Ok. The linked article lacks relevant information. Here's a slightly longer version. You might want to translate it from German, using the fish.
The written reasoning of this judgement will only be released in two days. But when those images were posted, the old version of the MSN EULA was active. It stated that the copyright of any material posted via MSN would be transferred to MS.
If MS has the copyright on the material, they are IMO partly responsible for whether or where it is published. The same is not true for a normal ISP. MS can't have it both ways. (Although I kind of wonder whether an EULA like that is really enforceable in Germany.)
Re:Discovery vs Invention
on
Fair IP Laws?
·
· Score: 2
> Patents should last 10 years maximum, ever.
That would be ok for for software. But I think the testing of pharmaceuticals can take quite a few years.
In Germany and other European countries, you pay extra for every CDR blank and similar 'taxes' on CDRW drives, PCs and HDDs are in the discussion.The money is distributed among the labels according to market share. The same system (different institution) is applied to printers and copiers.
For the money I pay, I'm granted rights of fair use. I can make personal copies and I'm even allowed to share with personal friends. You can also use text excerpts for educational purposes.
Oh - and it looks like we are also getting some DMCA-like laws that make it illegal to circumvent copy protection. Even if we're explicitly charged for the right to copy the content.
Have a look at how Java WebStart works. It lets you elegantly download and install software to multiple platforms (including Linux).
The downloaded application then works with restric- tions similar to those of Applets. If the application needs to perform tasks it is not yet allowed to do (write to disc, acces network), the runtime will ask you to give the necessary permission.
You should have a look at the Aibo (four legged) leage. They're extremely cute and I was surprised how well they play.
The next season will have new rules. The game will be played four on four (how fitting) instead of three on three, the playing field will be enlarged, and the next generation players are allowed to use wireless communication.
IMO the UI of KDE is getting too complex (I know it better than Gnome). So the task is to clean it up, give useable defaults and simplify it. Especially the KDE-menu and the KontrolCenter should be cleaned up.
But what should be removed? What is a good default? Let's ask the user. KDE could collect information on what is used and how the prefs are set, and send it back to the developers.
I think noone would have a problem with that as long as: The info is anonymous, only sent with explicit consent, and it is stated clearly what information is sent.
This reminds me of a story I've read about Isaac Asimov. He said the bounds books and the paperback versions would appeal to different audiences, and it wouldn't hurt to release them at the same time.
It was hard to convince his publisher, but he finally got his will. And was proven right.
In professional baseball or football, the players slowly realize, that they can play foul and never get a penalty anymore. The players will suddenly have to commit worse and worse fouls to stay in the leage. Of course I don't like the way the players act. But who's to blame? IMO it's the judges.
The job of a corporation is to make money. To increase shareholder value. You can hardly blame them for trying to do that. Even if you don't like the means.
It is the job of governments to create and enforce rules that corps have to comply to. It is the job of a government to care for the goods of its citizens.
If the jurisdiction fails, put the blame where it belongs.
Well, they are claiming that the portals do not necessarily have to go to new levels that YOU created. The portals are supposed to be able to connect to other servers that people have setup.
So in a sense, you can get a virtual world. If enough people get together and create a part of this world, and then link their servers together, you get a large, fairly seamless virtual world.
This comment makes me think the authors have read Otherland (by Tad Williams).:-)
1. Make a demo/free version that is actually useful instead of annoying. 2. Don't make the demo time limited. 3. Let the full product have extended functionality. 4. Give registered users a key to always download the latest version. 5. Make the registration process a breeze.
(1) You need the goodwill of your customers - unless they really depend on your product. (2) They'd feel annoyed that something was taken away, and look for countermeasures. (3) People don't pay for what they already got. (4) A clean and simple way. Doesn't prevent piracy, see 1. (5) How often did you turn away from complex or insecure registration forms?
One of my favourite concepts is the PaceBook. It's a kind of web pad or panel pc plus wireless keyboard. Both parts ship in a special bag so you can also use the system like a notebook.
(And it looks as if the device is actually available:)
I don't know if you're aware of this, but you quoted the license terms for Adobe ebooks quite precisely:
No printing is permitted on this book. This book cannot be given to someone else. This book cannot be read aloud.
These are actual terms in the license for the ebook version of 'Alice in Wonderland'. This is even more strange because the original text is by now in the public domain. You can get a free, legal copy at Project Gutenberg. It has even been suggested that the text of the ebook version was actually taken from the Gutenberg archives.
I've lost quite a bit of software because it was stored on copy protected 3.5" floppies. Not to worry. Most discs gave up before I even discarded the drive. Too bad I couldn't make a backup.
Testing the quality of GUIs does not require any magic.
You can f.e. create two alternative GUIs, get some testers that are representative of your target group and give em typical tasks (test cases). You then record how long it takes these two groups to finish the tasks without help.
There exist verified tables of typical times and simple formulae that let you estimate times required for basic actions. (Like switch between mouse and keyboard or 'how long does it take to click a button of this size that is so far away'.) Tools making use of this (like GOMS) can help you quantify interfaces even before testing.
The controls are placed differently, but the icons are identical. Maybe this is not true for older cars. But if you have a look at any current model, you'll see the icons for f.e.the warning lights are all identical. There are >1000 standardized icons for car controls including obscure stuff like controls for the heating of your seat.
Think about what would happen if you customized the position of pedals in your car. What would happen when you let your friend drive this car? What if you are used to your modified pedals and then rent another car? Could you react fast enough? This is _exactly_ the point the author is making in his article.
Did you know that all icons displayed in your car are standardized?
Slashdot Mirror
Ok. The linked article lacks relevant information. Here's a slightly longer version. You might want to translate it from German, using the fish.
The written reasoning of this judgement will only be released in two days. But when those images were posted, the old version of the MSN EULA was active. It stated that the copyright of any material posted via MSN would be transferred to MS.
If MS has the copyright on the material, they are IMO partly responsible for whether or where it is published. The same is not true for a normal ISP. MS can't have it both ways. (Although I kind of wonder whether an EULA like that is really enforceable in Germany.)
> Patents should last 10 years maximum, ever.
That would be ok for for software. But I think
the testing of pharmaceuticals can take quite a
few years.
In Germany and other European countries, you pay extra for every CDR blank and similar 'taxes' on CDRW drives, PCs and HDDs are in the discussion.The money is distributed among the labels according to market share. The same system (different institution) is applied to printers and copiers.
For the money I pay, I'm granted rights of fair use. I can make personal copies and I'm even allowed to share with personal friends. You can also use text excerpts for educational purposes.
Oh - and it looks like we are also getting some DMCA-like laws that make it illegal to circumvent copy protection. Even if we're explicitly charged for the right to copy the content.
Have a look at how Java WebStart works. It lets you
elegantly download and install software to multiple
platforms (including Linux).
The downloaded application then works with restric-
tions similar to those of Applets. If the application
needs to perform tasks it is not yet allowed to do
(write to disc, acces network), the runtime will ask
you to give the necessary permission.
You should have a look at the Aibo (four legged) leage.
They're extremely cute and I was surprised how well
they play.
The next season will have new rules. The game will be
played four on four (how fitting) instead of three on three,
the playing field will be enlarged, and the next generation
players are allowed to use wireless communication.
IMO the UI of KDE is getting too complex (I know it better than Gnome). So the task is to clean it up, give useable defaults and simplify it. Especially the KDE-menu and the KontrolCenter should be cleaned up.
But what should be removed? What is a good default? Let's ask the user. KDE could collect information on what is used and how the prefs are set, and send it back to the developers.
I think noone would have a problem with that as long as: The info is anonymous, only sent with explicit consent, and it is stated clearly what information is sent.
If linking to explicit content makes a site explicit, just about any discussion site would immediately have to be in the .prn TLD.
;)
Connect this to the story about Deutsche Bahn
suing Google and you get google.prn
This reminds me of a story I've read about
Isaac Asimov. He said the bounds books
and the paperback versions would appeal
to different audiences, and it wouldn't hurt
to release them at the same time.
It was hard to convince his publisher, but
he finally got his will. And was proven right.
I've been waiting for commercial browsers to subtly
manipulate information for quite a while.
Maybe sites served from Apache will somewhen load
0.2s slower then the ones serves from IIS.
Only on Explorer of course.
I don't own one of these calculators.
But this looks like a good selection
of games for your machine.
He seems to be a UK citizen. The protected CD is only sold in Europe.
So how could the DMCA possibly apply?
Let's try an analogy:
In professional baseball or football, the players slowly
realize, that they can play foul and never get a penalty
anymore. The players will suddenly have to commit
worse and worse fouls to stay in the leage.
Of course I don't like the way the players act. But who's
to blame? IMO it's the judges.
The job of a corporation is to make money. To
increase shareholder value. You can hardly blame
them for trying to do that. Even if you don't
like the means.
It is the job of governments to create and enforce
rules that corps have to comply to. It is the job
of a government to care for the goods of its
citizens.
If the jurisdiction fails, put the blame where it
belongs.
Well, they are claiming that the portals do not necessarily have to go to new levels that YOU created. The portals are supposed to be able to connect to other servers that people have setup.
:-)
So in a sense, you can get a virtual world. If enough people get together and create a part of this world, and then link their servers together, you get a large, fairly seamless virtual world.
This comment makes me think the authors have
read Otherland (by Tad Williams).
1. Make a demo/free version that is actually useful instead of annoying.
2. Don't make the demo time limited.
3. Let the full product have extended functionality.
4. Give registered users a key to always download the latest version.
5. Make the registration process a breeze.
(1) You need the goodwill of your customers - unless they really depend on your product.
(2) They'd feel annoyed that something was taken away, and look for countermeasures.
(3) People don't pay for what they already got.
(4) A clean and simple way. Doesn't prevent piracy, see 1.
(5) How often did you turn away from complex or insecure registration forms?
One of my favourite concepts is the PaceBook. It's a kind of web pad or panel pc plus wireless keyboard. Both parts ship in a special bag so you can also use the system like a notebook.
:)
(And it looks as if the device is actually available
I don't know if you're aware of this, but you quoted
the license terms for Adobe ebooks quite precisely:
No printing is permitted on this book.
This book cannot be given to someone else.
This book cannot be read aloud.
These are actual terms in the license for the ebook version
of 'Alice in Wonderland'. This is even more strange because
the original text is by now in the public domain.
You can get a free, legal copy at Project Gutenberg.
It has even been suggested that the text of the ebook version was
actually taken from the Gutenberg archives.
Here's an article that a quick search retrieved.
Does such a thing even exist?
copy prtection != write protection
I've lost quite a bit of software because it was stored
on copy protected 3.5" floppies. Not to worry. Most
discs gave up before I even discarded the drive. Too
bad I couldn't make a backup.
Testing the quality of GUIs does not require any magic.
You can f.e. create two alternative GUIs, get some testers that are representative of your target group and give em typical tasks (test cases). You then record how long it takes these two groups to finish the tasks without help.
There exist verified tables of typical times and simple formulae that let you estimate times required for basic actions. (Like switch between mouse and keyboard or 'how long does it take to click a button of this size that is so far away'.) Tools making use of this (like GOMS) can help you quantify interfaces even before testing.
Large parts of GUI design are quantifiable.
The controls are placed differently, but the icons
are identical. Maybe this is not true for older cars.
But if you have a look at any current model, you'll
see the icons for f.e.the warning lights are all
identical.
There are >1000 standardized icons for car controls
including obscure stuff like controls for the heating
of your seat.
Think about what would happen if you customized the position of pedals in your car. What would happen when you let your friend drive this car? What if you are used to your modified pedals and then rent another car? Could you react fast enough? This is _exactly_ the point the author is making in his article.
Did you know that all icons displayed in your car are standardized?
makes as much money as the US gov will spend on
weapons every two weeks. And those guys are able
to make things like the DMCA happen?
just hand it over to Verizon?
Thank you very much.