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Posting Photos of Olympics Could Land You In Court

hypnosec writes "With London's summer 2012 games due to take place in the very near future, you'd think that organizers would make more of an effort and persuade people to show more of an interest — yet it appears the complete opposite has happened, with strict guidelines banning athletes from posting photos of themselves on Twitter with products that aren't official Olympics sponsors, as well as prohibiting videos or photos to be taken from the athlete's village. Oh and just for good measure, fans could find themselves barred from sharing videos and photos on Facebook and YouTube of themselves delighting in said Olympics action."

277 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. Another by geekoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    reason not to watch the Olympics

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:Another by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Mod parent up.

      If the crazy rules about non-professional professionals and what they do to the cities they visit was not enough here is another good reason to ignore them.

    2. Re:Another by poetmatt · · Score: 4, Informative

      I never started missing them until they started these ridiculous rules.

      Now they're more difficult to find online and less valuable to me as a consumer, as their value is being decreased by the IOC.

      Way to go, IOC.

    3. Re:Another by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I haven't watched the Olympic games .. shit, I don't even remember when I watched them the last time. I vaguely remember watching the games in Moscow.

      I really couldn't get over the corporate crap and the whole irrelevance whether this or that country won. Who really gives a shit?

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    4. Re:Another by ctaylor · · Score: 1

      Like we needed another reason?

    5. Re:Another by QuasiSteve · · Score: 1

      I don't think I've actually watched an Olympic Games sports* event since I was 12.

      Aside from the ridiculous rules, the insane costs, the fact that the country's representatives are not necessarily their best, the presence of 'team' sports, the use of pools (the competition form, not the bodies-of-water) in some sports events, etc. have long put me off watching.

      * But I still watch the opening and closing ceremonies.
      I guess it's not entirely dissimilar to people who watch the SuperBowl for the commercials/halftime show, rather than for the football game.

    6. Re:Another by donaggie03 · · Score: 1

      The last time I watched the olympics, it was 1996, I was 16, and Dominique Moceanu was very much a cutie.

      --
      Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
    7. Re:Another by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      Last time the olympics came around, I tried to watch them online. No deal.

      I assume pirate bay will help me if I want to watch them this time around.

    8. Re:Another by DdJ · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Yeup. The last time I willingly watched the olympics, the year was 1976. I don't see that changing this time around.

    9. Re:Another by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I watched the 2010 Winter Olympics. All of them, as much as I could, in HD on my new TV.

      Why? Because as a BC resident, I was going to be footing the FOUR BILLION DOLLAR bill for the rest of my working life. I figured I damned well should watch the spectacle. From the building of the Canada Line to the dead Romanian; from the the failed moving torch to the helicoptering in of snow from other locales to the demolition of the athlete's housing and their reappearance as low-income housing down the street (which, by the way, I think was one good thing to come out of Those Damned Games.), I saw the entire lifecycle.

      For what it's worth, I don't really understand the obsession people have with sports. It's like I've got a kind of colour blindness or something.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    10. Re:Another by theguyfromsaturn · · Score: 2

      Same thing here. I used to follow the Olympics minute by minute. But I didn't even bother watching a single minute of the last winter Olympics (being canadian and all). The magic is gone (it really hasn't helped that they started showing off the "professional" teams. You don't get the same involvement from those guys. It certainly doesn't feel like it's the most important competition to them, and just got me bored.

      I wasn't planning to watch the Olympics anyways, but I'm certainly not moved to changed my mind by these rulings.

      --
      I like my dinosaurs feathery, and my pterosaurs hairy (or is it pycnofibery?)
    11. Re:Another by cpu6502 · · Score: 1

      >>>Dominique Moceanu was very much a cutie.

      Shannon Miller was cuter. ;-)

      I remember the 1996 U.S. olympics were criticized for being too commercialized (corporate sponsorship made it the only Olympics that gained a profit). But now it sounds like the UK will eclipse 1996 with its takeover by the corporate copyright police.

      --
      My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
    12. Re:Another by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      which, by the way, I think was one good thing to come out of Those Damned Games.

      Hey, Canada Line is handy, too.

      (speaking as someone who lived in Richmond and worked in downtown when it had been built)

    13. Re:Another by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Athlete's village

      Posted those years ago. I worked on the fire alarm system for the Athlete's village and took those photos on-site. The system itself is a disaster and totally unsafe.

      Go on, sue me.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    14. Re:Another by thereitis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, the Olympics is a bigger crock of shit every year. I feel sorry for the athletes - they need a better venue. Half the sports are about being 1/100th of a second faster than second place which is insignificant, really. You could catch a gust of wind and lose that amount of time. They're all the best in the world - nuff said.

    15. Re:Another by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What do you expect? The entire thing is about monies from advertising.

      While it's nice to actually watch events, bullshit rules surrounding the events being broadcast, and rules like this restricting the fans and athletes are exactly while I'll likely skip the whole thing.

      Here's a case study: want to see how Capitalism can destroy something? Look at the Olympics.

    16. Re:Another by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      For what it's worth, I don't really understand the obsession people have with sports. It's like I've got a kind of colour blindness or something.

      It's the same reason why everyone else doesn't really understand our obsessions with cartoons, comic books, cult TV shows, and video games. Well, almost the same reason, in that we know our obsessions are way more importanter!

    17. Re:Another by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

      That's true, CL is nice.

      I wanted to reframe it a little because the first draft looked like I was against LI housing in my neighbourhood. I've lived in market-rate LIH, and it's pretty nice.

      1/2 the neighbours were families down on their luck, 1/2 were working their way up (I'd just graduated from University and we had a toddler), a handful were people who... well, they set up a lot of their life choices so they didn't have the chance for a lot of good outcomes.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    18. Re:Another by camperdave · · Score: 1

      I don't think I've actually watched an Olympic Games sports* event since I was 12.

      Aside from the ridiculous rules, the insane costs, the fact that the country's representatives are not necessarily their best, the presence of 'team' sports, the use of pools (the competition form, not the bodies-of-water) in some sports events, etc. have long put me off watching.

      * But I still watch the opening and closing ceremonies. I guess it's not entirely dissimilar to people who watch the SuperBowl for the commercials/halftime show, rather than for the football game.

      Wait! There's a football game?

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    19. Re:Another by AngryDeuce · · Score: 1

      I watched the hell out of the '92 Olympics, but that was solely because of the Dream Team. I mean, the games were a total joke, they beat everybody by at least 30 points, but it was great seeing all those amazing players on the same team.

      From what I've read, pretty much every one of their opponents didn't even care that they'd lost, they were just fucking ecstatic to play with those guys. I can't say I blame them...

      Haven't really watched any subsequent ones outside of checking scores from time to time...just highlights if something truly newsworthy happens (like Michael Phelps winning his 8th gold medal).

    20. Re:Another by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      And, if memory serves me correct, you could get clips of ping-pong, air rifles, and absolutely nothing you really wanted to watch.

    21. Re:Another by Darinbob · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Problem is that these sorts of rules diminish advertising revenue. Money comes from external advertisers and they want people to watch the Olympics; it's the whole point of giving advertising dollars to the IOC so that more eyeballs see their ads and see athletes using their products. If the eyeballs stop watching that backfires. If the additional word of mouth about a product dries up then that hurts the product. People won't care about the athletes if they don't do any sort of promotion and only appear for a few minutes during official coverage, and they certainly won't care about what the footwear the athlete prefers this way.

    22. Re:Another by cffrost · · Score: 2

      Last time the olympics came around, I tried to watch them online. No deal.

      I assume pirate bay will help me if I want to watch them this time around.

      They will. In 2010, all events and tryouts were available in SD and 720p.

      --
      Thank you, Edward Snowden.

      "Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
    23. Re:Another by dwywit · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Want to change things? Write a letter (NOT a tweet or email, or facebook posting) to the sponsors' PR departments. Say something like "I'm aware that you've paid $BIGNUM for sponsorship and associated exclusive marketing rights, but guess what? I'm not going to watch, and I'm not going to buy your products." Make sure you CC a copy to the IOC, and one to the local broadcaster.
       
      There was, IIRC, an estimate from marketing research that went something along the lines of "one person who actually takes the trouble to complain represents x number of people who are unhappy, but don't take the trouble to complain". If enough people made their views known to the sponsors, LOC and broadcasters, they just might take notice and change their ways.
       
      And pigs might fly, I know.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    24. Re:Another by n0tWorthy · · Score: 1

      A good reason to form a FaceBook boycott of the Olympics. If people say they won't watch maybe the advertizers will demand change.

      --
      "Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a great battle." - Philo of Alexandria -
    25. Re:Another by mug+funky · · Score: 2

      The system itself is a disaster and totally unsafe.

      Go on, sue me.

      nice to see someone who takes pride in their work :)

    26. Re:Another by mallyn · · Score: 1

      Who is Dominique Moceanu? Is that a man or a woman? It sounds like one of the symbol names in some code that I am peer-reviewing.

      --
      Most Respectfully Yours Mark Allyn Bellingham, Washington
    27. Re:Another by mallyn · · Score: 1
      Sports to me is not watching. It's doing. I ride a bicycle to and from work. I walk. That's sports. When I am bored with that, I make jewelry and clothing for fun. I don't need the olympics or football or any other sport that I watch.

      The only time I want to a spectator sport is when my boss gave me tickets because I did something right. Even there, I showed off more then I watch the game. I wore one of my glowing jackets and dazzled the people.

      --
      Most Respectfully Yours Mark Allyn Bellingham, Washington
    28. Re:Another by LordKronos · · Score: 1

      I don't think I've actually watched an Olympic Games sports* event since I was 12.

      Aside from the ridiculous rules, the insane costs, the fact that the country's representatives are not necessarily their best, the presence of 'team' sports, the use of pools (the competition form, not the bodies-of-water) in some sports events, etc. have long put me off watching.

      * But I still watch the opening and closing ceremonies.
      I guess it's not entirely dissimilar to people who watch the SuperBowl for the commercials/halftime show, rather than for the football game.

      Wait! There's a football game?

      Not sure how to take that. Are you one of the people who watches it for the commercials, or are you from Europe?

    29. Re:Another by maugle · · Score: 2

      Also, we haven't been able to get the government to fork over 4 billion dollars to host the world's biggest video game competition.

    30. Re:Another by sunwukong · · Score: 1

      In the near future, I believe that's called an election.

    31. Re:Another by Nyder · · Score: 1

      reason not to watch the Olympics

      I stopped watching back when the Russians and Americans started banning Olypmics.

      Even at the young age I was then, I knew the olympics was about the best athletes around the world competing, not about politics nor money.

      And yet, The Olympics seem to be about money and fucking politics.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    32. Re:Another by Dodgy+G33za · · Score: 1

      Actually all you need to do to change things is not support them financially. Appeals to the lazy in everyone! If no-one watched or turned up the whole thing would go away and we could all save our tax dollars for something more useful to humanity.

      I have never understood the appeal of watching someone who has spent their life dedicated to being 0.01 of a second faster than everyone else. But then I would always rather participate than watch, in whatever field of endeavor.

    33. Re:Another by Fjandr · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Here's a case study: want to see how Authoritarianism can destroy something? Look at the Olympics.

      The IOC is about as anti-competitive an entity as you can get, which is ironic given that their business is putting on competitions.

    34. Re:Another by Fjandr · · Score: 1

      I heartily endorse this if every one is mandated to be run in deathmatch mode.

    35. Re:Another by janimal · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sounds like the music and film industry. Soon the IOC is going to start complaining that revenues are down, because people in the city see the results for free in newspapers and on the internet and therefore don't feel the need to watch the games with all the adverts. So results will become copyright. Mark my word.

    36. Re:Another by robthebloke · · Score: 1

      What's so special about boycotting on facebook only? Why on earth would doing anything on facebook make advertisers think they need to change? Hey Steve! Have you seen this facebook group of disenchanted 18-30 year olds, wanting a boycott of the Olympics? How can we monetise this? I'm not actually on facebook, so I guess I won't be able to join in with your boycott.....

    37. Re:Another by RoboJ1M · · Score: 1

      That and the fact that they utterly failed to fairly distribute the tickets.
      God I'm so embarrassed to be from this country.

    38. Re:Another by CheeseyDJ · · Score: 3, Insightful

      want to see how Capitalism can destroy something? Look at the Olympics.

      Couldn't agree more. If any more evidence was required, just consider the "official Olympic restaurant"...

      You guessed it: McDonald's.

      I can't actually think of a less suitable sponsor for the Olympics.

    39. Re:Another by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, the Olympics is a bigger crock of shit every year.

      No, but they're working on it. See, it used to be the biggest crock of shit in the summer every 4 years. Then they created the winter games but those were the same year so no one noticed. After lulling everyone into a sense of complacency, they moved the winter games so that the Olympics are now the biggest crock of shit in even numbered years. After people get used to that schedule, they'll add spring and autumn games to fill in the gaps.

      Then and only then will they be the biggest crock of shit every year.

    40. Re:Another by MDillenbeck · · Score: 1

      Nor do I see my state building a venue and adding a half percent sales tax on several counties to subsidize our hobby./p

    41. Re:Another by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I like sports, don't mind watching them sometimes, but I'd much rather be participating than doing. If people (adult males anyway) traded their sports watching time for sports doing time, we would have a much smaller problem with obesity, and all the problems that go with it. I find the only sport I enjoy watching now is soccer. Primarily because they don't stop for commercials. All the other sports spend way too much time showing advertisements, and not enough time showing the actual sport. It's more exciting to go watch Junior A or university hockey than it is to watch the pros simply because the pros take too much time off for commercials. Really cuts the excitement out of the game.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    42. Re:Another by Anzya · · Score: 1

      Oh and don't forget that we are pirates if get tired of the whole things and stop watching it.
      Please don't ask me to explain the logic...

      --
      "This message was brought to you by Sarcasm and Troll Feeders United (or STFU, for you un-hip people)."
    43. Re:Another by MarkGriz · · Score: 1

      I worked on the fire alarm system for the Athlete's village and took those photos on-site. The system itself is a disaster and totally unsafe.

      You probably should clarify that statement. Is a disaster because of your work, or in spite of it. ;-)

      --
      Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
    44. Re:Another by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      oh, how cute! little people writing letters.

      yeah, that will put fear into them!

      just let it go! its gone! ignore their advertising frenzy and there is really no major loss in your life if you ignore them.

      the unfiltered internet really sucks (the few times I have to browse without adblock or noscript, etc). well, the olympics are pure advertising and I'll block ALL OF IT.

      ads cheapen what used to be a real achievement for humanity. but now, its just commercialized. why bother. why play THEIR stupid games (ie, why be eyeballs to their endless mechandising and ads?)

      but writing letters, oh that's so rich! yeah, that will make them weep and change their ways! yup, lets write letters!

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    45. Re:Another by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      a handful were people who... well, they set up a lot of their life choices so they didn't have the chance for a lot of good outcomes.

      Ah yes, they just "set them up"

      Good to see compassion is alive and well on slashdolt

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    46. Re:Another by anyGould · · Score: 1

      The magic is gone (it really hasn't helped that they started showing off the "professional" teams. You don't get the same involvement from those guys.

      Agreed, but IIRC it was the figure skaters what screwed it up first - they started bending the amateur vs. professional rules to allow skaters to get paid in exhibitions but still compete at the Olympics. And once the door was open...

      On the other hand, it's a rare athlete who isn't getting "paid" to do their sport, one way or the other, so "amateur" is a weird moniker anyway.

    47. Re:Another by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Yes, it will become social housing after a refit.

      --
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      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    48. Re:Another by MPAndonee · · Score: 1
      Yes, and not only that, but completely against what the spirit of the Olympics (Olympic Games) is about....

      Hey, you know, let's go to Ancient Olympia and tear down all those frescoes those artists created... They violated the spirit of the organizers intent.

      Dumb.

      --
      Nothing to see here -- move along now...
    49. Re:Another by Mattsson · · Score: 1

      My first reaction reading the original post was the same.
      Boycott the OS.
      It's not very interesting in the first place and if the organizers are going to behave like sociopaths, they don't deserve to have anyone watch or take part in their event.

      --
      /.Mattsson - My native language is not English, so please don't whine over linguistic errors. (That's lame anyway...)
    50. Re:Another by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      The problem is if someone - mostly anyone - gets a photo of some athelete wearing Reebok shoes and they are being compensated for promoting Nike shoes you can be Reebok is going to use that picture to death, and they paid nothing for it. Nike comes along and says we paid $X millions to have this guy wear Nike shoes and the one time he didn't somebody got a photo of it. Of course, Nike is going to sue.

      Want to eliminate the lawsuits and the free photo advertising? That is what rules like this are designed to do.

      No, the answer isn't to open it up or prohibit sponsorship. It is to deal with the litigious nonsense that happens in the US.

    51. Re:Another by n0tWorthy · · Score: 1

      I mean getting the people affected by the social media ban to say they aren't going to watch (18 to 30 is the desired demographic) or buy sponsor's products. Unless the sponsors are motivated to change there will be no change.

      --
      "Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a great battle." - Philo of Alexandria -
    52. Re:Another by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      And I saw that as a lowlight. Pro players beating up on the actual amateurs in an amateur competition isn't sporting. The IOC sold out, and the athletes are worse for it.

  2. How's that for promoting international cooperation by killfixx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    and goodwill...

    Thank you for hosting the Olympics, now please cower in fear of the copyright police.

    I appreciate the Olympics, but I'm not giving up my rights just because my country is hosting them.

    No thanks.

    --
    "Helping to keep you two steps ahead of the Thought Police!"
  3. I feel sorry for the athletes but... by oraclese · · Score: 5, Insightful

    fuck the olympics. It's become exactly what it isn't supposed to be: a corporate circle-jerk to exploit potential for advertising revenue. The athletes come second, if they are lucky.

    1. Re:I feel sorry for the athletes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Huh? Isn't the whole spirit of the Olympics to reduce boundaries between countries? Surely giving more power to multinational corporations fits into that?

    2. Re:I feel sorry for the athletes but... by cashman73 · · Score: 1

      And let's not forget who was part of this the last time the olympics were held in the United States,. . .

  4. My first reaction... by multiben · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...was bullshit. That can't be right. Then I RTFA. Holy shit! Way to go London - bring that Orwellian dream to life!

    1. Re:My first reaction... by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Remember this is the same country that wants to apply censorship to the internet by default.

      Maybe you should write to your MP and even see if the European parliament considers this legal.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    2. Re:My first reaction... by azzy · · Score: 4, Informative

      The UK were essentially forced to pass the legislation - else they couldn't get to host the Olympics. For anyone interested http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/22/contents is a good place to start looking.

    3. Re:My first reaction... by azzy · · Score: 1

      and even better The Olympics, Paralympics and London Olympics Association Rights (Infringement Proceedings) Regulations 2010 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2477/contents/made

    4. Re:My first reaction... by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Informative

      This is just as bad as the orange dress incident at the World Cup. Women were being arrested for wearing orange mini-dresses because FIFA said they were ambush marketing for Bavaria. Never mind that some of them might be supporting the Dutch by wearing the national color of that country.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    5. Re:My first reaction... by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 2

      I don't have a MP, can't I just bribe one of yours?

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    6. Re:My first reaction... by CaptainLugnuts · · Score: 1

      It happened in Vancouver as well.

    7. Re:My first reaction... by The+Rizz · · Score: 2

      So, I wonder what will happen if they pass new laws revoking the legislation now that they've won the Olympic bid?

    8. Re:My first reaction... by digitig · · Score: 1

      They could have responded with "oh, I guess we won't sponsor the olympics then"

      That would have meant missing an opportunity to shaft the French, so it was never actually an option.

      --
      Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
    9. Re:My first reaction... by Sparx139 · · Score: 2

      You spelt "donate" wrong :p

      --
      Our culture doesn't get smarter, it just finds new ways of being retarded.
    10. Re:My first reaction... by xSander · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm from The Netherlands and as some people here may know, my country wanted to host the World Cup 2018 or 2012 together with Belgium. There was some outrage that the FIFA demanded exclusion from taxes from the Dutch and Belgian government. I'm actually glad that "we" did not get the World Cup, although "we" probably would have been the sanest choice (never hosted a World Cup before, played two [now three] World Cup finals, etc.)

      I find it not surprising that Russia and Qatar (of all places!) won the bid. Especially Qatar does not make sense. Hold a professional football tournament in the Middle East in the summer?! Even if they succeed to bring down the temperature on the pitch through airconditioning or whatever, the country does not have much of a football culture and it's a very tiny country to boot, much smaller than Belgium or The Netherlands. I hope the FIFA gets in all kinds of trouble over this.

    11. Re:My first reaction... by dkf · · Score: 1

      I hope the FIFA gets in all kinds of trouble over this.

      They're too busy swimming in their money bins to care what you (or I) think, peasant! Now buy that merchandise!

      --
      "Little does he know, but there is no 'I' in 'Idiot'!"
    12. Re:My first reaction... by bky1701 · · Score: 1

      Simply put, it only takes £250,000 to bribe the prime minister. Somebody start a collection!

    13. Re:My first reaction... by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

      What does "donate" mean? Is that anything like selling a US senate seat for campaign cash? Cause, I've got a good idea how to do that. . Or do I need you to get a Comercial Drivers license for my Blind friend for me? My family's done that too..

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    14. Re:My first reaction... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      ...was bullshit. That can't be right. Then I RTFA. Holy shit! Way to go London - bring that Orwellian dream to life!

      Where have you been?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    15. Re:My first reaction... by mcvos · · Score: 1

      The Olympics have become a private enterprise. Countries should stop pretending there are some noble ideals behind it, and certainly not cater to the demands of a corrupt multinational corporation.

      I believe Netherland also lost a bid for the Olympics a few years ago (or do we still need to lose that one?) In a way I think it would have been interesting if we did host the Olympics again. I suspect the year would be filled with parliamentary questions about it, and there'd be lots of civil disobedience concerning the IOC's draconic rules. It could become a fun disaster.

    16. Re:My first reaction... by mcvos · · Score: 1

      Yes, the French will be really upset to still have rights.

    17. Re:My first reaction... by xSander · · Score: 1

      I believe Netherland also lost a bid for the Olympics a few years ago (or do we still need to lose that one?) In a way I think it would have been interesting if we did host the Olympics again. I suspect the year would be filled with parliamentary questions about it, and there'd be lots of civil disobedience concerning the IOC's draconic rules. It could become a fun disaster.

      Nope. There's a movement going on to get the 2028 Olympics, because then it'll be 100 years ago that The Netherlands hosted its first and last Olympiad in Amsterdam 1928. According to Wikipedia, bidding will start in 2019 and the host city will be chosen in 2021. So there's still time to see how London and other host cities deal with this.

  5. Empty Threat? by alostpacket · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd love to see them try to actually take someone to court over this.

    --
    PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
    1. Re:Empty Threat? by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

      Flash crowd photo taking. Make enough noise to make people talk about the issue?

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    2. Re:Empty Threat? by CityZen · · Score: 1

      Heck, why not go all the way: have everyone live stream the video from their cell phones.

    3. Re:Empty Threat? by Bigby · · Score: 1

      I want to see them take Michael Phelps to court over it.

    4. Re:Empty Threat? by dwillden · · Score: 1

      This sounds like a perfect job for Anonymous, how many infringers does it take to overwhelm the IOC police?

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    5. Re:Empty Threat? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      they could sue the city of london. they got the entire city covered in security cameras.

      someone beats someone up, gets away, police release footage--> sue police as it's 100% certain there's some brands there on display. or a car that's not sponsored.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  6. Dear Olympics Committee by whistlingtony · · Score: 5, Interesting

    !@#$ you. No Really. !@#$ you.

    An event dedicated to showcasing the heights of human athleticism, and you've turned it into a cheap money making operation for yourself. You Suck. I will not be watching the olympics.

    1. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It was mostly symbolic

    2. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by X0563511 · · Score: 2

      It's OK, this is the internet. We can swear here.

      See? Fuck shitty crap dammit fuck. ... I'm still here! Nothing bad happened.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    3. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by Zocalo · · Score: 1

      Yep, three symbols and one punctuation mark.

      --
      UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    4. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually he's just another Londoner, you see it's become Internet Standard over there to censor all foul language unless you opt-in to use it (additional fees may apply).

    5. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

      I'm still here! Nothing bad happened.

      Wait until you see the fine you get for using profanity to refer to the Olympics. Because I'm sure the IOC would push for that if they could too.

    6. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by tqk · · Score: 1

      !@#$ you. No Really. !@#$ you.

      Shift 1234 you?

      It was mostly symbolic

      That's the funniest thing I've seen in a while, bravo. Yeah, I don't get out much.

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
    7. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by JonySuede · · Score: 5, Funny

      my kitten just died at 05:51PM

      --
      Jehovah be praised, Oracle was not selected
    8. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      !@#$ you. No Really. !@#$ you.

      Bang-at-pound(UK Currency)-terminator -- I think you've got it in a nutshell.

    9. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by k6mfw · · Score: 2

      Didn't this same thing happened 3000 years ago or whenever? (too lazy to get actual timeline). Emperor of Greece at the time did away with Olympics because it became a big money making thing among athletes and basically a waste of time (emperors had higher priorities at the time). It wasn't until 1896 when progressive people decide to bring it back.

      I remember 1984 olympics in Los Angeles (close to where I was living) but never went because I thought, "oh the traffic jams, too many people, bitch, bitch, bitch,..." dammit, I can just kick myself passing up that opportunity to attend and watch in person! Now if it is ever close to home, it will be incredibly expensive, they will strip search, probe, x-ray, etc. and probably wipe your brain so you cannot tell stories of what took place.

      --
      mfwright@batnet.com
    10. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by tqk · · Score: 1

      It's OK, this is the internet. We can swear here.

      It's okay, these computer thingamajigs understand these things called variables. A variable is something that can contain any one of shit, piss, motherfucker, cocksucker, or tits, or all of them and more.

      Have a very nice day. :-)

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
    11. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by LVSlushdat · · Score: 2

      Last time I paid any attention to the Olympics was in 1972. I was in the US Army and stationed in West Germany. USAREUR (the US Army Command Europe) recieved a lot of tickets from the IOC to pass out to soldiers/airman stationed in europe. I managed to glom onto a ticket, which came with a 3-day pass to allow you to go to Munich for your event. After a several hour train ride, I arrived in Munich, found a gasthaus with a vacancy, and after making sure I had a place to crash for the night, hopped the Ubahn out to the Olympic venue. As I got off the subway and took the escalator up to the surface, all the sudden there was all sorts of shouting, people running. I finally found a cop who wasn't running one way or the other.. Asked him what all the ruckas was about.. By this time, you've probably figured out what the ruckas was all about... Needless to say, the event I had a ticket for the next day was postponed. I had to wait until the next day for that event, and then had to catch a VERY late train to get back to the base before my 3-day pass ran out...

      --
      THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    12. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by RivenAleem · · Score: 1

      !"£$ you, yank.

    13. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by k6mfw · · Score: 1

      By this time, you've probably figured out what the ruckas was all about

      No not following you here......

      1972 Olympics suffered a terrorist attack, it was pretty horrible. I cannot imagine how bad LVSlushdat must have felt after having opportunity to attend the games.

      --
      mfwright@batnet.com
    14. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by mcvos · · Score: 1

      Ooh, I remember that from my Acorn Electron keyboard.

    15. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Indeed - PlingAtHashDollar...

    16. Re:Dear Olympics Committee by BeaverCleaver · · Score: 1

      This is slashdot. You're allowed to say "fuck." In fact, when relating to absurd copyright issues, it's encouraged. Go ahead, nobody will tell the teacher.

  7. could end land you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...could end land... doesn't make sense. maybe i am too dense.

    1. Re:could end land you by issicus · · Score: 1

      "End Land" coming in 2013

  8. End Land? by thestudio_bob · · Score: 1, Funny

    Posting Photos of Olympics Could End Land You In Court

    What's an End Land?

    --
    The real Sig captains the Northwestern. This one captains /.
    1. Re:End Land? by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 1

      Posting Photos of Olympics Could End Land You In Court

      What's an End Land?

      The place where people who have nothing better to do but get worked up over pedestrian typos go to live.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    2. Re:End Land? by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      It's the place where the Enderdragon exists in Minecraft, right? Right?

    3. Re:End Land? by tqk · · Score: 1

      ... pedestrian typos ...

      Walking typos?!? I didn't think that would happen for quite a while from now.

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
    4. Re:End Land? by GumphMaster · · Score: 1

      Cornwall? Or perhaps the penalties still include transportation to the end of the world, Australia.

      --
      Patent litigation: A doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction... in which everyone seems willing to push the button
  9. olympics are passe by Surt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    No one under 30 cares. It's been xgames where the real athletes compete for more than a decade at this point.

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    1. Re:olympics are passe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      No one under 30 cares.

      False. We have been following Olympic beach volleyball.

    2. Re:olympics are passe by dfghjk · · Score: 1

      I suspect people under 30 care more than people over 30.

    3. Re:olympics are passe by cpu6502 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The what games?

      I have watched the games ever since 1992 (Barcelona?). Back then I setup a VCR to tape everything and watch it the next day, because I was on night shift. Now I use an analog DVR (replayTV).

      The Olympics are the only form of sport I ever watch, because there's lots of variety, and these are the world's best athletes. Could care less about football, baseball, et cetera. So once every 2 years I watch sports.

      --
      My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
    4. Re:olympics are passe by MarcoAtWork · · Score: 1

      It's been xgames where the real athletes compete for more than a decade at this point.

      you are right, I remember Michael Phelps really laying it down in the 200m freestyle, amazing how he could swim so fast in that snow powder filled pool, will be interesting to see the event this year without being allowed to wear those floating balloon suits...

      and let's not forget Usain Bolt's great 100m-200m double, the snowshoes he wore were really cool!

      oh, wait...

      --
      -- the cake is a lie
    5. Re:olympics are passe by geekoid · · Score: 1

      That's not really fair. Olympic athletes are superb. the IOC is the problem hear.

      the XGames isn't even close.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:olympics are passe by Surt · · Score: 1

      Who?

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    7. Re:olympics are passe by Surt · · Score: 1

      since 1992

      I rest my case.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    8. Re:olympics are passe by Surt · · Score: 1

      I mean no one in the statistical sense. Obviously there are going to be a handful of freakish exceptions in a population of 7 billion.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    9. Re:olympics are passe by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Now I use an analog DVR (replayTV).

      An analog Digital Video Recorder? Um... what?

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    10. Re:olympics are passe by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      analog CABLE SIGNAL

      --
      Good-bye
    11. Re:olympics are passe by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 2

      I suspect people under 30 care more than people over 30.

      You may be correct... I stopped watching after the fiasco that was the '88 games. Most people under 30 don't remember how bad the Olympics used to be, before they became differently bad.

      Every generation has a problem with the Olympics: Just look at Chariots of Fire, various countries refusing to participate if other countries are also participating, etc.

      At least in the original Olympiads, they were up front about the fact that only men invited to participate by the ruling elite were allowed to participate. It beat the Roman Coliseum that followed, with all its politics and product placement.

    12. Re:olympics are passe by cpu6502 · · Score: 1

      My DVR only accepts analog signals (NTSC). And to the guy below: No not cable. I refuse to pay Comsucks $1000/year for stuff I can get free (via antenna and hulu).

      --
      My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
  10. Good luck policing that... by DontBlameCanada · · Score: 1

    The courts will be so completely swamped they'll be backed up for years and real criminals will go free due to extreme delays in getting a fair trial.

    My guess is any charges of this sort will be tossed out.

  11. Just like Burning Man by bandy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    All your images are owned by us. God, I love the Corporatocracy.

    --
    "You might as well get your son a ticket to hell as give him a five string banjo." -unknown minister
    1. Re:Just like Burning Man by cpu6502 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I thought you were talking about some movie, but then I found this on wikipedia:

      "The terms of the Burning Man ticket require that participants wishing to use video-recording equipment (including, in practice, most digital cameras) sign over copyright in their images to Black Rock City, and forbid them from using their images for anything other than personal and private use. This has been criticized by many, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation.[87][88]

      A Burning Man spokeswoman replied that the policies are not new, were written by a former head of the EFF, were used when suing to block pornographic videos and ultimately arose from participant concerns: "Weâ(TM)re proud that Black Rock City (a private event held on public land) is widely acknowledged as a bastion of creative freedom. [B]ut that protection [of participants' freedoms] does necessitate the acceptance of some general terms of engagement when it comes to cameras... EFF seems to think that anyone attending any event somehow has an absolute right to take photographs, and then to do whatever they want with those images without any effective restriction or manner of enforcement.

      "While we believe that such rights do make sense for any of us taking pictures in purely public spaces, this is not true in the private space of Burning Man â" if it were it would mean that Burning Man couldnâ(TM)t protect participant privacy or prevent commercialization of imagery."

      --
      My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
    2. Re:Just like Burning Man by houghi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What has Banksy to say about it? http://thequotesproject.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/brandalism.jpg

      People are taking the piss out of you everyday. They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disapear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small. They make flippant comments from buses that imply you're not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else. They are on tv making your girlfriend feel inadequate.
      They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it.
      They are the advertisers and they are laughing at you.

      You, however are forbidden to touch them. Trademarks, intellectual property and copyright law mean advertisers can say what they like wherever they like with total impunity.

      Fuck that.

      Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours.
      It's yours yo take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rocj someone just threw at your head.

      Your owe the companies nothing.
      Less then nothing, you especially don't owe them any courtesy. They owe you. They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don't even start asking for theirs. //Banksy

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    3. Re:Just like Burning Man by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      MPEG-LA basically says 'all your video belong to us....'

      --
      Good-bye
  12. Really? by Fishbulb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Are they completely ignorant of the ubiquity of cameras today? Forget the fact that most of those cameras are attached to something that can easily upload images to the world at large.

    This deserves a flash-mob style constant bombardment of images from the Olympics being uploaded during the games. Even if we get bored to tears of the sheer volume of Olympics photos uploaded, just overwhelm them with the obviousness of their own stupidity.

    1. Re:Really? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      Well, if it's done via Blackberries, they'll just get the data network turned off in Olympic venue zones.

    2. Re:Really? by Inda · · Score: 1

      Here is a picture of me and my mates not watching the Olympics:

      http://www.example.com/BBQ With Mates.jpg

      Here we are again playing football. I wish we were good enough for the Olympics:

      http://www.example.com/Gold Medal for Bruce Playing Football.jpg

      You get the idea.

      --
      This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
  13. How else will they be able to raise enough money? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 2

    How else will they be able to raise enough money to pay the athletes AND the various big name "non-profit" figures that need to get their cut from these games?

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  14. Care? by WillyWanker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Does anyone even care about the Olympics anymore?

    1. Re:Care? by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Does anyone even care about the Olympics anymore?

      The athletes? Their families? Friends? Nations? In places where corporate sponsorships and performance-enchancing drugs aren't common, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to earn a place among the world's best. Hard work and dedication are still admired world-wide.

    2. Re:Care? by WillyWanker · · Score: 1

      So basically, only those who are in it or have a vested financial interest. Yeah, I'd say that's pretty much it.

    3. Re:Care? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      I"m interested. Armature athletes in a variety of events is interesting. Seeing the most dedicated and best do there thing.

      It's the IOC and the corporate crap I don't like.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:Care? by WillyWanker · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I think that's the biggest problem. I used to really enjoy watching the Olympics until it became over-commercialized and they started allowing pros to play. That kinda broke the whole thing for me.

    5. Re:Care? by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 1

      You're still thinking of athletes in places where corporate sponsorships are common. It's a big world out there, mostly poor. Most athletes aren't getting any richer from competing in the Olympics, they do it for love of the sport.

    6. Re:Care? by WillyWanker · · Score: 1

      Which only makes it worse considering how many actually do make a mint from it.

    7. Re:Care? by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 1

      It's true. The IOC is making a killing off their sweat. And the IOC is only getting greedier. But that doesn't make the athlete's effort any less honest or admirable. What can the athletes do about it? Occupy Olympic Village?

    8. Re:Care? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      if they're really poor and really into their sport.. they would be better off being on the gp circuits running for money.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  15. This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can we all just agree it's 1999 again, and have a "do over"?

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Huh, it seems the Rapture really did happen... and we are all the remainders just finally starting to notice we are in Hell :P

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    2. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by nebulus4 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Can we all just agree it's 1999 again, and have a "do over"?

      Except that year 2000 was still 20st century... you know, 21st century began on January 1, 2001.

      --
      "It would be wrong to refuse to face the fact that everything is fundamentally sick and sad."
    3. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by davester666 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I don't know if I should be happy or feel sorry for all the religious "leaders" that failed to get raptured...namely, all of them...

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    4. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1, Insightful

      All movement is accomplished in six stages
      And the seventh brings return.
      The seven is the number of the young light
      It forms when darkness is increased by one.

      Change returns success
      Going and coming without error.
      Action brings good fortune.
      Sunset.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    5. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

      Stop agreeing with me, pedantically.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    6. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Bigby · · Score: 1

      We thought we solved the Y2K problem, but these are its effects...

    7. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by mug+funky · · Score: 1

      judging by your sig, wouldn't you prefer it be 1990? but then there'd be no slashdot to post on.

    8. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by jc42 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Except that year 2000 was still 20st century...

      Oh no! It's the old "There was no year zero in the Western calendar" bugbear appearing to drag yet another discussion into the depths and devour it.

      So far, my favorite comment on that topic is that the years 1 through 524 also didn't exist in our Western calendar. The numbering we use, usually called "A.D." (for Anno Domini" was devised in the year 525, and wasn't used before that time. Actually, it was hardly used by anyone except a few monks for several centuries after that.

      My other favorite comment on the topic is that today is also the start of a century - the century that starts today and ends 19 April 2112. Every day is the start of a century. So arguing against a popular "start of century" year is basically silly.

      Any group of people is free to settle on an arbitrary "epoch" as the start of their calendar, and many of us do just that. Thus, the unix crowd uses the start of 1970-01-01 UTC as the start of their time(1) date/time system, and nobody seems to chide them for missing the first 1969 years of the calendar. Astronomers also have their own favorite zero time, but use only years (with a decimal point and lots more digits to whatever precision they need at the moment).

      But silliness can be fun, so go at it ...

      --
      Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
    9. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by mug+funky · · Score: 1

      what you smokin in that Piper?

    10. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by RussR42 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Burma Shave

    11. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Ocker3 · · Score: 1

      So Gene Roddendery Didn't make up a calendar for Star Trek, he just used the Astronomical one, figuring it was good enough?

    12. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by nebulus4 · · Score: 5, Informative

      So far, my favorite comment on that topic is that the years 1 through 524 also didn't exist in our Western calendar. The numbering we use, usually called "A.D." (for Anno Domini" was devised in the year 525, and wasn't used before that time. Actually, it was hardly used by anyone except a few monks for several centuries after that.

      What difference does it make if it wasn't used back then? It is used now.

      If you're 5 months old, it's your first year on Earth. If you're 1 year and 3 months old, it's your second year on Earth. Year 2000 is the 2000th year. In order for us to say that two millennia have passed the year must end, thus the new millennium starts in 2001. There's no year 0, because it would mean the 0th year of Christ on Earth. Which means he did not exist, ergo BC.

      My other favorite comment on the topic is that today is also the start of a century - the century that starts today and ends 19 April 2112. Every day is the start of a century. So arguing against a popular "start of century" year is basically silly.

      We are talking about Gregorian calendar here. The year doesn't start at April 19. You are free to create whatever system you like, it wouldn't change the Gregorian calendar though. Therefore, it's a silly argument.

      --
      "It would be wrong to refuse to face the fact that everything is fundamentally sick and sad."
    13. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1

      CompuServe and Delphi, Here I come!

      I think that I still have my shell account on the NeXT cube in the compute lab, too. Quota on the optical is 2MB.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    14. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by michelcolman · · Score: 1

      Actually, the year 0 does exist. It is also called 1 BC. And the year "-1" is 2 BC, the year "-2" is 3 BC, etc.

      You can use either the ridiculous but popular AD/BC notation (going from 1 BC to 1 AD without a 0 in between) or the simpler and mathematically more sensible integer notation where the year 1 is prededed by 0 and then -1. Most people probably prefer AD/BC because it looks prettier and they don't have a clue about how awkward this notation is to use if you need to use AD/BC dates in calculations.

    15. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by dkf · · Score: 1

      Astronomers also have their own favorite zero time, but use only years (with a decimal point and lots more digits to whatever precision they need at the moment).

      Astronomers count in days since 12:00 January 1, 4713 BC (a Monday). They most certainly use fractions of days as well, where it makes sense.

      --
      "Little does he know, but there is no 'I' in 'Idiot'!"
    16. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Alioth · · Score: 1

      I've got a bike you can ride it if you like it has a basket a bell that rings and things that make it look good.
      I'd give it to you if I could but I borrowed it.

      Sid Barrett, you are missed . . .

    17. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Sez+Zero · · Score: 1

      Can we all just agree it's 1999 again, and have a "do over"?

      I, for one, would like to again party like its 1999.

    18. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by mcvos · · Score: 1

      I'm not surprised about them. I'm a bit disappointed I'm till here, though.

    19. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by davester666 · · Score: 1

      I've seen the videos of what you do when you think nobody is watching. I'm not surprised...

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    20. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      The gates of dawn.

    21. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by Savantissimo · · Score: 1

      At first I thought you said "raptored". Never mind.

      --
      "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" - Patrick Henry
    22. Re:This 21st Century isn't really starting right. by robsku · · Score: 1

      What difference does it make if it wasn't used back then? It is used now.

      If you're 5 months old, it's your first year on Earth. If you're 1 year and 3 months old, it's your second year on Earth. Year 2000 is the 2000th year. In order for us to say that two millennia have passed the year must end, thus the new millennium starts in 2001. There's no year 0, because it would mean the 0th year of Christ on Earth. Which means he did not exist, ergo BC.

      Even though I've read it dozens of times with minor wording differences, this still feels so elegant to me in the simplicity of this explanation: How could anyone not understand this and how could anyone possibly argue against it seriously? This should put an end to any disagreements about this issue...

      ...but then we always under estimate the level of sheer human stupidity - no matter how simply and slowly you explain this there are still people who go mentally "LA-LA-LA-LA..." when reading/hearing it and when you stop they just blindly repeat their own explanation because it's what they feel being absolutely correct as they never actually question it vs. this explanation... It's futile.

      Granted though that grandparent obviously was just being silly :)

      --
      In capitalist USA corporations control the government.
  16. So let's see... by tekrat · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm an American. In order to attend the Olympics, I have to be stripped naked and groped in order to get on the airplane. Anything I do during this procedure that is not ordered by the goon squad is likely to have me arrested, where I can be strip searched again in Jail.

    When and if I get on a plane, anything of value in my luggage, such as ipods, cameras, and laptops are likely to be stolen by the baggage handlers, who are not searched and groped by the TSA, apparently.

    When and if I land in London, I'm likely to be searched again, what for, who the hell knows, but apparently it's standard procedure. At this point, I discover I've been robbed, but there's no way to file a claim, and yelling about it is just likely to get me arrested.

    And when I attend the games, I'm going to be sued for using my eyes and brain as a copyright infringement device, assuming I haven't shelled out for a new camera to replace the one that's stolen. And I would have to post the pictures to the internet, because I can't keep them in the flashcard of the camera, because that will be stolen on the return trip (or confiscated by customs).

    Yeah, let me see... Nope, I don't think I will be attending the games, or even watching on TV. Because who knows, they might sue me for watching it on TV. It's going to happen sooner or later, who wants to be the first test case?

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
    1. Re:So let's see... by multiben · · Score: 1

      I am going to report this comment to the police. How dare you discuss the olympics without permission!

    2. Re:So let's see... by Nidi62 · · Score: 4, Informative

      When and if I get on a plane, anything of value in my luggage, such as ipods, cameras, and laptops are likely to be stolen by the baggage handlers, who are not searched and groped by the TSA, apparently.

      Fuck you. I am working part time right now as a baggage handler while I finish graduate school, and I can tell you that the last thing any of us want to do is stop and dig through each and every one of the 100 bags we handle at a time to dig through them looking for expensive electronics. Do you like handling other peoples' dirty laundry? Never mind that fact that we are already overworked and barely have time to do our jobs anyway, or that stealing is both wrong and illegal. We're out there in the heat, the rain, the cold, the snow. We couldn't give a shit what's in your bag, we just want to get done and go home. So, again, fuck you. My karma can take a hit.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    3. Re:So let's see... by couchslug · · Score: 1, Informative

      I'm an American, and wouldn't attend the Olympics if I had free tickets and a chartered jet.

      Jocks. So what? Yawn.

      The way to defund such things is not to try to find ways to support them.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    4. Re:So let's see... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      We couldn't give a shit what's in your bag, we just want to get done and go home.

      Some of your coworkers disagree.

    5. Re:So let's see... by Fned · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You wouldn't have to work so hard if you weren't covering for that guy who spends all his time rooting through people's bags.

    6. Re:So let's see... by Mhrmnhrm · · Score: 1

      Then perhaps you can explain to the assembled crowd why I've had three so-called "TSA Approved" locks cut off my baggage over the last few years.

      --
      I suspect that one of these choices is incorrect. Correct.
    7. Re:So let's see... by PraiseBob · · Score: 5, Informative

      Your honesty is appreciated, but a simple google search reveals a new baggage handler theft ring busted at some airport every few months. So yes, it does happen, and has happened to both me and a friend. It is why I will never check bags again and always carry-on, and in turn directly leads to TSA rage because they take stuff out of my bag and throw it away and berate me for not paying attention to the size of my toiletries.

    8. Re:So let's see... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Maybe it's a coincidence, but I have had expensive electronic go missing every time I fly.
      Well, that's not correct. After the third time I just carry it on.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    9. Re:So let's see... by Translation+Error · · Score: 1

      In order to attend the Olympics, I have to be stripped naked and groped in order to get on the airplane.

      Sir, it's not necessary or wise to be naked.

      --
      When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.
    10. Re:So let's see... by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      Then perhaps you can explain to the assembled crowd why I've had three so-called "TSA Approved" locks cut off my baggage over the last few years.

      Because TSA is either too lazy to use their keys or they lost them in the first place? Most of the time when a lock is cut, it is by TSA.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    11. Re:So let's see... by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Nobody roots through bags. That's what the X-Ray equipment is for.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    12. Re:So let's see... by Nidi62 · · Score: 1, Informative

      And I guess I should also have added this while I had everyone's attention, but I'll try it anyway. Please, to help make our jobs a little easier, if your bag has one or both of it's handles broken, buy a new one. And please, please, do not fill it to where it weighs 55 lbs and the zipper is about to bust open. Like I said in my previous post, we don't want to dig through your dirty laundry, so we don't want the bags to pop open and then not be able to close. Also, bags with broken handles (especially if they are over packed and really heavy) are much more likely to get broken further: I've had one of the legs on a bag break off on me just from taking it out of the bag cart it was so heavy. I know people want to save money on bag fees, and also save money by using bags as long as possible, but it really would make it easier for everyone to keep the bags sensible. Although I really think part of the problem is that people tend to overpack in general. Anyway, I've been wanting to get this off my chest for a few months, and this was a convenient soapbox.

      And this is more of a personal plea, but try not to ship dogs as baggage/freight if you can help it. They are always terrified and frightened, it's real sad. Breaks my heart every time I see one literally shacking in fear.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    13. Re:So let's see... by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      I'm an American. In order to attend the Olympics, I have to be stripped naked and groped in order to get on the airplane. Anything I do during this procedure that is not ordered by the goon squad is likely to have me ... strip searched again in Jail.

      When and if I get on a plane, anything of value ... are likely to be stolen by the baggage handlers, who are not searched and groped ....

      I have to say: what is it with Americans and their nudity and groping taboos?

      (this better not be modded insightful)

    14. Re:So let's see... by roc97007 · · Score: 1

      I was going to mod that funny, but I see it's already 5 informative. Ok...

      The trivial rebuttal is that people get robbed by baggage handlers (or baggage inspectors -- it's hard for us victims to tell) all the time -- test by, personal experience, (electronics don't make it to destination) and by noting news reports of same.

      I keep my camera on me through TSA touchy-feely, even though it sometimes makes the process take longer. I will never again trust an expensive object that I own to baggage. (Company electronics are a different matter.)

      I mean, so you're an honest, hard working baggage handler. I believe you. They must exist. But are you really speaking for every single one of your compatriots?

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    15. Re:So let's see... by Svartalf · · Score: 1

      Heh... Then why do they need to have "TSA" locks?

      --
      I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
    16. Re:So let's see... by Trogre · · Score: 1

      Thank you for your honesty. Now please do something for me. Keep your eyes open, because some baggage-handlers are moralless scum who participate in theft rings. See if you can bust any.

      Thanks

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    17. Re:So let's see... by Mitreya · · Score: 1

      I have to be stripped naked and groped in order to get on the airplane

      Actually, in US, it is still the choice between the two. Scanned OR groped.
      In London, if you are chosen to be scanned, groping is not an alternative (from what I understand). I will not be flying from London in foreseeable future.

    18. Re:So let's see... by sonamchauhan · · Score: 1

      Well replied sir!

    19. Re:So let's see... by fafaforza · · Score: 1

      They'd like to be treated to dinner before going to second or third base, maybe?

    20. Re:So let's see... by Lithdren · · Score: 1

      Please stop breaking the handles on my bags and it wont be a problem.

      Every bag i've ever sent through the airports has come back beatup, broken, and usually a few items snapped off it or taken out of it. I dont even overfill the bag, im pretty careful about that because frankly I dont want to lug the thing around the airport to find a cab.

      5 bags, 5 trips, 3 years, every last one of them have broken handles, broken wheels, busted zipers, cracked cases, etc. None of them started out that way, and none of them were returned to me in the same condition I gave them to the airline. There's a reason I dont fly anymore, even if its more expensive to take a train.

  17. The Olympics are in London this year? by Animats · · Score: 2

    The Olympics are in London this year? I knew there was an Olympics in London coming up, because huge cost overruns have been in the news. But I thought it was years in the future.

    1. Re:The Olympics are in London this year? by geekoid · · Score: 2

      The years in the future is how long you will be paying for it.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:The Olympics are in London this year? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      The Olympics are in London this year? I knew there was an Olympics in London coming up, because huge cost overruns have been in the news. But I thought it was years in the future.

      The cost overruns in the future are designed to pay for the cost overruns for this summer's Olympics. When you're dealing with boondoggles of this magnitude, you really must plan ahead.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  18. Retarded British Authorities by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 1

    The British Authorities are just retarded when it comes to taking private photographs in public spaces and doing what you wish with them afterwards. Oh they talk a good game about the right to take pictures in public -- and a lot of photographers have been arrested on trumped up flimsy charges in the process. Truth is, the police can cause you a great deal of trouble, and destroy your pictures and cameras in the process, while being completely in the wrong from the absolute beginning.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
    1. Re:Retarded British Authorities by donaggie03 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Welcome to America . . wait . . .

      --
      Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
    2. Re:Retarded British Authorities by mark-t · · Score: 1

      How do they destroy digital pictures that have been uploaded elsewhere moments after taking the photos?

  19. This shit is still news? by Arancaytar · · Score: 2

    They do this every fucking two years, and yet people pretend the Olympics and the IOC are still relevant.

  20. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I appreciate the Olympians. Fuck the Olympics.

  21. Olympics are not about sport by ozduo · · Score: 2

    politics aside, they have always been about making money

    --
    I got to the chocolate box before you, that's why the hard ones have teeth marks.
  22. Re:Olympawhat? by who_stole_my_kidneys · · Score: 1

    I thought it was just an advertisement for Coke, who thought people actually competed in these things.

  23. Re:how is this legal? by donaggie03 · · Score: 2

    Probably fine print on the back of an admission ticket, or fine print posted near the door to the facility, or some other such b.s.

    --
    Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
  24. Where is the list? by dohnut · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does the IOC maintain a list of the "Official ____ of the Olympics" products?

    I want to be on the winning team and buy all of the products that our fine athletes will be pimping non-stop between now and the next Olympics.

    Specifically, I need to know which companies they have chosen for the "official" toilet paper, ball-point pen, aerosol cheese product and galvanized roofing nails.

    TIA!

    --
    Stupider like a fox! - H.S.
    1. Re:Where is the list? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      If you use the word "Olympic' they will sue you.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Where is the list? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      I'm surprised they haven't sued Greece and the state of Washington yet....

  25. No surprise here by DirkBalognapantz · · Score: 3, Informative

    This doesn’t surprise me based on how over-controlling the International Olympic Committee is. For instance, I used to work for a finance company that had the word “Olympic” in it. Their Lawyers threatened the company, so they had to change it to “Arcadia”. You can not use the word “Olympic” in anything due to their trademark on the word. I have even seen a couple business signs with the word “Olympic” painted over with another name. Before then, I was under the silly impression that the word “Olympic” wasn’t anyone’s property. They will come after you at night wearing togas and carrying torches.

    1. Re:No surprise here by firewrought · · Score: 2

      Before then, I was under the silly impression that the word âoeOlympicâ wasnâ(TM)t anyoneâ(TM)s property. They will come after you at night wearing togas and carrying torches.

      Believe it or not, congress has written laws that directly grant the Olympics and the Red Cross special intellectual property protections. I don't know why they weren't just asked to register a trademark like everybody else. Both orgs have also asked ICANN for special treatment.

      --
      -1, Too Many Layers Of Abstraction
    2. Re:No surprise here by sapphire+wyvern · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Given that the Red Cross has traditionally had an internationally-recognized and (usually) protected role in theatres of conflict (along with its Islamic counterpart, the Red Crescent) I can understand why that organization's markings are deserving of protection above and beyond that of mere trademarks.

      But screw the Olympics. They can just use trademarks like any other part of the entertainment, media & advertising industrial complex.

    3. Re:No surprise here by mcvos · · Score: 1

      I'm fine with the Red Cross, but the Olympics are really just a commercial enterprise. Had they been a noble non-profit about the promotion of sport, espeically amateur sport, I might not have minded so much, but it's really all about money.

      But with trends being what they are, it wouldn't surprise me if within a decade most multinationals have special protection by law.

  26. Slight Irony? by trancemission · · Score: 1

    Isn't the Olympics about 'amateur' athletes?

    Excuse my ignorance.

    1. Re:Slight Irony? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      You're just a couple thousand years late.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:Slight Irony? by sonamchauhan · · Score: 1

      Yes, Amateur athletes and Pro businessmen!

  27. The Brits will royally screw this one up methinks. by dryriver · · Score: 5, Interesting

    London 2012 is going to be a farcical affair for start to finish. London traffic is already heavily congested without a major event taking place. With London 2012, its going to be nearly impossible to get around the Capital without getting stuck, stuck, stuck everywhere. Then, there's going to be a ridiculous amount of security all over the Olympics. Thousands of policemen. Helicopters in the sky. Boats out on the Thames. B-sniffing dogs. Biometric (face-recognizing) CCTV cameras anywhere. Then there's the hullaballoo about taking pictures. London 2012 security has been harrassing anyone who takes pictures of Olympics facilities, even from a far distance away (like a Kilometer or Mile), and from public land. Now there's this whole nonsense about only official Olympic sponsors being able to reference the 2012 Olympics, Olympic athletes being banned from tweeting or commenting about the competitions, people watching the Olympics not being allowed to share pictures or videos online. The whole thing is a big, stinking mess before it has even started. Good luck, London. With organizers like these, you'll need it.

    --
    Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
  28. Fuck 'em! by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They occasionally try to sue business with "Olympic" in their name. It has happened several times here in Washington State, where we have a large chunk of the state called the "Olympic Peninsula", and thus a lot of businesses with "Olympic" in their name. A few years ago they tried to tell some dry cleaner out in Port Angeles (in the Olympic Peninsula) that they could not call themselves the "Olympic Cleaners".

    Fuck 'em.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:Fuck 'em! by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      I kinda wish they'd sue the Feds over the Olympic National Park. That would be a fun one to watch.

    2. Re:Fuck 'em! by suutar · · Score: 1

      Obviously they need to sue to have the peninsula renamed first.

  29. Every athlete by future+assassin · · Score: 2

    should post a photo/break the fule. What are they gonna dom ban everyone or even 1/4 of the athletes?

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:Every athlete by PeanutButterBreath · · Score: 1

      What are they gonna dom ban everyone or even 1/4 of the athletes?

      I suspect that many athletes, based on the political or economic conditions in their home countries, have a lot to lose by making waves and more pressing concerns than copyright freedoms in a relatively pampered first world country.

    2. Re:Every athlete by dwillden · · Score: 1

      But if a substantial portion of the scheduled athletes are banned at the last second for breaking this rule, they don't have time to bring in replacements, and if the big name athletes suddenly are dropped off the rosters, attendance and viewership will drop dramatically. We are watching to see Phelps set new records and continue to totally dominate the sport of swimming, if suddenly the medal contending athletes are unknowns from Botswana, Iran and Peru, US viewers (where the real money comes from) will find something else to watch, and NBC will scream bloody murder at the IOC for killing their ad revenues.

      So getting lots of athletes, especially the big name ones to break this ridiculous rule is a good idea. Perhaps who ever is providing the Official Cell Phone should ensure that all the athletes get nice powerful smart phones with premiere network access to guarantee those pics get uploaded to the cloud as soon as the shutter is snapped. Then we'll see how quickly the IOC backtracks.

      Add in a few million attendee's doing the same thing, and see if the IOC can afford to sue that many people at once. Oh and if you do happen to actually attend an event, or at least live in the UK, be sure to tweet/post/share event results as they occur. The IOC and the Television networks need to realize that the days of controlling the release of scores and event results are over.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    3. Re:Every athlete by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      they don't care. they already got the sponsorship money from the brands.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    4. Re:Every athlete by future+assassin · · Score: 1

      An this is why they get what they deserve with these rules.

      --
      by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  30. "We own all photons reflected from these events!" by mykos · · Score: 2

    This is the craziest shit I ever heard

  31. Bribes by Wowsers · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's a well known (documented) that the London bid team gave bribes to the IoC to win the bid. Strange how not one person from the IoC or the London politicians are in prison. Better throw people in courts for photographing, that'll show those pesky taxpayers who footed the £10bn ($15bn) and rising bill.

    Just to add some detail to the "London" Olympics, the BBC has gutted their sports presentation for this event. They've lost half the Formula One coverage (with it going completely on contract end), and recently horse racing, and other sports too just to pay for the Olympics coverage. So while people wonder why for the next few years there will be no sports to watch on the BBC, they can reminisce on the 20-ish days of political jerk-off "sport" they didn't watch for the Olympics.

    --
    Take Nobody's Word For It.
    1. Re:Bribes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Where's Zeus and his thunderbolt when you really need it? His tubby old ass too fat to climb down from Mount Olympia and smite some corrupt heathenous bastards? Or have they been busy providing him virginal human women 'sacrifices' to spawn more half breed offspring that Hera won't approve of?:D

  32. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What sounds completely insane to me is that UK actually had to create special new laws regarding copyright etc in the context of the Olympics for the benefit of IOC here. Do countries really value their sovereignty so little?

  33. Re:how is this legal? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Informative

    TFA:

    "In 2006, accordingly, parliament passed the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, which, together with the Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act of 1995, offers a special level of protection to the Games and their sponsors over and above that already promised by existing copyright or contract law. A breach of these acts will not only give rise to a civil grievance, but is a criminal offence."

  34. How do they enforce this, exactly? by mark-t · · Score: 1

    I mean, I suppose they can disqualify any athlete who violates the rules, but what do they do with a fan?

    In particular, what do they do with a fan from out of the country who attends the opening ceremonies, takes photos, and then returns home to upload them to his website or blog? The person's already out of the country, so what could they do?

  35. And it's illegal to protest about it by AxeTheMax · · Score: 4, Informative

    A man was convicted of a minor offence for refusing to obey a police instruction to leave a green space on which an olympic practice pitch was to be built. He was then served a further order banning him from going anywhere near anything connected with the Olympics.

    "The asbo, which will be either confirmed or overturned by magistrates at the start of May, prohibits Moore from going within 100 yards of any Olympic-related venue, "route" or the home of participants, officials or spectators, or approaching any road where the Olympic torch will pass that day."

    That means a pretty large area. Since he lives in London and cannot possibly know where the homes of all these numerous people are, it seems to mean that he can be arrested for leaving his house.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/17/protester-receives-olympic-asbo

    1. Re:And it's illegal to protest about it by The+Rizz · · Score: 2

      Since he lives in London and cannot possibly know where the homes of all these numerous people are, it seems to mean that he can be arrested for leaving his house.

      Possibly even for staying in it...

  36. The rights are mine mine mine mine mine! by kawabago · · Score: 1

    I'm so tired of Olympic rights and all the greed surrounding the Olympics it's time to start boycotting every company that sponsors the Olympics. From now on, if your company has Olympic rings on it's product I'll be passing on it.

    1. Re:The rights are mine mine mine mine mine! by mcvos · · Score: 1

      My thoughts exactly. Supporting that corrupt mess is easily more than enough reason for a boycott.

  37. Re:The Brits will royally screw this one up methin by tibit · · Score: 1

    Never mind that such events are endless pits where public money gets dumped for no good reason. It doesn't make any financial sense to organize those events, they lose money head over heels.

    --
    A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
  38. Time to hit them where it hurts. by msaroff · · Score: 1

    Write Olympic sponsors, and say that you will no longer patronize them because of this.

    1. Re:Time to hit them where it hurts. by geekoid · · Score: 1

      then who will we patronize? EVERYONE seems to be a sponsor.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  39. Vote with your wallet.... by PhantomHarlock · · Score: 1

    don't go. Unfortunately, in reality there will always be enough pleebs that will take them up on their ridiculous offer.

    I just can't see why anyone would bother, when you can just stay at home and watch a nice HD feed of the best bits. What a hassle.

    When I was in Japan I went to see a Sumo tournament on a whim, and it was great. No rules against photography or video, I shot both just for my own entertainment and had a ball. They have a very different attitude at least when it comes to Sumo.

  40. My Grandma got the IOC... by i.r.id10t · · Score: 1

    Grandma was involved with management for the '32 olympics in LA as a translator/office manager type. She had LOTS of film footage from her movie camera, they ended up buying a lot of it from her for the '84 olympics.

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
  41. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

    The UK has had no problem selling its citizens' rights up the river before, why would this time be any different?

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  42. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    It usually sells them to U.S., which, at least, is another (and supposedly allied) state - not a de facto corporate superentity like IOC with no clear allegiance and the sole goal of making money.

  43. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by AngryDeuce · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, they value their sovereignty, they're just monetizing it.

    You're not one of those freedom hating socialists, are you?

  44. yay?! by robi2106 · · Score: 1

    Yay corporate greed and licensing to ruin the Olympics. Sad and inevitable.

  45. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 1

    Wow. You Brits still have rights? Can I move there? Newcastle seemed nice when I was there a couple of years ago. Do they have webcams in the WC like London?

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
  46. "Olympics" is trademarked by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Any and all unauthorized use of the term will cease immediately. Thus Slashdot must remove this entire thread and all related links, or face the maximum penalty under the law.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  47. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by IANAAC · · Score: 1
    Actually, I hope a fan ends up taking a picture of themselves with an athlete in the background (preferably consuming a non-approved beverage, snack), and I hope they get hauled into court.

    This rabid "it's mine, you can't look at/listen to/draw it, much less record it" mentality has always been silly, now it's just ridiculously silly and needs to be challenged. Until it's challenged, it's going to keep getting more ridiculous.

  48. All your life belong to us. by catsRus · · Score: 1

    I bet you thought the Nazis lost WW II. LOL

  49. Did they ban this and that 4 years ago by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    I gotta admit my memory ain't it used to be

    Can't really remember what happened 4 years ago - that Olympics that took place somewhere, [cranking my old brain] ... somewhere in a communist country, I guess ---

    Did they ban the athletes from taking photos back then?

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:Did they ban this and that 4 years ago by michelcolman · · Score: 3

      Funny how my memory of olympic games seems to be inversely proportional to the amount of commercialisation around them. I used to enjoy watching the olympics, but nowadays I'm hardly even aware they are being held. Is it this year, you say? And 4 years ago, was that China? I seem to remember a Slashdot article (probably completely illegal, by the way) about the Chinese seeding rain clouds to keep the stadium dry, that's about the only thing I remember.

      Maybe the fact that publicity is so tightly regulated might have something to do with it. They seem to be actually reducing their audience in their envy of preventing any outsiders from making any money. Keeping non-authorised people from making money actually seems to be more important to them than making money themselves. Maybe somebody ought to tell them that that is not rational behaviour.

    2. Re:Did they ban this and that 4 years ago by anyGould · · Score: 2

      The staggered Summer/Winter events don't help there either. It's turned into politics - we start hearing about the next Olympics as soon as the previous one starts (not even when it ends). It doesn't feel like there's ever a time when we're *not* ramping up to the next Big Event.

      I don't watch Olympics because they never show the events I want to see. Yeah, let's watch the runners and swimmers for a few hours. Not. Where's the archery? Fencing? Steeplechase?

  50. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by ExploHD · · Score: 1

    When did this happen? I'm interested in reading up on that

  51. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's in TFA:

    "Britain already has a range of legal protections for brands and copyright holders, but the Olympic Games demand their own rules. Since the Sydney Games in 2000, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has required bidding governments to commit to introducing bespoke legislation to offer a further layer of legal sanction.

    In 2006, accordingly, parliament passed the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, which, together with the Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act of 1995, offers a special level of protection to the Games and their sponsors over and above that already promised by existing copyright or contract law. A breach of these acts will not only give rise to a civil grievance, but is a criminal offence."

    So far as I can see from a brief glipse at the law in question, it basically amounts to giving police powers to directly enforce whatever rules IOC comes up to. This, in particular, looks like it allows the police to arrest you on the spot if you're wearing a T-shirt with a wrong logo or anything like that.

  52. Don't Worry by gelfling · · Score: 1

    There's still time for boiling mobs of furious Islamics to protest with arson and rocks as you know they will. 50/50 the Games will be cancelled or dramatically curtailed. Barring that, the UK will decide that the Games are bad for children, promote bad eating, hooliganism and such, and cancel them on their own. It IS Britain.

  53. Not unexpected from the Olympics folks whose logo by DaveyJJ · · Score: 2

    ... portrays, in ghastly purples and yellows, Lisa Simpson giving head.

    --
    DaveyJJ
  54. Sigh by Trogre · · Score: 2

    Another example of the over-commercialization of sport.

    Does anyone remember when sporting events were about, well, sport?

    Me neither, but surely it hasn't always been this bad has it?

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  55. The IOC is a troll by FeatherBoa · · Score: 2

    The IOC and the Olympics has been nothing more than a deeply corrupt, out-of-control marketing engine and ruthless trademark troll for 30 years. I think the Los Angeles games was the turning point.

    They took a paint company on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington to court because they had retail stores in Vancouver in 2010. They lost of course, but it was still a monumental hassle.

    There's a good writeup of how crazy the mess was from Vancouver 2010 here: http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/1777/125/

    I'm sure a summer olympics is 100 times worse.

  56. Just Remember Kids! by SoVi3t · · Score: 1

    If a corporation does something, you have zero right to enjoy it or profit from it unless it's exactly the way they want you to, as civilian and human rights mean nothing when compared to the REAL powers of the world

    --
    Defender of Microsoft and Communism!!!
  57. Re:How else will they be able to raise enough mone by pla · · Score: 1

    How else will they be able to raise enough money to pay the athletes AND the various big name "non-profit" figures that need to get their cut from these games?

    Pay?

    The IOC doesn't pay anyone. They require their athletes have no sponsors, make them pay their own way, and them milk them for as many free performances (copyright the IOC, the athletes don't even own the rights to their own images) as they can get out of them. All the while, they demand host cities build them massive stadiums and pay for traffic and populace control; demand that host countries PASS FUCKING LAWS making the FP not just a civil, but a criminal issue; Milk sponsors of every last penny and aggressively prevent you from wearing, at a publicly paid-for stadium usually on public land, even the colors of a non-sponsor. God help you if you wear red-white-and-blue to an event paid for by Coke, prepare to spend the night in a cage, you worthless Pepsi-promoting piece of shit!

    Just fuck the IOC. They have zero relevance to the modern world, and have only pushed themselves further and further into that irrelevance - Case in point, search for "Rome 2020", some countries have finally said "y'know? Screw that - Take your ball somewhere else, we don't want you here".

  58. Nice thought by Fujisawa+Sensei · · Score: 1

    That would be a beautiful kick in the ass of the IOC.

    --
    If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
  59. Olympics Inc is as bad as the RIAA and MPAA by rossz · · Score: 1

    I boycotted the Olympics many years ago. I remember the exact moment I finally said, "fuck this". I was sitting on the couch with my wife watching a women's swimming event (2000 summer games). It went like this: 15 minutes about American swimmer, several commercials, 15 minutes about another American swimmer, more commercials, 15 minutes about the third American swimmer. More commercials. Discussion about how the only thing in question was the order the Americans would win the three medals. Race starts. Woman from some country they didn't care about beats the crap out of everyone. Immediately switch to another event without even fucking acknowledging the win by the woman from that shitty little country. Except that country was Hungary, where my wife was born and raised and where we were married. We cared a hell of a lot about that fine young (and uber hot) Hungarian swimmer and wanted to not just hear the assholes recognize her win, but also some background about her. I got up from the couch, told my wife I was done with the Olympics, and have not watched a single event (summer or winter) since then.

    Their heavy handed reaction to people who post pictures or commentary about the games has only reinforced my desire to never watch their brand-fest again.

    --
    -- Will program for bandwidth
  60. Just Do It! by bryan1945 · · Score: 1

    "Heat 4 in the 200m women's qualifier is brought to you by Degree Antiperspirant. Works so good it makes you FAST!"
    You know that this is coming.
    "Heat 5 in the 200m women's qualifier is brought to you by Vagisil. So clean it makes you FAST!"
    And we will all want to kill ourselves.
    "Heat 6 in the 200m women's qualifier is brought to you by Tampax. So dry is makes you FAST!"
    And then instead we shoot the advertisers. And lawyers, just to be safe.

    (No offense meant to the womenfolk here)

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
  61. Re:How else will they be able to raise enough mone by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

    Yeah, that's right, those athletes spend their entire lives training for the Olympics and nobody pays them. They just do it for the love of the sport. /s
    There is so much money in the Olympics it makes the NFL look like chump change. The athletes are getting their share. It may not be coming from the IOC, but it may as well be. The entire proposition is corrupt. Yes, there are a few athletes who are not making a lot of money off of the Olympics, but for the most part the athletes that actually win anything there are making big bucks. The entire thing and everyone involved with it from top to bottom is about exploiting it for every dime they can. The IOC can get away with pushing these rules on the athletes because an Olympic appearance is worth so much to the athletes.

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  62. Boycott the Olympics. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hit them where it hurts. Boycott the Olympics. Without pics, it would just be Olym.

  63. it's in the UK, what do you expect!? n/t by trptrp · · Score: 1

    not text

  64. The only publicity they should get is their ads by Animats · · Score: 2

    The IOC should be granted their desire for control. News outlets should ignore the event and turn it over to the advertising department. Any publicity about the event should be billed at standard rates.

    1. Re:The only publicity they should get is their ads by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Hmm. That's a superb idea. Time to sue the BBC for breaking their charter by advertising a commercial company (the IOC) every waking fucking minute.

  65. Laws even forbid use of words "London" and "2012"! by psychonaut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This reminds me of a recent Diamond Geezer post lampooning the new legal restrictions on the use of the words "London" and "2012":

    We demand that you change your behaviour and amend your speech. Watch, and learn:

    • Instead of "Today is January 3rd 2012" say "Today is three days after 2011."
    • Instead of signing legal documents "03/01/2012" write "03/01/12"
    • Instead of "My baby is due in June 2012" say "I'm having a baby in a special year, I am very blessed."
    • Instead of "Do you have any 2012 tickets?" say "Do you have any Inspirational National Event tickets?"
    • Instead of "2012 is turning out to be a shit year already" say "I think I'll just pop down to John Lewis and buy a cuddly Mandeville."

    In July, it will also become illegal to mention the word "London" in public. We will issue further instructions at this time.

    He's only half-joking—the British Parliament really did pass a law, the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006, which effectively prohibits the use of these words in certain combinations, except by the Olympics organizing committee and its official sponsors.* According to LOCOG's own guidelines, the prohibited expressions are

    – any two of the words: Games, Two Thousand and Twelve, 2012, Twenty-Twelve
    OR
    – any word in the list above with one or more of the words: London, medals, sponsors, summer, gold, silver, bronze

    *Technically, the only real crime is creating a false association between a business and the Olympics, regardless of what language is used, but the Act singles out a number of particular words and expressions for special consideration by the courts.

  66. "Inspire a generation" being the motto... by Sosarian+Avatar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After reading the above, I was quite amused to see the BBC's cheery comment on Google+ that

    The motto of the London Olympics has also been revealed: "Inspire a generation".

    Of course, acting like fascists does tend to inspire people, just not usually in a way the fascists agree with...

    --
    Apathy Sucks, Nobody for President!
    1. Re:"Inspire a generation" being the motto... by bky1701 · · Score: 1

      Maybe they'll inspire the British to grow a spine and stand up for their rights.

  67. I love the 2012 symbol though. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Depending on your personal preference, it's either Macey Gray giving head, or Lisa Simpson.

    After that was pointed out to me, I couldn't take their "Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act of 1995" seriously.

  68. It's all about the money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    and it has been for a long time.

    I can remember 16 or 20 years ago I was watching an olympics boxing match on TV and the ref stopped the match twice because one of the boxers had the wrong logo on front of his boxing trousers. They put some tape on it. Then they had to re-adjust the tape. Then I stopped caring and watching the olympics.

  69. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by ConfusedVorlon · · Score: 1

    Countries (well - leaders) are desperate to win the bid. They get to stand around, look like winners, and hope that some of the magic will rub off on their next election campaign. At the time of bidding, the papers are either reporting win or lose regarding the bid. There isn't any examination of what is being agreed in order to win.

    As a result, they'll swallow any crap the IOC (or football world cup, or whatever) thrust down their throat as conditions of bidding.

    My understanding is that these rules are now a standard, and are required every cycle. Of course, as the IOC gets away with one batch of craziness, they ask for more next time round.

    I'll certainly be doing my best to boy ignore the olympics.

  70. Don't understand why they do not go the other way by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    To me what would make a lot more sense than trying to stuff thousand genies back into a thousand bottles would be to slap branding over everything everywhere, so that any images taken would inherently contain loads of advertising.

    Furthermore if they made the branding really cool (like giant 3D statues of logos) they would get a LOT of people taking pictures with it!

    Then let anyone record the games. Sure you'd lose a little re-broadcasting revenue but not much given the quality. Furthermore if they simply sold raw feeds of every single event they could make a TON of money from people picking and choosing what to watch.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  71. They're not even pretending any more by erroneus · · Score: 1

    They used to pretend that the Olympic games was about bringing nations together for healthy competition and a celebration of accomplishment and blah blah blah... good will, happiness, rainbows and wheaties.

    They are no longer making any effort at all to make people believe in this crap. Now it's all about "look at the performing monkeys! They do it all for free!! you look? you pay!!!!" What's this? No friends or family or even the participants themselves can have pictures of themselves "doing olympic stuff"? Really?

    I imagine somewhere buried deep in the legalese the olympic people were granted exclusive rights to everything and that it's all "perfectly legal." But isn't this just another example of "legal != right"?

  72. Re:The Brits will royally screw this one up methin by CheeseyDJ · · Score: 1

    I think the Olympics will go ahead very well - they simply have to.

    It's the ever increasing amount of public money required to make that happen that worries me.

  73. Re:Another Wayout Flying Teapot by coastwalker · · Score: 1

    Yeah, and don't forget the Astrophysics video's on YouTube, specially ones to do with group theory, dark energy, inflation, Leonard Suskind and Engadget podcasts about dogs wearing spectacles.

    Actually I haven't seriously watched any Olympics since 1980 on account of having a life, though I can watch some Wintersports because I enjoy snowboarding holidays.

    I am seriously not looking forward to the wall to wall coverage of this soft drink and leisure wear advertising festival coming up in London this summer.

    The brand protection bullshit being talked about sums up just what a mindfuck the whole thing is. I hope the London tax payers enjoy paying extra taxes for the rest of their lives to fund this idiotic charade.

    --
    Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
  74. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by fafaforza · · Score: 1

    And one wonders why the olympics still go on, let alone command so much power, when the governments hosting them don't even break even on their investment, as far as I remember reading in the past.

  75. EVERYBODY post olympic photos!!! by XartaoX · · Score: 1

    Even if you've gotta fake photos, EVERYONE shold post photos of themselves at or enjoying the Olympics. Especially with non-official products. OVERLOAD their censorship / take-down efforts!!! heh heh =D

  76. Re:How else will they be able to raise enough mone by fafaforza · · Score: 1

    Are you basing your sarcasm on anything specific, or just baseless supposition? Because for many athletes, simply making it onto the olympic team is a life goal and separate from getting paid for it. I'm not sure how their finances work (you seem to know all the details, so please share) but they aren't getting rich off it. Maybe if they get that coveted Wheaties sponsorship, but that has nothing to do with the IOC and their business model.

  77. I have an idea by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    Why not build a big opaque dome over the stadium and only let the athletes in? This should solve all their IP issues!

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  78. Re:Don't understand why they do not go the other w by saintlupus · · Score: 1

    Furthermore if they simply sold raw feeds of every single event they could make a TON of money from people picking and choosing what to watch.

    No kidding. I love the Mountain Biking and BMX events, but they're never actually on television. Instead, it's three hours of Shot Put!

  79. If you are looking for someone to blame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's these guys: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. The people that started this firm used copyright to help make the 1984 Los Angeles games the first profitable Olympics in ages. Their model has been used ever since. It also caught the eye of Hollywood and, well, need I say more?

    On the other hand, these guys are Google's favorite firm and are the definite go-to firm for any litigation against Apple.

    Sorry to make your heads explode.

  80. Also, potential for alternate footage... by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Another thing organizers would do if they were really smart would be to say if you get a ticket, you automatically allow any footage of events you take to be used royalty free my the Olympic committee. Then they could crawl YouTube for alternate event footage and provide it in the paid content, I don't even think people would care as long as they otherwise retained copyright.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  81. No by Chemisor · · Score: 1

    The Olympics used to represent what great physical feats any of us could do if only we got off our lazy butts and exercised. Now they represent the physical achievements of genetic freaks that are largely the product of their natural endowments, and that are impossible to match by an average human being. Sure, it is mildly amusing to find out what the ultimate capabilities of the human body can be once it's engineered for one specific task. But it is certainly not inspiring, and is about as entertaining as seeing the "world's tallest man" at the circus.

  82. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by chrismcb · · Score: 1

    I appreciate the Olympics, but I'm not giving up my rights just because my country is hosting them.

    What rights do you think you are giving up?

  83. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by chrismcb · · Score: 1

    So far as I can see from a brief glipse at the law in question, it basically amounts to giving police powers to directly enforce whatever rules IOC comes up to. This, in particular, looks like it allows the police to arrest you on the spot if you're wearing a T-shirt with a wrong logo or anything like that.

    Wearing a tshirt? Where do you read that. I didn't read the whole law, but what I did read (and what they can arrest you for) revolves around trade. I don't know the general UK laws, but I do know elsewhere they require permits to sale stuff, and you can be arrested if you don't have the permits.

  84. Striesand effect any one? by SuperTechnoNerd · · Score: 1

    Come on, lets Striesand them. And throw in a Rick Roll for good measure.

  85. Re:How's that for promoting international cooperat by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    19 Advertising regulations

    (1)The Secretary of State shall make regulations about advertising in the vicinity of London Olympic events.
    (2)In making the regulations the Secretary of State—
    (a)shall aim to secure compliance with obligations imposed on any person by the Host City Contract,
    (b)shall have regard to any requests or guidance from the International Olympic Committee, and
    (c)shall also have regard to amenity and public safety.
    (3)The regulations shall specify, or provide criteria for determining—
    (a)the places in respect of advertising in which the regulations apply,
    (b)the nature of the advertising in respect of which the regulations apply, and
    (c)what is, or is not, to be treated for the purposes of the regulations as advertising in the vicinity of a place.
    (4)The regulations may apply in respect of advertising of any kind including, in particular—
    (a)advertising of a non-commercial nature, and
    (b)announcements or notices of any kind.
    (5)The regulations may apply in respect of advertising in any form including, in particular—
    (a)the distribution or provision of documents or articles,
    (b)the display or projection of words, images, lights or sounds, and
    (c)things done with or in relation to material which has or may have purposes or uses other than as an advertisement. ...
    (8)The regulations—
    (a)may prohibit action of a specified kind or in specified circumstances,
    (b)may impose obligations on persons who—
    (i)take action in relation to an advertisement, or
    (ii)have an interest in or responsibility for a product or service to which an advertisement relates,
    (c)may impose obligations on persons who own, occupy or have responsibility for the management of land, premises or other property,
    (d)may, in particular, impose on a person an obligation to take steps to ensure—
    (i)that other persons do not take action of a particular kind;
    (ii)that a situation is not permitted to continue, and
    (e)shall have effect despite any consent or permission granted (whether before or after the commencement of the regulations) by any landowner, local authority or other person.

    21 Offence

    (1)A person commits an offence if he contravenes regulations under section 19.
    (2)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that the contravention of the regulations occurred—
    (a)without his knowledge, or
    (b)despite his taking all reasonable steps to prevent it from occurring or (where he became aware of it after its commencement) from continuing.
    (3)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—
    (a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine, or
    (b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £20,000.
    (4)A court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) may require him to pay to a police authority or to the Olympic Delivery Authority sums in respect of expenses reasonably incurred in taking action under section 22(1) in relation to the matters to which the offence relates.

    39 Offences: arrest

    (1)At the end of Schedule 1A to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (arrestable offences) add—
    “London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006
    27BAn offence under section 21(1), 27(1) or 31(1) of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 (unauthorised advertising, trading and ticket-sales).”

  86. Clarification by Dareth · · Score: 1

    "freakish exceptions in a population of 7 billion"

    Was this in reference to viewers under 30, or the athletes?

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
    1. Re:Clarification by Surt · · Score: 1

      The viewers under 30.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  87. Don't be silly by Dareth · · Score: 1

    They can check the time on their own watch, for the moment. They just can't use "Big Ben"© to check the time.

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling