Yeah, it's really convenient to be able to just open the newspaper, flip flip flip until you find the movie listings and then pull out your magnifying glass to read that 2-point font they use. Much easier than opening my web browser, which opens my iGoogle homepage, which has a widget for local movie listings... instantly.
First, addiction is not too strong of a word to describe what some experience. It's embarassing, but I'll state that I was once addicted to WoW. I played it constantly, Tuesday downtime was my enemy. I ignored my family, I dropped out of school. I was VERY irritable if I could not play for some reason. These are all classic signs of addiction.
Second, drugs/alcohol alter your mental state, reward your pleasure centers disproportionately to "real life". Online games like WoW do the same. You feel more powerful, in control, not to mention wanted/desired if you are in a raiding guild.
Having said all of that, I think these therapists are just looking for an excuse to play WoW all day.
"""One thing is certain, and that is that neither I or anyone else on TechDIRT has enough information to judge who is right in this dispute."""
Wrong. I have enough information to judge that suing this particular fellow (CitiWare) in conjunction with all the rest is a blatantly transparent ploy to keep this lawsuit within the notoriously patent-friendly East Texas District.
Re: Re: Re: So, enforce some laws, but not others?
"""Ultimately, the laws of the United States are affected by ordinary citizens, when enough of them care to make a difference. It does not matter how many millions lobbyists spend, if you galvanize enough citizens, you can overcome."""
You are refreshingly naive and dumbfoundedly ignorant of the real world. Money always trumps voices. Although in a funny way you are kind-of right: if more "ordinary citizens" put their money where their mouth is, they could probably accomplish change the way lobbyists do... and become lobbyists in the process. I'll leave it up to the individual whether "lobbyist" is a dirty word.
Well, I know why Mike didn't use it in his summary:
Every time he does, he gets ragged on for daring to use a term that he coined. And to that I say, "Mike, when there is a clear case of Streissand Effect, say it loud and say it proud! I chuckle every time I read it."
I am aware that patents cover inventions and in the instances where the inventions are very clear and specific, as I said I have little problem with the protections granted by patents.
However, I disagree with your assertion that overly broad patents are in the minority. I would request a citation, but I'm too lazy to look one up to bolster my own assertion. I will note that many of the complaints levied against the patent system involve overly broad/generalized patents, and I don't believe that people are cherry-picking examples; bad patents are granted every day.
The problem I have with this and other "patent thickets" is that they are usually WAY over-generalized. I don't have a problem with an actual invention being protected, such as the device(s) used to reclaim the braking energy. I do have a problem with a general patent that effectively covers ALL inventions that could be described as reclaiming braking energy. If some loner inventor comes up completely on his own with a radical ground breaking invention, why should he have to pay a fee to someone to be allowed to produce his invention just because they had the *idea* first?
I have to side with the AC on this one. If the same dude that "stole" the pictures had instead entered into a multi-million dollar deal with a supplier for *insert item here*, no court in the land will hold McD's to that contract, there was no true meeting of the minds. By the same token I don't feel that the employee can expose McD's to damages through totally unforseen actions that could not have reasonably been addressed.
Now having said that, it would seem that some people know some more about this story than the rest of us. If there are some sort of extenuating circumstances wherein one or more of McD's management behaved badly, perhaps that would open the door to damages.
Wow, so any of an infinite number of scenarios not covered by the McD's training manual that could result in poor, negligent, or even deliberately bad choices by an employee that results in some sort of damages would make McD's liable?
I hate to see the size of training manuals in the future...
"""It is my hope that this policy is derived from the utter ignorance of a single person. And once that person is set straight, some sanity will prevail. Of course hope and five cents will at best get you a nickel."""
"""There was no upper range for the temperature of heated beverages."""
You are wrong. Even if there is no rule or regulation (which I bet there is), there is an expectation that coffee will not be so hot as to cause almost instant third degree burns if it is spilled in our laps. The manager of that franchise knew exactly what he was doing, had been called on it before, but continued to keep the coffee hotter "than normal" because it lasted longer, meaning they didn't have to remake it as often.
The lady only asked for her medical bills to be paid, a very reasonable request in light of the ACTUAL facts.
On the post: Should Wedding Party In Viral YouTube Video Get A Cut Of Music Sale Profits?
Re: Re: Re: Re:
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png
On the post: Video Game Downloads Harming The Used Video Game Market?
Re: Re: App store cage
On the post: AMC Theatres Pull Movie Listings From Washington Post; Post Hopes Movie Attendance Drops
Re:
On the post: If You're Addicted To World Of Warcraft, Why Not Get Therapy For It In The Game?
Re: Addiction??
First, addiction is not too strong of a word to describe what some experience. It's embarassing, but I'll state that I was once addicted to WoW. I played it constantly, Tuesday downtime was my enemy. I ignored my family, I dropped out of school. I was VERY irritable if I could not play for some reason. These are all classic signs of addiction.
Second, drugs/alcohol alter your mental state, reward your pleasure centers disproportionately to "real life". Online games like WoW do the same. You feel more powerful, in control, not to mention wanted/desired if you are in a raiding guild.
Having said all of that, I think these therapists are just looking for an excuse to play WoW all day.
On the post: For East Texas Patent Lawyers: Maybe Next Time Don't Sue Random Open Source Developers
Re: Another entitlement minded open source type.
Wrong. I have enough information to judge that suing this particular fellow (CitiWare) in conjunction with all the rest is a blatantly transparent ploy to keep this lawsuit within the notoriously patent-friendly East Texas District.
Riley, surely even you can see that.
On the post: Isn't There Something Ironic In An Anonymous Exec Demanding Transparency From Google?
Re:
On the post: GNR Uploader Gets Two Months House Arrest, Plus Will Produce Propaganda For RIAA
Re: Re: Re: So, enforce some laws, but not others?
You are refreshingly naive and dumbfoundedly ignorant of the real world. Money always trumps voices. Although in a funny way you are kind-of right: if more "ordinary citizens" put their money where their mouth is, they could probably accomplish change the way lobbyists do... and become lobbyists in the process. I'll leave it up to the individual whether "lobbyist" is a dirty word.
On the post: What's The Guinness World Record For Morons In A Hurry Sending Bogus Takedowns?
Re:
On the post: LeBron James Discovering What Happens When You Try To Suppress Something
Re: Barbara
Every time he does, he gets ragged on for daring to use a term that he coined. And to that I say, "Mike, when there is a clear case of Streissand Effect, say it loud and say it proud! I chuckle every time I read it."
On the post: How Toyota Is Using Patents To Slow The Growth Of Hybrid Vehicles
Re: Re: No.
However, I disagree with your assertion that overly broad patents are in the minority. I would request a citation, but I'm too lazy to look one up to bolster my own assertion. I will note that many of the complaints levied against the patent system involve overly broad/generalized patents, and I don't believe that people are cherry-picking examples; bad patents are granted every day.
On the post: How Toyota Is Using Patents To Slow The Growth Of Hybrid Vehicles
No.
On the post: SIIA's Sequel To Don't Copy That Floppy Lies About Criminality Of Copying
Re: Stop.. and think... before posting childish comments...
I've got one phrase for you, shill:
"Death plus seventy years."
On the post: McDonald's Not Dismissed From Nude Photo Case... But It Can Sue Its Own Employee Too
Re: Re:
Now having said that, it would seem that some people know some more about this story than the rest of us. If there are some sort of extenuating circumstances wherein one or more of McD's management behaved badly, perhaps that would open the door to damages.
On the post: McDonald's Not Dismissed From Nude Photo Case... But It Can Sue Its Own Employee Too
Re: Re:
I hate to see the size of training manuals in the future...
On the post: Fact Checking? Reporter Claims It Costs $27 To Use The Pirate Bay
Re: Mea culpa
Objective journalism at its finest! No agenda here!
"""I regret the errors."""
I don't believe that because if so you would not have just "disappeared" the mistakes but would have issued a proper retraction.
On the post: Mos Def Tries T-Shirt As An Album Business Model
Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: ASCAP Now Claiming That Your Mobile Phone Ringing Is A Public Performance
Re:
If a tree falls down in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise?
If a horse hears a song in a stable and ASCAP is on the case, does someone have to pay a licensing fee?
On the post: City Requires Job Applicants To Hand Over All Online Usernames And Passwords
Re:
Here's your nickel back.
On the post: Student Found Guilty Of 'Disturbing The Peace' For Sending Nasty Political Email To Professor
Re: Libel In Email Address
On the post: If You Get Shot, You Don't Get To Blame Craigslist For Hosting An Ad For The Gun Dealer Where The Shooter Bought The Gun
Re: Re: Re: Remember the Coffee-mo!!
You are wrong. Even if there is no rule or regulation (which I bet there is), there is an expectation that coffee will not be so hot as to cause almost instant third degree burns if it is spilled in our laps. The manager of that franchise knew exactly what he was doing, had been called on it before, but continued to keep the coffee hotter "than normal" because it lasted longer, meaning they didn't have to remake it as often.
The lady only asked for her medical bills to be paid, a very reasonable request in light of the ACTUAL facts.
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