And... I'm not one to necessarily say that the free market solves all problems, but this certainly seems like one that the market itself can and should deal with on its own.
I mean, given that you correctly point out that this is just a new variation on a problem that's been going on for decades, maybe we can draw certain conclusions about whether the market actually wants to solve it.
I really don't think "let a company refuse to honor the warranty on a piece of exercise equipment because someone installed Netflix on it" is the acceptable compromise you think it is.
Aside from everything else that's wrong with this, when manufacturers do shit like this (or, say, HP disabling third-party ink cartridges) they're conditioning users to mistrust security updates, and the long-term consequences of that are potentially devastating.
In before the commenters more incensed by your use of the word "asshole" than by megacorporations deliberately taking advantage of people with life-threatening illnesses.
Techdirt frequently covers stories about noted public figures blaming young people's relationship with technology for various financial failures or social ills.
One company I worked at (okay it was GoDaddy) my first week I had to take this online security test which, among other things, recommended that you comply with the "mixed case plus symbols" requirement by starting your password with a capital letter and ending with an exclamation point.
I e-mailed the security team to let them know this was terrible advice. Never heard back.
That was...2013, I think? I'm sure they're not using that test anymore (because it was Flash-based), but that doesn't mean whatever test they're using now is any better.
However, unless there's really strong evidence indicating that Project Veritas was involved in the actual theft of the diary, if the organization was merely the recipient of that diary, then these raids raise many, many concerns about violations of press freedoms and the use of law enforcement to intimidate the press.
That "unless" is an important one.
I find it very easy to believe that O'Keefe had some personal involvement in stealing the diary -- remember he previously got busted trying to tap Senator Landrieu's phone -- but I also find it very easy to believe the FBI overstepped its authority in order to intimidate and make an example of someone.
I'll have to see more evidence before I decide which side I ultimately come down on here. But you're right, absent any evidence that O'Keefe was involved in the theft, this is concerning.
Why, are you under the impression they're doing this for some other reason besides so they can say "See, we don't need right-to-repair legislation, we're doing it voluntarily"?
Karl's made it clear he doesn't read the comments, because he keeps repeating this line, but just to reiterate:
DC had been dismantling Vertigo for years before the AT&T merger. AT&T fucked up a lot of stuff at Warner after the merger, but pre-merger WB was doing just fine smothering Vertigo all by itself.
On the post: Silly, Pandering Politicians Introduce Silly, Pandering 'Cyber Grinch' Law That Would Ban Buying Bots
I mean, given that you correctly point out that this is just a new variation on a problem that's been going on for decades, maybe we can draw certain conclusions about whether the market actually wants to solve it.
On the post: NordicTrack Patches Out 'God Mode' In Treadmills That Allowed Users To Watch Anything On Its Display
Re:
I really don't think "let a company refuse to honor the warranty on a piece of exercise equipment because someone installed Netflix on it" is the acceptable compromise you think it is.
On the post: NordicTrack Patches Out 'God Mode' In Treadmills That Allowed Users To Watch Anything On Its Display
Aside from everything else that's wrong with this, when manufacturers do shit like this (or, say, HP disabling third-party ink cartridges) they're conditioning users to mistrust security updates, and the long-term consequences of that are potentially devastating.
On the post: The Next 'Elder Scrolls' Game Will Be A PC, Xbox Exclusive
Re: 'No exclusives... except the ones we're making exclusive.'
You don't actually have to be a customer to be worried about a corporation's bad behavior.
On the post: Why Are Drug Prices So High? Because Asshole McKinsey Consultants Figure Out Ways To Re-Patent The Same Drugs Over And Over
Re: The reason companies exist
Just because someone reports on something doesn't mean it's supposed to be surprising.
"It's sunny and hot in Phoenix" is not surprising, but my local paper still has a weather section.
On the post: The Next 'Elder Scrolls' Game Will Be A PC, Xbox Exclusive
Microsoft, abusing its market position to give it an anticompetitive advantage?
Well I never.
On the post: Why Are Drug Prices So High? Because Asshole McKinsey Consultants Figure Out Ways To Re-Patent The Same Drugs Over And Over
Re:
Pretty sure the FDA's not the organization handing out patents.
On the post: Why Are Drug Prices So High? Because Asshole McKinsey Consultants Figure Out Ways To Re-Patent The Same Drugs Over And Over
In before the commenters more incensed by your use of the word "asshole" than by megacorporations deliberately taking advantage of people with life-threatening illnesses.
On the post: Ridley Scott Blames His Latest Movie Bombing At The Box Office On Facebook And Millennials, Rather Than Pandemic And Poor Marketing
Re: just not a theatrical movie
Ha, nice Ridley Scott impression. You really nailed the whole "old person being dismissive of what's currently popular" tone.
On the post: Ridley Scott Blames His Latest Movie Bombing At The Box Office On Facebook And Millennials, Rather Than Pandemic And Poor Marketing
Re: Legal Aspect
Techdirt frequently covers stories about noted public figures blaming young people's relationship with technology for various financial failures or social ills.
On the post: Donald Trump Says He's Going To Sue The Pulitzer Committee If They Don't Take Away The NY Times And WaPo Pulitzers
Re: When you want to/are doing X, first blame the other person o
Straight out of the Roy Cohn playbook.
On the post: More Than 100 Hertz Customers Are Suing The Company For Falsely Reporting Rented Vehicles As Stolen
Re: Oddly European headline
God damn, they're being sued by a hundred and twenty customers per second?
On the post: Donald Trump Says He's Going To Sue The Pulitzer Committee If They Don't Take Away The NY Times And WaPo Pulitzers
Re: Re: Re: Not a 1st Amendment issue, not censorship
https://www.popehat.com/2016/06/11/hello-youve-been-referred-here-because-youre-wrong-about-the-firs t-amendment/
On the post: Donald Trump Says He's Going To Sue The Pulitzer Committee If They Don't Take Away The NY Times And WaPo Pulitzers
Re: Not a 1st Amendment issue, not censorship
I'll bite.
How is someone attempting to control someone else's speech through the courts not a First Amendment issue or censorship?
On the post: 'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem
Re: Re:
I've learned not to bother.
One company I worked at (okay it was GoDaddy) my first week I had to take this online security test which, among other things, recommended that you comply with the "mixed case plus symbols" requirement by starting your password with a capital letter and ending with an exclamation point.
I e-mailed the security team to let them know this was terrible advice. Never heard back.
That was...2013, I think? I'm sure they're not using that test anymore (because it was Flash-based), but that doesn't mean whatever test they're using now is any better.
On the post: 'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem
Had to take one of those dumbass Online Security Training things at work last week.
Got marked wrong for putting "first name" under "can be used to identify an individual."
Which just tells me the test was written by somebody whose first name isn't Thaddeus.
On the post: Yes, Even If You Think Project Veritas Are A Bunch Of Malicious Grifters, FBI Raid Is Concerning
Re:
What law did they break in this case?
On the post: Yes, Even If You Think Project Veritas Are A Bunch Of Malicious Grifters, FBI Raid Is Concerning
That "unless" is an important one.
I find it very easy to believe that O'Keefe had some personal involvement in stealing the diary -- remember he previously got busted trying to tap Senator Landrieu's phone -- but I also find it very easy to believe the FBI overstepped its authority in order to intimidate and make an example of someone.
I'll have to see more evidence before I decide which side I ultimately come down on here. But you're right, absent any evidence that O'Keefe was involved in the theft, this is concerning.
On the post: In Big Shift For Apple, Company Makes It Easier For Users To Repair Phones
Re: Didn't see that one coming.
Why, are you under the impression they're doing this for some other reason besides so they can say "See, we don't need right-to-repair legislation, we're doing it voluntarily"?
On the post: Jeff Bewkes Blames AT&T Incompetence For Bungled Time Warner, HBO Mergers
Karl's made it clear he doesn't read the comments, because he keeps repeating this line, but just to reiterate:
DC had been dismantling Vertigo for years before the AT&T merger. AT&T fucked up a lot of stuff at Warner after the merger, but pre-merger WB was doing just fine smothering Vertigo all by itself.
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