Why should they have to pay for the damages of Sony having it's PSN hacked? Isn't there some exception in insurance contracts if the party had it coming?
This was a period when a lot of music executives thought they could still take advantage of black artists, since they'd been doing so for years with blues, jazz and R&B musicians.
But enough time had passed and the Civil Rights Act had made artists realize that they weren't just living on a plantation any more and could assert themselves as businessmen on equal footing with the white executives who made a living preying on them in the past.
Today, with P Diddy and JayZ and others becoming the big executives themselves, black artists are not as afraid as they once were.
But even taking race out of it entirely, there's just no reason for the big record/publishing companies to exist any more. Why do I need Sony or BMG or whoever just to listen to music? I can go directly to the artist.
I would be happy if every major record label (and movie studio) disappeared tomorrow.
An "app store" is any store that sells apps. And "app" is a short way to say "application".
App Store, App Store, App Store, App Store.
There is a Google App Store, an Android App Store (a few, actually) and you could even call GameStop an app store because games are apps and GameStop sells them.
Apple can kiss my ass. By the way, most every produce stand sells apples, including macintoshes. I have a macintosh that I wear when it rains. Macintosh macintosh macintosh macintosh. I'm even pissed that Firefox's spellchecker is underlining lower case "macintosh" because they are assuming that it refers to the arrogant and despicable company that is using their lawyers to bully people and puts their products behind a walled garden.
I think ChromeOS could be a lot more than just for laptops for low income folks.
One of the things that keeps me from carrying a laptop or tablet everywhere is the expense and worry about breaking or losing it. Sometimes, I just don't need games or fancy touch screens, but give me a $50 tablet that'll do email and surf the web and I'll give you dozens of situations where I don't currently take my technology that I'd take one of those. Even, (or especially), with a cheap resistive touch screen.
Just keep your data plan to yourself. I have no need for another contract in my life, thanks very much. Wi-Fi only.
But there is definitely a moral argument for supporting the artists whose work you appreciate and consume.
I hope the people reading this article can understand the important distinction. I'm a little bit bothered by the tone of the argument because in its effort to balance the rhetorical scales it makes it seem like the purpose of art is progress. That's not exactly right, either.
Copyright may have had a purpose, but it no longer does. That doesn't mean the reasons copyright was originally put in place are no longer operative. They are as important as ever, but copyright is not the appropriate mechanism.
If those graphs are all accurate, then the cancer rate should not have spiked around Chernobyl.
I know I'm swimming against the "nukes are safe as milk" tide here, but I bet in 1950 you could have produced similar charts about why smoking is not really dangerous. But those were times when we weren't as scientifically sophisticated as we are today. Right?
While I would just as soon see the entire Hollywood film industry go down in flames, I have a question about one premise in this article:
How is a Hollywood studio supposed to "actually making the overall experience better in ways that can't be pirated" for a medium like DVD or BluRay? What can they possible deliver with the DVD that a pirate can't?
Say what you will about Tim and Eric, but Adult Swim has provided me with some of my best entertainment over the past few years. From Squidbillies to Superjail to Metalocalypse and ATFH (now Carl's Lock of the Centry (of the Week)) I have spent many an enjoyable hour over at Adult Swim Fix.
I've recently read a book, Makers by Cory Doctorow which contains as a significant plot point an up-to-date take on the Gillette "blades and razor" concept. I wouldn't dare give away anything, but Cory too seems to believe that old story about Gillette is off-the-mark.
In Makers he seems to say that if you provide a product that people use and enjoy using, you'll be really successful even if cheaper knock-offs come along.
I tend to agree. Looking at my own buying patterns, I seem to become very loyal to companies who make products that really deliver. On the other hand, when a company that I previously trusted starts to have some rather questionable practices (for example, Apple and their walled garden and other issues) I tend to react like a jilted lover with a great deal of resentment. For example, if there's a company whose products I loved and I found out they were doing something I found objectionable (say the quality dropped or they started really limiting my choices) I will not only stop buying from that vendor, but I'll make a point of letting other people know about my resentment. That's how a once-Sony-lover could become a Sony-hater or a once-Apple-lover could become an Apple hater.
In other words, note to corporations: Don't worry about tricky strategies to get people to part with their money. Just make really good products and don't do evil stuff. Simple route to success.
On the post: Sony's Insurer Says It Shouldn't Have To Pay For Cost Of PlayStation Network Hack
I'll accept that
Why should they have to pay for the damages of Sony having it's PSN hacked? Isn't there some exception in insurance contracts if the party had it coming?
On the post: The Latest Attempt By The Obama Administration To Punish Whistleblowers
Re: Re: Don't forget that all the leaks were about the Bush administration.
On the post: George Clinton Explains How Bridgeport Allegedly Faked Documents To Get His Music Rights
End of the line
But enough time had passed and the Civil Rights Act had made artists realize that they weren't just living on a plantation any more and could assert themselves as businessmen on equal footing with the white executives who made a living preying on them in the past.
Today, with P Diddy and JayZ and others becoming the big executives themselves, black artists are not as afraid as they once were.
But even taking race out of it entirely, there's just no reason for the big record/publishing companies to exist any more. Why do I need Sony or BMG or whoever just to listen to music? I can go directly to the artist.
I would be happy if every major record label (and movie studio) disappeared tomorrow.
On the post: Apple Threatens Wireless Industry Group For Daring To List Out Other App Stores
flood the 'net
App Store, App Store, App Store, App Store.
There is a Google App Store, an Android App Store (a few, actually) and you could even call GameStop an app store because games are apps and GameStop sells them.
Apple can kiss my ass. By the way, most every produce stand sells apples, including macintoshes. I have a macintosh that I wear when it rains. Macintosh macintosh macintosh macintosh. I'm even pissed that Firefox's spellchecker is underlining lower case "macintosh" because they are assuming that it refers to the arrogant and despicable company that is using their lawyers to bully people and puts their products behind a walled garden.
On the post: Newspapers Finally Realizing They Don't Have To Use Apple's High Priced Payment Offering, Or Locked Down App Store
shame
On the post: Google's Internal Collision Course: Chrome vs. Android
Re:
One of the things that keeps me from carrying a laptop or tablet everywhere is the expense and worry about breaking or losing it. Sometimes, I just don't need games or fancy touch screens, but give me a $50 tablet that'll do email and surf the web and I'll give you dozens of situations where I don't currently take my technology that I'd take one of those. Even, (or especially), with a cheap resistive touch screen.
Just keep your data plan to yourself. I have no need for another contract in my life, thanks very much. Wi-Fi only.
On the post: The Massive Complexity Of Copyright Demonstrated In A Simple Question: Can Don Draper Make A Cameo In My Novel?
Are you kidding?
The way the intellectual property laws are going, you may not be able to even have a character named "Don" in your novel any more.
I think the most rational response to the perversion of intellectual "property" laws is to ignore them entirely.
Then, elect different leaders. And when the leaders you elect take money from the Content-Industrial Complex, fight to have them removed from office.
On the post: If You're Arguing That Someone 'Deserves' Copyright, Your Argument Is Wrong
Hold on
But there is definitely a moral argument for supporting the artists whose work you appreciate and consume.
I hope the people reading this article can understand the important distinction. I'm a little bit bothered by the tone of the argument because in its effort to balance the rhetorical scales it makes it seem like the purpose of art is progress. That's not exactly right, either.
Copyright may have had a purpose, but it no longer does. That doesn't mean the reasons copyright was originally put in place are no longer operative. They are as important as ever, but copyright is not the appropriate mechanism.
On the post: DailyDirt: Don't Just Give People Numbers... Draw Charts?
um
I know I'm swimming against the "nukes are safe as milk" tide here, but I bet in 1950 you could have produced similar charts about why smoking is not really dangerous. But those were times when we weren't as scientifically sophisticated as we are today. Right?
On the post: Conde Nast Sent $8 Million To A Scammer After A Single Email
Re: Re: Wait...
On the post: Next Generation 'Piracy': Piracy Goes 3D
spy vs spy
How is a Hollywood studio supposed to "actually making the overall experience better in ways that can't be pirated" for a medium like DVD or BluRay? What can they possible deliver with the DVD that a pirate can't?
On the post: David Guetta: The Way To Beat 'Piracy' Is To Give Your Music Away Free
No Big Deal
He'll make his dough as a producer for some big pop divas and that's good enough.
He's right about free content, though. But in his case, you do get what you pay for.
On the post: Monster Cable Issues Yet Another Bogus DMCA Notice To A Search Engine
Solution
On the post: Should Superhero Superpowers Be Considered Property?
Same old story
Next time, I stay in my alter-ego until I get a signed pre-nup.
On the post: Dark Helmet's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week...
OK...
On the post: Rethinking Bullying: Kids Don't See It As Bullying
Re:
"Not enough bullying" means you probably were one.
Don't worry, the thing I've learned is that the ones that were bullies in school turn out to become someone else's doormat when they get older.
On the post: Glenn Beck Not A Fan Of Fair Use; Claims US Gov't Paying Remixers To Create Anti-Beck Propaganda
Re: What if Glen Beck is Right
You're sounding as paranoid as he is. Do you believe that any criticism equals an "effort to silence"?
On the post: Italy Demands Apple Remove Joke iTunes App; Starts Legal Action Against App Author
amazing
I'd say it seems pretty arbitrary, but I'm sure Apple had a perfectly swell reason to reject Stone and Parker's app.
Not.
On the post: Once Again, Social Mores Come To Play In Spat Between SNL & Adult Swim Over Tiny Hats Sketches
Adult Swim is Go
I do enjoy Children's Hospital, too.
On the post: The Myth Of Razors And Razor Blades
interesting fictional interpretation
In Makers he seems to say that if you provide a product that people use and enjoy using, you'll be really successful even if cheaper knock-offs come along.
I tend to agree. Looking at my own buying patterns, I seem to become very loyal to companies who make products that really deliver. On the other hand, when a company that I previously trusted starts to have some rather questionable practices (for example, Apple and their walled garden and other issues) I tend to react like a jilted lover with a great deal of resentment. For example, if there's a company whose products I loved and I found out they were doing something I found objectionable (say the quality dropped or they started really limiting my choices) I will not only stop buying from that vendor, but I'll make a point of letting other people know about my resentment. That's how a once-Sony-lover could become a Sony-hater or a once-Apple-lover could become an Apple hater.
In other words, note to corporations: Don't worry about tricky strategies to get people to part with their money. Just make really good products and don't do evil stuff. Simple route to success.
Next >>