Do you think even the US Government has that type of money and could spend it in a covert manner even if it did?
Maybe that would explain all those $1000 coffeepots, $5000 bolts, $10,000 toilets etc. Perhaps what appears to be ridiclous overcharges are in-fact cover-ups for secret appropriations?
Someone (maybe the FSF) needs to get a anti-patent granted for lawsuits! A sufficient obfuscated, buzzword-compliant application could probably get by patent examiners; look what they've already granted patents for;-) Then when someone tries to sue, step in and tell them they can't, you have a patent on the lawsuit!
Shame on you! M$ has led the industry in inovative software licensing for years. Just recently they figured they could charge thier customers more for the number of simultaneous connections to a customers own server!
I remember receiving an email with a program attached. The program asked whether you forgave Bill Clinton for his misbehavior in office. If you tried to click on the 'NO' button, it moved, making it impossible to click. When you finally gave up and clicked on the 'YES' button it read something like, "Thank you for your honest support!"
If you can theoretically store infinite data, would you have to wait an inifinite amount of time to find a particular piece of datum?
Actually the problem would be finding the correct state at all. Building a sensor to discriminate between states as the number of states becomes larger and approaches infinity, the difference between different states becomes smaller.
Kind of like cutting a pie into more pieces. Finding a unique pie piece #5 of eight is much easier than finding pie piece #1,225,517 of 12,375,614,827,530. Get the idea?:-)
Someone should convince the MPAA that having all available movies on a single electron is not only possible but, only a few years from mass comercial development.The MPAA would do almost anything to stop this from occuring, and probably would be willing to settle for deCSS for Linux GPLed and freely downloadable to all, probably even fair use of DVD Ram (and other TLAs);-)
IANAL but:If I were to order a new system and was informed that I could not get a reduction in price for a computer without M$ software, I would demand a written explaination. If the written explaination stated that M$ charges them whether or not W2K or whatever is loaded, I would sue M$ in local Small Claims Court. I shouldn't have to pay for something I didn't receive. M$ would surely lose the judgement. Getting them to pay may prove difficult, but M$ needs more negative publicity now like they need another virus in Outlook!
Has anyone tried this? Are there any lawyers out there?
as kids. They (MPAA lawyers) see themselves as 'swashbucklers' defending against 'pirate' attacks.
Defendant Pavlovich misappropriated DVD CCA's trade secrets knowing that such actions would adversely impact an array of
substantial California business enterprises including the motion picture industry, the consumer electronics industry, and the
computer industry. Such conduct has in fact injured the motion picture industry in California by making available material that
allows copying of copyrighted motion pictures. Further, as alleged in the Complaint filed in this action, such conduct threatens the
economic welfare of the more than 400 CSS licensees - companies that make the hardware and software enabling consumers to
view digital images on DVDs. Of the 73 licensees which are located in California, 42 are located in Santa Clara County and an
additional 17 are in other Bay Area locations. See Complaint, 53, attached as Exhibit D to the Shapiro Decl.
I don't think I have to tell anyone on/. that the sharks have it all wrong. They have yet to prove that ANY movies were copied using DeCSS. DeCSS allows Viewing! Trade secrets are trade secrets only if well protected by the owners. Reverse engineering is allowed, yada,yada, yada...
They were doing a special on the moons of Jupiter, and they mentioned that sometime in the year
2002 (2003?), they will be launching a probe that will attempt to land on Europa, and release a
heating vent of sorts that will melt through the ice to the water below, and (hopefully) see what's
under all that ice.
That soon? I think the technical challenges are too great to mount such a mission so soon. We might be dealing
with an ice layer severel miles thick.
It is my personal belief that there IS life down there. I can't wait until we prove it.
Rich...
Sounds like a real expensive icefishing expedition! What bait are they using? What will they do if it catches something? And how did they convince congress to approve this one; since no Congressmen or Senators will accompany the probe?
How about this? Have the Music Industry do what it does best, packagaing and marketing music.
Imagine a site where you could choose music/songs and musicians, of your choice (that are with that particular label). Say up to 12 tracks/60minutes of music/CD, for a set price, say $8.00. After tracks are selected and arranged, the customer selects insert art that includes a customer selected title and "customized for (insert name)." Additional photos/bios of the musicians would be included with the insert. A listing of the music/musicians and track# on the back. CDs would be sent in a jewelcase, just like the ones purchased in the stores. Click 'done' and arrange to have CDs mailed.
The value added with the customization provided at the site for the customer would encourage purchase. Also customers would find an advantage in not having to purchase an entire for one good track, they could get just the one good track!
I can just imagine an official represenative explaining the concept at a local community information meeting (townhall). He introduces himself with "I'm from the government, I'm here to help":-), then liberally interspercing his explaination with "you can trust us";-)
Actually if my physical address and other private information were protected, I wouldn't mind. One place for all the SPAM! Once a month delete all mail going to the USPS email address. Would be worth it if it kept SPAM out of my ISP provided email accounts!
Um, in case you haven't notice there is a push to network computers in the home. Home networking will become increasingly common when DSL and Cable high speed access become more common. Home firewalls and servers will become common as well. Families will do what businesses have done, give the newest computers to the company elite and pass off the old computers to those that can still use them. IE, mom and dad get the latest and greatest whizbang computer, son and daughter get hand-me-downs, the kids only get to use the parents computer when they're not around, if they are given access at all! The point being there will be homes where multiple users will have access to multiple computers and/or internet devices. None of the family members will want the others to have access to their stuff (although the su/root will-read parents). NT/2k and Linux/BSD are best suited for multiple users. If MS is to have one OS it will be based on W2k. Besides W2k is more secure and stable than Win9x/ME will ever be.
to ask. Q: What are the past and present 'inovations' MS keeps referring to?
A: Well there is embracing and extending proprietary file formats and protocalls, acquiring new technology through mergers, putting competition out of business by spreading FUD, and then there is our inovative licensing of our OSs.
Do a giant-scale reproduction of the Penguin Computing poster of Tux stompping the Redmond Campus; then have it delivered to the front lawn of Bill Gates estate!
That's what I'd like to see on the packaging. A code on the outside of the software box that would let the consumer know just how restrictive the software license is, before they ever break the seal on the box. Codes would indicate everything from 'unrestricted,' to 'we can turn off this software remotely.' Keys to the codes would be available in the software department to compare the codes for restrictions.
Doing this would make consumers aware of restrictions and perhaps the restrictiveness of the software would influence their purchase. Then the average consumer might start to question why some software is so restrictive, and other software is so free. They might start to questions the wisdom of laws such as UCITA. They just might start educating themselves on software licenses, and choose the software that gives them the most rights. Consumers might then demand some kind of minimum standard of consumer rights in software licenses. Sorry for the slightly off topic rant.
I know RMS's stand on Free software and why he uses the term. Still...'free' to most people means 'free'as in beer, when one uses the term to those unfamiliar to RMS's use of the term. I think the term 'freed' software, as in 'given freedom,' would be better to use. The use of 'freed' implies freedom, then one can explain that the software is also 'free' as in beer for download. I think the connection with 'freedom of use' is more important than 'free of cost.'
a regestered letter that starts out: By signing the Regestered Mail Receipt, the receipent agrees to sign over all Intellectual Property Rights permanently and in total to the Free Software Foundation for the purposes of relicensing or disposal as seen fit by the FSF. Receipent also agrees to fire all senior management employees, to resign from MS, and transfer all shares of MS stock personally held by the receipent to the FSF. Note: This letter is as legally valid as any MS EULA.
The place-Appeals Court. DOJ and MS lawyers are present.
DOJ "Your Honor we can end this right here and now. MS has agreed to drop all appeals and abide by the decision of the lower court and to other conditions as well."
MS "Your Honor we agreed to no such thing! what's going on here?"
DOJ "Your Honor a Walk-Through-the-Door agreement was clearly posted on the door to the entrance of this courtroom on a stickynote. By entering MS agreed to all terms and conditions thereof. They should have read it before entering."
MS "We object your Honor, there is no such precedent!"
DOJ "Clearly your Honor there is such precedent. Software companies have for years been enforcing ShrinkWrap and ClickThrough licenses. There is also the EULA."
MS After briefly confering with each other. "Your Honor wer're glad the DOJ mentioned the EULA. MS has recently added a provision in the license barring the DOJ from implimenting punative measures against MS. Therefore the Walk-Through-the-Door agreement is invalid."
DOJ "The DOJ will conceede that such a change in the MS license agreement under EULA would have been valid. But your Honor, all DOJ computers are now running Linux."
Judge "This court rules in favor of the DOJ Walk-Through-the-Door agreement. MS must abide by such terms thereof. Case closed!"
Later that week at the DOJ victory party. Steve Ballmer stands by the door holding a cup marked "Donations for DOJ Antitrust," Bill Gates is serving snacks on a tray to guests, Mr Nukem (Janet Reno's shoe shine boy) is shining shoes of all the guests. They really should have read the agreement before entering the court.
he could have ruled that MicroSoft by walking through the doors to the courtroom agreed to abide by the decision of the judge and to accept it as final; no appeal. Now that would have been justice, a Walk-Through agreement!
Slashdot Mirror
>The person who invents the corporate-whapping mechanism will become my one true personal hero...
;-)
I've applied for the patent already
Do you think even the US Government has that type of money and could spend it in a covert manner even if it did?
Maybe that would explain all those $1000 coffeepots, $5000 bolts, $10,000 toilets etc. Perhaps what appears to be ridiclous overcharges are in-fact cover-ups for secret appropriations?
Someone (maybe the FSF) needs to get a anti-patent granted for lawsuits! A sufficient obfuscated, buzzword-compliant application could probably get by patent examiners; look what they've already granted patents for ;-) Then when someone tries to sue, step in and tell them they can't, you have a patent on the lawsuit!
Disclaimer: Bill Gates is not the Anti-Christ!
Shame on you! M$ has led the industry in inovative software licensing for years. Just recently they figured they could charge thier customers more for the number of simultaneous connections to a customers own server!
I remember receiving an email with a program attached. The program asked whether you forgave Bill Clinton for his misbehavior in office. If you tried to click on the 'NO' button, it moved, making it impossible to click. When you finally gave up and clicked on the 'YES' button it read something like, "Thank you for your honest support!"
Disclaimer: Bill Gates is not the Anti-Christ.
If you can theoretically store infinite data, would you have to wait an inifinite amount of time to find a particular piece of datum?
:-)
Actually the problem would be finding the correct state at all. Building a sensor to discriminate between states as the number of states becomes larger and approaches infinity, the difference between different states becomes smaller.
Kind of like cutting a pie into more pieces. Finding a unique pie piece #5 of eight is much easier than finding pie piece #1,225,517 of 12,375,614,827,530. Get the idea?
Someone should convince the MPAA that having all available movies on a single electron is not only possible but, only a few years from mass comercial development.The MPAA would do almost anything to stop this from occuring, and probably would be willing to settle for deCSS for Linux GPLed and freely downloadable to all, probably even fair use of DVD Ram (and other TLAs) ;-)
Why isn't this a /. 'Your Rights Online' article? Where is the legislation that gives them this right? When was it granted?
A perfect chip for an Internet Toaster-oven, and Internet Freezer-defroster ;-)
IANAL but:If I were to order a new system and was informed that I could not get a reduction in price for a computer without M$ software, I would demand a written explaination. If the written explaination stated that M$ charges them whether or not W2K or whatever is loaded, I would sue M$ in local Small Claims Court. I shouldn't have to pay for something I didn't receive. M$ would surely lose the judgement. Getting them to pay may prove difficult, but M$ needs more negative publicity now like they need another virus in Outlook!
Has anyone tried this? Are there any lawyers out there?
as kids. They (MPAA lawyers) see themselves as 'swashbucklers' defending against 'pirate' attacks.
/. that the sharks have it all wrong. They have yet to prove that ANY movies were copied using DeCSS. DeCSS allows Viewing! Trade secrets are trade secrets only if well protected by the owners. Reverse engineering is allowed, yada,yada, yada...
Defendant Pavlovich misappropriated DVD CCA's trade secrets knowing that such actions would adversely impact an array of substantial California business enterprises including the motion picture industry, the consumer electronics industry, and the computer industry. Such conduct has in fact injured the motion picture industry in California by making available material that allows copying of copyrighted motion pictures. Further, as alleged in the Complaint filed in this action, such conduct threatens the economic welfare of the more than 400 CSS licensees - companies that make the hardware and software enabling consumers to view digital images on DVDs. Of the 73 licensees which are located in California, 42 are located in Santa Clara County and an additional 17 are in other Bay Area locations. See Complaint, 53, attached as Exhibit D to the Shapiro Decl.
I don't think I have to tell anyone on
They were doing a special on the moons of Jupiter, and they mentioned that sometime in the year 2002 (2003?), they will be launching a probe that will attempt to land on Europa, and release a heating vent of sorts that will melt through the ice to the water below, and (hopefully) see what's under all that ice. That soon? I think the technical challenges are too great to mount such a mission so soon. We might be dealing with an ice layer severel miles thick. It is my personal belief that there IS life down there. I can't wait until we prove it. Rich...
Sounds like a real expensive icefishing expedition! What bait are they using? What will they do if it catches something? And how did they convince congress to approve this one; since no Congressmen or Senators will accompany the probe?
The contact page probably got /.ed. Probably the reason Moody didn't include his email address :-)
How about this? Have the Music Industry do what it does best, packagaing and marketing music.
Imagine a site where you could choose music/songs and musicians, of your choice (that are with that particular label). Say up to 12 tracks/60minutes of music/CD, for a set price, say $8.00. After tracks are selected and arranged, the customer selects insert art that includes a customer selected title and "customized for (insert name)." Additional photos/bios of the musicians would be included with the insert. A listing of the music/musicians and track# on the back. CDs would be sent in a jewelcase, just like the ones purchased in the stores. Click 'done' and arrange to have CDs mailed.
The value added with the customization provided at the site for the customer would encourage purchase. Also customers would find an advantage in not having to purchase an entire for one good track, they could get just the one good track!
I can just imagine an official represenative explaining the concept at a local community information meeting (townhall). He introduces himself with "I'm from the government, I'm here to help" :-), then liberally interspercing his explaination with "you can trust us" ;-)
Actually if my physical address and other private information were protected, I wouldn't mind. One place for all the SPAM! Once a month delete all mail going to the USPS email address. Would be worth it if it kept SPAM out of my ISP provided email accounts!
Um, in case you haven't notice there is a push to network computers in the home. Home networking will become increasingly common when DSL and Cable high speed access become more common. Home firewalls and servers will become common as well. Families will do what businesses have done, give the newest computers to the company elite and pass off the old computers to those that can still use them. IE, mom and dad get the latest and greatest whizbang computer, son and daughter get hand-me-downs, the kids only get to use the parents computer when they're not around, if they are given access at all! The point being there will be homes where multiple users will have access to multiple computers and/or internet devices. None of the family members will want the others to have access to their stuff (although the su/root will-read parents). NT/2k and Linux/BSD are best suited for multiple users. If MS is to have one OS it will be based on W2k. Besides W2k is more secure and stable than Win9x/ME will ever be.
to ask. Q: What are the past and present 'inovations' MS keeps referring to?
A: Well there is embracing and extending proprietary file formats and protocalls, acquiring new technology through mergers, putting competition out of business by spreading FUD, and then there is our inovative licensing of our OSs.
Do a giant-scale reproduction of the Penguin Computing poster of Tux stompping the Redmond Campus; then have it delivered to the front lawn of Bill Gates estate!
Maybe they'd pick a name to appeal to the clueless elite, maybe Hat Turbo (Haat Tour bow' ;-)
That's what I'd like to see on the packaging. A code on the outside of the software box that would let the consumer know just how restrictive the software license is, before they ever break the seal on the box. Codes would indicate everything from 'unrestricted,' to 'we can turn off this software remotely.' Keys to the codes would be available in the software department to compare the codes for restrictions.
Doing this would make consumers aware of restrictions and perhaps the restrictiveness of the software would influence their purchase. Then the average consumer might start to question why some software is so restrictive, and other software is so free. They might start to questions the wisdom of laws such as UCITA. They just might start educating themselves on software licenses, and choose the software that gives them the most rights. Consumers might then demand some kind of minimum standard of consumer rights in software licenses. Sorry for the slightly off topic rant.
I know RMS's stand on Free software and why he uses the term. Still...'free' to most people means 'free'as in beer, when one uses the term to those unfamiliar to RMS's use of the term. I think the term 'freed' software, as in 'given freedom,' would be better to use. The use of 'freed' implies freedom, then one can explain that the software is also 'free' as in beer for download. I think the connection with 'freedom of use' is more important than 'free of cost.'
of a bad example; so that those that do not know what a good example is; will know what a good example is, by a good example of a bad example.
a regestered letter that starts out: By signing the Regestered Mail Receipt, the receipent agrees to sign over all Intellectual Property Rights permanently and in total to the Free Software Foundation for the purposes of relicensing or disposal as seen fit by the FSF. Receipent also agrees to fire all senior management employees, to resign from MS, and transfer all shares of MS stock personally held by the receipent to the FSF. Note: This letter is as legally valid as any MS EULA.
The place-Appeals Court. DOJ and MS lawyers are present.
DOJ "Your Honor we can end this right here and now. MS has agreed to drop all appeals and abide by the decision of the lower court and to other conditions as well."
MS "Your Honor we agreed to no such thing! what's going on here?"
DOJ "Your Honor a Walk-Through-the-Door agreement was clearly posted on the door to the entrance of this courtroom on a stickynote. By entering MS agreed to all terms and conditions thereof. They should have read it before entering."
MS "We object your Honor, there is no such precedent!"
DOJ "Clearly your Honor there is such precedent. Software companies have for years been enforcing ShrinkWrap and ClickThrough licenses. There is also the EULA."
MS After briefly confering with each other. "Your Honor wer're glad the DOJ mentioned the EULA. MS has recently added a provision in the license barring the DOJ from implimenting punative measures against MS. Therefore the Walk-Through-the-Door agreement is invalid."
DOJ "The DOJ will conceede that such a change in the MS license agreement under EULA would have been valid. But your Honor, all DOJ computers are now running Linux."
Judge "This court rules in favor of the DOJ Walk-Through-the-Door agreement. MS must abide by such terms thereof. Case closed!"
Later that week at the DOJ victory party. Steve Ballmer stands by the door holding a cup marked "Donations for DOJ Antitrust," Bill Gates is serving snacks on a tray to guests, Mr Nukem (Janet Reno's shoe shine boy) is shining shoes of all the guests. They really should have read the agreement before entering the court.
he could have ruled that MicroSoft by walking through the doors to the courtroom agreed to abide by the decision of the judge and to accept it as final; no appeal. Now that would have been justice, a Walk-Through agreement!