If you read the article, it says that the patent was applied for in 2009 (several years after prior art), and only issued in 2012, which is hardly rushed.
Quite aside from the issue of when this was applied for and granted, the thing that bothers us regulars on Techdirt is that it is very apparently yet another "doing something obvious (on the internet)" type patent, which really wrecks the whole point of any kind of "I invented it" defence. Just call it "I was first to apply for a licence for monopoly to gouge" and be done with!
Don't forget the big corporations can be as 'evil', so both should be kept in check. The plus point with the government, though, is that they are somewhat responsive to the ballot box...
I was going to say something about the innocent party being locked up in Guantanamo as well, but then I realised the whole point of Gitmo is counter to national and international law anyway.
Let's see. On the one hand, blowing up a pharmaceutical plant in one country.
On the other, invading two countries, one on totally made-up 'evidence' and causing untold deaths and misery, and monumentally cocking up both of those wars as badly as the afore-mentioned Vietnam. Plus invading some other sovereign nations in previous administrations just for the fun of it.
Remind me, which is worse for sheer nastiness, Right or Left?
The question is, who is it 'legal' to use this WTO-authorised service? Anyone in the world but Americans, or even Americans? Because if it is the latter, that will really rankle the MAFIAA. And their bosom buddies, the US State Department/DOJ/ICE.
Yes but the US is being as quick to label this as 'piracy' as the MAFIAA are to label file-copying as 'theft'. It all stems to the same problem, and the same bad actors.
That's not the story, especially not if it had been a consenting adult. We don't know for sure if this guy would have even taken it any further, given the chance. The problem here specifically is the pulling of the investigation and effectivelly allowing him to get off with it scot-free, especially when (non-police/politicans/rich people) get massively over-prosecuted for nothing, or things that should be civil matters.
Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jan 30th, 2013 @ 7:25am
This is hardly a 'victimless' crime. He was angling towards committing a crime - it just happened to be an undercover agent. That doesn't suddenly make it 'ok'.
You have to be able to have some lower limit. If that limit is 'flexible' when the offender is of similar age, that's one thing, but a grown adult will need lower limits which are hopefully based on some idea of what may emotionally or physically harm that child. The government doesn't just pull that number out of nowhere - these ages are reasonably consistent over the western world (although some of the largest variations seem to be between US states). And this guy not only knows the law well, but is supposed to be enforcing it and 'protecting' people like this girl, so is extra-super hypocritical and despicable.
Re: Re: Re: This is why I have a poor opinion of cops in general.
Does it make a difference whether sexual abuse was homosexual in nature?
The problem with 'proving' anything was precisely the amount of covering up and even hostility to apparent victims that the church has shown. And this is an organisation that supposedly prides itself on its 'moral' stances on many issues. So it has to be seen to not only fair and open, but harder on its own that 'stray' - or lose what credibility it has - and in some catholic countries, even it has.
On the post: Copyright Boss: 'It's Great Mechanics Now Need To Know About Copyright'
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Teri Buhl Responds To Our Story; Still Confused About The Internet And The Law
Re: Re: Freedom of the press
Might as well suggest that the 2nd Amendment only applies to late-18th Century muskets - not that it wouldn't be a fun idea! ;)
On the post: Teri Buhl Responds To Our Story; Still Confused About The Internet And The Law
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Teri Buhl Responds To Our Story; Still Confused About The Internet And The Law
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Translated statement:
On the post: Patent Troll Says It Owns Podcasting; Sues Adam Carolla, HowStuffWorks
Re:
Quite aside from the issue of when this was applied for and granted, the thing that bothers us regulars on Techdirt is that it is very apparently yet another "doing something obvious (on the internet)" type patent, which really wrecks the whole point of any kind of "I invented it" defence. Just call it "I was first to apply for a licence for monopoly to gouge" and be done with!
On the post: Obama Administration Considers Joining Publishers In Fight To Stamp Out Fair Use At Universities
Re: Re: Re: It is 2013
On the post: Dangerous: European Courts Considering Requiring Search Engine Filters Over Embarrassing Content
Re: Re: Congratulations!
On the post: Dangerous: European Courts Considering Requiring Search Engine Filters Over Embarrassing Content
Re: Someone should really add this...
On the post: Copyright As Censorship: Birth Blogger Fight Goes Legal Over DMCA Abuse
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: EU VP On Aaron Swartz: If Our Laws Hold Back Benefits From Openness, We Should Change Those Laws
Re: European Commission for openness?-)
On the post: 'Defendant' In Prenda Law Case Reveals He Agreed To Take A Dive
Re: Re:
On the post: Prenda's Latest Trick: Pretend There Are NO Defendants So No One Can Object
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Truly Stupid Ideas: Adding DRM To HTML5
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: US Still 'Warning' Antigua That It Better Not Set Up Piracy Hub, Even As WTO Gives Approval
Re: Re:
On the other, invading two countries, one on totally made-up 'evidence' and causing untold deaths and misery, and monumentally cocking up both of those wars as badly as the afore-mentioned Vietnam. Plus invading some other sovereign nations in previous administrations just for the fun of it.
Remind me, which is worse for sheer nastiness, Right or Left?
On the post: US Still 'Warning' Antigua That It Better Not Set Up Piracy Hub, Even As WTO Gives Approval
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: US Still 'Warning' Antigua That It Better Not Set Up Piracy Hub, Even As WTO Gives Approval
Re:
On the post: Police Department Rewards Officer Caught By An Online Pedophile Sting With Full Retirement Benefits
Re: Big deal
On the post: Police Department Rewards Officer Caught By An Online Pedophile Sting With Full Retirement Benefits
Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jan 30th, 2013 @ 7:25am
On the post: Police Department Rewards Officer Caught By An Online Pedophile Sting With Full Retirement Benefits
Re: Re: And we will never know...
On the post: Police Department Rewards Officer Caught By An Online Pedophile Sting With Full Retirement Benefits
Re: Re: Re: This is why I have a poor opinion of cops in general.
The problem with 'proving' anything was precisely the amount of covering up and even hostility to apparent victims that the church has shown. And this is an organisation that supposedly prides itself on its 'moral' stances on many issues. So it has to be seen to not only fair and open, but harder on its own that 'stray' - or lose what credibility it has - and in some catholic countries, even it has.
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