You and I pay for cable and then the cable co. sells programming time to infomercial producers. Depending on my schedule I can't even watch the regular "entertainment" programming I wanted cable for because there is "paid programming" on at that time of day/night.
That there is no point of responsibility (or accountability) and they only means of influence is through the profits, are the two biggest "flaws" of a corporation. And they were written that way intentionally and specifically so that individual people could escape responsibility and accountability for the actions as a business. Society makes humans accountable and holds them responsible for a reason, we should not allow organizations to operate with out them.
I know, 'good luck to me', I'm a bit of an idealist.
I dis-like the tendency to refer to companies as sentient entities. I understand organizations can be seen as acting or behaving this way or that way, but in reality it is people who are taking action. Real flesh and blood human beings. Organizations do not feel or become influenced by emotions but people do. Instead of referring to the behavior of an organization we should be specific and direct about who (by NAME) in the organization is driving the actions and behaviors. This is the only way we will be able to socially influence an organization's behavior. Make someone accountable.
I am a cynic but I really don't see the gov't bothering to do the extra work of returning something if they don't have a VERY compelling reason to do so. They didn't return it out of the 'goodness in their hearts'.
1) Do more bytes actually incur more cost to the provider? The electricity is already on ... (And I do realize higher use does necessitate more infrastructure.)
2)The meter can not be on the device that is doing the consuming. It must be on the point of delivery. (You don't have an electric meter on every device in the house.) This presents a significant problem to devices that can get signal from differing sources (wifi hotspot or cell tower?)
3)I admit this point is my own bias but ISP's have not shown that they have an ethical competency any where near that of my other utility providers (not that they are that great either)
I do not see myself as any great fan of regulation but there needs to be clearer rules, and rules that err on the side of consumer protection and not the provider.
While I tend to agree with the spirit of your position there is a still a problem. If the system were suddenly wiped away and there were no patents the type of people who parasitically prey off the system buy hoarding patents (or copyright) would change tactics and parasitically prey off the system by selling direct knock-off copies of 'things'. Both types of parasitic behavior are a drain on the system in both innovative and financial metrics. I do think there is some merit in some limited protection of financial investment. But like the above poster (William Purnell) I do not know how that can be accomplished with out someone being a parasite and screwing us all.
The 'isms' by them selves cannot be good or bad (or evil) they have to be seized upon by some petty tyrant or regime who then uses them in name as a cover for their despotic suppression of any poor souls who ind them selves in the tyrant's 'jurisdiction'. You know full well that this can be true of ANY political or religious ideology.
I think there should be a difference between characters and content "actively used" and those that are only help for the purpose of preventing other from using them. Of course them we fall in to the pit of holder trotting out remakes and remixes every so often to claim they are actively used. This does not qualify as "active use" by my standards.
Additionally there should be different standards between retelling a story or using characters in new ways vs. simply doing a verbatim copy. Copying Homer's Odyssey and telling it as he told it is just copying (even if it is a wonderful performance), But re-telling the story as was done with "O' Brother Where Art Thou" is using stories and characters in new ways.
In today's world Homer would have sued The Coen Brothers, Touchstone and Disney Studios in to the ground over infringement claims.
Even if I grant your example as possible, if not likely, won't you admit there are better, more "friendly" ways to handle the issue? Perhaps at least a quiet discussion with the pub owners to avoid making yourself look like a bully? I'm not even suggesting you back down, just handle it better.
You "own" it for a limited time. Either you consume it, and then you don't have milk any more. Or you leave it in the carton where it will eventually spoil, and guess what, you don't have milk any more.
I used to be with it, but then they changed what *it* was. Now what I'm with isn't *it*, and what's *it* seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you... -- Abraham 'Grampa' Simpson
On the post: TV Network Execs Contemplate Going To Court To Say Skipping Commercials Is Illegal
Re:
WTF ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING I PAID FOR!?
On the post: Chappelle Show Creator Gives Grieving MCA Fans A Treat, Viacom Gives Them The Finger
Re: Re: Referring to companies in third person
That there is no point of responsibility (or accountability) and they only means of influence is through the profits, are the two biggest "flaws" of a corporation. And they were written that way intentionally and specifically so that individual people could escape responsibility and accountability for the actions as a business. Society makes humans accountable and holds them responsible for a reason, we should not allow organizations to operate with out them.
I know, 'good luck to me', I'm a bit of an idealist.
On the post: Chappelle Show Creator Gives Grieving MCA Fans A Treat, Viacom Gives Them The Finger
Referring to companies in third person
On the post: FBI Quietly Returns Anonymizing Server It Seized... Without Telling Anyone
Re:
On the post: FBI Quietly Returns Anonymizing Server It Seized... Without Telling Anyone
Will not be put back in to production ...
On the post: Insanity: CISPA Just Got Way Worse, And Then Passed On Rushed Vote
Re: The Canadian Race
What are the distinct genetic markers that identify Canadians as a genetically divergent population?
;-) ('just playing along with the fun)
On the post: Congress Decides To Ignore Privacy Concerns, Refuses To Even Consider Key CISPA Amendments
Re: Off course you have a choice. Grow some!
I only meant there is no one to choose to vote for who is not or is not likely to become a moron once in office.
I do not see how we as citizens will be able to effect substantial change with out some substantial revolution.
I don't know where the tipping point is but it doesn't look like the majority of the populace is near that point.
On the post: Congress Decides To Ignore Privacy Concerns, Refuses To Even Consider Key CISPA Amendments
Re: make believe world
On the post: Congress Decides To Ignore Privacy Concerns, Refuses To Even Consider Key CISPA Amendments
Re: "...we elect morons..."
On the post: Judge Preserves Megaupload Evidence For Now, While Gov't Tries To Pin Blame On Hosting Company
Re: Current landscape
What I do know is that I find the information here interesting and not completely one-sided. Editorial and of a certain opinion? true without a doubt.
My take on the motives here is that the goal and hope is to have some influence on changing the 'current landscape', not denying that it exists.
my 2¢
On the post: The Stupidity Of Data Caps: No One Knows What A Megabyte Is
Re: metered as a utility commodity
1) Do more bytes actually incur more cost to the provider? The electricity is already on ... (And I do realize higher use does necessitate more infrastructure.)
2)The meter can not be on the device that is doing the consuming. It must be on the point of delivery. (You don't have an electric meter on every device in the house.) This presents a significant problem to devices that can get signal from differing sources (wifi hotspot or cell tower?)
3)I admit this point is my own bias but ISP's have not shown that they have an ethical competency any where near that of my other utility providers (not that they are that great either)
I do not see myself as any great fan of regulation but there needs to be clearer rules, and rules that err on the side of consumer protection and not the provider.
my 2¢
On the post: Louis Vuitton Touts Basketball Trademark Victory In Similar Lawsuit Against Warner Bros.
Re: Live by the sword ...
apparently.
On the post: Empirical Evidence Of Just How Much Patent Trolling Hinders Innovation
Re: "Nope that is not a legitimate reason,"
On the post: Homemade Hardcovers: Yet Again, Anti-Circumvention Interferes With Fair Use
Re: blowhards and basement dewllers
Even if your characterizations are accurate or true they have no place or purpose in the discussion. Other than to raise ire in your opponents.
On the post: SF Students Suspended & Barred From Walking At Graduation Because They Joked About Teachers On A Blog
Re: its not the 'isms'
Ideological constructs don't kill people, tyrants do.
On the post: UK Copyright Industries Suddenly Become Fans Of Evidence-Based Policy Making
Re: Mickey Mouse
Additionally there should be different standards between retelling a story or using characters in new ways vs. simply doing a verbatim copy. Copying Homer's Odyssey and telling it as he told it is just copying (even if it is a wonderful performance), But re-telling the story as was done with "O' Brother Where Art Thou" is using stories and characters in new ways.
In today's world Homer would have sued The Coen Brothers, Touchstone and Disney Studios in to the ground over infringement claims.
On the post: A Terrifying Look Into The NSA's Ability To Capture And Analyze Pretty Much Every Communication
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They are certainly far scarier to me than any other terrorists organizations.
On the post: Decades-Old UK Pub 'The Hobbit' Threatened With Legal Action For Infringing On Hobbit IP
Re:
On the post: Thinking Of Copyright As Property Is As Natural As Thinking Of Smells As Property
Re: Re: Copyright isn't property.
On the post: Thinking Of Copyright As Property Is As Natural As Thinking Of Smells As Property
Re:
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