I am planning to buy Techdirt. I'm going to fire that Masnick guy and turn it into a location check-in service that will blow Foursquare and Facebook out of the water.
If Techdirt misreports this news, they will be hearing from my lawyers.
Influence behavior rather than cover budget shortfalls
I live in downtown Washington DC, right near the new Target that went in a year or so ago. Parking can be bad around here, and we don't have a reserved parking space, so parking for residents is something I have thought a lot about.
I'm okay with aggressive enforcement of parking violations and changing free spots to pay spots, but only if the end goal is to encourage more socially beneficial behavior. It is quite clear that DC treats parking as a source of revenue rather than an opportunity to promote the public transportation system or encourage walking.
If we think about the money that free parking is costing us, then I think we're already down the wrong path. I agree with many of the above who state that it's not "lost" money, it's just used somewhere else. What we're really losing is the opportunity to improve quality of life in our highly populated areas.
I would gladly pay more to park if it meant that more people left the car at home, choosing instead to bike or walk or take the bus/subway. I realize that's not always possible, but when it is, it should be encouraged.
Either way, this looks like a "Steve Dallas" lawsuit, where they're going after the wrong party because it's easier, and because that party has deeper pockets.
Apparently, the company Georgia Pacific makes the EnMotion brand of paper towel dispensers for restrooms -- and includes a contractual provision that those used will only use EnMotion brand paper towels.
Isn't this a contractual issue, not a trademark one? I agree that it does seem like a pretty absurd reading of trademark law, but it also seems like a clear contract violation, so unless the contract is illegal, why aren't they pursuing that?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The rise of the part-time creator
The book publishing industry has had its chance to learn from the music industry, who got hit first by digital distribution. For the most part, they're making the same mistakes as music did.
At the same time, just like in music, I think we're better off with a ton of authors making a decent living rather than a bunch of writers with second and third jobs plus a few rock stars.
I know, blame Android. It wouldn't let me uncapitalize.
But, yeah, I see your point, and how it would be funnier without my response, but then you were wrong in thinking the capitalization was a grammatical mistake rather than an overzealous auto-correct, so I had to set the record straight.
I'm a bit torn. I think it would set a very bad legal precedent if trademark law were applied to ticker symbols. However, this is clearly designed to mislead, and there is a reasonable expectation that a somewhat unintelligent person in a bit of a rush would be confused.
Then again, there is so much information on these funds readily available online that anyone not doing the tiny bit of research required to clear up the confusion probably deserves to lose their money.
Clearly Polo will sue the model, as well, for wearing their shirt on a day when she might be photographed for an unauthorized album cover which might be reprinted on blogs like Techdirt. They'll get Google, too, for returning your comment on a search for "polo logo lawsuit".
If I know that I am liable and sue you anyway, then you should get legal fees reimbursed. If I am suing to determine liability, then you don't get anything (aside from whatever you are due as the injured party).
In this case, as far as I can tell, he had a patent that Netflix was violating. He had every right to sue, and Netflix doesn't deserve anything. But, like I said in another comment, I didn't click through beyond the Techdirt article, so there might be more to it that I'm not taking into account.
I agree that it may end up with a positive outcome, but I don't think the ends justify the means here.
The guy may not even have known how obvious it was. He wasn't a programmer or anyone involved in Netflix's innovation process. He was a patent attorney.
But what this does is place liability on a guy who has done nothing but be a jerk. He followed the law. He's under no obligation to promote the progress and the general well-being of society. The error was by the patent office, so that is where we should place the blame.
If he was granted the patent, doesn't he have every legal right to sue? Sure, it makes him a schmuck, but shouldn't the liability be placed on the patent office for issuing the patent on something that was obvious?
I had no idea there was a different kind of Smarties outside the US. You can get the chocolate ones on Amazon, but only 24 packs for $43. I'm not spending that much just to satisfy my curiosity.
Next time I'm in a country that has the chocolate Smarties, I'm going to give my money to Nestle. Nice job, Ce De Candy.
I'm not a lawyer, so I could be totally making this up, but I thought setting up a dummy company just to shield yourself from illegal activity was a way bigger deal than stealing someone's intellectual property.
On the post: Dear Hans Pandeya: Buying A Website Involves More Than Just Saying You're Going To Buy It...
Re: Re: Related news
On the post: Dear Hans Pandeya: Buying A Website Involves More Than Just Saying You're Going To Buy It...
Related news
If Techdirt misreports this news, they will be hearing from my lawyers.
On the post: Professor Says News Should Get Special 24 Hour Protections So No Aggregator Can Link To It
Don't underestimate human ingenuity
The only "problem" is that the someone is unlikely to be one of the incumbents.
On the post: Is Free Parking Costing Us Billions?
Influence behavior rather than cover budget shortfalls
I'm okay with aggressive enforcement of parking violations and changing free spots to pay spots, but only if the end goal is to encourage more socially beneficial behavior. It is quite clear that DC treats parking as a source of revenue rather than an opportunity to promote the public transportation system or encourage walking.
If we think about the money that free parking is costing us, then I think we're already down the wrong path. I agree with many of the above who state that it's not "lost" money, it's just used somewhere else. What we're really losing is the opportunity to improve quality of life in our highly populated areas.
I would gladly pay more to park if it meant that more people left the car at home, choosing instead to bike or walk or take the bus/subway. I realize that's not always possible, but when it is, it should be encouraged.
On the post: If You Don't Get The Matching Brand Paper Towel Out Of A Dispenser In A Restroom... Is That Trademark Infringement?
Re: Wrong lawsuit?
On the post: If You Don't Get The Matching Brand Paper Towel Out Of A Dispenser In A Restroom... Is That Trademark Infringement?
Wrong lawsuit?
Isn't this a contractual issue, not a trademark one? I agree that it does seem like a pretty absurd reading of trademark law, but it also seems like a clear contract violation, so unless the contract is illegal, why aren't they pursuing that?
On the post: Which Is Better: A Tiny Number Of Creators Hitting The Jackpot... Or Many Making A Living Wage?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The rise of the part-time creator
At the same time, just like in music, I think we're better off with a ton of authors making a decent living rather than a bunch of writers with second and third jobs plus a few rock stars.
On the post: Newsweek Insists People Don't Do Stuff For Free... And Then Shows Why People Do Stuff For Free
Re: Re: Re: Re:
But, yeah, I see your point, and how it would be funnier without my response, but then you were wrong in thinking the capitalization was a grammatical mistake rather than an overzealous auto-correct, so I had to set the record straight.
On the post: Newsweek Insists People Don't Do Stuff For Free... And Then Shows Why People Do Stuff For Free
Re: Re:
On the post: From Magazines To Restaurants... Conde Nast Licensing Magazine Names For Restaurants
license?
On the post: US Copyright Group Caught Red Handed Copying Competitor's Website
Intentional Streisanding?
On the post: Are Investment Ticker Symbols Covered By Trademark Law?
Designed to confuse
Then again, there is so much information on these funds readily available online that anyone not doing the tiny bit of research required to clear up the confusion probably deserves to lose their money.
On the post: Vampire Weekend Sued Because Photographer Might Have Falsified Model Release
Re: Nospam@nospam.com
On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Misplaced liability
In this case, as far as I can tell, he had a patent that Netflix was violating. He had every right to sue, and Netflix doesn't deserve anything. But, like I said in another comment, I didn't click through beyond the Techdirt article, so there might be more to it that I'm not taking into account.
On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?
Re: Re: Misplaced liability
On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?
Re: Re: Misplaced liability
The guy may not even have known how obvious it was. He wasn't a programmer or anyone involved in Netflix's innovation process. He was a patent attorney.
But what this does is place liability on a guy who has done nothing but be a jerk. He followed the law. He's under no obligation to promote the progress and the general well-being of society. The error was by the patent office, so that is where we should place the blame.
On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?
Misplaced liability
On the post: Amazon Sued For Selling Smarties
Now I want some foreign Smarties
Next time I'm in a country that has the chocolate Smarties, I'm going to give my money to Nestle. Nice job, Ce De Candy.
On the post: Captain Cyborg Has A Virus-Infected Sidekick... But Nothing Can Stop A PR Campaign
Do I detect a hint of jealousy?
On the post: Software Buyers Not Liable For Trade Secrets In Compiled Source Code
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A little troubling
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