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Sotomayor's Position On Copyright Damages
Too Lazy to Login writes "Wired reports that, based on her previous decisions, Sonia Sotomayor will likely affirm high damages (read: RIAA excessive) in cases where copyright claims are at issue. Good thing I'm not a betting man, because I'd have guessed the exact opposite." We discussed the nominee's cyberlaw record in general last week.
Is the only answer. Throw them all out.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
I reckon RIAA and those persuaded by their arguments will continue to try to tighten their grip as much as they can wherever they can. Whether or not Sotomayor will decide in ways that favour RIAA or not is something I hesitate to speculate about. However if people want their government representatives and judges to understand their reservations about RIAA's way of doing business they have to continue to speak up; not only to protest but also to try and find solutions to the situation we are at now.
What should be the principles behind music and movie distribution? I for one would hope for something that those purchasing and creating such material would both find acceptable. Though it is hard for me to say what that would be. At the moment what we have are many reacting to what they see as negative trends, and some saying so in well argued ways, but as long as RIAA can claim even an inch of legitimate concern for the artists and their rights they will continue to resist reforms they cant adequately, in their eyes, influence.
The Long Now Foundation
How exactly is this health care going to be paid for?
By taxing the rich who don't pay their fair share!
Sarcasm aside, this country is already fundamentally insolvent even if we do not add on additional liabilities like socialized health care. We can't pay the bills we had in 2007, we can't pay the bills we've added since then, and we damn sure can't pay the bills Obama is planning to add on top...even if you kill the rich and the middle class and confiscate their wealth. Not that Obama and company won't get around to trying that when their abject failure becomes apparent. That of course, assumes that failure of the US economic is not their end goal....which it might very well be (it would be hard to figure out how they could be even more irresponsible).
The most expensive year of your life is almost always your last one. The multiple 'heroic' attempts to save the life of grandma are extremely costly and have a very small benefit to society. Yes, I was extremely saddened when my grandmother passed away, but the last year of her life after her stroke was extremely costly and unjustifiable. This is not a unique event. My great aunt post-Alzheimer had the exact same costly treatments and same end result.. Uncured dementia and prolonged death at great expense to US taxpayers.
We have forgotten as a society how to die gracefully. Just because you have the technology to keep someone alive well past the time their brain has died doesnt mean you should. And it certainly doesnt mean that the government should pay for it. If you want to pay $100,000 to keep your brain dead grandmother alive, feel free. But dont expect everyone else to pay for you.
If we dont get old age expenses under control, there will be no Social Security or Medicare for the young.