I do think it's inappropriate, but I also think eating with your mouth open is inappropriate. I'm not about to question somebody's right to make himself look foolish, though.
As you realize, this is propaganda aimed at children. But nobody's forcing them to read it or take it to heart.
Is the investigation into the Smith Institute ongoing? I'm afraid here in the US most of us have lost all ability to distinguish between "non-profit" and "lobbyist"... except when it comes to litigation, I suppose.
Redefining words? Was I misunderstood? I didn't claim "file-sharing" was illegal. I stated that "file-sharing of copyrighted material" was/is illegal.
We agree that file-sharing always results in copying, yes? If so, file-sharing of copyrighted material is infringement.
And in any case, unless I commit fraud by selling you dodgy copies, this is only a civil issue encountered by breaking the contract which has already been broken several times by the holders of copyrights.
The copying of copyrighted material (usually but not necessarily for purposes of distribution) is a criminal offense iff
It is done for financial gain,
or the material reproduced in a 180 day period exceeds $1000 retail value,
or the material has not yet been released commercially.
See here. The definition is actually more involved, but the above summary should suffice (I have assumed we are concerned with the US exclusively. I hope that's not a problem.). Selling/reselling is not essential to determining criminality.
In the comic, Megan, merely an end user, is being prosecuted for theft in criminal court.
Megan is not an end-user. She is brought to court for illegally downloading and sharing, i.e. distribution.
The comic definitely tries to convey to the reader that unlawful downloading can get you prosecuted for theft. That is a lie.
The character Megan receives a summons which indicates she has been charged w/ "copyright and distribution violations." One would think this indicates infringement.
In his statement the prosecutor says "she has been charged with theft," but such a statement is given to interpretation (Correct me if I'm wrong.). The actual charge(s) would have been read by the judge.
This is misleading, but I do not think it is a lie. In any case, copyright infringement is a serious crime, and it can carry a serious sentence (e.g. "up to 2 years in jail").
File-sharing of copyrighted material is illegal b/c the distribution of said material is illegal no matter the means (unless the distribution falls under fair use). Spam violates no law; it's just annoying, like junk mail or telemarketing.
While it may favor the RIAA, this message is by no means fake. They do not lie in the comic itself (except perhaps by omission).
I don't think "culture of fear" has a definition. It's a phrase people throw around to communicate varying degrees of perceived tyranny. If you want to nitpick, fear of the law is a necessary part of any culture.
History is not made by individuals. History is made by trends. Specific individuals who are surfing at the leading edge of a trend may get the spotlight, and hence the credit, but really it was the trend that made the change, not the person.
A trend is only an idea. It cannot think, act, or change anything. It has neither will, nor power.
Regulations like this do not pass because of an invisible hand guiding human affairs. They pass b/c somebody works toward that end. The same can be done, to the opposite effect. Sure, sitting around and shouting may not do much, but marching and shouting sometimes do the trick.
A policeman can direct traffic however he pleases, and one must obey him. Yet if he was not directing, but only observing traffic, you should consult an attorney and consider contesting the citation (if you got one). Vehicles in the roundabout have right-of-way over vehicles entering it, whether in New Jersey or New Guinea.
New editions rarely include new material.
Publishers want new books bought as often as possible, so they release new editions every year or so. Academics typically teach from the latest edition, which they receive at little or no cost.
The text itself scarcely changes from year to year. One can expect updated problems and exercises, which are presumably assigned in class (forcing students to buy the book or fail the homework, in many cases).
Slashdot Mirror
I do think it's inappropriate, but I also think eating with your mouth open is inappropriate. I'm not about to question somebody's right to make himself look foolish, though.
As you realize, this is propaganda aimed at children. But nobody's forcing them to read it or take it to heart.
Is the investigation into the Smith Institute ongoing? I'm afraid here in the US most of us have lost all ability to distinguish between "non-profit" and "lobbyist" ... except when it comes to litigation, I suppose.
Redefining words? Was I misunderstood? I didn't claim "file-sharing" was illegal. I stated that "file-sharing of copyrighted material" was/is illegal.
We agree that file-sharing always results in copying, yes? If so, file-sharing of copyrighted material is infringement.
And in any case, unless I commit fraud by selling you dodgy copies, this is only a civil issue encountered by breaking the contract which has already been broken several times by the holders of copyrights.
The copying of copyrighted material (usually but not necessarily for purposes of distribution) is a criminal offense iff
It is done for financial gain,
or the material reproduced in a 180 day period exceeds $1000 retail value,
or the material has not yet been released commercially.
See here. The definition is actually more involved, but the above summary should suffice (I have assumed we are concerned with the US exclusively. I hope that's not a problem.). Selling/reselling is not essential to determining criminality.
It also says that "file sharing" and "downloading music" are illegal.
No, it doesn't.
In the comic, Megan, merely an end user, is being prosecuted for theft in criminal court.
Megan is not an end-user. She is brought to court for illegally downloading and sharing, i.e. distribution.
The comic definitely tries to convey to the reader that unlawful downloading can get you prosecuted for theft. That is a lie.
The character Megan receives a summons which indicates she has been charged w/ "copyright and distribution violations." One would think this indicates infringement.
In his statement the prosecutor says "she has been charged with theft," but such a statement is given to interpretation (Correct me if I'm wrong.). The actual charge(s) would have been read by the judge.
This is misleading, but I do not think it is a lie. In any case, copyright infringement is a serious crime, and it can carry a serious sentence (e.g. "up to 2 years in jail").
Key words: "Civil War"
Police officers are not a thug caste.
You're wrong.
File-sharing of copyrighted material is illegal b/c the distribution of said material is illegal no matter the means (unless the distribution falls under fair use). Spam violates no law; it's just annoying, like junk mail or telemarketing.
While it may favor the RIAA, this message is by no means fake. They do not lie in the comic itself (except perhaps by omission).
I don't think "culture of fear" has a definition. It's a phrase people throw around to communicate varying degrees of perceived tyranny. If you want to nitpick, fear of the law is a necessary part of any culture.
History is not made by individuals. History is made by trends. Specific individuals who are surfing at the leading edge of a trend may get the spotlight, and hence the credit, but really it was the trend that made the change, not the person.
A trend is only an idea. It cannot think, act, or change anything. It has neither will, nor power.
Individuals
make
history.
Regulations like this do not pass because of an invisible hand guiding human affairs. They pass b/c somebody works toward that end. The same can be done, to the opposite effect. Sure, sitting around and shouting may not do much, but marching and shouting sometimes do the trick.
Stewart Brand
In this case, information wants to be lost? Mismanaged? Stolen?
My last girlfriend wasn't an integer.
She was irrational.
This is interesting. Do you have a link?
True. Someone brought up religious prohibitions common to Muslim culture.
Women outlive men, period.
Shaquawn, it's after nine, and you guys still haven't shown up! You promised!
*sigh*
... legally considered child pornography? I ask, because that's all the customs agents found on this guy's laptop. That and a bunch of normal porn.
Why would a pedophile prefer castration to imprisonment? Oh, you were just trying to be childish and nasty, weren't you? Good job.
They mightn't drop at all. Lower demand for a commodity does not necessarily mean a lower price.
Building roundabouts to replace intersections, and passing lanes where there were none? Engineering, good or bad, is under a budget.
A policeman can direct traffic however he pleases, and one must obey him. Yet if he was not directing, but only observing traffic, you should consult an attorney and consider contesting the citation (if you got one). Vehicles in the roundabout have right-of-way over vehicles entering it, whether in New Jersey or New Guinea.
New editions rarely include new material. Publishers want new books bought as often as possible, so they release new editions every year or so. Academics typically teach from the latest edition, which they receive at little or no cost. The text itself scarcely changes from year to year. One can expect updated problems and exercises, which are presumably assigned in class (forcing students to buy the book or fail the homework, in many cases).