Patent Troll Sues X-Plane

Errrm what? by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-09-14 09:00 · Score: 2, Insightful

Where did "selling Android Apps" enter the picture? Turns out the patent has nothing to do with "things X-Plane has done for decades". Couldn't the editors have checked that?

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Of course news about a fake are Fake News.

Re:Errrm what? by icebike · 2012-09-14 09:05 · Score: 4, Informative

Where did "selling Android Apps" enter the picture? Turns out the patent has nothing to do with "things X-Plane has done for decades". Couldn't the editors have checked that?
It enters into the picture because x-Plain is using a standard Android API developed by Google and shipped with Android to check if the user bought the package before allowing it to be used.
This pretty much means Google is going to go after the Troll since the patents cited have plenty of prior art that the patent office overlooked.
The editors could have checked for this, but quite frankly you could have clicked a link an RTFA.

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Re:Errrm what? by Score+Whore · 2012-09-14 09:15 · Score: 5, Informative

Actually he says he does have that kind of money:

(Note: I have enough money to defend thus suit all the way through trial without it being a severe financial hardship, so please do not give if it is a hardship for you. But, if you would like to make a contribution to help with the cause because you want to help stop people like this, then it will surely be appreciated!)
And it sounds like not only does have have that kind of money, but he has lots more too.
Re:Errrm what? by idontgno · 2012-09-14 09:15 · Score: 5, Informative

The summary is, as usually, fairly terribad.
The patent (filed 2001, granted 2005) is for remote license checking. This, you may surmise, is ancient technology. It's ubiquitous technology. It's an egregiously bad candidate for a patent (in my non-lawyer opinion). But, there it is.
The "decades" part has nothing explicit to do with X-Plane, or with the Android license checking API. It has entirely to do with the fact that remote license checking has been done for decades, not that X-Plane has been doing it for decades.
Way to misinterpret TFA when constructing the summary, Original Submitter. (Assuming Editor didn't botch the summary and make it look like they're quoting the Submitter's pristine words.)
I love this place. It makes "finding the real story" into a bizarre and almost-entertaining "Where's Waldo" game.

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Re:Errrm what? by jhoegl · 2012-09-14 09:26 · Score: 3, Insightful

Oh, this must be that trickle down economics I hear so much about
"Hey everyone, Im rich, but I need help defending the thing you all love because I dont really wanna pay for it."
Wait, what?
Re:Errrm what? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:29 · Score: 1

If you read the full documents, the patent is relating to the code that authorizes purchased Android Apps to run on a given phone. X-Plane's Author is only using the ANDROID API to perform the license check per Google specifications.
So any Android app that verifies that the phone it's running on matches the phone of the purchased user is fair game according Uniloc.
The "things X-Plane has done for decades" is false, but he has examples of other prior art that uses similar authentication methods.
Re:Errrm what? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:29 · Score: 5, Insightful

So... he got sued because his proprietary software's DRM system infringes a troll's patent on DRM systems?
He's the lesser of two evils. I hope he wins, but it's hard to give a crap, really.
If he wins, a patent troll is defeated, which is good.
If he loses, DRM becomes harder to do, because of the patent, which is also good.
Either way, money changes hands from two asshats to their lawyers, who, quite likely are equally asshats, which is thus neutral.
Re:Errrm what? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:33 · Score: 3, Informative

It would be nice if Google actually went after this troll; however, this troll obviously knows they're probability of surviving against Google is 0 so they went after these 8 developers. Heck, even Oracle didn't survive against Google.
The trick shot there is these 8 developers convincing a judge that the patent is invalid because of "prior art" if you will (see this link from Laminar Research); or if it's considered valid that the plaintiff should go after Google instead. If the judge agrees the case is over for the plaintiff.
Re:Errrm what? by AaronLS · 2012-09-14 09:41 · Score: 5, Funny

This is known as Asshat Economics. Money slowly trickles into the hands of asshats, and once there, it just moves around between the asshats to create the illusion that they are doing something meaningful.
Re:Errrm what? by arth1 · 2012-09-14 09:50 · Score: 1

This pretty much means Google is going to go after the Troll since the patents cited have plenty of prior art that the patent office overlooked.
I would think that Apollo's NetLS from 1987 would be the prime example here - even its name means Network Licensing System.
Unlike the later FlexLM, it did have a global server that pointed to the correct local server, so it's highly relevant here.
IBM: you guys bought NetLS, and now call it IBM LUM, so why not take off your gloves and go after this fscker with a pre-emptive suit?
Re:Errrm what? by ackthpt · 2012-09-14 09:52 · Score: 2

Oh, this must be that trickle down economics I hear so much about
"Hey everyone, Im rich, but I need help defending the thing you all love because I dont really wanna pay for it."
Wait, what?
Trickles down to the lawyers?

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Re:Errrm what? by arth1 · 2012-09-14 10:02 · Score: 5, Informative

The patent (filed 2001, granted 2005) is for remote license checking.

You mean like this patent, which they failed to list as prior art?
Re:Errrm what? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 10:51 · Score: 1

Or indeed Austin's willingness to defend against the suit. The quote in the article doesn't currently appear on the costs page or the suit page.
X-Plane isn't being sued. Laminar Research (the makers of X-Plane) is.
This article is very poorly written and is misleading. There is a patent troll involved, and they are suing at what would be a significant expense to defend, but Austin makes it clear that he will not give in and he will defend the suit, even delaying a second child in his family to do so.
The editor who fact checked this needs to fix the summary by reading the information currently at the linked sites.
Re:Errrm what? by symbolset · 2012-09-14 11:20 · Score: 2

My fault. I'm pretty bad at submitting, it's true. More practice is in order.

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Re:Errrm what? by Kaenneth · 2012-09-14 11:31 · Score: 1

Is it the same as the Minecraft lawsuit?
Re:Errrm what? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 12:07 · Score: 1

Is it the same as the Minecraft lawsuit?
Yup. Same Uniloc asshole for the same damn undefensable patent. At least you know that X-Plane is in good company.
On the other hand, Notch has said "not a dime in tribute" and is going to nail this asshat (Uniloc). I guess the idiot lawyers over at Uniloc are hoping for a reverse class action lawsuit. It could be interesting.
Re:Errrm what? by j00r0m4nc3r · 2012-09-14 12:13 · Score: 1

Just remove the DRM. Problem solved. Money saved.
Re:Errrm what? by GameboyRMH · 2012-09-14 13:45 · Score: 4, Interesting

I call that "the honest definition of capitalism."

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Re:Errrm what? by retchdog · 2012-09-14 16:50 · Score: 1

some of which money may have gone toward a, shall we say, favorably-worded slashdot post.

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Re:Errrm what? by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-09-14 23:58 · Score: 1

Where did "selling Android Apps" enter the picture? Turns out the patent has nothing to do with "things X-Plane has done for decades". Couldn't the editors have checked that?
It enters into the picture because x-Plain is using a standard Android API developed by Google and shipped with Android to check if the user bought the package before allowing it to be used.
So X-Plane has been an Android App for decades. Are you one of the editors?

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Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
Re:Errrm what? by MECC · 2012-09-15 01:44 · Score: 2

Turns out the patent has nothing to do with "things X-Plane has done for decades".
Kind of and kind of not. The patent the troll is claiming has been infringed on is for things others have done for decades - remote license checking:

Section 107 of the patent, which they claim I violated, contains: “107. code for verifying the license data stored on the licensing medium by communicating with a registration authority having verification data.”
The article goes on to point out a few others that have been doing this for decades. HP Openview has been doing it for as long as it has existed. I'm sure scores of others not listed have as well. Honestly, it's been a common practice for decades to be certain.
This is just another example of how software patenting is bad for the industry. Trolls can get patents on nearly anything, then file a lawsuit that while doomed by prior art will cost the victim a lot to show that prior art. Which the Patent office should have found before granting the patent in the first place.

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Re:Errrm what? by bobamu · 2012-09-15 08:09 · Score: 1

Only if, in theory, everyone is a theoretical asshat.
Re:Errrm what? by Rich0 · 2012-09-15 13:14 · Score: 1

Seems like the simple solution is to just not use that API. I never understood the point of it anyway - if I'm going to pirate software using my phone, wouldn't I just intercept the API call? The OS is open source.

Not to discourage people from contributing... by drakaan · 2012-09-14 09:02 · Score: 4, Informative

...but (FTFA)

...Note: I have enough money to defend thus suit all the way through trial without it being a severe financial hardship, so please do not give if it is a hardship for you. But, if you would like to make a contribution to help with the cause because you want to help stop people like this, then it will surely be appreciated!...

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"Murphy was an optimist" - O'Toole's commentary on Murphy's Law

Re:Not to discourage people from contributing... by icebike · 2012-09-14 09:07 · Score: 1

Plus, I bet Google steps in. Its a Google API he is using that is the subject of the troll.

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Re:Not to discourage people from contributing... by tlhIngan · 2012-09-14 09:48 · Score: 3, Interesting

Plus, I bet Google steps in. Its a Google API he is using that is the subject of the troll.
Actually, I'm surprised it took so long for a response. Laminar Research was sued back in July 22, 2012.
In fact, this is part of the lawsuit that Uniloc filed against Mojang (Minecraft) as well, plus EA and many other big names. And the one where the founder says he's not a "patent troll".
I'd be surprised if Google didn't step in - it's Google's technology they're all using in the end. Just like how Apple stepped in when a bunch of iOS developers (and later, Android devs) got sued over in-app purchases.
Re:Not to discourage people from contributing... by Plekto · 2012-09-14 12:29 · Score: 1

As noted above, the technology seems to have been bought from another company by IBM and dates back to the 80s. I remember using exactly this sort of system in 1999 at a firm that I worked for. Each computer would contact the central server for verification before being authorized to get online with the stock exchange computers. Every time the program was run, in fact. Not some obscure patent rotting in a file cabinet, but dozens of actual commercial level products back in the 90s.
In fact, a search of "Direct Access Trading 1994 shows multiple hits. The software was in use forever - and it always used verification like this to ensure that the person using the software was in fact the right person.
The Patent Office needs to change its operating standards to require all applicants to prove that there is no prior art, not the other way around where people have to show that the Patent Office was wrong, if they want to be granted critical IP and software patents.

Flightgear by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:05 · Score: 2, Informative

I'm sure the developers of Flightgear would be pleased to hear their efforts aren't serious.

Re:FlightGear by Peter+Bortas · 2012-09-14 09:30 · Score: 4, Informative

X-Plane does aerodynamic simulations on that no other civilian solution can touch.
Re:FlightGear by X0563511 · 2012-09-14 09:35 · Score: 4, Informative

FAA certification?

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Re:Flightgear by O'Nazareth · 2012-09-14 10:21 · Score: 2

Interesting. In what way a certification from one country makes a project more or less serious? Do you have better arguments that do compare the realism of the two projects?
Re:Flightgear by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 10:53 · Score: 1

By getting a certificate from the world's largest aviation authority, it shows that the game is being taken seriously by the world's largest aviation authority. Conversely, if the game had not received a certificate from the world's largest aviation authority, it would show that the world's largest aviation authority does not take the game seriously enough to grant it a certificate.
Re:Flightgear by He+Who+Has+No+Name · 2012-09-14 11:24 · Score: 1

As a MS FlightSimulator art dev alum, those of us who build stuff like FS and Xplane usually refer to them and try to think of them as sims, not games. Which is part of the reason the FAA has begun to as well. : )
Re:Flightgear by X0563511 · 2012-09-14 16:38 · Score: 1

You... you do realize who the FAA is?

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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...
Re:FlightGear by leandrod · 2012-09-15 02:10 · Score: 1

FAA certification?
It seems at least one FAA certified product is a set including Flight Gear, so I would not use that to say X Plane is the only serious flight simulator to run on Apple Mac OS X & GNU/Linux.

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Re:FlightGear by X0563511 · 2012-09-15 03:19 · Score: 1

This makes it seem like Flightgear is only being used for the visuals. As I know nothing about Flightgear... is this true? I think it's cool either way then, but if it's true, it's a shame Flightgear didn't go the way X-Plane did for the simulation itself. (if you are unaware, only the airfoil's characteristics are "programmed" - the rest is supposed to be fully simulated. Other sims, like MS, they just plug in some numbers and define how the craft behaves, statically (as far as my understanding goes))
This playlist might give you some insight, if you want to sit through or skim it.

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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...
Re:FlightGear by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-15 09:25 · Score: 1

This is quite simply not true. In fact, while the way that the X-Plane FDM works is fine for many purposes, if you have a decent amount of performance data you can produce a vastly more accurate result using JSBSim and FlightGear. It won't be a quick and easy process, but the simulator is so flexible that almost any characteristic or nuance can be modelled, down to the way individual components in the flight control system act.
There's a good reason why FlightGear has been (increasingly) used in the aviation industry and academia worldwide for many years now, and it's not because it's cheap.
Re:FlightGear by Rich0 · 2012-09-15 13:20 · Score: 1

These kinds of certifications are more a matter of spending a lot of money than having any particular capability (though the capabilities usually are a pre-requisite).
It is kind of like saying that Diginotar is more secure than CACert because they passed all the audits needed to be included as a root on Firefox. The catch is that CACert doesn't just issue wildcard intermediate certs to whoever asks for them.
I work on regulated software. Certifications are more about paperwork than quality. In fact, I've found quality to suffer since so much effort goes into trying to document that the system works that nobody has time to actually make it work, and when it is found not to work nobody wants to fix it because that means more paperwork.
Re:Flightgear by X0563511 · 2012-09-16 13:36 · Score: 1

You've revealed you don't know what you are talking about. It's the combination of software and hardware that is certified, not one or the other.

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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...
Re:FlightGear by X0563511 · 2012-09-16 13:37 · Score: 1

Not so here. This FAA certification means "accurate enough to stand in for some flight hours" - it's not just a random seal of Officialness that you think it is.

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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...
Re:FlightGear by Rich0 · 2012-09-17 07:46 · Score: 1

Not so here. This FAA certification means "accurate enough to stand in for some flight hours" - it's not just a random seal of Officialness that you think it is.
FAA certification means "declared by the FAA to be legal to stand in for some flight hours." It is possible for something to be accurate enough to stand in and not be certified. Presumably the FAA audits accuracy in some way before granting certification, but certification isn't the same as accuracy, even if the goals of the certifying agency is for it to be so.
For example, take a non-commercial-use copy of X-Plane. It is apparently not considered by the author to be FAA certified, but on appropriate hardware it is just as good as the certified version. It simply doesn't check to make sure that it is on appropriate hardware.
Re:FlightGear by MiG82au · 2012-09-17 09:01 · Score: 1

Splitting your wings into several elements and using coefficient lookup tables and a rough flow field to calculate forces on those pieces and summing the result is hardly "aerodynamic simulation". There is a whole lot of bullshit being said about the realism of X-plane's flight model. X-plane just takes the flight model one step closer to the fundamentals. Funny how the big $$$ simulators don't bother doing it that way...

One day I'll come on slashdot by Dyinobal · 2012-09-14 09:06 · Score: 4, Funny

One day I'll come on slashdot and read "Patent Troll had his legs broken by unknown assailants, was tarred and then dumped in a bin of shredded legal papers. :

I RTFA and see the following by Picass0 · 2012-09-14 09:10 · Score: 5, Informative

* Laminar Research is being sued specifically for the Android version
* Uniloc is suing Laminar Research because X-Plane phones home to validate it's license
* X-Plane is using a system for license validation provided by Google. Nearly everyone else in the Android market is using this same code, so Uniloc is not going to stop here.

I would say Laminar Research needs to get EFF on the phone but I don't know if they would help defend a commercial product.

Re:I RTFA and see the following by h4rr4r · 2012-09-14 09:12 · Score: 5, Insightful

Sounds like he should get Google on the phone.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:13 · Score: 1

Considering that this affects all Android apps that use the standard license verification, they need to get Google on the phone, never mind the EFF.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by Belial6 · 2012-09-14 09:17 · Score: 1

Of course they would. They have in the past. Take the lawsuits against ReplayTV for example. Unfortunatly, they were too little too late, but the EFF was there.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by Peter+Bortas · 2012-09-14 09:26 · Score: 1

Minecraft/Mojang is being sued for the exact same thing, So he should have a talk with Notch.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by stephanruby · 2012-09-14 09:30 · Score: 2

I would say Laminar Research needs to get EFF on the phone but I don't know if they would help defend a commercial product.
The EFF does defend commercial products sometimes, but yes, EFF defending DRM? I certainly hope not. If the EFF did ever start defending things like DRM, they'd lose half their membership.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by edxwelch · 2012-09-14 09:32 · Score: 1

That protection mechanism sounds very annoying. Does that mean you can only play the game when you have an internet connection?
Re:I RTFA and see the following by tony.damato · 2012-09-14 09:39 · Score: 1

I agree. Google, among others, are fighting Lodsys (aka Intellectual Ventures) for going after their app developers.
Re:I RTFA and see the following by nurb432 · 2012-09-14 12:48 · Score: 1

And make a call to the family.

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Stop living in the US by girlintraining · 2012-09-14 09:11 · Score: 5, Insightful

You need to move to a free country. Innovation is dead in this country. If you don't have several million dollars, you're nobody. You aren't entitled to legal protection, you're just a consumer waiting to be extorted. I'm not saying this to be sarcastic or political; I mean it. Move your development overseas, contribute under an alias, use Tor, whatever it takes. The United States is not a place for innovators or creators to be right now. It is, however, a great place for lawyers and thieves.

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Re:Stop living in the US by some1001 · 2012-09-14 09:34 · Score: 3, Informative

Just another alarmist that doesn't know what the heck is he talking about.

True, the patent system for software is completely hosed up. But to say, "Innovation is dead in this country," is just you talking out of your ass.

There are plenty of companies in many other facets of science and engineering that are doing just fine by staying in the states (not to mention having some of the best schools in the world plus lots of very good ones). As an example, why do international companies in the petroleum industry routinely do business in the states? Oh wait, is it because innovation is dead? No, it's because we have some of the very best technology and great minds to advise companies all over the world.
Re:Stop living in the US by some1001 · 2012-09-14 09:36 · Score: 1

Fixing my poor grammar now instead of later: ...is he... should be ...he is...
Re:Stop living in the US by fustakrakich · 2012-09-14 09:37 · Score: 1

You need to move to a free country.
"Quoting: 'I have spoken to a lawyer about this, and I am told that it will cost me about [puts pinkys to lips] $1,500,000 (one and a half million dollars) to defend this suit."
Hmm, Nigeria, maybe?

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Re:Stop living in the US by tlhIngan · 2012-09-14 09:40 · Score: 4, Interesting

True, the patent system for software is completely hosed up. But to say, "Innovation is dead in this country," is just you talking out of your ass.
There are plenty of companies in many other facets of science and engineering that are doing just fine by staying in the states (not to mention having some of the best schools in the world plus lots of very good ones). As an example, why do international companies in the petroleum industry routinely do business in the states? Oh wait, is it because innovation is dead? No, it's because we have some of the very best technology and great minds to advise companies all over the world.
Or, it's just software's turn this century.
Patent trolls have been around practically forever. The 19th century had patent lawsuits flying around over motorized vehicles, probably just as much as we're seeing between Apple, Microsoft, Google/Motorola, Samsung, etc. And probably just as stupid.
I believe it's a sure sign of innovation when it happens - when a technology is booming, people start mining for gold. When the high-technology sector settles down, so will the lawsuits. And then some OTHER field will experience a rise in patent lawsuits, and they too will wonder about reforming the system, blah blah blah.
History repeating itself over and over again. I tihnk some of the greatest inventors (Edison?) were also some of the most prolific lawsuit-filers.
Re:Stop living in the US by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:43 · Score: 1

No, it's largely because you're one of the largest markets for petroleum.
Re:Stop living in the US by girlintraining · 2012-09-14 09:47 · Score: 2

Whether it's historical or not, the business decision remains the same: The United States is no longer a safe place to innovate. It doesn't reward innovation, it punishes it.

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Re:Stop living in the US by Hatta · 2012-09-14 10:03 · Score: 3, Insightful

As an example, why do international companies in the petroleum industry routinely do business in the states?
Because we have a corrupt government that gives favors to powerful industries.

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Re:Stop living in the US by some1001 · 2012-09-14 10:07 · Score: 1

Haha, so they come to the US to ask for help about acidizing wells, new drilling methodologies, and completions... Just because we are a large market for it?

You know what? Let's say you're right. I hope in the future, when you are trying to figure out how to start up a very productive farm, you mosey your way on over to China and get their help on all the best techniques (because, of course, they are the largest market for food in the world). You mind as well go over there for all your electronics needs as well. Heck, I bet you can't wait to pick up the new Huawei smartphone. I mean, they have to be the best in the world since they're the largest market, right?
Re:Stop living in the US by some1001 · 2012-09-14 10:13 · Score: 1

And what favors would those be to Saudi Aramco or Gazprom? I won't deny that the US has its fair share of corruption, but to say that our government goes out of its way to throw favors at foreign companies just because they are in a "powerful industry" seems like a long shot to me.

If you can prove it on either one of those two *huge* companies getting favors from the federal government, I'll buy it. I'll admit that I was wrong and apologize for being so misguided.
Re:Stop living in the US by Hatta · 2012-09-14 10:19 · Score: 2

Specific favors? No, I don't follow the petroleum industry that closely. But we have a terrible record at holding large corporations accountable for crimes. That can only be attractive to cartels.
Besides, whether Aramco can innovate is irrelevant. Patent trolls don't deter major corporations, they have the funds to fight. What patent trolls do is destroy individual innovation, outside of a corporate structure. You know, the kind of innovation one expects to see in a free country.

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Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Re:Stop living in the US by AnttiV · 2012-09-14 10:46 · Score: 1

That's partly quite lousy comparison, because Huawei's smartphones are actually quite good. Their other 3G products are also good. In fact their 3G/4G gateways are amongst the best.
If you factor in value, Huawei's smartphones are essentially there at the top. They are not the best there are, but certainly not the worst. I actually wouldn't mind having a Huawei phone as my primary smartphone. I have used (for awhile, haven't owned) several of their products and they are very, VERY good for their price.
Re:Stop living in the US by RocketRabbit · 2012-09-14 11:40 · Score: 1

Yeah, let's move to Korea where they innovate and never copy.
Re:Stop living in the US by Plekto · 2012-09-14 12:11 · Score: 1

But hardly anything these days runs or works without some sort of installed or embedded software. Even your coffee maker has a CPU in it.
Catch-22.
Re:Stop living in the US by girlintraining · 2012-09-14 12:19 · Score: 3, Insightful

No, it's because we have some of the very best technology and great minds to advise companies all over the world.
I couldn't find a single piece of electronics gear in my house with the words "Made in the USA" stamped on the bottom. And as far as the "great minds to advise[sic] companies", since our educational standards are falling like a rock, and China has more honor students than we have students, let me go out on a limb and suggest that the advice they're offering is business, not engineering. Deny it all you want, but the reality is right there for anyone to see. I'm not an "alarmist" -- I can hop a plane and fly to Japan where they have state of the art cell phones that make ours look like antiques. The iPhone 5 launch there will be met with a yawn, just like every other release. I can hop another plane to Britain and walk into the dingiest apartment in the suburbs and buy internet access 10x faster than what they have here, and in some markets at a lower place. I can hop another plane to pretty much any other country on the planet and get medication at a fraction of the price it's sold for here.
In virtually every market, in every scientific and engineering discipline, I do not need to look very hard to find people not just competing with America, but beating the snot out of it. The only thing we're good at is business -- we're litigators, we're service providers, we're the world's police force. But do not fucking sit there and tell me that we are innovators. Innovation died a long time ago in this country, and that's a fact you need to square with, instead of living off the fumes of the burned out husk of the American Dream.

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Re:Stop living in the US by dbIII · 2012-09-14 14:12 · Score: 1

I used to buy servers from a US company, but in the end they were just Chinese servers made from generic parts with a US sticker on the front and a bit of extra price markup. Having to ship a machine full of Chinese parts to the USA then waiting for them to get parts from China to fix it was the final straw since I'm just about in the same time zone as China.
I still get stuff made by a US owned company (SuperMicro), but it never touches your shores.
Anyway, IMHO Silicon Valley (and a lot of technological stuff in Texas) was the huge success it was due to less barriers to innovation than you have now and less barriers to immigration than you have now - "great minds" from all over the planet went there and produced more than the USA could do alone even with the greater resources put into education and training in the USA back then.
Re:Stop living in the US by phantomfive · 2012-09-14 16:07 · Score: 1

Even with the messed up patent system for software, the software industry is doing just fine. Software patents are a thorn in the side, but not enough to stop anything.

--
"First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."

Re:He deserves it! by icebike · 2012-09-14 09:11 · Score: 1

Is that you Mr. Uniloc?

--
Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.

Litigation costs by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2012-09-14 09:12 · Score: 5, Funny

Isn't it cheaper, not to mention more socially responsible, to simply bomb that company's headquarters?

--
Ezekiel 23:20

Re:Litigation costs by joelwhitehouse · 2012-09-14 09:52 · Score: 1

Looking at the addresses Uniloc listed in the lawsuit, the locations are just rented office units -- lots of businesses are using the building.
7160 Dallas Parkway, Plano, Texas, 75024
http://binged.it/OpbYL9
315 North Broadway, Tyler, Texas
http://binged.it/Opc1Xy
Re:Litigation costs by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2012-09-14 10:10 · Score: 1

...more socially responsible, to simply bomb that company's headquarters
Do you have any idea how much CO2 that bomb will release!??!?!??

--
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
Re:Litigation costs by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 10:17 · Score: 2, Funny

Isn't it cheaper, not to mention more socially responsible, to simply bomb that company's headquarters?
Way to make it onto a no fly list Mr. Kyosuke!
Re:Litigation costs by galanom · 2012-09-14 13:30 · Score: 1

Oh... Where is Mafia when you need it? Good old times...
Re:Litigation costs by subreality · 2012-09-14 14:22 · Score: 1

TNT is oxygen deficient, so it tends to release CO, but no CO2. Even with a worst-case high explosive a couple 500 pound bombs aren't going to release more than a couple hundred pounds of CO2. Lawyers, on the other hand, release quite a lot.

How to Beat a Patent Troll by gerddie · 2012-09-14 09:13 · Score: 1

Telling the troll to spend all the money on defending onself seems to be the best bet to win.

Re:How to Beat a Patent Troll by X0563511 · 2012-09-14 09:34 · Score: 2

Oooh these guys are the genuine parasitic troll, too:

"Well, at Unilocs’ website, at the time of this writing, lives the text: “In the device recognition space, for example, we believe that we have uncovered a billion dollar market And it fits our straightforward development model. Look at many ideas. Pick an outstanding one. Patent it. Commercialize it. Reap the rewards.”"

--
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...

Re:Here's a pic by TemperedAlchemist · 2012-09-14 09:14 · Score: 1

Minecraft is so badly coded why would you want to take credit for its software? o_o

Guy is just a dumb patent troll. 1.5 million? Please, how about we fine him 3 million, 1.5 million for the lawyer fees and 1.5 million to the the US government for wasting its time when it could be spending time and money on more important things than this bullshit.

as an X-plane customer... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:14 · Score: 1

I don't know what the situation is here of course, but it'd be a serious shame if the X-plane product folded. For the last few releases, it's been clearly a notch or two above the Microsoft simulator as far as a "hardcore hobbyist" sim goes, and it isn't like there's a massive company behind it. They're a pretty small operation I think, trying to do something cool in what is for most purposes a dead gaming genre.

Be a real shame, it would.

FlightGear by leandrod · 2012-09-14 09:18 · Score: 3, Interesting

What makes X Plane more serious than Flight Gear, let alone the only serious one?

--
Leandro GuimarÃ£es Faria Corcete DUTRA
DA, DBA, SysAdmin, Data Modeller
GNU Project, Debian GNU/Lin

Patent troll sues DRM code by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 09:18 · Score: 1

I actually have mixed feelings about this one. From http://www.x-plane.com/x-world/lawsuit/details/

Paragraph 12 of the lawsuit states: ”Laminar Research is directly infringing one or more claims of the ’067 patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in Texas, including at least claim 107, without the consent or authorization of Uniloc, by or through making, using, offering for sale, selling and/or importing Android based applications for use on cellular phones and/or tablet devices that require communication with a server to perform a license check to prevent the unauthorized use of said application, including, but not limited to, X-Plane.”

At first I considered donating for the defence, but to donate for defending DRM? Nah, I'll spend that money on popcorn instead.

Re:Same thing happened to me by Psudonymous_Coward · 2012-09-14 09:19 · Score: 1

I can relate.

Just sent him $2.99 to help fight ! by ccandreva · 2012-09-14 09:20 · Score: 1

Never heard of X-Plane before, but I just bought the Android version. I wuld never have heard aboutt his otherwise. Patent Troll, meet Streisand effect !

Re:Just sent him $2.99 to help fight ! by marsu_k · 2012-09-14 11:24 · Score: 1

I hate people who reply with "this", but, this. I was considering going LOIC (but obviously wouldn't do so, as I'm not anon at the moment :) So I'll support X-Plane, even though I'll probably never use it, after reading the trolls blog. Holy fuck. Those people need to die.
Re:Just sent him $2.99 to help fight ! by Altrag · 2012-09-14 11:40 · Score: 1

They would love to meet the Streisand effect -- Laminar would then have more money to hand over should they end up having to settle or lose the case.
And if Laminar follows it through to court and wins, the troll isn't going to feel any additional pain just because Laminar made a few extra sales in the meantime.
The only way this would cause the troll a problem is if:
- Laminar currently doesn't have the money to defend, AND
- They make enough additional sales that they DO have enough money to defend.
$1.5mill is a heck of a lot of additional sales at $3 a pop. (Of course, presumably they have some cash banked already so the tipping point is likely somewhat under $1.5mill, assuming its above zero in the first place.)

Re:Only Serious Flight Simulator? by TWX · 2012-09-14 09:22 · Score: 3, Funny

You Bastard! Now Uniloc will know who else to sue!

--
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.

Re:EFF's policies by Picass0 · 2012-09-14 09:22 · Score: 4, Informative

"...without the user's permission"

You click an "Accept & Download" button when installing anything from the Play Store. listed under that button is the permissions the app requires.

Re:EFF's policies by dotHectate · 2012-09-14 09:23 · Score: 2

I don't know if you have an Android but whenever I download apps there's always a list of permissions it will have. That alone probably constitutes a degree of permission by the user, I'm sure.

--
Patience is a virtue, but haste is my life.

Emigrate by jbssm · 2012-09-14 09:23 · Score: 1

Seriously, come and live in a free country, like somewhere in the European Union.

Re:Emigrate by Alain+Williams · 2012-09-14 09:58 · Score: 1

Just what I was thinking. X-Plane is produced by Laminar Research who are based in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. If they moved here (England) they would not have a language problem and could continue to develop and sell X-Plane, but probably no sales to the USA. They would then tell their political representatives why they moved and point out how this was costing the USA economy. If enough companies did this then maybe the message might get through the thick skulls of the politicians.
Re:Emigrate by jbssm · 2012-09-14 10:13 · Score: 1

Not only that, but people here, hardly go bankrupt to fight a stupid claim in the tribunal.
That's the serious problem in USA. Even if you are right and the law is on your side, you still have abandon your work because you simply don't have enough money to fight a big corporation in the courts. Talk about "liberty and justice for all".

Hand-written envelope by waimate · 2012-09-14 09:25 · Score: 4, Interesting

I got hit by a patent troll a few years back. I used the same technique that I'd used when MSFT once approached us and said they thought we might be infringing on their IP and could we prove that we're not. And again when another large company said we needed to change our logo because it looked like we had dotted a capital 'i', and they owned that. Just ignore them. We got one additional letter from the patent troll, and that was the last ever heard. As someone else has said, these people are looking for deep pools of money.

In the first instance, ignore. If they demand that you must do something by some certain date, ignore. When they send the follow-up, ignore. If they come back a third time, then send a really badly written letter produced on a manual typewriter or written in crayon with a hand-written envelope telling them what they're claiming isn't applicable, but provide no details. Make yourself look small, impoverished and hard work.

Re:Hand-written envelope by waimate · 2012-09-14 09:27 · Score: 1

Sorry - correction: they're not looking for "deep" pools of money otherwise they'd be going after GOOG and MSFT as well. They're looking for modest pools of money.
Re:Hand-written envelope by Grond · 2012-09-14 09:33 · Score: 2

Actually, Uniloc has sued Microsoft, Sony, Adobe, Electronic Arts, and a host of other companies large and small. Some of those suits (such as those against Mojang and EA) were based on the same patent as the suit against Laminar Research. It seems to me that the defendants should try to work out a shared defense, since it's in all of their interests to see the patent invalidated.
I'll also note that it's interesting that Google has apparently not tried to intervene in the suit. Compare that to the Lodsys suit in which Apple intervened on behalf of iOS developers.
Re:Hand-written envelope by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 11:40 · Score: 1

Actually they are looking for small pools of money. They are looking to set a precedent that they can take to other companies, and say 'hey, the courts have validated our patent, pay us money'. The more court cases there are, the more difficult it is to later overturn.
If they went after google, who have a pretty big chest of cash, google would have enough money in the till to be able to afford the costs to get the patent invalidated.

Re:EFF's policies by Picass0 · 2012-09-14 09:25 · Score: 1

And you know it's putrid how?

Trolls and they know it! by mj1856 · 2012-09-14 09:26 · Score: 2

Wow, this troll thinks they own ALL implementations of "Software Activation" of any kind.. What a bunch of nimrods! Even their own website is super focused on litigation! http://www.uniloc.com/index.php/intellectual-property/

Involving Google in a patent war??? by RobertLTux · 2012-09-14 09:29 · Score: 1

I can see it now

"Okay we need to find prior art for to break this patent?? Okay task the interns from SanFran unit Baker 12 to run nodes 6854623D - 6854902E to find prior art"

then they come to the courthouse with A LITERAL SEMI-TRUCK LOAD of prior art (and when did WINDOWS start doing GA checks??)

--
Any person using FTFY or editing my postings agrees to a US$50.00 charge

The only serious cross platform Flight Sim? by yourlord · 2012-09-14 09:33 · Score: 4, Interesting

"X-plane is a cross-platform flight simulator app, notably the only serious one that supports Mac OSX and Linux."

And here I've been using http://flightgear.org/ all this time. I thought I was using a serious, free, GPL open-source flight simulator that runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.. I'm glad this slashdot post came up to tell me I was wrong.

Dude charges for X-plane.. When you decide to charge for software you accept all the financial responsibility for defending it against litigation. Welcome to it.

Re:The only serious cross platform Flight Sim? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 10:52 · Score: 1

"When you decide to charge for software you accept all the financial responsibility for defending it against litigation. Welcome to it."
You are a bloody sociopath. Get fucked.
Re:The only serious cross platform Flight Sim? by rat7307 · 2012-09-14 19:34 · Score: 1

Flightgear is a game compared to x-plane, especially in the flight dynamics department.

--
Burma?
Re:The only serious cross platform Flight Sim? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-16 05:30 · Score: 1

Flightgear is a game compared to x-plane, especially in the flight dynamics department.
This is not true, but unless you dig in and do some checking, you wouldn't know. FlightGear has more than one flight dynamics model. Both have been developed over the years and are well-regarded. I am the development coordinator for the JSBSim high-fidelity, 6 degree-of-freedom, flight dynamics model that is used by FlightGear, OpenEaagles, Outerra, and others (because JSBSim is open source, it can be used quite broadly). You can read about JSBSim here: http://www.jsbsim.org. If you do some looking, you'll find that JSBSim has been used in academia, industry, and by hobbyists. You can get an idea for the kinds of uses that FlightGear and JSBSim have seen via these links at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics:
http://arc.aiaa.org/action/doSearch?searchText=jsbsim
http://arc.aiaa.org/action/doSearch?searchText=flightgear
If you also do a google search like this: "flightgear dissertation filetype:pdf", or "jsbsim thesis filetype:pdf" you will see that FlightGear and JSBSim have both been used for serious research in academia.
My career has been devoted to flight simulation, and like others on the FlightGear and JSBSim development teams, we have given thousands of hours each (or considerably more - some of us have been at this for fifteen years) of volunteer efforts. So, we would appreciate at least a little bit of consideration in making sure that you aren't repeating someone else's nonsense when you throw out statements like the one you made in this post.
Jon Berndt
www.jsbsim.org
Re:The only serious cross platform Flight Sim? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-17 12:36 · Score: 1

Again, a little research into simulation, flight dynamics, etc. would go a long ways towards clearing up some misconceptions. Let me start out by writing that I like X-Plane - I own a copy, and I can appreciate what Austin has done with X-Plane. It's an impressive piece of work, and he's done a great job at making a living with X-plane sales. I had no problem forking over money for the product.
FlightGear's "YASim" aerodynamics model takes a similar approach to X-Plane's approach at aero modeling. It's good for those cases where someone wants to come up with a plausible flight model, quickly. JSBSim, OTOH, uses a system where you are expected to know a bit more about the aero characteristics of the vehicle you are modeling up front, or can get or create that data using some other tool. I can tell you that all of the USAF and space program simulations I have worked with over the past 25 years have used a lookup table approach. The space shuttle aero model, for instance, is covered in two books, each three inches thick. There were lookup tables that covered every characteristic that was considered important (and probably some that were not!), and all as functions of alpha, beta, mach, etc., from entry interface down to the ground. Believe what you want, but for engineering and training purposes, the use of lookup tables is the only way to go for that kind of detail. For some projects I am aware of for which JSBSim has been used, the aerodynamics databases are absolutely HUGE, and these are stored in lookup tables. I can guarantee you that these models are almost certainly of higher fidelity than what X-Plane can produce - particularly in the transsonic and supersonic regimes. Do not make the mistake of equating lookup tables with low-fidelity. That is simply not the case. Additionally, do not make the mistake of assuming that JSBSim can only do lookup tables. JSBSim aerodynamics modeling consists of any arbitrary function, lookup tables, or any combination of those. Visit www.jsbsim.org for more information, and take a look at our (still incomplete) manual.
Jon Berndt
JSBSim Development Coordinator

Re:Does X-Plane even violate the patent? by jekewa · 2012-09-14 09:36 · Score: 1

X-Plane offers a USB dongle that you can have in your PC instead of the DVD to validate the license. I think that might be what they're talking about.

Not that I agree with them or think that the patent is even valid.

--
End the FUD

Austin Meyer by FreakyGeeky · 2012-09-14 09:57 · Score: 1

Austin Meyer is a total asshole. As a paying customer, he treated me like a pirate the one time I asked a support question on his web site. I hope he loses a lot of money.

Re:Austin Meyer by multimediavt · 2012-09-14 10:26 · Score: 2

As a paying customer, he treated me like a pirate the one time I asked a support question on his web site.
How about a link to that thread, or a couple emails to back that up. I'm not disagreeing with you, but if you are looking for support for that statement from this crowd how about some proof of assholishness? I don't like some people, but I have also gotten off on the wrong foot with people too and have learned not to judge quickly. I have never met Austin but have had good rapport with the Laminar guys over the years when I have asked questions. I don't think it's been more than once or twice in ten years, though.
Re:Austin Meyer by FreakyGeeky · 2012-09-14 19:46 · Score: 1

Ask him if it's possible to run the game without the disc in the drive and see how he reacts. When I did, he went on tirade about how kids these days want everything for free.
Re:Austin Meyer by pbjones · 2012-09-15 09:53 · Score: 1

I have dealt with Austin for many years, he can be a total ass-hole. There doesn't need to be links etc. the x-plane forums, X-Plane.org, will have many references to stupid changes made to the product just because Austin wanted it that way, not because it was better. Silly programming errors that persisted for years, suggestions that were rejected, usually with abusive emails, that were later implemented. Nope, Austin can be a total crap pile, and nothing will change my opinion, that's why I stopped using x-plane. And it worries me that anyone would bother to defend him, especially someone who has not communicated with him for any length of time. All he has to do, in this case, is either drop X-plane for Android, or find another copy-protection system.

--
There was an unknown error in the submission.
Re:Austin Meyer by FreakyGeeky · 2012-09-18 05:07 · Score: 1

Sure. Send that back to 2004 in your time machine and I'll be set.
Re:Austin Meyer by FreakyGeeky · 2012-09-18 05:08 · Score: 1

That's exactly what I did, and the mention of that in the e-mail exchange caused him to go completely crazy.
Re:Austin Meyer by pubwvj · 2012-09-18 10:58 · Score: 1

Hmm... My experience has been entirely different. I've found Austin to be helpful and also very receptive to suggestions. I've been flying in X-Plane since the mid-1990's, when ever it was that it came out. It is a most excellent detailed flight simulator. Not a game but a simulator. Perhaps the difference in some people's experiences is a matter of how different people approach people.

He spoke to a lawyer by 91degrees · 2012-09-14 10:10 · Score: 1

Just the one?

Did it occur to him that perhaps there might be a lawyer who is willing to defend this for less?

IANAL but earlier story re: software patents by Master+Of+Ninja · 2012-09-14 10:15 · Score: 1

IANAL but here was the story from earlier today Easy Fix For Software Patents Found In US Patent Act. I think will go and email the x-plane guy about it as it could be that "Stanford law professor Mark Lemley" may be willing to do some pro-bono work. Or easily ask the EFF and google to chip in. Can't quite see how this company is getting away with this.

I just cannot believe this by aaaaaaargh! · 2012-09-14 10:15 · Score: 1

Jesus Christ, I cannot believe this. This is really horrible news. Not only is X-Plane the best flight sim out there and I'm flying it for more than 8 years now, it also always used to be the best example for me that a smart guy can make a living nowadays simply by selling software. (They started as a one man company and I think by now are about 4 or something; it's hard to tell because there are so many dedicated hobbyists helping out for free. Not even Microsoft could harm Austin, and now that.

I hope the people at this "Uniloc" will rot in hell!

not his scheme by Chirs · 2012-09-14 10:32 · Score: 1

He's using the google API

Shame by multimediavt · 2012-09-14 10:34 · Score: 1

Another mobile app dev gets the shaft from a patent troll. Well, I bought the app for my iPad and have had it on my Mac for years, so I think I've donated to the legal defense fund. I do have to say that Google should be addressing this as I can't see how they are not responsible if it's their API presumably violating the patent. Not sure how the devs using the API could be held accountable, but that's why I have a friend who is a patent attorney.

Re:EFF's policies by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-14 10:55 · Score: 2, Funny

He's posting from inside of it and wants some "alone time".

EFF? by neghvar1 · 2012-09-14 11:01 · Score: 2

He should try contacting the Electronic Frontiers Foundation to see if they could help him.

usb key? by Chirs · 2012-09-14 11:13 · Score: 1

It seems a USB key plugged into a smartphone would qualify.

And under the tortured logic of lawyers and patents I wonder if a cryptographically signed electronic file could qualify as "a portable licensing medium". Heck, a piece of paper with a barcode or QR code might actually qualify.

1.5 mill just for defense? by nurb432 · 2012-09-14 12:44 · Score: 1

Now we see why things are so so screwed up when it comes to IP as the lawyers are not going to kill of their cash cow.

That is just ludicrous.

--
---- Booth was a patriot ----

Re:1.5 mill just for defense? by gl4ss · 2012-09-14 21:59 · Score: 1

well, he has a very expensive lawyer.
10000 dollars per line of text. he already did the work, couldn't he just show up at the court and cite prior art?

--
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.

Possible help on Slashdot by pubwvj · 2012-09-14 14:02 · Score: 1

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/09/14/1339255/easy-fix-for-software-patents-found-in-us-patent-act

He CAN afford to defend the suit by DL117 · 2012-09-14 14:21 · Score: 1

Quote:

"(Note: I have enough money to defend thus suit all the way through trial without it being a severe financial hardship, so please do not give if it is a hardship for you. But, if you would like to make a contribution to help with the cause because you want to help stop people like this, then it will surely be appreciated!)"

He has the money by EmagGeek · 2012-09-14 15:25 · Score: 1

He was clever with his language to say that he has not made $1.5M selling android apps, but he certainly has made that and much much more selling the PC apps.

He flies a $500,000 Cirrus SR-22, and drives a Corvette.

Ask Drew Curtis by Erich · 2012-09-15 00:24 · Score: 1

Of fark.com. He recently had to defend against one of these patent trolls. His advice on a TED talk was (if I recall): fight the infringement, not the patent. His response with a lawyer was actually pretty cheap, and asked the plaintiff to circle the infringement and to disclose various things about the shell company. The other side doesn't want battle in court, either. Drew settled for nothing.

--

-- Erich

Slashdot reader since 1997

Re:You.. you do realize who NASA is? ;) by Plumpaquatsch · 2012-09-15 01:56 · Score: 1

Flight Gear, FAA, check.

Check out their Professional and Institutional Page: http://wiki.flightgear.org/index.php/Professional_and_educational_FlightGear_users

this is cool: NASA/Ames Human Centered System Lab - 737NG full scale cockpit simulator developed by LFS Technologies. FlightGear provides visuals for four large screen wrap around displays, improved turbo-fan math models, detailed fuel system models, and extendable network interface to cockpit displays and electronics.

You.. you do realize who NASA is? ;)

and FAA: ATC Flight Simulator Company builds FAA approved flight simulators, that use FlightGear for the visuals. - although from looking at their web page it's an older version of Flight Gear but impressive multi-simulator setups.

As for X-Plane, it's a great simulator. The X-Plane guy is very cool. The patent troll can go to...

You know what reading this makes me sure of? That Flight Gear's visuals must be nice. But why don't they use it for the simulation of flight?

--
Of course news about a fake are Fake News.

If litigation costs more money than you made... by Theaetetus · 2012-09-15 02:44 · Score: 1

... Then litigation may not be the best answer. Damages could only be 100% of your profits at most (and they never, ever are in utility patents - think more like 2%), so if it costs $1.5M to successfully defend the suit but only $50k or less if you lose, then losing may be a better option. And if you actually negotiate a license, rather than going through the suit, it may be much less: Uniloc may just want licensees so that they can point to those license agreements in their suit with Microsoft. It may be wiser to let the big, deep-pocket folks fight.

Disclaimer: I am a patent lawyer, but not a lawyer for any of the companies named. I am not your lawyer, and this isn't legal advice. It merely represents my own opinion and is for (my) entertainment purposes only.

Re:If litigation costs more money than you made... by ThatsMyNick · 2012-09-15 10:17 · Score: 1

Drew Curtis would beg to differ.

You know... by Travelsonic · 2012-09-15 04:31 · Score: 1

The business model may suck royally - making a demo that last's 5 minutes, and forcing you to download tons of GB of data even if you are just trying the game - seriously [though the IDEA of download it all, if you like it, just register and you have the full version is a good one] - but the sim, from what I've heard and seen, is incredible - I would hate for this to fuck all that up.

--
If you believe in privacy, and believe you have "nothing to hide" at the same time, you're a goddammed idiot

If you think you can hide, you are a fool by lpq · 2012-09-15 05:30 · Score: 1

If you believe in privacy, and believe you have "nothing to hide" at the same time, you're a goddammed idiot
----
If you believe you can hide in this online world and that the "powers that be" aren't capable of reading off everything you download and that you are really hiding anything, then you are a complete fool.

Re:If you think you can hide, you are a fool by Travelsonic · 2012-09-15 09:58 · Score: 1

Says the one implying hings not even stated - or implied - by the sig, derailing this discussion course. Oh the irony.

--
If you believe in privacy, and believe you have "nothing to hide" at the same time, you're a goddammed idiot
Re:If you think you can hide, you are a fool by lpq · 2012-09-15 12:24 · Score: 1

Ah... i see the alternate reading.
foolish me.

no big deal by pbjones · 2012-09-15 09:39 · Score: 1

it is just an android issue, so kill x-plane for android, or find another way to stop people stealing (not having lawfully obtained) software and the issue goes away.

--
There was an unknown error in the submission.

Re:EFF's policies by KDR_11k · 2012-09-15 10:04 · Score: 1

Checking for updates isn't the job of the application itself, that's done by the Google Play application so if the internet permission is on something that doesn't need the internet for actual functionality then you can be sure it's for DRM or spying.

That said, we ARE talking about an OS provided by one of the biggest dataminers on the planet. Even if your downloaded apps don't phone home that's not saying anything about the OS itself.

--
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.

Re:EFF's policies by Rich0 · 2012-09-15 13:16 · Score: 1

Lovely. And you'll note that there is no option to install the software WITHOUT granting all those permissions. Android has a take it or leave it permissions model, which is fundamentally one-sided.

Of course, it is also easily bypassed.

Stress by jklovanc · 2012-09-15 13:39 · Score: 1

Stress is caused by the difference between what is happening and what one thinks should be happening. In this case, the main stress is caused by spending money and time on a case where you may be ruled against (though I do not see how). Along the way there will be ups and downs as things slowly move forward. There needs to me no stress what so ever.
Here are a couple of ways to look at this situation;
1. I am spending hard earned money to prove that the lawsuit is invalid and I will come out victorious. I may loose and all that money will be wasted.
2. I am spending money to prove my case to the best of my ability. I may win or I may loose but the money is gone and there is nothing I can do about it.
In the first instance one is focused on the uncertain outcome. That causes stress as the possible outcomes change. In the second instance one is focused on the process which causes much less stress. When the question of "Did I do the right thing?" comes up, and it will, just say "I did what I did to the best of my ability" and the stress will melt.

Oops! by loimprevisto · 2012-09-16 08:09 · Score: 1

Posting to undo accidental moderation. It was slightly trollish, but I'd meant to mod Funny.

--
Much Madness is divinest Sense --
To a discerning Eye --
Much Sense -- the starkest Madness

float the earth before it scorches. by shentino · 2012-09-17 05:03 · Score: 1

If shit hits the fan then dump the source code on the internet under an open source license of some sort.

Re:EFF's policies by Picass0 · 2012-09-17 06:35 · Score: 1

This is not unique to Android. I have yet to see a click-through EULA that wasn't a take-it-or-leave-it agreement. In fact, if you can find an EULA that allows you to selectively agree to only certain portions I would be interested to see that example.

Re:EFF's policies by Rich0 · 2012-09-17 07:39 · Score: 1

True, but you can just ignore most EULAs since much of them isn't legally enforceable, and that which is is usually immoral and not practically enforceable.

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