With 100k unauthorized downloads you have fans but no cash.
But fans have a monetary value so unauthorized downloads would be preferred.
Now that you took the preferred option you have two choices:
1. Sell fans other things like boxed sets, posters, t-shirts, concerts etc and make some money. This option leads to more fans that are happy to put money into your pocket.
2. Sue your fans to make money. This option leads to less fans, lots of haters and maybe some money.
"those with this greater access complain on paying a few % higher in taxes on high income even though in many cases they would have much lower income were it not for their greater than average access useful in anticipating the direction of major market movements."
The problem here is not tax rates, the problem you describe is that some people have above average access to information.
I am with you on fixing that, information should be available to all citizens equally.
Using taxes in the manner you suggest seems like using taxes to punish people.
What is a rich persons incentive to innovate and create jobs only to have more of their money sucked away in taxes?
What is a poor persons incentive to work hard and attempt to become rich only to pay a higher tax rate *AND* get less "free" governmental assistance?
The progressive tax system is simply another mess of "insider" information that people must understand in-order to move from one class to the next. It is not shocking that this complex tax code benefits those elite "in the know" people.
Raising the rates on the rich without fixing the real problem does nothing other than promote more class warfare. If you want to "hurt" the elite take away their "insider" advantage by drastically simplifying the tax laws.
It might be true that "sometimes propitiatory software IS cheaper than OSS" but do not confuse software with standards.
With open standards both proprietary and OSS vendors can make software that meets the standard. This gives consumers and governments a wide range of software to choose from(contrary to the BSA's false claims) and in many cases helps promote innovation. Look how open standards allowed Internet to grow if you need an example.
When a government chooses to use a proprietary standard for documents(as an example) then said government is also choosing to force citizens to PURCHASE the proprietary software that supports that standard so they can communicate with the government.
Seems to me the BSA is simply trying to get governments to choose software that forces its citizens to then purchase said software that conveniently happens to be sold by BSA supporters.
Even if they were Ghandi, I would tell them "Sorry, find someone else to take your case!"
Someone realizes they need help from a professional the professionals response is to not help them.
Yet another reason to dislike lawyers and/or wanabe lawyers.
"Why are you not part of the hive? There must be something wrong with you, what are you hiding?"
kinda like the final scene in Invasion of the Body Snatchers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEStsLJZhzo
"If the actions of the government do not reflect the wishes of the people, why don't the Americans grow some balls and hit the streets?"
Many Americans, like the Tea Party, have been taking to the streets in recent years. The people are certainly not silent, maybe ignored would be a better word.
Obamas' approval rating is 48% (source gallup)
Congress' Job Approval rating is 13% (source gallup)
Clearly the people do not approve of our governments actions.
Actually I think seeing the "children" flaming rather than using facts to backup their opposing views often strengthens the views presented by the Techdirt articles.
If calling names or ignoring facts is the only way to prove their point then their point is not worth listening too.
Netflix should continue to purchase the cheaper DVDs then when you request to watch it streaming they load the DVD into a reader and stream it just to you. Kinda like a slingbox but for DVDs.
"Computers and Internet" are used to upload stuff to wikileaks so to prevent future leaks some genius DoD official decided to block "Computers and Internet".
As Denis Leary once said: "You could have cigarettes that come in a black pack, with a skull and a cross bone on the front, called tumors and smokers would be lined up around the block going, "I can't wait to get my hands on these f%$^&*& things! I bet you get a tumor as soon as you light up!"
People ignore the warning on their SVU that it may tip over if turning too fast.
People ignore the warning on their toaster to keep it away from the sink.
People ignore the warning on their hair spray to keep away from flames.
People will ignore the warning on the cigarette packs too.
These warning label laws sound good on paper.
But in practice do not result in changing people's behaviour.
So why do we waste time and money making such ineffective laws?
On the post: Which Would You Rather Have: 100,000 Unauthorized Downloads Of Your Music... Or None?
Sue the fans?
With 100k unauthorized downloads you have fans but no cash.
But fans have a monetary value so unauthorized downloads would be preferred.
Now that you took the preferred option you have two choices:
1. Sell fans other things like boxed sets, posters, t-shirts, concerts etc and make some money. This option leads to more fans that are happy to put money into your pocket.
2. Sue your fans to make money. This option leads to less fans, lots of haters and maybe some money.
On the post: According To Microsoft's Own Numbers, Microsoft Costs The World Economy $500 Billion
Re: Re: For me it's not just about software cost but of time ...
We also need a better office suite, OpenOffice while good is not quite comparable to MS Office.
I decided to trade those two issues for stability and performance a couple of years ago and can not imagine ever switching back to windows.
On the post: Drug Companies Overestimate Cost Of Developing A New Drug By Merely $1.26 Billion
Management needs paid too!
Research and Development costs : $55 million
Cost for developing new drugs: $1.3 billion
On the post: Federal Courts Afraid Your Smartphone Might Be A Bomb
Re:
OMG! his phone has a stylus, take cover!
On the post: Federal Courts Afraid Your Smartphone Might Be A Bomb
Forget the phones, ban the lawyers!
On the post: Reason #247 Why You Should Pay For The NYTimes: To Keep Its Dead Obituary Writers Employed
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Eventually no one will be able to create anything due to all useful combinations of expression being previously copyrighted.
On the post: Lazy TSA Agents Let Thousands Of Bags Through Unscreened (But They Gotta See Us Naked)
Why search for what is not there?
On the post: Ask Congress To Make Public Domain Congressional Research Service's Reports Public
Re:
The problem here is not tax rates, the problem you describe is that some people have above average access to information.
I am with you on fixing that, information should be available to all citizens equally.
Using taxes in the manner you suggest seems like using taxes to punish people.
What is a rich persons incentive to innovate and create jobs only to have more of their money sucked away in taxes?
What is a poor persons incentive to work hard and attempt to become rich only to pay a higher tax rate *AND* get less "free" governmental assistance?
The progressive tax system is simply another mess of "insider" information that people must understand in-order to move from one class to the next. It is not shocking that this complex tax code benefits those elite "in the know" people.
Raising the rates on the rich without fixing the real problem does nothing other than promote more class warfare. If you want to "hurt" the elite take away their "insider" advantage by drastically simplifying the tax laws.
On the post: BSA Claims Open Standards Will Increase Costs
Re: Both "sides" seem silly to me.
With open standards both proprietary and OSS vendors can make software that meets the standard. This gives consumers and governments a wide range of software to choose from(contrary to the BSA's false claims) and in many cases helps promote innovation. Look how open standards allowed Internet to grow if you need an example.
When a government chooses to use a proprietary standard for documents(as an example) then said government is also choosing to force citizens to PURCHASE the proprietary software that supports that standard so they can communicate with the government.
Seems to me the BSA is simply trying to get governments to choose software that forces its citizens to then purchase said software that conveniently happens to be sold by BSA supporters.
On the post: Rosetta Stone Says Google Is A 'Gateway For Criminals'; Urges Congress To Make Google Liable For Infringement Via COICA
Re: Re: Not worth the money
Fixed that for you.
On the post: New Legislation 'To Protect Farmer IP' Would Make It A Felony To Photograph Farms
PayWall
Keep that pesky light from reflecting onto my camera lens.
On the post: Copyright Is An Incentive... To Create Lawsuits
Re: Re: Re: Re: So true
Someone realizes they need help from a professional the professionals response is to not help them.
Yet another reason to dislike lawyers and/or wanabe lawyers.
On the post: Yet Another Person Sues Google Because They Don't Like Pornographic Results When People Search On Their Name
Re: I googled my name once...
I heard of Build-A-Bear, but Bild-er-Burger sound much more delicious!
On the post: Maryland Corrections Agency Demanding All Social Media Passwords Of Potential Hires
Re: Re: Another frightening prospect...
On the post: Most Insightful, Funniest Comments Of The Week On Techdirt
Re:
Many Americans, like the Tea Party, have been taking to the streets in recent years. The people are certainly not silent, maybe ignored would be a better word.
Obamas' approval rating is 48% (source gallup)
Congress' Job Approval rating is 13% (source gallup)
Clearly the people do not approve of our governments actions.
On the post: Most Insightful, Funniest Comments Of The Week On Techdirt
Re: Re: Re:
Actually I think seeing the "children" flaming rather than using facts to backup their opposing views often strengthens the views presented by the Techdirt articles.
If calling names or ignoring facts is the only way to prove their point then their point is not worth listening too.
On the post: Artist Facing 15 Years In Jail For The Crime Of Videotaping His Own Arrest
Who watches the watchmen?
On the post: Will Hollywood Kill The Golden Goose By Squeezing Netflix Dry?
DVD Place shifting
On the post: DoD Blocking Access To Techdirt Because It's About 'Computers And Internet'?
My theory is that
On the post: Tobacco Companies Using Trademark Claims To Try To Avoid Putting Warning Labels On Cigarrettes & Cigars
People do not care about warning labels
People ignore the warning on their SVU that it may tip over if turning too fast.
People ignore the warning on their toaster to keep it away from the sink.
People ignore the warning on their hair spray to keep away from flames.
People will ignore the warning on the cigarette packs too.
These warning label laws sound good on paper.
But in practice do not result in changing people's behaviour.
So why do we waste time and money making such ineffective laws?
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