Amen. My reasoning comes from Stephen Kinsella's discussion. He noted that for one small time, Sweden didn't have a patent system.
And innovation flourished. People spent more time on inventions than huddling into an office to try to prove they needed a patent.
I bet if you actually took away the notion that copyright produced more works (when it clearly hinders the market through confusing contract law and economic good sense) you would have even more content created than what is being produced now.
That way, we can get into the real problems of industry... Namely how the NSA is about to start spying on us in Sep 2012 and how Google is selling us out on that info.
Your comments here and elsewhere have changed in tenor significantly, and now appear to be the norm directed to anyone and everyone who happens to say something that upsets your ideological apple-cart.
Nope but your comments have always been very much arrogant and focused on ridicule. I'm just calling you out for being full of it as always.
I have no idea what your relationship, if any, is with the pharmaceutical industry. Based upon your comments I assume it is quite limited. Perhaps you should work within that industry and gather first hand data at the source.
No shit I don't work in the industry. You glide right by someone talking to you, as always, to make some miniscule point about how they need first hand information, when they have the same information right in front of you. I highly doubt you've looked at the data or you would have posted it. I highly doubt that you looked at the economic advantages of a patent, instead opting for your cryptographic bullshit on how your comments are so much better than others.
How about backing that up with some facts, then your argument has validity. Until then, you're still full of shit.
So you're still full of shit even though there's been many articles on this site and abroad showing how profiteering from a patent monopoly leads to very high prices on drugs that are used to save lives.
Then you have the premmie drub Makena that shot up from $10 to $1500 for no reason other than a monopoly was granted.
Your anecdotal bullshit is unfounded and not true, as always. How about coming back with some actual research instead of "trust me, this is true" when obviously it's not?
The MPAA, on the other hand, regularly made up claims out of thin air -- such as the supposed 2.2 million people this would effect. The industry employs less than 400,000, and many of them have nothing to do with the copyright/royalties side of the business.
Chris Dodd used this as recently as the Attorney General meeting and I'm still amazed that he's gotten away with it. No one has had a public debate with him and this 2.2 million jobs number. It's beyond ridiculous. Also, these "industries" don't create, nor do they represent creator interests. That's the problem here. I look at these people and *all* of them represent gatekeepers who have no interest in what people want. They don't know how to enable access, merely limit progress. We need to remove the bottle out of their mouths and let them cry it out. No more government teat. If they want to have a "rational discussion" it's time for them to recognize that no one is interested in their spoiled temper tantrums.
And I for one know that I'm voting out the politicians that enable them.
The US doesn't. The problem is that AT&T essentially owns the market on landlines, kills small businesses, and we're left with four major choices for cell phones in the US.
So if you want actual good service, you'll have to take your phone elsewhere. It kind of sucks but we need to fix that 2006 ruling that allows AT&T along with TWC not to share DSL lines.
The part that should really infuriate people? I'm pretty sure that whatever money is lost on this ridiculous scheme will be received in tax savings for the business. So they will complain aboutabout consumers not wanting to deal with this money scam, but them not learn about what the market actually wants.
But I have to keep it real and honest about Valve. They do some things wrong. They quickly make up for it while doing what the community wants.
They have dedicated servers for people to buy at cheeap rates. This means that even if you're an evil douchebag player, you get to see more ads because you're a negative externality elsewhere.
If you're a good player that gives to the community in a number of ways, they give you free weapons.
If you create weapons, you have ways to be supported by the Steam community if you put up a good design that the community enjoys.
Basically, what they've done is build a community of people that add value to the game. Sure, it's four years old. But to the people playing Valve games, they've serviced it so that the community continues to support the games, the personalities, and the players who have found tremendous value in keeping the game going.
Of course, there are still downsides... But as a Valve fanboy, let's ignore those while I gleam the good side of a great company. :)
I wasn't trying to refute your statement. I was adding to it. But I would say that they are more cunning, if anything. Doesn't take much to look at the at the tax code and make loopholes.
I wasn't trying to refute your statement. I was adding to it. But I would say that they are more cunning, if anything. Doesn't take much to look at the at the tax code and make loopholes.
No, I'm pretty sure the rules of bankruptcy weren't followed. CEO pays have been getting very outrageous, paying the CEOs for failing in their job. It's the same as saying Mitt Romney is going to do a great job as president because his background is in "business."
He wouldn't know what the free market if it bit him on the ass. The problem with Bain Capital is that it relies on tax loopholes in federal laws to make money.
The leveraged buy-out firm will put down a fraction of the cost of buying an ailing company. The balance of the transaction is borrowed, but the debt goes onto the books of the target company, not the private equity firm – the struggling company basically finances the lion's share of its own sale.
The target company's debt payments increase significantly, and those debt payments are then written off, reducing its tax burden significantly. This subsidy increases short-term revenues – at the expense of long-term debt – and that, in turn, is paid out in dividends to Bain's investors and a fat stream of management fees that Romney and his partners skimmed off the top.
To get back on topic, there are CEOs that will cause a company to fail intentionally. But the company will lay off workers and make sure to pay the CEO even though their direction lead to the failing of the company. It's quite ridiculous, but even judges (as my previous post in this section can attest) will allow these rules instead of reject them for the business failing.
This has been going on since the 70s. But if you want to see bankruptcy bonuses, the reporters at the WSJ have the best story about how disproportionate it is.
I'd like to add to this by stating I've been looking at the DoJ's budget requests for 2013. It's quite disturbing that more attention isn't being paid to what the DoJ is asking for.
Look at the prisoners and detentions and you'll see the problem that I see with their requests:
$8.6 billion for federal prisons and detention
--$141.2 million in Program Increases (4.5% increase from 2012)
--$223.9 million in prison and detention adjustments to maintain current services
-- $141.2 million for program increases to ensure prisoners are confined in secure facilities and to improve prisoner reentry
$6.8 billion to Bureau of Prisons
4.1% increase ($268.9 million) from 2012
But of course, the devil is in the details. As I looked at the budget request, I saw two new prisons being opened as well as $22 million dollars for 210 correctional officers.
Even to me that seems quite exorbitant and there's been nothing discussed about how out of touch our laws are to other countries. Also consider that prison guards make more than those with Harvard degrees. We've put so much money into detentions that something has to give.
Now let's get to the actual prisons:
$55.5 million
activation of two prisons, U.S. Penitentiary Yazoo City, MS (1,216 beds), and FCI Hazelton, WV (1,280 beds)
$25.8 million to procure 1,000 new contract beds
$59.9 million in program increases - federal detention to pay for increases in the average daily detainee population and inflationary increases for detention related costs.
This is the aspect that I saw that was most puzzling and I doubt many lawmakers would notice it.
They're activating two new prisons, and procuring 1000 new beds. Last I checked, beds in prison were not Tempur-pedic. So they pay for extra expenses such as transport and gas... But what happens to the extra funds? Why does each bed cost $25,800 for each prison mate?
And why is our government itching to put more people in jail even though there is so little return on investment? Well, the big return is to the private prisons industry. Arizona has had story after story about the prisons. But it's not alone. The same story keeps playing out about how crony capitalism has taken over and those in charge don't represent the people's interest. Hell, even judges have gotten involved!
The point here is that the DoJ is overreaching by a lot. They're requesting money they don't need to and there is a ton of evidence that the money will be used to expand on all forms of law, make more people guilty before being found innocent and imprison people such as Anonymous to punish them for victimless crimes with mandatory sentencing.
This isn't justice that law enforcement is looking for.
It's a plutocratic system that is going to war with America's citizens.
On the post: Tim K's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
And innovation flourished. People spent more time on inventions than huddling into an office to try to prove they needed a patent.
I bet if you actually took away the notion that copyright produced more works (when it clearly hinders the market through confusing contract law and economic good sense) you would have even more content created than what is being produced now.
That way, we can get into the real problems of industry... Namely how the NSA is about to start spying on us in Sep 2012 and how Google is selling us out on that info.
On the post: Tim K's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Nope but your comments have always been very much arrogant and focused on ridicule. I'm just calling you out for being full of it as always.
I have no idea what your relationship, if any, is with the pharmaceutical industry. Based upon your comments I assume it is quite limited. Perhaps you should work within that industry and gather first hand data at the source.
No shit I don't work in the industry. You glide right by someone talking to you, as always, to make some miniscule point about how they need first hand information, when they have the same information right in front of you. I highly doubt you've looked at the data or you would have posted it. I highly doubt that you looked at the economic advantages of a patent, instead opting for your cryptographic bullshit on how your comments are so much better than others.
How about backing that up with some facts, then your argument has validity. Until then, you're still full of shit.
On the post: Tim K's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week
Re: Re: Re:
The Cost of new drugs is vastly overrated.
And it seems particularly insidious that the FDA bans drugs that have been on the market for decades because a company wants a monopoly.
Then you have the premmie drub Makena that shot up from $10 to $1500 for no reason other than a monopoly was granted.
Your anecdotal bullshit is unfounded and not true, as always. How about coming back with some actual research instead of "trust me, this is true" when obviously it's not?
On the post: NCAA Goes Backwards On Streaming The Basketball Tournament
On the post: MPAA Exec: Only We Can Make Content That People Want
Still using misinformation
Chris Dodd used this as recently as the Attorney General meeting and I'm still amazed that he's gotten away with it. No one has had a public debate with him and this 2.2 million jobs number. It's beyond ridiculous. Also, these "industries" don't create, nor do they represent creator interests. That's the problem here. I look at these people and *all* of them represent gatekeepers who have no interest in what people want. They don't know how to enable access, merely limit progress. We need to remove the bottle out of their mouths and let them cry it out. No more government teat. If they want to have a "rational discussion" it's time for them to recognize that no one is interested in their spoiled temper tantrums.
And I for one know that I'm voting out the politicians that enable them.
On the post: AT&T Threatens To Cut Off Phone Service For Guy Who Beat Them In Small Claims Court Over Throttling
Re: I'm confused
So if you want actual good service, you'll have to take your phone elsewhere. It kind of sucks but we need to fix that 2006 ruling that allows AT&T along with TWC not to share DSL lines.
On the post: AT&T Threatens To Cut Off Phone Service For Guy Who Beat Them In Small Claims Court Over Throttling
Re:
On the post: AT&T Threatens To Cut Off Phone Service For Guy Who Beat Them In Small Claims Court Over Throttling
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: AT&T Threatens To Cut Off Phone Service For Guy Who Beat Them In Small Claims Court Over Throttling
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Does Anyone Who Develops New Products In Hollywood Ask 'Would I Ever Actually Use This?'
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Thinking Of Copyright As Property Is As Natural As Thinking Of Smells As Property
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Does Anyone Who Develops New Products In Hollywood Ask 'Would I Ever Actually Use This?'
Frustration 9001
On the post: Thinking Of Copyright As Property Is As Natural As Thinking Of Smells As Property
Re:
On the post: Megaupload Negotiating To Let US Gov't Officials (And Everyone Else) Retrieve Their Legit Files That Were Taken Down
Re:
On the post: Valve's Comprehensive Strategy Shows How To Go From Fee To Free... And Increase Revenue Twelve-fold
Re:
But I have to keep it real and honest about Valve. They do some things wrong. They quickly make up for it while doing what the community wants.
They have dedicated servers for people to buy at cheeap rates. This means that even if you're an evil douchebag player, you get to see more ads because you're a negative externality elsewhere.
If you're a good player that gives to the community in a number of ways, they give you free weapons.
If you create weapons, you have ways to be supported by the Steam community if you put up a good design that the community enjoys.
If you do things such as the Female Scout update, they love you long time.
Basically, what they've done is build a community of people that add value to the game. Sure, it's four years old. But to the people playing Valve games, they've serviced it so that the community continues to support the games, the personalities, and the players who have found tremendous value in keeping the game going.
Of course, there are still downsides... But as a Valve fanboy, let's ignore those while I gleam the good side of a great company. :)
On the post: NYT Pays Former CEO $24 Million To Go Away; The Paper Made $3 Million Total Over The Last 4 Years
Re: Re: Re: Gotta give her some credit...
On the post: NYT Pays Former CEO $24 Million To Go Away; The Paper Made $3 Million Total Over The Last 4 Years
Re: Re: Re: Gotta give her some credit...
On the post: NYT Pays Former CEO $24 Million To Go Away; The Paper Made $3 Million Total Over The Last 4 Years
Re: Gotta give her some credit...
He wouldn't know what the free market if it bit him on the ass. The problem with Bain Capital is that it relies on tax loopholes in federal laws to make money.
Mitt Romney used "leveraged buy-outs" which is explained as thus:
The leveraged buy-out firm will put down a fraction of the cost of buying an ailing company. The balance of the transaction is borrowed, but the debt goes onto the books of the target company, not the private equity firm – the struggling company basically finances the lion's share of its own sale.
The target company's debt payments increase significantly, and those debt payments are then written off, reducing its tax burden significantly. This subsidy increases short-term revenues – at the expense of long-term debt – and that, in turn, is paid out in dividends to Bain's investors and a fat stream of management fees that Romney and his partners skimmed off the top.
To get back on topic, there are CEOs that will cause a company to fail intentionally. But the company will lay off workers and make sure to pay the CEO even though their direction lead to the failing of the company. It's quite ridiculous, but even judges (as my previous post in this section can attest) will allow these rules instead of reject them for the business failing.
On the post: NYT Pays Former CEO $24 Million To Go Away; The Paper Made $3 Million Total Over The Last 4 Years
Re: Re: Early but expensive pullout reward
This has been going on since the 70s. But if you want to see bankruptcy bonuses, the reporters at the WSJ have the best story about how disproportionate it is.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
Addition to Rich's assessment
2013 Budget
Look at the prisoners and detentions and you'll see the problem that I see with their requests:
This seems like a bit much to ask for when crime rates are still falling by the FBI's standards.
But of course, the devil is in the details. As I looked at the budget request, I saw two new prisons being opened as well as $22 million dollars for 210 correctional officers.
Even to me that seems quite exorbitant and there's been nothing discussed about how out of touch our laws are to other countries. Also consider that prison guards make more than those with Harvard degrees. We've put so much money into detentions that something has to give.
Now let's get to the actual prisons:
This is the aspect that I saw that was most puzzling and I doubt many lawmakers would notice it.
They're activating two new prisons, and procuring 1000 new beds. Last I checked, beds in prison were not Tempur-pedic. So they pay for extra expenses such as transport and gas... But what happens to the extra funds? Why does each bed cost $25,800 for each prison mate?
And why is our government itching to put more people in jail even though there is so little return on investment? Well, the big return is to the private prisons industry. Arizona has had story after story about the prisons. But it's not alone. The same story keeps playing out about how crony capitalism has taken over and those in charge don't represent the people's interest. Hell, even judges have gotten involved!
The point here is that the DoJ is overreaching by a lot. They're requesting money they don't need to and there is a ton of evidence that the money will be used to expand on all forms of law, make more people guilty before being found innocent and imprison people such as Anonymous to punish them for victimless crimes with mandatory sentencing.
This isn't justice that law enforcement is looking for.
It's a plutocratic system that is going to war with America's citizens.
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