I don't understand why politicians would write a law they all will violate when advocating for their own cause:
a false or deceptive statement designed to influence the vote on either of the following.
Once a news outlet runs a video of them speaking about any topic they care about on national TV (that has to then be streamed on the internet... because this law doesn't single out other channels such as news papers or television)... they will be in violation given that some of these titles are deceptive in themselves (Florida's Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice for example)
But I am sure they didn't consider it used against them. This is one of those laws to use against the populace, since obviously they have evolved to a higher echelon of existence.
How hilarious will it be if Trump uses the data scooped up from EO12333 to 'prove' that Obama was spying on him? I mean, let's be honest, we all know there is stuff in there from him (and likely all of ours as well). It wouldn't take much of a stretch to spin it... But as per usual... the executive order would stay in place and be used and abused by this administration, all hypocrisy somehow flying right over their heads....
Read an interesting comment elsewhere on the internet hypothesizing some of the more egregious examples cites ($4.83 vs $0.00) is more than likely a mis-configurations by DirectTV / AT&T. If this system was created 10-15 years ago, but zip codes were created due to rezoning etc. 5 years ago, they probably have just never been added to the fee database. I work as a developer, so these types of things happen.
It's not like their PR people can say 'hey... that was a mistake on our end. let me fix that for you. Also, thanks for the millions you found we weren't skimming off of people in these zip codes!'
However... I'd bet that is occurring behind the scenes as we speak (I mean, it's 'free' money after all)
I've noticed for the last 5 years that Putin's Russia is condemned by the rest of the world for X and then their immediate response is 'Nuh uh!' and then everyone is so dumbfounded that they would dispute facts, that they end up trying to prove it harder with Russia still saying 'nuh uh'... All plays that have been adopted by Trump as well.
This is unfortunate, but this playbook works. Deny Deny Deny even when you are backed into a corner. Throw out enough propaganda and astroturf in social media channels to derail debate and wait it out... unfortunately our short attention spans will forget and move onto the next outrage starting the cycle over to play out indefinitely :/
"When was the last time that someone was inspired by fair use? "
Um... have you met memes? Could those exist with strong copyright? I don't think so... What about SNL? Parody is a form of fair use. Or how about your LOCAL NEWS COVERING A FACEBOOK STORY?!
I think the better question is:
When was the last time copyright stifled someone's inspiration? *cough* Axanar *cough*
If this were codified in law, would it be easier to have a court weigh in on the constitutionality/legality of these types of requests? I mean, regulation can get slippery (see Trumps Anti-Immigration Executive Order rewrite as an example). If this particular bill were to get passed and then the government sued for overreach would that be an easier solution than the ACLU wrangling with a bunch of different regulations at a bunch of different departments? I'd expect the opinion (regardless of the way it was decided) would be more broad than any opinion about a specific regulation would be.
I really wish more municipalities would do an open access model, or even a Public-Private-Partnership with Google / Ting and give them exclusivity for x years to pay for initial investment. More competition keeps business' honest. Hard to hide below-the-line fees when you know you will upset your users and they'll pick up and go somewhere else.
Personally, that is what should have been done from the start with fiber, rather than letting a single private entity own the entire pipe...
It kills me that these slack-jawed idiots that don't use the internet are the ones in charge of it...
Things that you can't do on 4/1 that you can barely do on 25/3
- Stream Twitch (3 is paltry) - Upload a YouTube Video (still takes a LONG TIME if it is of any size) - Host a website, media server, or video game server at your home - Watch more than 1 4k stream (average US house has 3+ Tvs)
The years of users only 'consuming' data from the internet is over. It is becoming equally important that upload speeds are higher so that an individual can contribute to the internet.
Without proper internet speeds, you are in a backwater thats voice and creativity are stifled because of the hurdles you have to overcome.
These morons (O'Reilly, Pai) are the same dumb apes that think just because the public library has free internet and computers, poor people don't need internet in their homes... yet I've never seen the people making the rules take a public bus an hour each way to have basic access to the internet...
Once Denuvo made the outlandish claim that it was unhackable, they painted a target on their own back.
So at least from one perspective, they were giving the gift of a second 'free' game with each copy they sold! The winner gets bragging rights, and Denuvo's cash cow gets slain... talk about high steaks (sorry, I couldn't help myself).
Just can't wait until the ISPs start giving users the 'option' of buying packages for social networking, gaming, and movies... all with an internet cap a month. Plus don't forget the per-device fees. Want to use your own router? We can't have that... bc... viruses! Think of the children! They are doing it for your own benefit...
2017... the beginning of the end of US Internet Innovation...
What I don't understand is how these companies can bitch about interops when they do nothing to stop it... If Dolby didn't want a 3rd party to integrate, add an authentication layer on top of your API.
Quit litigating because you are lazy or someone is using your system in a way you dislike... If you don't like it...do what our ancestors did and just cut your competitors out with code... not lawsuits.
The entire tech industry has thrived because we have built on top of the foundations of those that have come before us and a live-and-let-live mentality. The further away lawyers are from us, the better. Otherwise you will have to have 3 lawyers for every developer writing software just to cover your own ass to make sure you didn't infringe on someone else's rights....
I really hope that this gets knocked down on anti-SLAPP but I expect that bc of the entire Gawker fiasco, this will be forced to go to trial.... Best of luck Mike and team! You guys are on the right side of history and it will be a shame if a butt-hurt con artist* sinks this amazing ship.
* - please note this is a personal opinion of Shiva given his actions in shaking down a legitimate news organization, not a statement of fact... i do not assert that i know personally whether or not he is a con artist. I don't want your litigious ass-hat of a lawyer to get any ideas...
Anyone know of a platform we can pen an open letter to Wheeler thanking him for giving a damn that people can sign on to? Just thinking it would be a great gesture to show that Americans do in fact care about the policies and protections he tried to erect. Get enough signatures, it might also make the congress critters think twice before they send us back to the dark ages...
Honestly, it is really amazing we are having this conversation given that Wheeler has been the only breath of fresh air that government agency has ever had... I guess my question is what is worse, an agency ran by people who actively work FOR the people they are supposed to enforce, or no agency at all?
It would be interesting to see what would happen if the FCC was completely dismantled and the various parts were to be under the FTC instead. The very nature of the job would mean that the 'enforcers' couldn't be so narrowly picked (ex-telco, telco lobbyists, etc). Could it in fact make things better for consumers?
It is kind of depressing when it takes a regulatory commission a decade to get something off the ground and changed and can be dismantled so quickly...
Welcome back to 1995 and pay-per-minute internet service again guys!
So I was reading this on Ars Technica and the user is suing for 'no damages' other than lawyer fees because of the arbitration agreement that Charter/TWC has. Essentially, if he asked for his money back, he'd be sent to arbitration. But if he sues for 'non-monetary damages', arbitration doesn't apply.
Kinda sneaky but I hope it works. Might be an end-run around these damned arbitration agreements every company tries to put their customers into.
On the post: California Lawmakers Looking To Make Bad Law Worse By Banning 'False' Political Speech
Goodbye Politicians, Too bad you are criminals
I don't understand why politicians would write a law they all will violate when advocating for their own cause:
Once a news outlet runs a video of them speaking about any topic they care about on national TV (that has to then be streamed on the internet... because this law doesn't single out other channels such as news papers or television)... they will be in violation given that some of these titles are deceptive in themselves (Florida's Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice for example)
But I am sure they didn't consider it used against them. This is one of those laws to use against the populace, since obviously they have evolved to a higher echelon of existence.
On the post: Rep. Devin Nunes' Hypocrisy On Display In 'Concerns' Over NSA Surveillance
Semi-Off Topic But Not
On the post: DirecTV's 'Regional Sports Fees' Make No Coherent Sense, Company Won't Explain Why
New Zip Codes + Old DB = Free Fee
It's not like their PR people can say 'hey... that was a mistake on our end. let me fix that for you. Also, thanks for the millions you found we weren't skimming off of people in these zip codes!'
However... I'd bet that is occurring behind the scenes as we speak (I mean, it's 'free' money after all)
On the post: 'Fake News' Now Means Whatever People Want It To Mean, And Legislating It Away Is A Slippery Slope Toward Censorship
Trump is following Putin's Playbook
This is unfortunate, but this playbook works. Deny Deny Deny even when you are backed into a corner. Throw out enough propaganda and astroturf in social media channels to derail debate and wait it out... unfortunately our short attention spans will forget and move onto the next outrage starting the cycle over to play out indefinitely :/
On the post: Former RIAA Executive Attacks Fair Use
Um... have you met memes? Could those exist with strong copyright? I don't think so... What about SNL? Parody is a form of fair use. Or how about your LOCAL NEWS COVERING A FACEBOOK STORY?!
I think the better question is:
When was the last time copyright stifled someone's inspiration?
*cough* Axanar *cough*
On the post: Freshman Representative Serves Up Immigration Bill That Would Make The DHS Do Things It Already Does
Is law easier to fight than regulation?
On the post: Huntsville, Alabama Is Suddenly Awash In Broadband Competition, Showing Why Comcast Is So Afraid Of Municipal Broadband
Open Access FTW
Personally, that is what should have been done from the start with fiber, rather than letting a single private entity own the entire pipe...
...Hindsight and all that....
On the post: FCC Commissioner Thinks Ultra-Fast Broadband Just a 'Novelty'
640K ought to be enough for anyone....
Things that you can't do on 4/1 that you can barely do on 25/3
- Stream Twitch (3 is paltry)
- Upload a YouTube Video (still takes a LONG TIME if it is of any size)
- Host a website, media server, or video game server at your home
- Watch more than 1 4k stream (average US house has 3+ Tvs)
The years of users only 'consuming' data from the internet is over. It is becoming equally important that upload speeds are higher so that an individual can contribute to the internet.
Without proper internet speeds, you are in a backwater thats voice and creativity are stifled because of the hurdles you have to overcome.
These morons (O'Reilly, Pai) are the same dumb apes that think just because the public library has free internet and computers, poor people don't need internet in their homes... yet I've never seen the people making the rules take a public bus an hour each way to have basic access to the internet...
On the post: RIP Denuvo: Resident Evil 7 Cracked In Five Days
Denuvo -- The Game
So at least from one perspective, they were giving the gift of a second 'free' game with each copy they sold! The winner gets bragging rights, and Denuvo's cash cow gets slain... talk about high steaks (sorry, I couldn't help myself).
On the post: FBI Decides It's Finally Time To Do A Terrible Job Of Defending Civil Asset Forfeiture
So literally 1%...
How very charitable of them...
On the post: Netflix May Not Be Worried About The Looming Death Of Net Neutrality, But Startups Should Be God-Damned Terrified
The Cable Bundling of the Internet is looming
2017... the beginning of the end of US Internet Innovation...
On the post: Software Copyright Litigation After Oracle v. Google
Lazy API Writers...
Quit litigating because you are lazy or someone is using your system in a way you dislike... If you don't like it...do what our ancestors did and just cut your competitors out with code... not lawsuits.
The entire tech industry has thrived because we have built on top of the foundations of those that have come before us and a live-and-let-live mentality. The further away lawyers are from us, the better. Otherwise you will have to have 3 lawyers for every developer writing software just to cover your own ass to make sure you didn't infringe on someone else's rights....
On the post: Techdirt's First Amendment Fight For Its Life
With you all the way Mike!
* - please note this is a personal opinion of Shiva given his actions in shaking down a legitimate news organization, not a statement of fact... i do not assert that i know personally whether or not he is a con artist. I don't want your litigious ass-hat of a lawyer to get any ideas...
On the post: FCC Boss Tom Wheeler Resigns, Signaling The Beginning Of The End For Net Neutrality
Open Letter to Wheeler
On the post: UK's Health Secretary Has The Solution To Cyberbullying & Sexting: Nerds Should Nerd Harder
Enough Said...
Someone should forward this to this guy... of course he will probably draw the wrong conclusion from it....
On the post: Every Website Needs To Re-register With The Copyright Office, Who Can't Build A Functioning System
Same Rules Apply...
... just saying...
On the post: Trump Appoints Third Anti-Net Neutrality Advisor To Telecom Transition Team
Would you rather?
It would be interesting to see what would happen if the FCC was completely dismantled and the various parts were to be under the FTC instead. The very nature of the job would mean that the 'enforcers' couldn't be so narrowly picked (ex-telco, telco lobbyists, etc). Could it in fact make things better for consumers?
...Might be an interesting article to research...
On the post: AT&T Tells FCC That Giving Its Own Content An Unfair Market Advantage Is Good For Consumers
A decade to get, a month to remove
Welcome back to 1995 and pay-per-minute internet service again guys!
On the post: Rutgers Lecturer Forcibly Sent For Psych Evaluation By NYPD For Some Tweets About The Election
And the medical bills go to...
We can't be charging that to the public... that would be a waste of taxes...
/s
On the post: Charter Says Its Sneaky, Unnecessary Fees Are A Consumer Benefit
No Fees, No Arbitration
Kinda sneaky but I hope it works. Might be an end-run around these damned arbitration agreements every company tries to put their customers into.
Next >>