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User: rattaroaz

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Comments · 144

  1. Re:Welcome, our new open codec overlords! on Theora Development Continues Apace, VP8 Now Open Source · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You can never know for sure, unless you've went through all the patents.

    Unfortunately, even then, that means nothing. Just because someone reviewed each and every patent in existence and doesn't think there is patent infringement, doesn't mean someone else will review the same information and disagree. So the question is really of high risk versus low risk for patent infringement, rather than yes or no. To me, it seem like h264 is guaranteed patent infringement, while VP8 is low risk, given that the distribution license has a patent clause.

  2. Re:Democracy needs smart people on Too Many College Graduates? · · Score: 1

    That right here is the problem with America. More than anything. The complete lack of critical thinking skills, desire for rational debate and the equivalence of truthyness and truth.

    Yes, but in all fairness, that wasn't on the final exam . . .

  3. Just a thought on John Carmack To Cut Space Tourism Prices 50% · · Score: 1

    Doesn't Mark Shuttleworth feel like a sucker now?

  4. Re:Fatal flaw on Bill Gates Funds Seawater-Spraying Cloud Machines · · Score: 1

    I see your point. But it probably would have cost $300 million to shoot up 100 tons of lawyers. Would have been money well spent though.

  5. Re:Give the companies a choice on USPTO Plans Could Kill Small Business Innovation · · Score: 1

    Agreed. Any extreme is not good, but the system leads itself to the extreme every time. It sucks, and none of the suggestions I see so far are any good either, nor would fix the problem. Get rid of the crap. Sure, it would not a perfect system then (nothing ever is), but I think it would be better than what we have now. Of course, not if you are a lawyer . . .

  6. History of the World Part I on Mayan Plumbing Found In Ancient City · · Score: 2, Funny

    This reminds me of my favorite scene from History of the World, Part I

    "Pump the shit, right out of your house!"

  7. Re:Kids? on St. Louis Museum Offers Thrills, Chills, and Lawsuits · · Score: 1

    They're kids on the inside

    That's not right. I don't mean to preach, but if they're pregnant, they should not be climbing such obstacles.

  8. Re:Placebo Effect on FDA Approves Vaccine For Prostate Cancer · · Score: 1

    Somehow, this sounds like the opposite of "I'm just big boned." I'm sure it exists, but it's probably a lot rarer than what most people need to be concerned about.

  9. Re:Or its a weapon? on Can World's Largest Laser Zap Earth's Energy Woes? · · Score: 1

    I can just imagine the size of the shark this laser is attached to

    "Look at the size of that thing!"

  10. Re:Sure they can on ISP Is Bypassing Firefox's Location Bar Search · · Score: 2, Funny

    Caffiene deficiency this morning? ;)

  11. Re:Choices on RCN P2P Settlement Is Not Even a Slap On the Wrist · · Score: 1

    I see. Thanks, I feel better now. And also, since there are a gagillion different POTS internet providers, there is plenty of competition for everyone, and we can just let the market forces decide. But for some reason, my butt still hurts after bending over . . .

  12. Re:Choices on RCN P2P Settlement Is Not Even a Slap On the Wrist · · Score: 1

    This may be a joke. Sorry if I missed the humor in it. Dish has a significant latency, making it far from ideal in some situations. POTS/ISDN is too slow to be realistic. T1 line is far too pricey. Analogy: you don't need a car. You can walk, use the bus, get a limo, or a motorcycle. Sure, you can get those, and they do do similar things. But don't pretend they are equivalent, or even appropriate options. That leaves cable and DSL, which is what the GP mentioned: 1 or 2 choices.

  13. Re:Pick two on Research Suggests Brain Has a 2-Task Limit for Multitasking · · Score: 1

    Actually, it's pick one for men. Sex is #1. Now you have 1 more thing you can focus on at the same time.

  14. Re:Please let me use the same password on Please Do Not Change Your Password · · Score: 1

    My personal favorite: "must have alpha numeric character in the password." So, instead of "password," you use "password1." Wow. I feel a lot safer now.

  15. Re:WTF are they thinking? on New Litigation Targets 20,000 BitTorrent-Using Downloaders · · Score: 1

    I'm not so sure. It sounds like the law group is suckering the MPAA into lawsuits to make money for them, the US Copyright Group. THAT seems more obvious to me. No matter what happens here, the lawyers win. It is not so clear to me that the MPAA will truly be a winner here.

  16. You obviously haven't heard of the American dream. on Man Sues Neighbor Claiming Wi-Fi Made Him Sick · · Score: 1

    Anything can happen in America!

  17. Re:It's been said, but it's important on H.264 vs. Theora — Fightin' Words About Patentability · · Score: 1

    Apples and oranges. Technical is what you are physically capable of doing. Moral is what you can physically do, but what others will not allow you to do so. That is why Free software is more of a moral issue than a technical one. Theora could be technically better, but because they have to work around patents, it isn't.

  18. Re:Monkeys inspecing Monkeys on How the TSA Plans On Inspecting Your Monkey · · Score: 1

    Not to nit pick, but the monkeys usually eat lice.

  19. Re:Sleeper on New Ancient Human Identified · · Score: 1

    If only they had this persons nose. They could recreate the whole person then. Not much you can do with half a finger.

    Don't be too cynical. It may give us some insight into the origin of the term "giving someone the finger."

  20. Re:sounds like a safety law suit jackpot and not a on Company Sued, Loses For Not Using Patented Tech · · Score: 1

    So, cash == patents? Interest earned == patent licensing? If you think patents and copyrights should last forever, then just say so. There is really no need to make up ridiculous analogies that make no sense.

  21. Re:sounds like a safety law suit jackpot and not a on Company Sued, Loses For Not Using Patented Tech · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Of course. But I wouldn't want to make money off it in this way, by effectively threatening to sue anyone who arranges saw parts in a certain way unless they pay me royalties. I prefer to get paid for doing work, rather than charging rent on work I did 20 years earlier.

    Let me guess: you're not an American. Because I would LOVE to be paid bucketloads of money for something I invented 20 years ago . . . only I would REALLY prefer if it was life + 20 years, so the rest of my lazy family could benefit from that as well. Once the time comes up though, I'm sure someone will argue that life + 100 is more fair, so I'm not too worried. Because I really shouldn't have to do more work. I did enough 20 years ago!

  22. Re:RTFA! on Obama Administration Withholds FoIA Requests More Often Than Bush's · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As I said, since we don't have all the facts, it's also possible that "Obama's record" is worse than Bush's. Even if we had enough data to get to that comparison, it's still not worth all that much.

    When you get to such a levels of "horrible" with politicians, any varying level of "worse" seems so inconsequential.

  23. Re:Laches on Is Microsoft About To Declare Patent War On Linux? · · Score: 1

    IANAL, so I cannot speak to its legality, only that it is being done. I was told by a lawyer that this also happened with bar codes many years ago, so it apparently is not a new strategy (I did not verify his statement, but he's a lawyer, so he MUST be trustworthy!)

  24. Re:FUD article on Is Microsoft About To Declare Patent War On Linux? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yeah exactly like with Mono. If Microsoft was really wanting to launch a patent assault over mono they would have done it years ago they wouldn't be waiting for some unspecified time in the future to do so. It's the same FUD as the supposed "java trap" that also never materialized and was never going to materialize.

    It's all about strategy. With MP3, the patent holders waited until the use became main stream, and then sued for patents and royalties. If they would have sued too early, they would not have the broad usage they wanted. In this case, if MS was to sue and create fears, it is more likely to scare people (users and developers) away. If you are trying to get market share, suing too early is a great way to fail. Basic strategy really. It's too bad that isn't taught in school. (I am not arguing that MS is going to sue in the future. I am just analyzing the strategy.)

  25. Re:It could have been worse... on Obama Backs MPAA, RIAA, and ACTA · · Score: 1

    What's with the commentary. Aren't you supposed to do a whooshing sound, or am I on the wrong forum?