This is why my faith has been restored in people. Until I saw how ordinary people were willing to put themselves at risk to share, I was a misanthrope. Now I think people are pretty cool.
All he did was take someone else's work, and show you how HE saw it. It's not some great new work, it's just someone else's work with his fingers on it. Nothing more and nothing less.
This isn't a problem of copyright - this is a problem of common sense. The guy knew from the get go that nothing would come of this. Why cry now?
Don't be so hard on George Lucas. We all know his last 3 Star Wars movies are a lame and uninspired mess. It's true we can't blame copyright for that - it was more a lack of common sense, like you say. The point of this post is that fans like Topher Grace can fix those mistakes, and we could all benefit.
I heard many stories like this on the "festival circuit." They're a big reason I chose to free Sita Sings the Blues (which consequently earned me more money that any distributor would have). Getting a conventional distribution deal was just about the worst thing that could happen to an independent filmmaker in 2008.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mike I think you're off base here
If "Pyrex" was found to be a generic term for heat-resistant glass, it would enter the public domain as an unprotectable synonym for heat-resistant glass.
What kind of legal action would lead to such a finding? Who would sue whom? I assume in this case, consumer advocates would have to sue Corning.
I'm doing my part to increase that association without people having to suffer flying shards of glass in their kitchens. Eventually the pyrex brand will become disassociated with heat-resistant glass, but consumers are paying a high price for this change. They may be injured, their meals ruined, and they certainly won't be getting refunds for their broken purchases.
Again, consider if an unlicensed seller were passing off soda lime glass as pyrex. That would become the poster child for stricter Trademark enforcement, and you can bet the "endangering consumers" argument would be front and center.
My point is that if passing off soda lime glass as pyrex is somehow the consumers' fault for not being "knowledgable/educated" enough, then surely the moron in a hurry who addressed his comment to "Mike" is equally to blame.
Personally, I think Techdirt has some responsibility to let readers know who wrote what articles. Likewise I think Corning has some responsibility to sell genuine pyrex under the pyrex brand. Do I think we need more laws to enforce this? No. But the comment I responded to blamed consumers for being sold soda lime glass as pyrex. I found this ironic.
"Nina Paley" is a very old trademark for me. "Mike" is a different brand. The problem is lack of consumer knowledge/education and not reading the byline.
I'm imagining everyone in Congress shaking each others' hands, saying, "Victory! Now we have twice as many funders to choose from! Who wants to be funded by Tech now? Rubio? Boozman? Hatch? And whoever wants to stick with Hollywood can get twice as much now! Twice as much money for Congress! Let's have a party!"
I love The Day The LOLcats Died video. It is totally infringing copyright. Some people are saying it's Fair Use because it's "parody," but legally it's not parody, it's satire, and satire isn't covered by Fair Use. If distinguishing between parody and satire sounds idiotic, it is, but that's what our brilliant courts have determined. According to them parody uses the work to comment on the work itself (changing the lyrics to make fun of the song American Pie itself), while satire uses the work to comment on another issue (using the melody to talk about SOPA).
I mention this because SOPA and PIPA are merely results of our copyright laws. Let's not forget that as long as we have our copyright laws, we'll keep getting things like SOPA and PIPA. Stop cutting of the Hydra's heads and drive a stake through its heart instead.
On the post: Nina Paley Explains Intellectual Disobedience
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Very nicely put.
On the post: Nina Paley Explains Intellectual Disobedience
Re:
On the post: North Korean Study Confirms It: People Will Share, Whatever The Risks
faith in humanity restored
On the post: Fan-Made Movie Edits: Another Cultural Loss At The Hands Of Copyright
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Don't be so hard on George Lucas. We all know his last 3 Star Wars movies are a lame and uninspired mess. It's true we can't blame copyright for that - it was more a lack of common sense, like you say. The point of this post is that fans like Topher Grace can fix those mistakes, and we could all benefit.
On the post: Protestors Give USTR 'Corporate Power Tool Award'; Replace Toilet Paper In Hotel With TPP-TP
Awesome
Not me. This is excellent. Go witty protestors!
On the post: After the German Pirate Party's String Of Successes, Here Comes The Backlash
"Intellectual Chaos"?
Like, anyone could think whatever they want? Sounds good to me.
On the post: Congress: The TSA Is Wasting Hundreds Of Millions In Taxpayer Dollars
decommission all of it
The equipment was a waste of money to begin with. It won't be wasted any less if it's "used"; it'll just generate more waste, especially time.
On the post: Distributor Neglects Indie Filmmaker's Movie, So He Asks Fans To Pirate It
yep
On the post: Content Creators: Control Is An Illusion And That's A Good Thing
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Great artists steal.
For everyone else, there's copyright.
On the post: Shattering pyrex To Show A Massive Weakness In Trademark Law
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mike I think you're off base here
What kind of legal action would lead to such a finding? Who would sue whom? I assume in this case, consumer advocates would have to sue Corning.
On the post: Shattering pyrex To Show A Massive Weakness In Trademark Law
Re:
Again, consider if an unlicensed seller were passing off soda lime glass as pyrex. That would become the poster child for stricter Trademark enforcement, and you can bet the "endangering consumers" argument would be front and center.
On the post: Shattering pyrex To Show A Massive Weakness In Trademark Law
Re: Re: Re: Mike I think you're off base here
Personally, I think Techdirt has some responsibility to let readers know who wrote what articles. Likewise I think Corning has some responsibility to sell genuine pyrex under the pyrex brand. Do I think we need more laws to enforce this? No. But the comment I responded to blamed consumers for being sold soda lime glass as pyrex. I found this ironic.
On the post: Shattering pyrex To Show A Massive Weakness In Trademark Law
Re: Mike I think you're off base here
On the post: Tom The Dancing Bug Takes On Insanity Of Copyright Extension And Disproportionate Punishment
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Pirates
On the post: We're Living In the Most Creative Time In History
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On the post: Knowledge Is A Universal Natural Resource -- And Locking It Up Hurts Everyone
Culture is Anti-Rivalrous
On the post: More Senators Dropping Off As Co-Sponsors Of PIPA
Um, yay I guess
On the post: Anti-SOPA/PIPA Protest Songs
Re: Anti-SOPA lyrics for The Battle Hymn of the Republic
On the post: Anti-SOPA/PIPA Protest Songs
Infringement
I mention this because SOPA and PIPA are merely results of our copyright laws. Let's not forget that as long as we have our copyright laws, we'll keep getting things like SOPA and PIPA. Stop cutting of the Hydra's heads and drive a stake through its heart instead.
On the post: It Is Time To Stop Pretending To Endorse The Copyright Monopoly
Amen
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