Since the FCC also recently ruled states can't bar local municipal broadband builds, this ruling seems to coincide with the possible increase in competition from a city perspective, will change can occur.
As it stands now, PK is correct, but throw in municipal broadband, and the landscape changes significantly.
Yes, this was a case where Disney was arguing in favor of a stronger public domain, odd as that may be.
Fair enough, until Disney makes an animated movie with catchy songs over this case, promptly locking the "toy shooter" under copyright protection for the end of time + 70 years.
The reasoning behind the argument has nothing to do with the ruling, which is purposely designed to enforce the notion drivers are employees, which puts Uber/Lyft under federal guidelines to force them into spending more of their money for things such as health insurance (which I'm sure Uber/Lyft exceeds the 50 employee minimum).
With this expenditure, it's just a matter of time before the service goes belly up, especially if other states take the same actions.
That is the entire purpose of the ruling - to stop innovation.
Years ago, I was taught there were members of a society who despised how their government was working. When journalists tried to give the people of that society the corruption and violation of freedoms the government was imposing, they, too, were called out (if not executed).
Many started to realize these journalists were telling the truth. Fearing their lives and liberties, they huddled up and decided to bail on this utopia and settle a new one.
Soon, this utopia formed a new name, calling itself the United States of America.
Those who fail to learn from history are surely doomed to repeat it.
Anyone ever notice, regardless where in the world a person is, the more freedoms a person has to speak their minds, the more governments control that speech?
Democratic countries seem to be the worst, all the while pointing fingers how Communism is the worst. One of these days, someone will sit down and realize, "Hey, we're acting just like they are! Maybe we should scale back our own personal fears."
On second though, in looking at past history, this is obviously a task far too complicated for an intelligent species.
Oh dear! This post would likely put Techdirt in the line of fire... if it weren't in the US.
I remember the days I was forced to stay away from my television set because I'd fry from the inside out and go blind.
It didn't happen then, and I'm pretty confident a device much smaller and emitting less "radiation" will do any more harm than that old television of ours (the floor console, for those aging readers who fondly remember them).
"Once we empower Americans to believe our sites are secured with https, we'll quietly enable the golden keys so which we can easily see their traffic."
There's no way in hell the US Government provides encryption to Americans without a way to break it.
99% of the time I'm linked to the site, there's either a copyright notice, user terminated for too many copyright notices, or this idiotic muting crap.
YT has done its very best to ensure there's no reason to visit the site anymore.
Take this advice, site owners: stop linking to YT. If you can't copy/host the video yourself, don't waste the time of your users.
I'm going to get this off my chest now, just so there's no confusion: I don't dislike you. What I dislike is this misconception of what Microsoft was intending to do as though it were a fact. Because as I read your opinions, I only see you failed to take the time to listen.
Microsoft never had the chance to confirm or deny what the automatic check in would do. The entire issue was blown out of proportion when rumors first hit that the new console would require an internet connection all day.
This was squashed when it was reported the internet was needed for a once-a-day check-in, but rather than wait and see, the gaming audience instantly went into the assumption mode of "games can't be played if check-in failed."
Here's what Microsoft did say: -Gamers could install a game and play it without the need of the disk in the tray. DRM prevents this
-Gamers could buy a game and give it to another user. DRM prevents this
-Gamers could share their game with anyone on their friends list, even if the friend doesn't have the game. DRM prevents this
-Gamers will have the opportunity to sell back their games. DRM prevents this
Everything spouted by angry gamers made the internet connection the focal point without actually listening to a goddamn word said.
The kicker: To this day, the XBox One requires an internet connection before the console can be used.
It's unfortunate we will never know how Microsoft intended to distribute the new digital system, all because "required" was translated to "can't do shit" without justification.
To be fair, there are some valid complaints about a console which doesn't have full-time (everyday, not 24 hours) access to the internet, but Microsoft was never given a chance to address those points.
That's the issue I have with your position, Tim. Now you "sarcastically" (hard to tell with you) state Steam is finally giving refunds, but this is still shit compared to what Microsoft had in store.
Come back to us when Steam announces the ability to sell back those old games people don't play anymore.
All in all, this backlash ultimately ended with one result: MICROSOFT RESTORED THE DRM IT EFFECTIVELY TRIED TO REMOVE.
All it asked for in return was a daily check in.
Good luck trying to get a refund from Steam without an internet connection, DRM or not. If Steam can't wipe that game from your PC, you're shit out of luck on a refund.
PS: In regard to the "high" remark (was that sarcastic too?), I don't think anyone expected full price for the game. Hell, when was this ever possible? Even if the most it gave back was $10, that's still better than nothing.
Because once you take the game out of the equation, all you have is a service that credits and sells and Microsoft (et al) would still come ahead.
This isn't news to celebrate, though I can see why some people would feel differently.
As a reminder, the article was written by Timothy Geigner, the same person who ripped into Microsoft about its XBox One console, decrying how "it's DRM". Steam uses DRM, so I'd like to know what gives between the differences of its use.
What most people didn't hear, because they were too busy screaming at the top of their lungs with fingers firmly placed in their ears, was Microsoft was going to allow people to sell their digital games.
When this becomes news, and I don't care what service offers it first, then we'll have something to celebrate.
Getting a refund on a digital purchase should have been a day-0 option. It should have been known by service providers and game publishers not every purchase is worth the price (but shovelware sells!).
Alas, looks like we'll have to wait again until someone breaks the de-facto service SoP and offers users the ability to sell their purchased digital goods.
So, any bets on how long it'll take the DoJ to enter the NSA's offices and smash their computers to ensure all those programs aren't going to be used again?
Yeah, that would be a sucker bet, wouldn't it.
Anyone who believes this law will limit the NSA's ability to continue collecting "metadata" is fooling themselves.
All this law did was to ensure the information isn't used in cases where "terrorists" are captured, hindered, blocked, killed, etc, etc.
That $3 billion facility would be worthless if they followed the law.
I'd like to know why the FCC/DoJ/FTC have taken this long to finally realize what consumers have been saying for decades is now true.
While it's great these entities are starting to fight for consumers, the billions made make any fines laughable. $800 million? Against a company with earnings over $7 billion a year? Waste of time.
The FCC/DoJ/FTC should do to Comcast what it forced AT&T to do given their monopoly power: break up the business. Force Comcast into the roles of content provider, ISP, and communications provider.
By doing this, only then will true competition be readily available for consumers. By allowing any single company to own it all, everyone but the company suffers for it.
On the post: FCC Gives Cable Industry Just Enough Rope To Hang Itself
Since the FCC also recently ruled states can't bar local municipal broadband builds, this ruling seems to coincide with the possible increase in competition from a city perspective, will change can occur.
As it stands now, PK is correct, but throw in municipal broadband, and the landscape changes significantly.
On the post: Will Corporate Sovereignty Disputes Lead To Wars One Day?
What this lesson has taught Russia, and the world indirectly, is that doing business in the global market isn't going to be worth it.
Corporate Sovereignty is just another example of abuse ready to occur, with "courts" doing favors because they'll get a stake at being used.
It's like arbitration: no one wins but the corporations.
Here's to hoping the eyes around the world open up to see what this means for everyone.
On the post: Supreme Court Quotes Spiderman's 'Great Power, Great Responsibility' Line In Rejecting Royalties On Expired Patent
Fair enough, until Disney makes an animated movie with catchy songs over this case, promptly locking the "toy shooter" under copyright protection for the end of time + 70 years.
And nobody lived happily ever after.
On the post: Germany Says You Can't Sell Adult Ebooks Until After 10 PM
On the post: California Labor Commission Declares Uber Driver An Employee, Rather Than A Contractor
With this expenditure, it's just a matter of time before the service goes belly up, especially if other states take the same actions.
That is the entire purpose of the ruling - to stop innovation.
On the post: Designer Knockoff Enthusiast Issues DMCA Notice Targeting Half The Internet, Fails To Remove A Single URL
Everyone who files a DMCA notice is "crazy person has keyboard".
On the post: Stewart Baker: Journalists Are To Blame For Making The NSA Look Like It's Doing All The Things It's Actually Doing
Years ago, I was taught there were members of a society who despised how their government was working. When journalists tried to give the people of that society the corruption and violation of freedoms the government was imposing, they, too, were called out (if not executed).
Many started to realize these journalists were telling the truth. Fearing their lives and liberties, they huddled up and decided to bail on this utopia and settle a new one.
Soon, this utopia formed a new name, calling itself the United States of America.
Those who fail to learn from history are surely doomed to repeat it.
In short: Stewart Baker is an idiot.
On the post: Huge Loss For Free Speech In Europe: Human Rights Court Says Sites Liable For User Comments
Democratic countries seem to be the worst, all the while pointing fingers how Communism is the worst. One of these days, someone will sit down and realize, "Hey, we're acting just like they are! Maybe we should scale back our own personal fears."
On second though, in looking at past history, this is obviously a task far too complicated for an intelligent species.
Oh dear! This post would likely put Techdirt in the line of fire... if it weren't in the US.
For now.
On the post: Everyone's An Agent: UK Company Provides Spy Software To Teachers To Weed Out Child Terrorists
Radical.
Does the new definition include the phrase "two way street"?
On the post: Sun-Owning Lady Sues eBay Because They Wouldn't Let Her Sell 'Plots' Of 'Land' On 'Her' Sun
Couldn't resist.
On the post: Wireless Carriers Sue Over Berkeley's Cell Phone Radiation Warnings
I remember the days I was forced to stay away from my television set because I'd fry from the inside out and go blind.
It didn't happen then, and I'm pretty confident a device much smaller and emitting less "radiation" will do any more harm than that old television of ours (the floor console, for those aging readers who fondly remember them).
On the post: Bell Exec Urges Public To Shame Users Who 'Steal' Netflix Content Via VPNs
Instead, we see another executive who is clearly incapable of relating to the people.
The day companies start enforcing non-VPN connections is the day I stop being their customer.
Perhaps then, they'll get the point.
On the post: US CIO Orders All .Gov Websites To Require Encrypted Connections, Amazon Enters The Secure Cert Space
"Once we empower Americans to believe our sites are secured with https, we'll quietly enable the golden keys so which we can easily see their traffic."
There's no way in hell the US Government provides encryption to Americans without a way to break it.
On the post: YouTube Silences Six Hours Of DARPA Robotics Finals... Because Of One Song Briefly In The Background
YT has done its very best to ensure there's no reason to visit the site anymore.
Take this advice, site owners: stop linking to YT. If you can't copy/host the video yourself, don't waste the time of your users.
On the post: The Future Is Now: Steam Finally To Allow Refunds On Digital Purchases
Re: Re:
I'm going to get this off my chest now, just so there's no confusion: I don't dislike you. What I dislike is this misconception of what Microsoft was intending to do as though it were a fact. Because as I read your opinions, I only see you failed to take the time to listen.
Microsoft never had the chance to confirm or deny what the automatic check in would do. The entire issue was blown out of proportion when rumors first hit that the new console would require an internet connection all day.
This was squashed when it was reported the internet was needed for a once-a-day check-in, but rather than wait and see, the gaming audience instantly went into the assumption mode of "games can't be played if check-in failed."
Here's what Microsoft did say:
-Gamers could install a game and play it without the need of the disk in the tray. DRM prevents this
-Gamers could buy a game and give it to another user. DRM prevents this
-Gamers could share their game with anyone on their friends list, even if the friend doesn't have the game. DRM prevents this
-Gamers will have the opportunity to sell back their games. DRM prevents this
Everything spouted by angry gamers made the internet connection the focal point without actually listening to a goddamn word said.
The kicker: To this day, the XBox One requires an internet connection before the console can be used.
It's unfortunate we will never know how Microsoft intended to distribute the new digital system, all because "required" was translated to "can't do shit" without justification.
To be fair, there are some valid complaints about a console which doesn't have full-time (everyday, not 24 hours) access to the internet, but Microsoft was never given a chance to address those points.
That's the issue I have with your position, Tim. Now you "sarcastically" (hard to tell with you) state Steam is finally giving refunds, but this is still shit compared to what Microsoft had in store.
Come back to us when Steam announces the ability to sell back those old games people don't play anymore.
All in all, this backlash ultimately ended with one result: MICROSOFT RESTORED THE DRM IT EFFECTIVELY TRIED TO REMOVE.
All it asked for in return was a daily check in.
Good luck trying to get a refund from Steam without an internet connection, DRM or not. If Steam can't wipe that game from your PC, you're shit out of luck on a refund.
PS: In regard to the "high" remark (was that sarcastic too?), I don't think anyone expected full price for the game. Hell, when was this ever possible? Even if the most it gave back was $10, that's still better than nothing.
Because once you take the game out of the equation, all you have is a service that credits and sells and Microsoft (et al) would still come ahead.
On the post: The Future Is Now: Steam Finally To Allow Refunds On Digital Purchases
As a reminder, the article was written by Timothy Geigner, the same person who ripped into Microsoft about its XBox One console, decrying how "it's DRM". Steam uses DRM, so I'd like to know what gives between the differences of its use.
What most people didn't hear, because they were too busy screaming at the top of their lungs with fingers firmly placed in their ears, was Microsoft was going to allow people to sell their digital games.
When this becomes news, and I don't care what service offers it first, then we'll have something to celebrate.
Getting a refund on a digital purchase should have been a day-0 option. It should have been known by service providers and game publishers not every purchase is worth the price (but shovelware sells!).
Alas, looks like we'll have to wait again until someone breaks the de-facto service SoP and offers users the ability to sell their purchased digital goods.
Bets on who does it first?
On the post: President Obama Forgets To Thank Edward Snowden For Surveillance Reform
Yeah, that would be a sucker bet, wouldn't it.
Anyone who believes this law will limit the NSA's ability to continue collecting "metadata" is fooling themselves.
All this law did was to ensure the information isn't used in cases where "terrorists" are captured, hindered, blocked, killed, etc, etc.
That $3 billion facility would be worthless if they followed the law.
On the post: Lawyer Stupidly Sues EFF For Defamation After It Called His Stupid Patent Stupid
On the post: Comcast Was So Incredibly Full Of Crap During Its Merger Sales Pitch, The Government Is Considering Additional Punishment
Re: And it's neck and neck
On the post: Comcast Was So Incredibly Full Of Crap During Its Merger Sales Pitch, The Government Is Considering Additional Punishment
While it's great these entities are starting to fight for consumers, the billions made make any fines laughable. $800 million? Against a company with earnings over $7 billion a year? Waste of time.
The FCC/DoJ/FTC should do to Comcast what it forced AT&T to do given their monopoly power: break up the business. Force Comcast into the roles of content provider, ISP, and communications provider.
By doing this, only then will true competition be readily available for consumers. By allowing any single company to own it all, everyone but the company suffers for it.
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