Clearly by this standard Microsoft should be able to sue every company with "soft" in their name. You might get confused between them and every other software company, and every soft serve ice cream shop... mmm mint chocolate Windows.
I'm surprised that Oracle didn't take Apple's route and sue the phone manufacturers instead of Google. They could get 4 or 5 times the number of payouts if they sued the manufacturers instead of Google. Plus Google has way more resources to fight this lawsuit than a smaller company like HTC (I think anyway...).
People aren't the problem. I doubt many people believe them. The problem are the politicians, and I'm guessing some of them will believe anything if there's a large enough campaign contribution attached.
The government (FTC to be exact) can't monitor every statement made by every company. They can only investigate what they're aware of. Luckily there is an easy way to alert the FTC to false advertising and deceptive practices here: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
I hope Mike updates the post to show people that it is easy to file a complaint against a company who you believe is guilty of false advertising. A quick trip to the FTC's site has a bunch of links that wind up here: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
Consumers do not need to sue deceptive companies. The FTC can investigate deceptive and unfair practices.
I bought some Old Spice body wash recently, but because it looks cooler and smells better than the other ones in the store. I hope they associate the increase in sales as a direct result of that campaign. I'd love to see other companies take a risk like that.
I found it interesting that the Shuttleworth Foundation is helping to fight against the BSA. Mark Shuttleworth (the rich guy it's named after) is also the guy behind Canonical which makes/distributes Ubuntu Linux. It would be in Canonical's and other open source software company's interest to let the BSA make Windows and other proprietary software riskier and harder to afford.
So it's nice to see that the Shuttleworth Foundation is fighting more for people's rights than their founder's other business interests.
As a New Yorker, I think it's best for Chuck Schumer to focus on the little things because when he focuses on the big things I usually disagree with him.
I don't think Senators and Congressmen have any part to play in this, but I do think that the FCC or FTC (not sure) should play a small roll in this. Apple was "shocked" to find out that they reported 4 bars instead of 2 in many places. To me that sounds like false advertising or at least misleading customers. Since signal strength and coverage play such an important role in marketing and advertising I think there should be a standardized scale for signal strength indications. I don't know if that should be the FCC or FTC to make the rules, but they should say 5 bars = XdB and 4 bars = x... If you leave it up to Apple they'll lie about it to make themselves and AT&T look better.
A smaller point is that Apple sold a semi-defective product to millions of users. They should fix it or at least accept returns for upset users.
The CEO of Hulu can say whatever he wants, but Hulu is absolutely in a position to legally replace cable. You can download/pirate any shows and movies you want for free. Hulu's subscription service gives you a similar opportunity legally.
This little petty attack on a sound byte is pretty ridiculous. Hulu is a company that wants to make money. If Hulu can make enough money they can get more clout with networks and then they can admit to challenging cable monopolies. Until that time they gotta lay low.
I really like Hulu, they provide a lot of good shows in an easier to use package than rolling your own DVR. Customers wanted more episodes and Hulu wanted more money so this seems like a decent first step.
It's odd how angry all of the comments are, it's a step toward making Hulu a viable business. If this starts working well then they'll get more content. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than cable and right on par with Netflix. I'm looking forward to seeing what their future plans are.
No, I'm not asking Mike for proof. I disagreed with his statement that many people on that list are the responsible individual. I'm trying to add some actual numerical data.
Hopefully next time Mike or anyone else writes an article like this they can point out that according to the statistics, the probability of the account holder being the actual infringer is less than 39%.
I wonder why you're assuming that the list is correct when you made the statement: "I have no doubt that many, many people on the list actually did make unauthorized copies of these files. "
You didn't give a number or percentage so it's hard to argue the point, but the IP address gets associated with the name of the account holder. According to the last Census the average household size is 2.59. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts
So the odds that the name on the account matches the user behind the keyboard is less than 39%.
Then you can take into account the number of people with open Wifi and the likelihood of the account holder being the pirate gets even lower.
It's no different from the tabloids that report every time a "star" leaves their house. Reporters have a right to report on facts like when they see this guy or Lindsay Lohan or Brad Pitt in public.
Considering the fact that this guy spent the last 13 years in jail he probably hasn't heard of the Streisand effect. His response can only make the problems worse. His best course of action would be to live a crime free life and wait for this media coverage to blow over.
How is this practice legal in the US? This sounds like mafia-style extortion. I wonder if reporting these activities to the FBI or other law enforcement could help put these lawyers behind bars, or at the very least lose their jobs.
I'm going to tape a Bluetooth headset to my head and claim I have telepathic super powers. I just hope my phone's voice recognition works on the first try in my press conference.
I agree, I'm against the concept of SOC, but to claim it's a failure a few days in is a bit premature. The head of the MPAA can't comment on how the individual studios will use this new ability. I'm guessing most studios didn't expect to get SOC granted and probably don't have any projects in the works yet. Give it a year or two before bashing it.
I'm annoyed to hear about the deals that Netflix makes, but my queue has more movies in it today than I could watch in 28 days since it takes 2 days to get the next DVD through the mail.
Increasing their streaming catalog is the best thing they can do and that's a great business model. I only talk to a few other Netflix users and they all agree that they don't use Netflix to get new releases as soon as they're released. If anything this delay will make them forget about those movies. Bad for studios, no big deal to Netflix.
It's definitely like Disney Land - everything is more expensive on the iPad. iPhone apps cost more on there. TV shows cost more on there than on Hulu. Games cost more since you can't play the Flash versions. Free news content costs money on the iPad. The iPad is great until you see how badly you get ripped off. But hey at least it's shiny...
On the post: Facebook Sues Teachbook Over Trademark Concerns; Where's Legalbook?
What about "...soft"
On the post: Oracle's First Big Move With Sun? Use Sun's Patents To Sue Google
On the post: How Many Times Will Content Industries Claim The Sky Is Falling Before People Stop Believing Them?
People aren't the problem
On the post: Why Aren't More Companies Sued For Bogus 'Unlimited' Service Claims?
Re:
On the post: Why Aren't More Companies Sued For Bogus 'Unlimited' Service Claims?
Some tips on how to fight false advertising
Consumers do not need to sue deceptive companies. The FTC can investigate deceptive and unfair practices.
On the post: Old Spice Man Gets Backed Up With A Few Numbers, Sales Up 107 Percent
On the post: BSA Tries To Use Totally Made Up Stats In South Africa To Change Copyright Laws
So it's nice to see that the Shuttleworth Foundation is fighting more for people's rights than their founder's other business interests.
On the post: Aren't There More Important Things For Congress To Focus On Than The iPhone's Crappy Antenna?
I don't think Senators and Congressmen have any part to play in this, but I do think that the FCC or FTC (not sure) should play a small roll in this. Apple was "shocked" to find out that they reported 4 bars instead of 2 in many places. To me that sounds like false advertising or at least misleading customers. Since signal strength and coverage play such an important role in marketing and advertising I think there should be a standardized scale for signal strength indications. I don't know if that should be the FCC or FTC to make the rules, but they should say 5 bars = XdB and 4 bars = x... If you leave it up to Apple they'll lie about it to make themselves and AT&T look better.
A smaller point is that Apple sold a semi-defective product to millions of users. They should fix it or at least accept returns for upset users.
On the post: Newspaper Publishes Totally Made Up List Of 'Disorders' Associated With Text Messaging
They are real
On the post: Hulu CEO So Careful Not To Upset Cable Companies, He Might Just Destroy His Own Business
Says one thing, does another
This little petty attack on a sound byte is pretty ridiculous. Hulu is a company that wants to make money. If Hulu can make enough money they can get more clout with networks and then they can admit to challenging cable monopolies. Until that time they gotta lay low.
On the post: Hulu Finally Announces Subscription Plans: $10/Month To Still Get Advertisements
It's odd how angry all of the comments are, it's a step toward making Hulu a viable business. If this starts working well then they'll get more content. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than cable and right on par with Netflix. I'm looking forward to seeing what their future plans are.
On the post: Didn't Take Long: Lots Of People Getting Sued By US Copyright Group Claim Innocence
Re: Re:
Hopefully next time Mike or anyone else writes an article like this they can point out that according to the statistics, the probability of the account holder being the actual infringer is less than 39%.
On the post: Didn't Take Long: Lots Of People Getting Sued By US Copyright Group Claim Innocence
You didn't give a number or percentage so it's hard to argue the point, but the IP address gets associated with the name of the account holder. According to the last Census the average household size is 2.59. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts
So the odds that the name on the account matches the user behind the keyboard is less than 39%.
Then you can take into account the number of people with open Wifi and the likelihood of the account holder being the pirate gets even lower.
On the post: Convicted Serial Rapist Goes To Court To Forbid Newspapers From Reporting On His Whereabouts
Re: Wait...
Considering the fact that this guy spent the last 13 years in jail he probably hasn't heard of the Streisand effect. His response can only make the problems worse. His best course of action would be to live a crime free life and wait for this media coverage to blow over.
On the post: And We're Off: Hurt Locker Files First 5,000 Lawsuits Against File Sharers
How is this legal?
On the post: Captain Cyborg Has A Virus-Infected Sidekick... But Nothing Can Stop A PR Campaign
Everyone's a super hero!
On the post: Remember How Hollywood Promised Lots Of New Content If It Could Break Your TV/DVR? Yeah, That's Not Happening...
Re: Criminy!
On the post: Has the New York Times Run Afoul of the FTC's Endorsement Guides?
Re: honest reviews , with good writing
I think the point of this post is to point out how ridiculous the FTC's rules are and not to bash the NYT or the iPad.
On the post: Netflix Agrees To Delay Fox And Universal New Releases, Annoy Avatar Fans
Queues > 28 days
Increasing their streaming catalog is the best thing they can do and that's a great business model. I only talk to a few other Netflix users and they all agree that they don't use Netflix to get new releases as soon as they're released. If anything this delay will make them forget about those movies. Bad for studios, no big deal to Netflix.
On the post: Is The iPad The Disneyland Of Computers?
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