If the FTC is allowed to run wild and investigate any shakedown scam, whenever it pleases, the scammers won't make money! Think of how this will hurt the global economy!
The money made by scammers counts towards the GDP and global economic growth. Just as breaking the window of a shop keeper causes the window glass company to make money and grow the economy using money that the shop keeper would not have spent on something else like his heating bill.
> Watching a recording of a concert is a replacement for attending a bad concert.
Um, No.
There is still a visceral perceptual quality to a live performance that cannot be replicated in any known recording format.
A recording of a bad concert is no substitute for attending. The recording simply cannot convey how bad the experience actually was. You should have to suffer the full horror of the live performance like everyone else.
Also pirates should have to suffer through the bad concert, and pay for it, like everyone else who got ripped off.
Have you read: A Letter from 2020? I saw this a long time ago. I'm sure it was over a decade ago. Probably closer to 2000 when the DMCA and other atrocities were being considered.
It's no longer on the web. But here it is on the Wayback.
I'm quoting it here for posterity.
The original web publication of this letter can be found osOpinion.com
Dear Me,
I'm not sure if reading this letter is illegal. I thought it only fair to warn you; it might be better to just destroy it.
The actual writing has been a bit of a chore. Word.NET isn't what it used to be. Even Microsoft.NET couldn't afford to patent everything, so whilst I can do Find, there's no Replace anymore. One good thing about having only one legal operating system is that it's very stable. I'm glad they never update Windows.NET; anyone can live with three or four crashes a day and the hourly rent is less than I pay for my apartment.
I try to remember what it was like when I was a kid but it's really difficult; the world has changed so much since then. I found a paper book the other day that described the rise and fall of something called the "Internet". It started out with people putting up links on computers so that they could follow the link and read things on other computers for free. After it got to be popular, companies started to create machines with lots of links that you could search to find things of interest. But someone put up a link to something illegal and got sued and had their machine shut down. This happened a few times and people started to take the links off their machines. The search engine companies were the first to go and without them, you couldn't find anything. Eventually no one put up links anymore because the legal risk was too great. The important thing is that it reduced terrorism. I'm not sure how it could have worked anyway. Anything I write on my computer or any music I create gets stored by Word.NET and Music.NET in encrypted formats to protect my privacy. No one but me, Microsoft.NET and the National Corporation can read or hear my stuff even if they could link to it.
I shouldn't admit it, but sometimes I go to certain places and speak to the subversives. I know its wrong but their warped views on things have some kind of morbid fascination. For example, I spoke to someone who claimed to be a historian the other day. She had courage all right, admitting to an illegal activity like that. I hadn't understood why it was illegal until she explained. History, she told me, gives you context. You can compare today with some time in the past; ask questions like, "are people better off", "look at the different forms of doing business", "compare corporate records or the rights of citizens" (I think she meant employees).
But what interested her was that future generations will know nothing about us; all our records and art are stored digitally, most of it will simply disappear when no one rents it anymore -- remember the sadness when the last digital copy of Sgt. Pepper was accidentally erased? And the data that does survive will all be encrypted and in proprietary formats anyway -- even if there were historians they'd have no right to reverse engineer the formats. I can vaguely remember that people used to have physical copies of music and films, although I'm not sure how that was possible, or what the point was when we can rent whatever we like from the air interface. I don't think it matters that those who come after us can't read our writings or hear our music or see our films; these things are temporal anyway, if no one rents them then they can't be worth keeping.
The saddest subversive I met claimed to be a programmer. He said that he was writing a program using Basic.NET. He must have been insane. Even if his program worked he wouldn't be allowed to run it. How could one person possibly check every possible patent infringement in a program they wrote? And even if he hadn't infringed he couldn't sell it without buying a compatibility license from Microsoft.NET and who could possibly afford that? He had said something about gippling the software, which apparently means giving it away, but mad as he was, even he knew that under WUCITA that would be illegal.
These subversives really don't seem to understand that a few restrictions are necessary for the sake of innovation. And progress has been made. We don't have spam since most people can't afford an email license due to the expensive patent royalties. Our computer systems all have the same operating system, user interface and applications so everyone knows how to use them, and although they crash and don't work very well, we all know the limitations and can live with them. We have no piracy of intellectual property since we rent it as we want it and have no means of storing it.
It was the USA that showed the world the way of course. First the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, then more and more software patents. The Japanese followed suit. The Europeans were a problem, which is only to be expected, with their anti-business un-Christian socialist tendencies. Fortunately, common sense prevailed, helped along by the good old dollar I've no doubt and they accepted both software patents and a redefinition of copyright to suit global corporations. Once the USA, Japan and Europe had uniform intellectual property laws to protect our corporations and our way of life, everyone else had to play ball or they couldn't trade. The result has been that every algorithm and computer program and every piece of music and film (after all music and film can be put into digital form and are therefore a form of software) have been patented. No more variations on Beethoven (unless you've got the patentees approval). No more amateur participation in music or film which might risk lowering standards. No more challenge to established business and business practices.
I'm crazy to have written I know. But I am so happy in the world and I remember how unhappy I used to be. I wanted to somehow pass back to you the knowledge that its all going to be okay, that the world really is getting better.
Sincerely,
Mark.
Considering the age of this letter, how much of it is coming true?
Now, to the relevant topic at hand. See the first sentence of paragraph 5.
But what interested her was that future generations will know nothing about us; all our records and art are stored digitally, most of it will simply disappear when no one rents it anymore -- remember the sadness when the last digital copy of Sgt. Pepper was accidentally erased?
I have pulled out "A letter from 2020" many times in various conversations because it has addressed many topics, like it does today. Most recently I brought this out in a different forum to mock the idea that music and movies could be patented. (2nd to last paragraph)
RIAA: Hear no evil. I can't hear what you are saying. My fingers are in my ears. And I'm tone deaf. Being tone deaf is a qualification for being an executive in a field having to do with sound.
MPAA: See no evil. I can't see your message. My hands are over my eyes. And I'm blind to things I don't want to see and have limited vision and foresight. Being blind is a qualification for being an executive in a field having to do with motion pictures.
Yes, the NSA already has broad spying powers. And the CIA. Now the DoJ and the FIB want some.
Shouldn't the local Ferguson PD also be allowed to do international hacking in order to determine what other, additional illegal activities a Ferguson MO citizen is engaging in if they are anonymous? The crime of being anonymous online should be more than probable cause.
If Google can somehow magically identify what is and is not infringing, and be ordered to do so by courts, then why can't Microsoft somehow magically identify which emails contain things that are incriminating and could be used as proof of wrongdoing?
Such an email system could be worth a lot. Think of the public good it would do to not waste money prosecuting powerful, well connected people.
(the story may disappear from the front page and apparently "archives" are for "members only")
It's funny how when you're working for the public interest, you can do it out in the open. Even anonymous posters (not trolls) are welcome. When you're working against the public interest, you have to do it in secret, behind closed doors, in dimly lit rooms.
Even if they do lose their position in the next election, they've got a nice cushy seven figure salary job waiting for them. It would have a nice title like oh, say, director of paper clip counting. It would be at some company they previously did a billion dollar favor for which was contrary to the public interest.
Unfortunately, policemen don't understand the costs associated with creating order in a country where laws are considered more than a joke. They want to cheat and not do the arduous and dangerous and responsible job they signed up for.
Thank goodness the TSA is protecting us. That novelty item looks heavy. Imagine how much it could hurt someone if it were thrown at them. A terrorist could hold it in their hand and threaten to throw it at someone, and the passengers and crew would be unable to stop them and at their mercy.
On the post: Despite Its Enthusiasm For Edward Snowden, Switzerland Close To Passing Law To Make Whistleblowing Effectively Illegal
Thank you for blowing the whistle on this!
It's good that someone is blowing the whistle on the fact that whistleblowing will become illegal.
On the post: Patent Troll Told That It Can't Sue The FTC For Merely Investigating Its Shakedown Scam
But think of the economy!
The money made by scammers counts towards the GDP and global economic growth. Just as breaking the window of a shop keeper causes the window glass company to make money and grow the economy using money that the shop keeper would not have spent on something else like his heating bill.
On the post: U2 Claims It's Working With Apple On A New Music Format That 'Can't Be Pirated'
Re: Re:
It's called enhanced interrogation techniques.
The US doesn't torture. It merely inflicts terrible things upon people in order to coerce them to say something, anything, to make it stop.
On the post: U2 Claims It's Working With Apple On A New Music Format That 'Can't Be Pirated'
Re: Re: Re:
Um, No.
There is still a visceral perceptual quality to a live performance that cannot be replicated in any known recording format.
A recording of a bad concert is no substitute for attending. The recording simply cannot convey how bad the experience actually was. You should have to suffer the full horror of the live performance like everyone else.
Also pirates should have to suffer through the bad concert, and pay for it, like everyone else who got ripped off.
On the post: Only Surviving Recording Of The Very First Superbowl Is Because A Fan Recorded It, But You Can't See It, Because Copyright
Re: copyright
Better than a court precedent would be to get this into the copyright law.
If it's not worth saving, then it's not worth protecting.
If it's not worth saving, then you had no reason to believe it advanced the useful arts and science.
On the post: DOJ Proposal Would Let FBI Hack Into Computers Overseas With Little Oversight
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Question
On the post: New Company Transparency Reports Help Quantify DMCA Abuse
Anomalies, all anomalies!
Quantifying the vast, huge number of anomalies.
On the post: Only Surviving Recording Of The Very First Superbowl Is Because A Fan Recorded It, But You Can't See It, Because Copyright
Re: A letter from 2020
It appears to be from 9/18/2000. About 14 years ago TODAY -- a pure coincidence!
On the post: Only Surviving Recording Of The Very First Superbowl Is Because A Fan Recorded It, But You Can't See It, Because Copyright
Re: A letter from 2020
On the post: Only Surviving Recording Of The Very First Superbowl Is Because A Fan Recorded It, But You Can't See It, Because Copyright
A letter from 2020
Have you read: A Letter from 2020? I saw this a long time ago. I'm sure it was over a decade ago. Probably closer to 2000 when the DMCA and other atrocities were being considered.
It's no longer on the web. But here it is on the Wayback.
I'm quoting it here for posterity.
Considering the age of this letter, how much of it is coming true?
Now, to the relevant topic at hand. See the first sentence of paragraph 5.
I have pulled out "A letter from 2020" many times in various conversations because it has addressed many topics, like it does today. Most recently I brought this out in a different forum to mock the idea that music and movies could be patented. (2nd to last paragraph)
On the post: FTC Goes After Yelp Because Yelp Has The Audacity To Let Kids Use Its App
What did you expect?
The FTC has to look like it is busy.
So who is it going to pick on?
Definitely not on big companies doing seriously bad things.
Does Yelp buy and sell, and collect and trade legislators with their friends like big companies? No?
On the post: New Study Confirms: Internet Is Contributing To Massive Profit Levels At Legacy Entertainment Firms
The RIAA's and MPAA's response . . .
MPAA: See no evil. I can't see your message. My hands are over my eyes. And I'm blind to things I don't want to see and have limited vision and foresight. Being blind is a qualification for being an executive in a field having to do with motion pictures.
On the post: DOJ Proposal Would Let FBI Hack Into Computers Overseas With Little Oversight
Re: Re: Re: Re: Question
On the post: DOJ Proposal Would Let FBI Hack Into Computers Overseas With Little Oversight
Re: Re: Question
Shouldn't the local Ferguson PD also be allowed to do international hacking in order to determine what other, additional illegal activities a Ferguson MO citizen is engaging in if they are anonymous? The crime of being anonymous online should be more than probable cause.
On the post: After 2-Year-Old Emails Detailing Impropriety Surface, Los Angeles School Board Votes To Limit Retention To One Year
Better than destroying emails by date
Such an email system could be worth a lot. Think of the public good it would do to not waste money prosecuting powerful, well connected people.
On the post: Intellectual Property Maximalist Lobbying Group Proposes A New Trademark SOPA (Plus Girl Scout Badges...)
It's funny
On the post: Internet Slowdown Day Generated 1,000 Calls Per Minute To Congress
Re: Re:
On the post: Cop To Cameraman: 'If You're Invoking Your Rights, You Must Be Doing Something Wrong'
Re: Eliminating variables
On the post: Skies Safer Than Ever After TSA Prevents Passenger From Boarding Flight With Cartoonish Novelty 'Bomb'
Re: Re: That item is dangerous
Or fell out of the aircraft when it was flushed in the lavatory.
On the post: Skies Safer Than Ever After TSA Prevents Passenger From Boarding Flight With Cartoonish Novelty 'Bomb'
That item is dangerous
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