Why Should Artists be Immune From Technolgcal Progress?
Technological progress affects us all. As one of the cartoons above notes, buying a printed book has put a scribe out of work. But technology progress has also affected secretaries, steel workers, auto-workers, longshoreman etc. The loss of these jobs and the resulting devastation to the workers income in the face of technological progress has not raised the same outpouring of outrage. Instead of adapting to change the RIAA and the MPPA use technological progress as a means to turn artists into victims who deserve "welfare" from society. If content can't be profitably created too bad. In a free market system adapt or go-out-business.
According to Entertainment & Stars: Music sales continue downward slump. According to the story, album sales totaled 326.2 million in 2010. That means that each CD sold (assuming RIAA involvement) contributed $0.036 to the lobbying effort. (I assume that the RIAA may get money from other sources too.)
May not be a big deal now, but if sales continue to decline and the RIAA increases its lobbying budget this "tax" could become a major drag on sales.
The article also states: "This is the fourth straight year that music sales in the US have shown a downward trend.". At least the article made no gratuitous unsupported accusation of piracy as the reason for the decline in sales.
Government (local, State, Federal) should consider alternatives to Microsoft, especially LINUX. Most people seldom use features beyond word processing and spreadsheets.
In the era of huge deficit spending free software should be considered a viable option.
""Creator" economies, whether persons choose to believe it or not, do, in my view, require, inter alia, a relatively stable and predictable body of law under which investment decisions can be made."
Once again the concept of a "predictable body of law" is misapplied. In a free market competition should be based on providing the best product for the consumer. The law should not be used to restrict the availability of competitive products. Furthermore, investors should not be protected by the law, it is their responsibility to evaluate the competitive environment and to evaluate their risk.
What is perhaps most absurd concerning the "predictable body of law" for so-called "intellectual property" concerns the quantity of lawsuits. The quantity of lawsuits concerning "infringement" essentially proves that the law is NOT predictable. Furthermore, that the law is subject to capricious subjective interpretation. That hardly meets the definition of "predictable".
I vaguely remember an incident where a reporter asked an actress(?) why she wore some awful dress. Her response, "It is better to be noticed than not." Gary Larson is in the same predicament. His works on internet keep his work "alive". It is free publicity.
Not only that some people who would not otherwise know of Larson's work (absence of expensive publicity) may buy his work. Just think, fans through their work, generate free publicity that will potentially reach a market of 6 billion people!
Really there are two parts to this discussion. Not only are we teaching China how to be good patent trolls, but we are giving them the money, through our deficit spending, to acquire our so-called "intellectual property".
Companies shrilly proclaim with loud bullhorns how they need "freedom" to provide customers with things the customers wants. Yet, we seem to have an unending parade of stories, such as this one (search discrimination), exposing the true meaning of corporate "freedom", which really translates into market manipulation.
Anecdotally, it seems that lawyers just spew out massive amounts of garbage similar to using a shotgun. No real effort is made to actually do professional work. The recent example of robo signing in the foreclosure mess would be one example. Recently Bank of America foreclosed on some people who were apparently current on their mortgages.
Do you know what is really appalling. Kmart goes bankrupt, comes out of bankruptcy and is then able to "buy" Sears!!!!! Someone was playing a financial game. To bad there was no smoking gun that I know of. I suspect this would make for a really good story for an investigative reporter. Hint Hint Hint.
Quite right: "to be useful logic must be rooted in reality" We seem, as a nation, to have lost our contact with reality and our entitlement mentality means that there has to be a deep-pocket that must be sued for damages since any problem that I am experiencing is obviously their fault.
Since we seem to be on an out of control convoluted logical feedback loop, I wonder when our whole society will eventually become paralyzed into inaction because of a penultimate logical conundrum.
Will copyright holders, based on their lawyers advice, begin sending DCMA take-down notices to themselves and also suing themselves for damages? Seems only logical.
An emerging trend, companies frustrating other companies from selling products? Recently Time-Warner and Netflix entered into an agreement to delay the release of DVD rentals. The free market is supposed to be about delivering product to the consumer through competition. Now we have Apple attempting to influence E-Bay auctions.
PS: The "correct: solution? Apple buys all the figurines.
Well, if you can patent a play off system, what about the plays themselves?
I am just astounded that Football coaches have been able to innovate plays without the innovation provided by patents. Fortunately we have a mechanism that will stop coaches form thinking without a patent. A vibrant patent system is critical to football.
"Why is it always the biggest proponents of greater copyright that get caught infringing on copryights?"
It not just copyright. Those at the top seem to believe that the law or concept does not apply to them.
Innovation, or whatever, comes from numerous sources. Those who may be the loudest proponents of so-called "intellectual property" may think that they are being original but not realizing that they are "stealing" until an obscure previously unknown person somewhere pulls out some tattered piece of paper asserting infringement and slaps it in their face.
Laws are advertised as solving certain issues, such as teenagers downloading music. So those who pass the law and who may also be downloading music themselves may not make the connection that they are just as guilty as the teenager until exposed.
Power breeds arrogance, those in power -because they may control a government or corporation - may believe that they are immune from any repercussions.
The US Position on so-called intellectual property is following a traditional sociological curve. When "young" companies and countries tend to be innovative, aggressive, and not too concerned with the status-quo. As companies and society mature they begin to be more concerned with protecting what they have (property rights).
At a certain point (an inflection point) is reached in the curve where "protection" outweighs "growth". Fat dumb and happy. I guess you could call that "old age". After reaching "old age", its all about using acquired "power" to prevent the upstarts from "stealing" what you have acquired. It seems that "old age" has descended on the US since the US is now more concerned with protecting its "turf" rather than promoting progress and free-trade.
The interests of the State and the Corporations are one and the same. There are actually many definitions for Corporatism.
This is also a case of beware of what you sow. When other countries develop "strong" so-called intellectual property rights they will be demanding that we pay-up.
Also what happens should we are no longer be the 800 pound guerrilla of so-called intellectual property? We, (the US) will be forced to pay the foreign corporations. We will have an even greater international deficit trade balance.
It may not be tomorrow, but "encouraging" other nations to have "strong" so-called intellectual property rights will eventually make us a third world nation.
Day after day, hour after hour, you finally end up not really looking. I imagine there is also a certain amount of "expediting" the searching with long lines of people anxious to get through.
Besides being ineffectual, this type of "security" is expensive. I was at at an airport where we had to wait for the ticket agents, the TSA folks were just standing around. When the airline ticket agents finally showed up we had to stand in line for them, the TSA agents just ambled about. Finally getting through the airline ticket agents, we lined up to go through the TSA line. The airline ticket agents; they were standing around. Waiting in line TWICE, that's American efficiency!!!
"The Commander factor considers a leader's wisdom, aptitude, sincerity, courage, and ability to inspire.
Figuratively, the President is the Nation's leader. Realistically the Nation's "leader" is an amalgam of the President, Senate, House, Supreme Court, and lobbyists. The Nation's virtual "leader" suffers from severe case of Schizophrenia that has essentially paralyzed our ability to formulate solutions to long standing problems such as balancing the budget and repairing the tax code. Not to mention the emergence of paranoia and a bunker mentality that emphasizes "security" over courage. (Hunkering down as opposed to taking the offense) Given this paralysis; countries such as Iran and North Korea feel empowered to blow-us-off and other countries such as China can out-compete us simply because we are stuck in the starting gate. Given this deplorable state of affairs, what country would really be inspired to follow our "leader".
Furthermore, if our esteemed virtual fearless-leader had any wisdom, sincerity, and courage; Wikileaks would be a non-issue.
Why support a charity that excludes men. Are men expendable?
Yes men can get breast cancer. Yes charities have a right to benefit a specific group. But lets get some equal time.
On the post: Mimi & Eunice: Ye Olde Technologie Killing Culture, Scribes
Why Should Artists be Immune From Technolgcal Progress?
On the post: RIAA Spent $90 Million In Lobbying The US In The Past Decade
The CD "Contribution"
May not be a big deal now, but if sales continue to decline and the RIAA increases its lobbying budget this "tax" could become a major drag on sales.
The article also states: "This is the fourth straight year that music sales in the US have shown a downward trend.". At least the article made no gratuitous unsupported accusation of piracy as the reason for the decline in sales.
On the post: Judge Blocks Gov't From Upgrading Email System To Microsoft In Google Lawsuit
About Time
In the era of huge deficit spending free software should be considered a viable option.
On the post: China's Patent Strategy Isn't About Innovation; It's An Economic Weapon Against Foreign Companies
Re:
Once again the concept of a "predictable body of law" is misapplied. In a free market competition should be based on providing the best product for the consumer. The law should not be used to restrict the availability of competitive products. Furthermore, investors should not be protected by the law, it is their responsibility to evaluate the competitive environment and to evaluate their risk.
What is perhaps most absurd concerning the "predictable body of law" for so-called "intellectual property" concerns the quantity of lawsuits. The quantity of lawsuits concerning "infringement" essentially proves that the law is NOT predictable. Furthermore, that the law is subject to capricious subjective interpretation. That hardly meets the definition of "predictable".
On the post: Dear Gary Larson: Your Kids Go Out At Night; Let Them Be
To be Noticed or Forgotten?
Not only that some people who would not otherwise know of Larson's work (absence of expensive publicity) may buy his work. Just think, fans through their work, generate free publicity that will potentially reach a market of 6 billion people!
On the post: China's Patent Strategy Isn't About Innovation; It's An Economic Weapon Against Foreign Companies
The US is Digging its Own "Grave"
Back in October I wrote: Chinese Wrests Supercomputer Title From U.S. and China and US Fiscal Responsibility
Also there is a very interesting U-Tube video: "The Professor"
This video, like the Hitler parodies, has also been embellished by many. One Example: "The Professor Thanks the Corporations"
On the post: Expedia Against 'Search Discrimination'... Unless It Gets To Do The Discriminating
Another "Nail" for Net Neutrality
On the post: When Sending A Bogus TM C&D, Don't Send It To A Lawyer Who Understands TM Law
Shotgun Justice
On the post: Sears/Kmart Movie Streaming Service Apparently Designed For Uninformed Suckers
Re: It's funny because it's true
Do you know what is really appalling. Kmart goes bankrupt, comes out of bankruptcy and is then able to "buy" Sears!!!!! Someone was playing a financial game. To bad there was no smoking gun that I know of. I suspect this would make for a really good story for an investigative reporter. Hint Hint Hint.
On the post: Would Twitter Be Liable For Links To Infringing Material?
Re: Re: Logically speaking.
Since we seem to be on an out of control convoluted logical feedback loop, I wonder when our whole society will eventually become paralyzed into inaction because of a penultimate logical conundrum.
Will copyright holders, based on their lawyers advice, begin sending DCMA take-down notices to themselves and also suing themselves for damages? Seems only logical.
On the post: Apple Has eBay Kill Off Auctions Of Steve Jobs Figure It Doesn't Like
The Free Market at Work?
PS: The "correct: solution? Apple buys all the figurines.
On the post: College Football Playoffs Patented?!?; Mark Cuban Warned Not To Infringe
Missing the Obvious
I am just astounded that Football coaches have been able to innovate plays without the innovation provided by patents. Fortunately we have a mechanism that will stop coaches form thinking without a patent. A vibrant patent system is critical to football.
On the post: Congress Brings Back Recently Removed 'IP Subcommittee' Now That Copyright Reformer Won't Lead It
House Committee on Un-American Activiites
On the post: EU Commission -- Major Supporter Of ACTA -- Gets Dinged 12 Million Euros For Infringing On Copyright
Cognitive Dissonance
It not just copyright. Those at the top seem to believe that the law or concept does not apply to them.
Innovation, or whatever, comes from numerous sources. Those who may be the loudest proponents of so-called "intellectual property" may think that they are being original but not realizing that they are "stealing" until an obscure previously unknown person somewhere pulls out some tattered piece of paper asserting infringement and slaps it in their face.
Laws are advertised as solving certain issues, such as teenagers downloading music. So those who pass the law and who may also be downloading music themselves may not make the connection that they are just as guilty as the teenager until exposed.
Power breeds arrogance, those in power -because they may control a government or corporation - may believe that they are immune from any repercussions.
Timothy Geithner's Tax Problems
The clock is ticking on tax cheat Charlie Rangel
On the post: US Ambassador To The UN: Protecting Patents & Copyrights More Important Than Development
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
On the post: State Department Spending Millions To 'Train' Foreign Judges About 'Intellectual Property'
Corporatism
This is also a case of beware of what you sow. When other countries develop "strong" so-called intellectual property rights they will be demanding that we pay-up.
Also what happens should we are no longer be the 800 pound guerrilla of so-called intellectual property? We, (the US) will be forced to pay the foreign corporations. We will have an even greater international deficit trade balance.
It may not be tomorrow, but "encouraging" other nations to have "strong" so-called intellectual property rights will eventually make us a third world nation.
On the post: New TSA Report: Every Test Gun, Bomb Part Or Knife Got Past Screeners At Some Airport
It's a Boring Job
Besides being ineffectual, this type of "security" is expensive. I was at at an airport where we had to wait for the ticket agents, the TSA folks were just standing around. When the airline ticket agents finally showed up we had to stand in line for them, the TSA agents just ambled about. Finally getting through the airline ticket agents, we lined up to go through the TSA line. The airline ticket agents; they were standing around. Waiting in line TWICE, that's American efficiency!!!
On the post: Battling Wikileaks And The Art Of War
Figuratively, the President is the Nation's leader. Realistically the Nation's "leader" is an amalgam of the President, Senate, House, Supreme Court, and lobbyists. The Nation's virtual "leader" suffers from severe case of Schizophrenia that has essentially paralyzed our ability to formulate solutions to long standing problems such as balancing the budget and repairing the tax code. Not to mention the emergence of paranoia and a bunker mentality that emphasizes "security" over courage. (Hunkering down as opposed to taking the offense) Given this paralysis; countries such as Iran and North Korea feel empowered to blow-us-off and other countries such as China can out-compete us simply because we are stuck in the starting gate. Given this deplorable state of affairs, what country would really be inspired to follow our "leader".
Furthermore, if our esteemed virtual fearless-leader had any wisdom, sincerity, and courage; Wikileaks would be a non-issue.
On the post: Breast Cancer Charity Bullying Other Charities Over Trademark
Re: Re: Re: Re: Selective Charity
On the post: Breast Cancer Charity Bullying Other Charities Over Trademark
Re: Re: Selective Charity
Yes men can get breast cancer. Yes charities have a right to benefit a specific group. But lets get some equal time.
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