The government has arrived at a crossroad where they can either own up to what happened, clean out the rotten apples and rebuild what used to be great institutions, or continue meddling further into the quagmire they have worked themselves into. The State Department seems to have made their decision.
... and after all this, ASCAP gets to keep the original rate of 1.85 %? No damages, no fine, no compensation.
A kid downloads a single MP3 file worth 50 cents, and pays $160.000 just to teach him respect for the law, and the guys who break all sorts of laws and agreements on a massive, commercial scale get no sanction at all? They'll be stupid not to do it again!
He might be right -and end up with egg on his face for it
Thanks to Mike Rogers et al, there is no doubt about just how badly the US wants Snowden back.
And thanks to Mike Rogers et al, we now know there is absolutely nothing the US government can do if President Putin just smiles and says no.
All Edward Snowden did was provide an opportunity for Rogers et al to show how powerless the US has become against opponents they can not blast away with a drone strike.
It would appear that armed police are terrorists, too: "(3) The use or threat of action falling within subsection (2) which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism whether or not subsection (1)(b) is satisfied."
'The mother of an activist with links to the Anonymous hacking group was sentenced to six months' probation on Friday, for helping her son hide laptops from the FBI.'
Judge Korman, you scare me! Who, if not you, will draw the lines for the ones breaking the law?
Many crimes could be prevented if people were more careful - less reveling dress might reduce the likelihood of rape, avoiding dangerous areas might prevent robbery, not wearing your Rolex outside your home reduces the probability of theft. But a careless victim does not justify rape, robbery or theft. And the contents of a laptop should have no influence whatsoever on the legality of a border search.
If it did, you could use your own arguments to even justify murder: "the individual [walking a dark alley at night] is on notice that certain types of [incidents] are likely to be made, his privacy is less invaded by [someone shooting them in the back]."
>> 'I will sell you classified information for something of value.' At this stage, the value might actually be to US companies! Right now, any non-US company loosing a bidding competition to a US company for oil rights, mining rights or selling things is in a good position to challenge the outcome suggesting the US competitor might have had an unfair advantage due to support by the NSA - the current assumption is the NSA listens to everything and anybody (except for terrorists, maybe, given the NSA's track record in not catching them ...).
Unless the NSA or the US government decide to turn on transparency, Edward Snowden might be the only person with the information and credibility to narrow down the scope ...
Seems you've been TARGETED - they fed you some Beyoncé - spin to bury the real story: "Dec. 19: 8:20 a.m. ET: Target released a statement this morning confirming a breach, saying that 40 million credit and debit card accounts may have been impacted between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, 2013." http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/12/sources-target-investigating-data-breach/
Why stop at artists? Fuel stations, parking lots, road builder, traffic cops - without cars, they could not exist. It is only fair for them to pay part of their income back to the car industry. Or banks - a single cent 'gratitude tax' back to Goldman Sachs every time a dollar is spent might even prevent the next banking crisis. Small price to pay!
This could get interesting, since [Court of Justice Advocate General] "Pedro Cruz Villalón believes that the 2006 data retention directive "constitutes a serious interference with the fundamental right of citizens to privacy"."
The opinion has been published today in a case about a European Directive; nonetheless, if the European Court of Justice places very high restrictions on data collection, the UK Government will have a hard time justifying the rather broad GCHQ activities.
[It is very disappointing that Mississippi state attorney general Jim Hood appears to be] “unwilling to take basic actions to make [the state of Mississippi] safe from unlawful and predatory conduct, and [that he] has refused to modify [his ]own behavior that facilitates and profits from unlawful conduct.” [The] letter cites not just [shoplifting] but [pickpocketing and even burglary].
He also pointed out several instances in which [state prosecutors] has screened out criminal [activity, like terrorism]. [Other crimes, such as insulting the president], he noted, was removed [in countries such as North Korea].
“[Jim Hood] can and does take action against unlawful or offensive conduct — when [Hood] determines it is in [his own] interests to do so.
Just to be clear: The airline and the US Govt both let me buy a ticket and travel to the airport in the full knowledge that they will prevent me from boarding because I am on the no-fly list?
Could Godaddy demand sworn statements from other service providers and revoke their keys if they can not rule out that their keys have been handed over to a third party? Presumably, even secret court orders can not force service providers to commit perjury?
On the post: Why Do So Many People Describe Aereo 'Complying' With Copyright Law As The Company 'Circumventing' Copyright Law?
On the post: Why Is The US Gov't Arguing In The Supreme Court To Reshape The Internet The Way Broadcasters Want It?
Little payback ...
Oh wait ...
On the post: State Department Official Freaks Out That Declassifying CIA Torture Report Might Make The World Angry
The State Department seems to have made their decision.
On the post: Judge Highlights Bogus Collusion By ASCAP, Publishers In Rejecting Their Attempt To Jack Up Pandora's Rates
A kid downloads a single MP3 file worth 50 cents, and pays $160.000 just to teach him respect for the law, and the guys who break all sorts of laws and agreements on a massive, commercial scale get no sanction at all? They'll be stupid not to do it again!
On the post: Mike Rogers Says Snowden's To Blame For Russian's Aggressive Actions Against Ukraine
He might be right -and end up with egg on his face for it
And thanks to Mike Rogers et al, we now know there is absolutely nothing the US government can do if President Putin just smiles and says no.
All Edward Snowden did was provide an opportunity for Rogers et al to show how powerless the US has become against opponents they can not blast away with a drone strike.
On the post: Exile: Sarah Harrison On Paying The Price For Helping Edward Snowden
On the post: Police Tell Courts Non-Disclosure Agreement Prevents Them From Getting A Warrant For Cell Phone Tower Spoofers
What's next, legal contract murder?
On the post: Here's Why The EU Is Crazy Not To Insist On Full Transparency During TAFTA/TTIP
why the secrecy?
On the post: One Of Six Omaha Cops Fired For Excessive Force, Illegal Search And Seizure Is Already Back In Uniform
On the other hand ...
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/09/barrett-brown-anonymous-mother-probation
On the post: Court Says Border Searches Of Your Computer Are Okay Because You Shouldn't Keep Important Info On Your Computer
Court says Murder is ok
Many crimes could be prevented if people were more careful - less reveling dress might reduce the likelihood of rape, avoiding dangerous areas might prevent robbery, not wearing your Rolex outside your home reduces the probability of theft. But a careless victim does not justify rape, robbery or theft. And the contents of a laptop should have no influence whatsoever on the legality of a border search.
If it did, you could use your own arguments to even justify murder: "the individual [walking a dark alley at night] is on notice that certain types of [incidents] are likely to be made, his privacy is less invaded by [someone shooting them in the back]."
On the post: Rep. Mike Rogers Goes On National TV To Lie About NSA Programs And Snowden
Edward Snowden - US Business' best friend?
At this stage, the value might actually be to US companies! Right now, any non-US company loosing a bidding competition to a US company for oil rights, mining rights or selling things is in a good position to challenge the outcome suggesting the US competitor might have had an unfair advantage due to support by the NSA - the current assumption is the NSA listens to everything and anybody (except for terrorists, maybe, given the NSA's track record in not catching them ...).
Unless the NSA or the US government decide to turn on transparency, Edward Snowden might be the only person with the information and credibility to narrow down the scope ...
On the post: Upset About Beyonce Going Digital, Target Refuses To Stock New Album
TARGETED
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/12/sources-target-investigating-data-breach/
On the post: Digital Exports Dwarf Other Industries, So Why Is The USTR Ignoring Them?
$365 bn???
On the post: US Copyright Office Supports Artists Getting Paid Multiple Times For Same Work, Harming New Artists To Benefit Established Ones
Great model for other Industries, too!
Fuel stations, parking lots, road builder, traffic cops - without cars, they could not exist. It is only fair for them to pay part of their income back to the car industry.
Or banks - a single cent 'gratitude tax' back to Goldman Sachs every time a dollar is spent might even prevent the next banking crisis. Small price to pay!
On the post: Legal Challenges To Spying Mount In UK
The opinion has been published today in a case about a European Directive; nonetheless, if the European Court of Justice places very high restrictions on data collection, the UK Government will have a hard time justifying the rather broad GCHQ activities.
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2013/12/12/court_of_justice_advocate_general_says_data_r etention_directive_clashes_with_privacy_rights/
On the post: Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood Thinks Google Is To Blame For Infringement On The Web
Blame Hood!
He also pointed out several instances in which [state prosecutors] has screened out criminal [activity, like terrorism]. [Other crimes, such as insulting the president], he noted, was removed [in countries such as North Korea].
“[Jim Hood] can and does take action against unlawful or offensive conduct — when [Hood] determines it is in [his own] interests to do so.
On the post: Feds Insist It Must Be Kept Secret Whether Or Not Plaintiff In No Fly List Trial Is Actually On The No Fly List
Damages?
On the post: Miami Gardens Police Arrest Store Employee 62 Times For Trespassing At His Place Of Employment
On the post: Healthcare.gov Violates Open Source License
On a second thought, that's for non-commercial use of an .mp3-file only ... Maybe settle for $110 m and promise to fix the problem?
On the post: GoDaddy Revokes Lavabit's Security Certificate After Reading About How The Feds Got It
Presumably, even secret court orders can not force service providers to commit perjury?
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