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Dilbert Hiding On Your CPU
Case_Argentina writes "Interesting article and photos on News.com about a guy who does microscopy photography discovering hidden images in computer chips. The images, made by tiny wires connecting the deeper layers of the chip, were left there by engineers leaving messages to competitors, or just having plain fun. Snoopy, Daffy Duck, Dilbert, Dogbert and lots of silicon characters and images can be seen at The Silicon Zoo." Update: 10/15 06:27 GMT by Z : As some readers have pointed out, if history serves you can look forward to reading about this again in 2007.
Thats actually a good question, however, since the copyrighted material is not being used as a means to sell the chips, or to improve the chips, I would image this would fall under "Fair Use". Then again, so does backing up your own DVD's and that hasn't stopped the MPAA from coming out against it.
Now you make me wonder about tattoos. If a tattoo artist did a Bugs Bunny tatto for me, would he be violating copyright because he charged me for it? I'm sure I wouldn't be because I didn't profit from it, but I see lots of toon tattos. My brother even has one.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
If you've never read Dilbert? What kind of statement is that? It's marketed so extensively that it would be almost impossible to have not read a Dilbert cartoon.
Who cares?
I don't know if you're interested or not, but I ended up acquiring four frames of IBM core memory which I took to framing and hanging above my couch. Yes, I know the color is off in that photo, but each frame is mounted over a gloss white piece of paper, which is then set on tan foamcore.
:)
Core memory is so cool.
I should copyright/patent "sense of humor." Obviously the corporations haven't.
qz
Unfortunately some companies don't seem to be bothered by bad PR.
6 .html>McDonalds owns Mc.
McDonalds and their quest to own the 'Mc' prefix is a good example.
http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/ind_24sep9
In this case, they tried to menace a sandwich shop called McMunchies for unauthorised use of the Mc prefix. The sandwich shop doesn't even sell hamburgers and is based in Scotland - a place where Mc is a relatively common prefix for names.
Telling the Scots that they cannot use the prefix Mc is like someone registering the name Singh and then ban its use in India. Where do they think Mc originated - Illinois?
This chip doodling reminds me of easter eggs. You're right that it does open a legal can of worms. I've seen a big decrease in the number of easter eggs - at least the silly ones. Now, easter eggs are too often the corporate sanctioned ones - i.e. not very funny anymore.
-- Using the preview button since 2005