"That's all these Microsoft policies mean. It's just kind of unfortunate that the legal language around them also grants them tinfoil hat conspiracy level powers, too."
Are you really arguing that we should ignore rule #1 of contracts? What counts is what they say, not what they "mean".
Perhaps things have changed, but every outdoor r/c bird that I've purchased has included a sheet summarizing the laws and a link to where you can find a more complete version.
There are a few important differences. One is that most software patents are actually patents on algorithms -- something which is supposed to be nonpatentable.
Another is that the software world advances so quickly that the lifespan of a patent ends up accomplishing the opposite of what a patent is supposed to do.
Another is that the patent office is absolutely awful determining what a software patent is actually patenting and whether or not the patent is valid and being infringed.
But, for me, it's a matter of results: software patents have made software development nothing more than a crapshoot with the odds stacked against the developer. You cannot write nontrivial software that is free of infringement, and you cannot determine in advance what might be infringing and what is not. You have to wait for the lawsuit to put you out of business.
"How many years were they able to spy on the world without anyone being the wiser before Snowden??"
Zero.
Snowden didn't reveal anything that wasn't already pretty well known or very strongly suspected. What Snowden did that hadn't been done before was to present unequivocal proof.
Re: Re: Taylor Swift was right in total, not just "narrowly". -- Garth Brooks rong or wright is irrelevant to her.
It's bob. He believes that the only people who should be able to make money by engaging in activities that involve other people's work are major corporations that he likes.
Well, sure, but the same people are also the ones quick to slap all kinds of wrong and libelous labels on people they disagree with. That's a different thing that actually being charged with treason.
On the post: Microsoft Launches Special 'Scott McNealy' Edition Of Windows
Re: I don't know
Clearly this is a matter of opinion. In my opinion, Cortana is spyware that should be avoided at all costs.
On the post: Microsoft Launches Special 'Scott McNealy' Edition Of Windows
Re: Re:
Are you really arguing that we should ignore rule #1 of contracts? What counts is what they say, not what they "mean".
On the post: Microsoft Launches Special 'Scott McNealy' Edition Of Windows
Re: Re: Microsoft helps out the NSA
My recommendation: if you're running Win 8, upgrade to 10. If you're running Win 7, stay there.
On the post: Github Nukes Repository Over Use Of The Word 'Retard'
Makes me glad
On the post: David Cameron Wants To Shut Down Porn Sites Because Kids Are Clever Enough To Defeat Age Restrictions
Re: Re: #1 Trick of stage magicians:
With only slightly more accuracy than just asking the user if they're 18 or not. And with a large helping of security risk.
On the post: Daily Deal: Top Deals Of The Month
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: TPP Will Override Five Years Of Democratic Discussion About Software Patents In New Zealand
Re: NZ have no software industry anyway
Another is that the software world advances so quickly that the lifespan of a patent ends up accomplishing the opposite of what a patent is supposed to do.
Another is that the patent office is absolutely awful determining what a software patent is actually patenting and whether or not the patent is valid and being infringed.
But, for me, it's a matter of results: software patents have made software development nothing more than a crapshoot with the odds stacked against the developer. You cannot write nontrivial software that is free of infringement, and you cannot determine in advance what might be infringing and what is not. You have to wait for the lawsuit to put you out of business.
On the post: Taylor Swift's Streaming Rant Nearly Identical To Garth Brooks' Used CD Rant
Re: Re: Re: Re: Lets examine this
This is me, too.
On the post: Wikileaks Latest Info-Dump Shows, Again, That The NSA Indeed Engages In Economic Espionage Against Allies
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Zero.
Snowden didn't reveal anything that wasn't already pretty well known or very strongly suspected. What Snowden did that hadn't been done before was to present unequivocal proof.
On the post: 4th Amendment Lives: Court Tells US Government Get A Warrant If It Wants Mobile Phone Location Info
Re: There's a waterproof phone?
On the post: Taylor Swift's Streaming Rant Nearly Identical To Garth Brooks' Used CD Rant
Re: Why do Apple, Spotify, and Pandora even exist? -- Because get high profits being a gatekeeper.
This is not true at all. There are a lot of artists who are making a living this way. In fact, those are the only musicians I give money to.
On the post: Taylor Swift's Streaming Rant Nearly Identical To Garth Brooks' Used CD Rant
Re: Re: Taylor Swift was right in total, not just "narrowly". -- Garth Brooks rong or wright is irrelevant to her.
On the post: Yes, German Authorities Are Pushing Treason Charges Against Netzpolitik For Publishing Surveillance Plans
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Yes, German Authorities Are Pushing Treason Charges Against Netzpolitik For Publishing Surveillance Plans
Re:
On the post: Study Of Spain's 'Google Tax' On News Shows How Much Damage It Has Done
Re:
On the post: Everyone's A Bad Guy: German Regulator Orders Facebook To Drop Its Stupid 'Real Name' Policy
Re:
You apparently don't actually think there's nothing wrong with this, since your comment is all about condemning Techdirt for expressing that opinion.
On the post: Everyone's A Bad Guy: German Regulator Orders Facebook To Drop Its Stupid 'Real Name' Policy
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Google To French Regulators Looking To Expand 'Right To Be Forgotten' Globally: Forget About It
Re: This is what the EU wants
On the post: New Zealand Prime Minister Admits Drug Prices Will Rise Under TPP -- Leaves Out The Part About More People Dying
Re: Re: US citizens pay more
The US government is legally barred from engaging in that sort of collective bargaining.
On the post: Feds Hand Out Funds To Be Used For 'Traffic Safety;' Local Agencies Buy License Plate Readers Instead
Re: better use for the funds
Next >>