Automated addition of copyright claims is pretty common in computer programs.
An egregious case was /bin/true in Unix. It can be implemented as an zero-length file, but was originally implemented as a single blank line. Almost every commercial Unix took this empty file and tacked on a copyright notice. Some had up to five notices.
I always hoped that there would be a court ruling that such blatant automated blind copyright claims made all similar claims invalid. Copyright is only properly applied to creative work. An mechanically added claim is the opposite of that.
My guess is that the planned scam was sending blocks of dry ice that weighed the same as a packaged ipad. The originating post office would weigh the package, affix postage based the weight, and insure as specified.
When it arrived at the destination, the dry ice would have sublimated with no evidence remaining. The recipient would open the box at the post office, and immediately file a claim, with the original weight and much lighter empty box as evidence that the contents were stolen en route.
It's a workable plan, if you get all of the proof points right. But... using regular ice... wow, you missed the point.
On the post: Guantanamo Bay Authorities Ban Solzhenitsyn's 'The Gulag Archipelago'
Once he came into office, that promise was abandoned.
On the post: AP Claims Copyright Over Manning's Request For Pardon
An egregious case was /bin/true in Unix. It can be implemented as an zero-length file, but was originally implemented as a single blank line. Almost every commercial Unix took this empty file and tacked on a copyright notice. Some had up to five notices.
I always hoped that there would be a court ruling that such blatant automated blind copyright claims made all similar claims invalid. Copyright is only properly applied to creative work. An mechanically added claim is the opposite of that.
On the post: Dumb Criminal Tries To Pass Off Ice Blocks As iPads For Fun And Profit
Misunderstood 'dry ice'
When it arrived at the destination, the dry ice would have sublimated with no evidence remaining. The recipient would open the box at the post office, and immediately file a claim, with the original weight and much lighter empty box as evidence that the contents were stolen en route.
It's a workable plan, if you get all of the proof points right. But... using regular ice... wow, you missed the point.
Next >>