The point here is that the works were public domain; Walking in and reproducing them only incurs the cost (to the customer) of paying for the reproduction, i.e. toner, electricity, copier maintenance, paper. That's it.
What this script did was bypass the arbitrary $0.08 "reproduction fee" for accessing these public domain works, and make them available free of charge (as they are by signing up to the library service, as I understand it).
AFAIK, he used a script to automate the procedure of accessing each page, and uploaded it elsewhere. Doing it on a computer which wasn't his was dumb, but hardly a big issue in the context.
$1.5m "value" is just idiotic. On the internet, reproduction costs decrease to zero in an insignificant amount of time.
Hahaha! Do you honestly believe anybody who knows the word "ROM" in the context of these phones uses an official release?
"Hackishly installing an unofficial ROM" is automated. Two files (HardSPL and CustomRUU) are required to perform the update; The first unlocks vendor locks for software, allowing you to run unofficial / unsigned ROMs, and the second is the automated update software. Wizard driven, even offers protection against bricking (asks if you've backed up your data, checks battery life is above 50% before it will continue, and will stop if you try and continue anyway). Compared to unlocking an Android device, or iPhone, it's a piece of cake.
Hey, guess what comes here! A disclaimer: My experience only expressed above, undertake unofficial updates at your own risk, you may void your warranty etc etc.
You jest, but it's a big issue. It's got no lock-in like Android and iPhone UI, MS don't gimp your phone if you try and unlock it (and nor do the carriers) and there are plenty of useful (read: Not involving boobs, fart noises, or hideous bright colours) and mature applications for the platform from severalwebsiteslistedonGoogle search.
The UI reponse and stability issues are really all that anyone who owned a WinMobile phone after version 5 complained about.
I found my old Minidisc recorder about two months ago. I'd had it since college, making it a decade old. The disc inside played flawlessly, the sound quality was as good as any mid-spec MP3 player (RAW audio, don't forget), and found a couple of albums for which the CDs were damaged.
My only issue with it is it now is extremely slow to copy music to compared to flash storage; It's audiostream recording.
Exactly! For the big companies it's not become about making a profit, but about squeezing every penny of profit out of the customer, and I think they hinder themselves by doing it. However, I'm no economist.
With movies ripped from DVD... WTF, Sony? Did you really think that people would buy the same movie on both DVD and UMD? Seriously? Fire the moron who thought that would fly.
Yeah, that's exactly what Sony, Universal, EMI, Warner, Columbia, Paramount, Walt Disney, NewsCorp, Viacom, Microsoft, Nintendo, and every other single digital media distributor / producer believes.
This is part of the reason why I want to move into Law; To present (or prepare) the evidence and facts of cases involving electronic crime in a way which will allow the lay-man of the jury to see the (in)significance of any evidence in front of them. Often, the jury must take for granted the statements of a solicitor / barrister as they have no point of reference of their own. If they don't understand the evidence presented, how do they decide how it is to be interpreted?
I would very much have liked to have been involved in some way in the file sharing cases brought by the RIAA, and the almost guaranteed US trial of Garry McKinnon. Sadly, I won't qualify in time to make a difference in any of these cases.
Great. So, IT are proven incompetent for having such a gaping hole, and they're restructured. That means this guy loses his job (if he manages to keep hold of it) at least. At worst, his name is published and every single financial institution, Fortune 500 business, and recruitment company on the globe put a little black mark next to his name. Whistleblowing is great for everyone but the person doing it.
And please, don't tell me about all of the protections these folks get; Glass ceilings, awkward interview processes, and HR spin can cripple any application they want.
Been on a jury, wasn't informed of that particular right. In fact the words used were "You must find the defendant either guilty or not guilty."
In all honesty, though, I would say I was the only person in the trial who didn't find it a total time soak. You won't get jury nullification when the jurors don't care enough about justice to concentrate fully.
It's like stealing a sports car from your neighbour, but returning it the next morning with a tank full of petrol and £20 towards maintenance costs in an envelope on the passenger seat.
I find a very good way to get a manager's attention in a similar situation is to make sure other customers can hear you. "So, you took my money for this SIM card a week ago, it's still not working, you're not going to help me get it working, and you're not going to refund my money? Are you going to do the same to these other customers?"
Much like the explanations they give in CSI / Star Trek, you need to spell it out sometimes, especially to PHBs. Make sure he's aware you're happy to stay in the shop until your issue is resolved, or the busy hour lunch-break period is over.
Slashdot Mirror
No, theirs is the issue of not being able to store and transport data securely; A TPM issue, I believe.
Yo dawg, I herd u want checksums for ur checksums...
The point here is that the works were public domain; Walking in and reproducing them only incurs the cost (to the customer) of paying for the reproduction, i.e. toner, electricity, copier maintenance, paper. That's it.
What this script did was bypass the arbitrary $0.08 "reproduction fee" for accessing these public domain works, and make them available free of charge (as they are by signing up to the library service, as I understand it).
AFAIK, he used a script to automate the procedure of accessing each page, and uploaded it elsewhere. Doing it on a computer which wasn't his was dumb, but hardly a big issue in the context.
$1.5m "value" is just idiotic. On the internet, reproduction costs decrease to zero in an insignificant amount of time.
+6 Insightful.
Hahaha! Do you honestly believe anybody who knows the word "ROM" in the context of these phones uses an official release?
"Hackishly installing an unofficial ROM" is automated. Two files (HardSPL and CustomRUU) are required to perform the update; The first unlocks vendor locks for software, allowing you to run unofficial / unsigned ROMs, and the second is the automated update software. Wizard driven, even offers protection against bricking (asks if you've backed up your data, checks battery life is above 50% before it will continue, and will stop if you try and continue anyway). Compared to unlocking an Android device, or iPhone, it's a piece of cake.
Hey, guess what comes here! A disclaimer: My experience only expressed above, undertake unofficial updates at your own risk, you may void your warranty etc etc.
You jest, but it's a big issue. It's got no lock-in like Android and iPhone UI, MS don't gimp your phone if you try and unlock it (and nor do the carriers) and there are plenty of useful (read: Not involving boobs, fart noises, or hideous bright colours) and mature applications for the platform from several websites listed on Google search.
The UI reponse and stability issues are really all that anyone who owned a WinMobile phone after version 5 complained about.
Posted by Anon Coward. I don't trust that site, or their web.
What now?
I found my old Minidisc recorder about two months ago. I'd had it since college, making it a decade old. The disc inside played flawlessly, the sound quality was as good as any mid-spec MP3 player (RAW audio, don't forget), and found a couple of albums for which the CDs were damaged.
My only issue with it is it now is extremely slow to copy music to compared to flash storage; It's audiostream recording.
Exactly! For the big companies it's not become about making a profit, but about squeezing every penny of profit out of the customer, and I think they hinder themselves by doing it. However, I'm no economist.
With movies ripped from DVD... WTF, Sony? Did you really think that people would buy the same movie on both DVD and UMD? Seriously? Fire the moron who thought that would fly.
Yeah, that's exactly what Sony, Universal, EMI, Warner, Columbia, Paramount, Walt Disney, NewsCorp, Viacom, Microsoft, Nintendo, and every other single digital media distributor / producer believes.
Seriously? Who the fuck would read something that long?
Nobody in the DoJ. Obviously.
This is part of the reason why I want to move into Law; To present (or prepare) the evidence and facts of cases involving electronic crime in a way which will allow the lay-man of the jury to see the (in)significance of any evidence in front of them. Often, the jury must take for granted the statements of a solicitor / barrister as they have no point of reference of their own. If they don't understand the evidence presented, how do they decide how it is to be interpreted?
I would very much have liked to have been involved in some way in the file sharing cases brought by the RIAA, and the almost guaranteed US trial of Garry McKinnon. Sadly, I won't qualify in time to make a difference in any of these cases.
Great. So, IT are proven incompetent for having such a gaping hole, and they're restructured. That means this guy loses his job (if he manages to keep hold of it) at least. At worst, his name is published and every single financial institution, Fortune 500 business, and recruitment company on the globe put a little black mark next to his name. Whistleblowing is great for everyone but the person doing it.
And please, don't tell me about all of the protections these folks get; Glass ceilings, awkward interview processes, and HR spin can cripple any application they want.
Been on a jury, wasn't informed of that particular right. In fact the words used were "You must find the defendant either guilty or not guilty."
In all honesty, though, I would say I was the only person in the trial who didn't find it a total time soak. You won't get jury nullification when the jurors don't care enough about justice to concentrate fully.
It's like stealing a sports car from your neighbour, but returning it the next morning with a tank full of petrol and £20 towards maintenance costs in an envelope on the passenger seat.
Bringing you car analogies for all occasions!
New slashdot poll?
Have you forwarded it to a solicitor?
Who's solicitors are more numerous, better connected, and have more financial backing for a lengthy legal battle?
Pyrrhic Victory
Use some different dollars, and hire a lawyer.
I find a very good way to get a manager's attention in a similar situation is to make sure other customers can hear you. "So, you took my money for this SIM card a week ago, it's still not working, you're not going to help me get it working, and you're not going to refund my money? Are you going to do the same to these other customers?"
Much like the explanations they give in CSI / Star Trek, you need to spell it out sometimes, especially to PHBs. Make sure he's aware you're happy to stay in the shop until your issue is resolved, or the busy hour lunch-break period is over.
Sorry bud, that Argent Charger has bolted
The Sublimed
I believe the apple tree has prior art; The McIntosh apple was discovered in 1811.
I think that having an apple peel as a logo isn't all that great: do they sell food scraps?
Is Apple a greengrocer? Do Microsoft sell double glazing? Is Linux heavily involved in the preservation of Antarctic water fowl?
Lost Prophets - Town Called Hypocricy
There should be an extra synonym for hypocrite in the dictionary: Politician.