Slashdot Mirror
ReplayTV Users Sue Hollywood
Seth Schoen writes "A group of ReplayTV 4000 users, led by Craigslist creator Craig Newmark, today sued a group of entertainment companies to establish
that plaintiffs' use of the ReplayTV (including skipping
commercials) is not illegal. The defendants are the same entertainment companies which
have sued ReplayTV. Here the end users of the product
are getting involved to defend the legitimacy of their
activity in the face of allegations that skipping commercials is "theft". The plaintiffs are represented by Ira
Rothken and EFF. The case
is Newmark
v. Turner, in the Central District of California (at Los Angeles).
(Some people are calling it
Craig
v. Hollywood.)"
Is that anything like Joe vs. the Volcano?
I thought Tuesdays were "screw the MPAA" day and Thursdays were "Oooh, Newline just released the LOTR Behind the Scenes DVD" party.
i think it is just like skipping stones, it just requires more arm strength.
"I don't need a compass to tell me which way the wind shines." - Mr. Furious, Mystery Men
By watching TV you are entering into a Hobbesian contract. They agree to show a show, you agree to watch the commercials. It's a concept as old as the Magna Carta. I can't wait until these self-delusional pirates are given the smackdown by a clueful judge.
Yea and it would really screw up the tribial persuit game.
Question: What brand of cola was on the table during the 3rd episode of _Third Rock From the Sun_?
A. Coke
B. Pepsi
C. Root Beer
D. Depends on witch one payed more money this time
E. All of the above
Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
Is browsing at +3 violating a contract with other slashdot users?
I say 'A'... no, 'B'......aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
...we are from the government - we are here to help...
It is said that every time a Tivo skips past a 1-800-CALL-ATT commercial starring Carrot Top, an angel gets its wings.
I generally use that time to take a big dump. Maybe the RIAA should sue my colon. If I know ahead of time, I can have taco bell for lunch and guarantee a large settlement.
Hey freaks: now you're ju
I've seen some very small lawyers PASS some very large stones.
Skipping the commercials is theft?
I guess if they can FORCE us to watch their commercials, then they don't have to be bothered with developing better, more captivating ways to get people to WANT to watch their commercials, and ultimately buy their products. Why don't they just skip the millions they spend in post-production of the commercials, and show a simple white background, with a huge black font, and static text like:
BUY CELINE DION CDS
for 30 seconds. I mean, if they can FORCE you to watch it, why spend all that extra dough trying to make WANT to watch it?
I can just hear it now:
"You veel vatch dees commercials, and LIKE THEM!"
"You veel go out and buy de Celine Dion CDs!"
I guess they're logic is: "We made a commercial, so if you don't like it enough to watch it, something must be wrong with you."
I thought the whole idea of advertising was to make the product look appealing, so that people want to buy it. If people dont want to watch your commercial, then something's wrong with the commercial, not the people watching it. That's why I like websites like adcritic.com. you can (could) go there and watch the really creative, entertaining, and captivating commercials.
"A terrorist is someone who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force." -William Blum
Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
By watching TV you are entering into a Hobbesian contract.
Excellent use of obscure terminology. The phrase Hobbesian contract makes you appear smart, because most readers don't know what a Hobbesian contract is. (Namely, an agreement to obey an authority as long as said authority does its duty.)
They agree to show a show, you agree to watch the commercials. It's a concept as old as the Magna Carta.
Citing historical documents. Excellent.
I can't wait until these self-delusional pirates are given the smackdown by a clueful judge.
Here's where you lose me. A skilled troll would have omitted this sentence, or at least softened the wording a bit. Referring to people who want to skip commercials (at last count, almost everyone) as "self-delusional pirates" is an obvious attempt at ruffling feathers.
One other note: you probably should have written a few paragraphs and explained your ridiculous opinion in more detail. It's far more effective to progressively piss people off than hit them with one insult four sentences into your post.
Final Grade: C
Keep at it. You'll get there eventually.
Has anyone thought about this...
What happens if I change the channel to watch a different commercial at the same time? Do the advertisers sue each other over audience thievery?
Conversely, how would you try to fit in a tampax ad? blech, I don't even want to think about it...
I wonder if I can get a clause in my contract that says I don't have to watch the ads for feminine hygiene products.
Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
...and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Hollywood.
Transcript show: self sigs atRandom.
None of the above!
It's a dessert topping!
No, a floor wax!
No, a dessert topping!
Floor wax!
It might get this bad.
Let's space shift and put the commercials in the bathroom. Just have a little flat screen and a speaker next to the toilet with a motion sensor, and then whatever commercials are associated with the programming you watch start scrolling when you enter the room. Put a pressure sensor on the toilet seat, and appropriately themed adverts could play as you sit down. Get one of those fancy Japanese toilets that perform instant stool analysis, feed that back to the sponsors to help them determine your medical and dietary needs and vices, and get hours of special bonus viewing! Install a proctoscope and get even more!
___
"with their freedom lost all virtue lose" - Milton
If companies didn't market their products there would be no product awareness by the consumer and they wouldn't know to buy the product.