10am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Also see
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/06521713462/judge-rejects-riaas-attempt-to-claim-tr illions-damages-limewire.shtml
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090614/2223175228.shtml
        
        Agai n, there is no reason for me to believe that anything these people say has any merit. If these people want credibility, they must earn it, simply asserting their credibility with statements like, "No, the concern they have expressed does have merit" doesn't earn them any credibility. and, so far, these people have done absolutely nothing to earn any credibility whatsoever and they have done so much to earn their mistrust and lack of credibility.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:29am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The issue was limited to a specific matter, one for which I have read numerous submittals by persons and organizations on both sides of the issue. Each have offered information in support of their positions that raise legitimate concerns.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:30am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So, please explain why the concern has any merit?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 6:48pm

"Defending The Indefensible: Lawyers Who Love Loopholes Ignoring Serious Constitutional Issues In Domain Seizures"

This title and the ensuing article was little more than a harangue against those whose interpretion of existing case law may happen to differ with that of others.

There will always be persons, whether attorneys or not, who are so locked into a position that nothing will persuade them otherwise. However, in the case of attorneys the vast majority are able to entertain competing arguments, and then proffer opinions based upon their review and understanding of statutory and case law. Just because one may in good faith proffer an opinion that the seizures of domain names comport with what he/she understands to be the law relevant to a "due process" inquiry, it certainly does not mean that a "loophole" is being exploited.

What it does reflect is that terms like "due process", "probable cause", "reasonable man", "preponderance of evidence", "beyond a reasonable doubt", etc. are not matters that can be determined with mathematical precision. It would be nice is this was the case, but the law within our system of jurisprudence is quite unlike a law of nature.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 7:41pm
  
  Re:
  "This title and the ensuing article was little more than a harangue against those whose interpretion of existing case law may happen to differ with that of others."
  
  "However, in the case of attorneys the vast majority are able to entertain competing arguments, and then proffer opinions based upon their review and understanding of statutory and case law."
  
  So (in the title and the article) Mike expresses his opinion that serious constitutional issues are being ignored and you consider his expression a harangue? Maybe it is you who is "so locked into a position that nothing will persuade" you otherwise. You certainly don't seem capable of 'entertaining competing arguments', given the way you attack them.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 7:45pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Heck, Mike even allows dissenting comments on his blog, unlike the pro IP mainstream mainstream (television) media that only entertains pro - IP propaganda. IP maximists have absolutely no room to talk in this regard because they are the worst hypocrites in existence.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:16am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Mike allows dissenting comments only because they drive page views. Otherwise, they would be blocked and removed as quickly as possible.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Mike allows dissenting comments only because they drive page views."
        
        So people visit techdirt, a blog that criticizes IP, to read IP maximists comments? Why not just visit an IP maximists blog that allows open comments (oh, wait, those hardly exist, I wonder why?) or watch the mainstream media instead (oh, wait, the MSM doesn't allow dissenting comments, only pro-IP propaganda). Heck, why don't you start a pro IP blog that allows dissenting comments and IP maximists can visit your blog?
        
        and if those dissenting comments had any merit and people visited the blog mostly to view those dissenting comments, wouldn't allowing them for the sake of allowing people to visit them undermine Mike's alleged agenda of spreading non-truth? Wouldn't that make the allowance of dissenting comments cause more harm to his alleged agenda than good? Wouldn't that encourage Mike not to have dissenting comments since allowing them causes more harm to his alleged agenda than good? You sound worse than a crazy conspiracy theorist. Please, at least try to reason through what you say, just for a fraction of a second.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 11:20am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "IP maximists"?
        
        Explaining what the law "is" does not a "maximist" make. Many who practice in this field of law do not believe that many of the policy decisions embodied in the law make any sense (e.g., inordinately long terms, aspects of derivative works, etc.), but believe that a discussion of the law is not facilitated when its provisions are inaccurately portrayed.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:02pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        What provisions are we inaccurately portraying? Please, enlighten us.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 11:51pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "Explaining what the law "is" does not a "maximist" make. Many who practice in this field of law do not believe that many of the policy decisions embodied in the law make any sense (e.g., inordinately long terms, aspects of derivative works, etc.), but believe that a discussion of the law is not facilitated when its provisions are inaccurately portrayed."
        
        This sounds like a cop out...
        
        Here's the problem:
        
        The maximalist are the ones that use the law to support a tyrannical view of government.
        
        So let's define what exactly most do shall we?
        
        1) The law is used to support copyright law for maximum amounts.
        
        Now, the monetary gains in copyright law can be used to ill effect if you look at them. First, you have the performance rights organizations that are told they will get the maximum amount of money for copyright "protection."
        ASCAP makes it HARD for a business to prosper or innovate so they CAN make money. You also have them suing everyone with the absolute backing of the RIAA, and every nasty lawyer that wants to get paid more than a bar can possibly handle. Look for yourself and be disgusted
        
        That's one reason I can't back the maximalism. This is in effect a legal ponzi scheme. The ones at the top, the Jermain Dupri's, the Dr. Dres or the Keegan Dewitts are supported. Meanwhile, other forms of music have literally been hurting because of copyright laws. And ASCAP is known for not paying anyone but the top portion. For all of the money they make (which used to be 16% but is now 11.6% of the money they bring in), they are only perpetuating a dying system.
        
        This is one place that the supposed "artists are being hurt" argument becomes a fallacy.
        
        I've heard of hundreds of clubs and bars that are hurt by ASCAP suing them out of existence.
        
        2) Copyright Royalty Board
        
        Tell me... If copyright is supposed to be so great, why the hell do we have a board that almost always puts UP copyright but never brings it down? Yes, it is adjusted to inflation but when is it brought to a sensible level for people to actually operate? Further, why is it that we have to petition to participate in this aspect when it is going to affect every new business out there?
        
        "But... But... It's for the artists!!!"
        
        3) Law loopholes.
        
        Constitutional rights are supposed to be inalienable. You have a right to remain silent. You have a right to explain yourself. You have a right to not pay excessive or unconstitutional amounts of restitution. You have a right to not have your privacy invaded be it third party or first party invasion. You have a right to face your accuser in a court of law, you have a right to have a fair hearing before anything of yours is taken away. You have a right to pursue your own happiness, not your own handout.
        
        All of those rights have been subverted for an oddly misplaced look at blaming people for liking the digital alternatives out there.
        
        But all of these subversions are negligent in the belief that maximalism is about subverting consumer rights for producer rights.
        
        4) Law
        This merges with the loopholes. The laws are looked at with almost absolute certainty that either borders or goes directly into absolutism. The problem with lawyer types is they only see black and white. Either it is A or it is B. If you did A, go to jail, do not pass go. If it's B, you're free to go. This is ALL problematic in seeing the problems with copyright laws in general. I've listed some here which forces someone to think more about what copyright is not doing.
        
        It's not progressing the sciences. It's not helping artists. In fact, look at all of the things I've listed!
        
        If anything it's allowing a bunch of parasites (ironically, what the "pirates" are supposed to be) to continuously use the system to the detriment of artist, fan and everyone in their wake.
        
        We've needed a change from these inane laws, not more of them.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:05pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Yes, I do view it as a harangue because he keeps dismissing out of hand opinions that do not track his.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:24pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      He also keeps allowing you to comment, which is more than I can say for other places that don't allow anonymous anywhere.
      
      There are no dissenting voices in other places.
      
      This is one of the very few places where people can say things.
      
      Maybe what you don't like is the torrent of dissenting opinions that people express against your point of view.
      
      Maybe you should try Physicsorg, you will be trashed there too, also on Youtube, Popscience and a miriad of others websites that I browsed I saw the same responses when people try to defend copyright.
      
      But you know that don't you, that is why you are anonymous, because it could bring real life consequences to your carreer, if it was so just and had public support artists wouldn't have to hide their faces and be concerned about the fall in sales.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:12pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So, by expressing his disagreement with other opinions, he is dismissing them and his expressed disagreement constitutes harangue?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:39am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Mike isn't a lawyer but still tries to disagree with legal examples that are explained to him by a calm reading of the law. His agenda impairs him so much that he can't even deal with that.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:19pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        As compared to lawyers who's very reading of the law seems to promote not a democracy, but a tyranny?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 2:09pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They're just doing their jobs! If you don't like the law then change it, don't just break it like these lawless jokers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroad
        
        How dare they! It's illegal! Breaking the law is wrong, all the time!
        
        "Useless laws weaken the necessary laws." - Charles de Montesquieu
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Freetardo, 27 Mar 2011 @ 4:17pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I'm pretty sure that since some law was broken when freeing the slaves, that means all laws are ok to be broken. Makes sense, right?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:57pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No it just shows that the law is an agreement between parties, without the agreement of everyone laws has no meaning, unilateral laws will always be broken.
        
        Just like copyright that is a prime example of a delusional law.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:24am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        This is not what I said or implied. I was merely pointing out that others, after reasearching statutory and case law, can arrive at different interpretations. Dismissing them out of hand, coupled with words like "indefensible" and other pejorative comments, is in my view a harangue.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "This is not what I said or implied."
        
        It's exactly what you implied. He simply expressed his opinion and you take that to mean he is dismissing your opinion out of hand.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:14pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You remind me of Idi Amin Dada, he used to say the same things all the time with his buffoonery and incidentally he was also a butcher to his own people.
      
      His own arguments to kill his people was to label them terrorists and criminals, create closed circles and bath them in gifts while executing their opposition, that is what copyrights do for crazy people it empowers them to get bold and abuse it.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:34am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        This has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:27am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Of course it has, in the case of Idi Amin Dada he used the law to punish his opposition just like the industry is doing right now with people, innocent people by the way, for which their only crime was to have shared a music or a film with someone else, that is absurd and the fact that the law gave those people that power is just scary.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:39am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I ask this in all sincerity. Can anyone here point to a lawsuit filed by the RIAA that was directed towards anyone other than those who were engaged in the copying and distribution of copious amounts of files?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:38am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Have you completely ignored the links I have provided you with above?
        
        See
        
        http://brainz.org/14-most-ridiculous-lawsuits-filed-riaa-and-mpaa/
        
        (and, sure, some of those examples were directed towards such copying and distribution of content, but not all, but because many Techdirt IP maximists are dishonest trolls, I must type this disclaimer).
        
        See
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060424/1141216.shtml?threaded=true
        
        http ://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090127/0108303542.shtml
        
        These people have threatened to sue venues that want to host independent performers.
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090109/1823043352.shtml
        
        (and I'm sure a little bit of digging can find lawsuits that were initiated for such actions).
        
        People have been arrested for singing
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20061109/092726.shtml
        
        The following may not be a lawsuit, but it is an inquiry for the FCC to investigate issues for no good reason.
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20090811%2F0152565837&threaded=true&sp=1
        
        Also see the following
        
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050711/2013234.shtml
        
        See
        
        http://www.techdirt.c om/articles/20100302/0354498358.shtml
        
        (and I seem to somewhat remember other cases of professors showing videos, or snippets of videos, in class, being sued or at least threatened to be sued).
        
        Read the rest of the links that I provided (in a previous post and the posts it links to) for similar things.
        
        There are other examples as well of them suing for things like "public performances" and initiating those careless huge mass lawsuits that often 'accidentally' target innocent people.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:41am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (sorry, that one was the harmonica one, though it does prove my point. Too many examples to choose from I guess. The singing one was another one, it's somewhere on the links I provided in the previous post).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:56am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Also, in the book NoLogo by Naomi Klein (written in the year 2000, before modern file sharing was as big as it is now), under the section "Copyright Bullies"
        
        Read where it says, "Copyright and trademark harassment is a massive and growing industry, and though its
        effects are too sweeping to fully document, here are a few random examples."
        
        All sorts of examples are given of copy'right' and trademark being abused to suppress free speech in ways that have little to nothing to do with the copying and distribution of copious amounts of infringing content, many cases pertain to free speech. Mattel tried to use copy'right' and tradmark to suppress dissenting views of the Barbies image and 'erase' parts of its history (ie: people presenting examples of Barbies history as "Barbie the cigarette model" as a Barbie criticism). The examples are probably too numerous to really iterate here, but it is a problem.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:59am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        In any human endeavor mistakes can be made. Perhaps this was the case with some of the ones mentioned in the link you provided.
        
        However, neither Tenenbaum and Rusell-Thomas come even close to being characterized as a mistake. Theirs were egregious examples, and they should have fessed up and settled.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:17am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        *groan*
        
        So their cases show how out of touch copyright law is, and all you can do is blame them for not settling a lawsuit that is an example of damned if you do, damned if you don't?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:58am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Not sure what you mean by "out of touch".
        
        Should copyright law be changed to allow unfettered downloading and distribution of content?
        
        Should statutory damages be changed in some way?
        
        Other?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 11:29am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        When people criminalize sharing of anything that is the real crime.
        
        Doesn't matter what the law says.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Jay (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:24pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        First, innocent infringer.
        
        You pay $200 per infringement. That's beyond stupid.
        
        Second, statutory damages which for all intents are egregious amounts for non commercial filesharing.
        
        Third, the market that the RIAA is supposed to promote is all about progress of the arts. Suing someone to set an example to everyone is NOT progress. It's an impediment.
        
        So now, you have to rely on fair use in the court room while a business snoops on you to harass you to settle. That's legal extortion.
        
        Face it, copyright has become all about a money grab meant to promote a socio-economic barrier to culture.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 11:27am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They should fessed up because sharing 28 songs is not a crime, not in my book and it never will be.
        
        Not a crime to have you fined a million dollars anyways.
        
        Those people are innocent people who did nothing wrong, except not have paid attention to absurd laws.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 11:31am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Exactly, that is why copyright was envisioned as a weak provision to give just enough incentive to create something, not to be the corner stone of anything and certainly not to be the this strong.
        
        Strong copyrights is like strong poison it kills everything it touches.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:07pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "In any human endeavor mistakes can be made."
        
        You ask for examples, I give them, and then you discard them as mistakes. No, not all of them were mistakes, the **AA didn't mistakenly initiate many of its frivolous lawsuits and they didn't mistakenly tell the FCC to investigate an attempted boycott of their products. They did these things on purpose.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:11pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        That's the problem with discussing things with IP maximists. They are so entrenched in their predetermined beliefs, they don't even bother to read anything that contradicts it. They just ignore it. I post things that contradict what they say, these things have been posted many times before, yet, likely the same trolls, keep on saying things that have been refuted many times in the past. It's like they never learn, they make the same well refuted arguments over and over and they ignore the refutations and they ignore anything that contradicts their unsupported religion. I might as well be arguing with a computer program, sometimes I feel like I am.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:17pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (and these collection societies do not mistakenly go after restaurant and other venues that host various performers under the pretext that someone might infringe. Again, that's intentional).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:19pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (and I'm sure that them going after someone playing their harmonica at a bar or singing at work was also a mistake, right?).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:24pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091021/1134566619.shtml
        
        (in case you intentionally missed it before, when I linked to a post that linked to it the first time. However, I suspect you will ignore the above links and make the same arguments in the future. Why do I even bother, it's not like you will actually learn from any of this).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:26pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (oh, and check out some of the links that that link links to. Those weren't accidental, these collection societies intentionally went after people for no good reason).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:30pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (and, sure, not all of them were the RIAA specifically, but they do highlight how copy'right' law has generally gone too far and how politicians need to be working on alleviating its problems instead of listening to the RIAA and making them worse than they already are).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 12:35pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        (but the post you were responding to doesn't refer to the RIAA specifically, it referred to the "industry" generally).
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Karl (profile), 28 Mar 2011 @ 7:23am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        In any human endeavor mistakes can be made.
        
        More than half the time, apparently:
        
        In its submission, Google notes that more than half (57%) of the takedown notices it has received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998, were sent by business targeting competitors and over one third (37%) of notices were not valid copyright claims.
        - Google submission hammers section 92A
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Richard (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 1:23pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I ask this in all sincerity. Can anyone here point to a lawsuit filed by the RIAA that was directed towards anyone other than those who were engaged in the copying and distribution of copious amounts of files?
        
        That's an easy one. Tanya Andersen case
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        TamTroll, 27 Mar 2011 @ 1:38pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        But that was a mistake! Mistakes happen.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 7 Apr 2011 @ 7:23am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "RIAA forces Youtube to remove guitar lessons."
        
        http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/riaa-forces-youtube-remove-guitar-lessons-346152/
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:20pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      And to be clear anyone who tries to criminalize sharing of anything is just crazy.
      
      Sharing was important since the dawn of humanity and will continue to be important long after copycrime is gone.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 11:23pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Anyone who says that automakers should have the right to stop other from sharing their cars is clearly crazy, anyone who tells people they need to pay the automakers to use their cars is crazy and so is people trying to say that sharing music, movies, books or ideas is a criminal, the real criminals are people blinded by greed that are inept to survive and wouldn't be able to do so on their own and depend on the charity of others to do it, trying to dictate how others should live their lifes.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 5:42am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Please come over and clean my house for me for the entire next year. And no, I'm not going to pay you. You're going to share with me your ability to clean.
        Thanks. Now get your ass in gear.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 7:42am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Nope you are a prick I don't help pricks.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        The eejit (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 8:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Address or GTFO.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 10:54am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I would be happy to clean your digital house! For free! Just going to need your digital address or perhaps you could email your digital house? Yes? No?
        
        I don't know why you would not take me up on your offer, unless, no, it couldn't be!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 4:25pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        um, what's a digital house? I don't think I get this one...
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2011 @ 9:12pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Go to SecondLife or try playing The Sims.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2011 @ 4:43am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        They wouldn't clean a digital house for free either.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2011 @ 7:34am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Try me.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 10:12pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Perhaps you have me confused with another AC.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 7:56pm

Is this true?
Yes, the politicians have no dicks.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- coldbrew, 26 Mar 2011 @ 8:17pm
  
  Re: Is this true?
  Ghost Busters...god flick :-)
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 26 Mar 2011 @ 8:32pm

Love these
I love how everyone brings a different take on exactly what a roundup post should look like.

Bonus for working in a Ghostbusters clip, Nick.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 26 Mar 2011 @ 9:44pm

What this all shows is that when you go against the grain of society you will fail economically doesn't matter what tortured, bent logic is used monopolies are bad.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Karl (profile), 27 Mar 2011 @ 6:26pm

That's it
That Ghostbusters clip was obviously infringing on the rights of Columbia Pictures.

So tomorrow, ICE will seize Techdirt's domain name.

Hey, it's the law. Mike was inducing criminal infringement. You can't hide criminal behavior behind irrelevant defenses, like "free speech" or "safe harbors." If you think otherwise, you're a freetard who loves piracy. LOL!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2011 @ 5:52am
  
  Re: That's it
  That Ghostbusters clip was obviously infringing on the rights of Columbia Pictures.
  
  So tomorrow, ICE will seize Techdirt's domain name.
  
  Hey, it's the law. Mike was inducing criminal infringement. You can't hide criminal behavior behind irrelevant defenses, like "free speech" or "safe harbors." If you think otherwise, you're a freetard who loves piracy. LOL!
  
  I know you're just joking, but the fact that Mike allows videos that are likely to be infringing to be posted by his "staff" shows what utter B.S. all of his "concerns" were about being shut down by ICE for the videos he embeds. As I pointed out then, he'll continue to embed videos just as he always has because all that "fear" was just manipulative FUD. Yeah, Mike, you're really worried about it. Sure you are.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Karl (profile), 28 Mar 2011 @ 7:02am
    
    Re: Re: That's it
    he'll continue to embed videos just as he always has because all that "fear" was just manipulative FUD.
    
    Well, that, or he'll do it despite his concerns, because allowing fear to dictate your speech is a bad idea. It'd be like the fear of prosecution gave you the chills, and had the effect of self-censorship.
    
    Boy, someone really should make up a term for that.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2011 @ 7:49am
      
      Re: Re: Re: That's it
      Well, that, or he'll do it despite his concerns, because allowing fear to dictate your speech is a bad idea. It'd be like the fear of prosecution gave you the chills, and had the effect of self-censorship.
      
      Boy, someone really should make up a term for that.
      
      In other words, he's not really worried about it, and it was all grandstanding FUD from the King of FUD himself. Got it. The domain name seizures and the arrest of McCarthy really hasn't caused Mike to change a single thing that he does. The "concern" was fabricated. That much is perfectly clear.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Mar 2011 @ 10:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: That's it
        In other words, he's not really worried about it, and it was all grandstanding FUD from the King of FUD himself. Got it. The domain name seizures and the arrest of McCarthy really hasn't caused Mike to change a single thing that he does. The "concern" was fabricated. That much is perfectly clear
        
        I would prefer that you not speak to my motivations when you are clueless on the topic.
        
        In fact, you are flat out wrong. I have adjusted various posts to remove content that I think is more difficult to argue is fair use. I have also refused to post a few things that would again involve content that I'd have a harder time arguing is fair use.
        
        So, yes, I have been self-censoring.
        
        Separately, I am willing to push the line a bit, because if anyone did try to seize this domain, I think that the negative long term effects on ICE's censorship campaign would be worth it. I think that taking down this site would hurt them a lot more than they realize.
        
        So, seriously, don't try to claim that I haven't changed anything, when you don't know what you're talking about.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2011 @ 1:42pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: That's it
        But you'll still allow your "staff" to post likely infringing material. Yeah, you're real a-scared.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Mar 2011 @ 1:47pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: That's it
        But you'll still allow your "staff" to post likely infringing material. Yeah, you're real a-scared.
        
        Dude. Try reading. It'll make you look less clueless.
        
        I explained my position, and your response is "nyah nyah nyah". Look, if you want to be taken seriously, at least have something to say.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Nick Dynice (profile), 8 Apr 2011 @ 7:26pm
  
  Re: That's it
  Section 230, they can come after me.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]