Actually, with the exception of one of his grandchildren, Tolkien's family pretty much refused to have anything to do with the movie. Their position was that it could not be done properly without losing too much of what made it great.
Do you feel that research, your specific research and/or research in general, should be presented in an 'open' forum, if said research is paid for, in part or in whole, with tax-supplied funds?
This gets down to a licensing issue, on the public being charged twice for the research and it's benefits.
Yes, but this depends on whose value of K do you use. For purposes of technical discussions, 1K = 1024. But, and I think it was mentioned somewhere here on/., that PR/advertising typically uses the 1K=1000 valuation.
I honestly do remember reading something like this recently, and it was either here or The Register. I will attempt to add a link when I find out. Or someone else could do it.
It is. I was playing it last night. I've found that the game keeps the same level of complication (enough to keep you interested) while making it accessable enough for anyone to learn to play.
And if the first dungeon, which I haven't gotten out of yet, is any example, this game is huge.
Now, if I can just convince my characters that they need to hit the monsters in order to kill them....
You get what you pay for. RedHat has a financial stake in making sure you get your money's worth. Microsoft does not. You've already paid for thier product. So they put out fixes, updates, etc. at their leisure. Where RedHat will lose update subscribers if there is the 'perception' that people aren't getting value for the money spent. The customer can be getting value, they just have to feel like they are not getting value for RedHat to suffer in this way.
Ummm... Closed source doesn't necessary hit it either. As a programmer, I can tell you that we often have time overruns due to a large variety of reasons. One of which includes QA finding some mistakes in our programming assumptions.
My opinion is that the case should go to trial. I'm not for the DMCA, but this would give it a test case in court, and if the ruling goes against the DMCA (and it should by all rights) then that would help to get it changed or revoked.
Eric Gearman
Since it seems that, as far as the abstract states, that they are limiting the patent to a digital version of the 'watch one thing, record another', with mention of some of the breakdown of how they do it, it looks as if this is actually a decent patent of technology. I can't think of any prior art which would cause this to be invalid (the VCR is different enough).
"How does giving the source code of the program to the player make it fair? Are we to assume that when two humans play, the one human knows how the other will always react."
Always? No. But in a match of this type, human players usually get to see tapes, write-ups, etc. of thier opponent beforehand to get some idea of the style of who they will play. You do get an idea in tournament play of what kind of adversary you will be facing.
Plus, just having the source doesn't mean that he will be able to understand it. I mean, what if they wrote it in PERL??:)
Eric Gearman
I'm nowhere near an expert in patent law, but it looks like these examples of prior art should be patent busters. After all, from my limited understanding, you can't patent something that has either been done before, or that has been 'released' to the public domain.
"(You ever notice we didn't hear any screaming about duped tapes?)"
Actually, we did. It was just so long ago and it was very quiet compared to what was going on now. Plus, a number of the bands that are screaming about duped CDs and MP3s are ones that benefited from duped tapes. The message changes significantly when the money starts to roll in.
that the cops (campus or otherwise) have really cracked down on the steam tunnel intrusion in the last few years...
I can remember a few forays through the steam tunnels that ended with some co-eds getting the holy !#%&*^ scared out of them when the 'tunnel party' emerged. The fact that the one in the lead was wearing a 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' mask might have had something to do with it.
heh... yep... See what happens kiddies, when you don't have your regular intake of sugar and caffeine. You miss all kinds of things. The above figure of 16000 km./hr. should be 16000 km./min. The actual figure for hourly travel is now 960,000 km./hr.
I get the same answer. But remember that velocity isn't necessary indicative of the situation. What you have described is constant acceleration and deceleration. If that is so, then at the point of change over, ie. the time going from speeding up to slowing down, the spacecraft in question is traveling over 266 km/sec. This tranlates to 16 thousand km/hr.
"Shouldn't the hackers in the movie be using Gnome and KDE and all the heavies using Windows or Mac0SX?"
Maybe they want to show this as a tecno-fantasy... or that you doesn't matter what the OS is, but that the person who 'invented' it will stop at nothing to keep it on top.
I can understand the authors (and their representatives) not wanting the resale of used books on Amazon. After all, they do not get any money off of those sales. Amazon, however, is in the business of selling books. Selling used books is a fairly common practice, from the garage sale to the book store on the corner. Now, I haven't seen many chain book stores offer much of a used book section before, but that could change.
I would venture that the best way to solve this would be for Amazon not to offer to buy/resell new books for a period of time (say 3-6 months) after the book comes out. It is my understanding, based on friends who work in bookstores, that anything that is selling decently, sells the majority of its copies during that period. After that, it is usually spur of the moment buys.
that some of the 'standards' do need to be made open in order to encourage competition. If Microsoft isn't required to open up some of these standards, how are competiters supposed to compete?
If the only company that knows the 'best' ways to interact with the OS is Microsoft Applications (or whatever the company is named), then you might as well not split the company up.
Seriously though, the patent issue in the US is not easily resolved, as the ones who are abusing the system always seem to have backers, and the ones that they are sueing usually seem to be willing to settle. This just encourages the same behavior. If the patent office/judicial system allowed for more severe penalties for filing and/or sueing over frivilous patents, maybe the situation would correct itself. I just don't see it happening.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, with the exception of one of his grandchildren, Tolkien's family pretty much refused to have anything to do with the movie. Their position was that it could not be done properly without losing too much of what made it great.
EFGearman
--
Do you feel that research, your specific research and/or research in general, should be presented in an 'open' forum, if said research is paid for, in part or in whole, with tax-supplied funds?
This gets down to a licensing issue, on the public being charged twice for the research and it's benefits.
Eric Gearman
--
Yes, but this depends on whose value of K do you use. For purposes of technical discussions, 1K = 1024. But, and I think it was mentioned somewhere here on /., that PR/advertising typically uses the 1K=1000 valuation.
I honestly do remember reading something like this recently, and it was either here or The Register. I will attempt to add a link when I find out. Or someone else could do it.
EFGearman
--
It is. I was playing it last night. I've found that the game keeps the same level of complication (enough to keep you interested) while making it accessable enough for anyone to learn to play.
And if the first dungeon, which I haven't gotten out of yet, is any example, this game is huge.
Now, if I can just convince my characters that they need to hit the monsters in order to kill them....
EFGearman
--
You get what you pay for. RedHat has a financial stake in making sure you get your money's worth. Microsoft does not. You've already paid for thier product. So they put out fixes, updates, etc. at their leisure. Where RedHat will lose update subscribers if there is the 'perception' that people aren't getting value for the money spent. The customer can be getting value, they just have to feel like they are not getting value for RedHat to suffer in this way.
Just my $0.02
EFGearman
---
Yes, please explain this O Brother of Mine.
I believe that you are once again operating with incorrect scientific information. But I would still like to hear this explained.
EFGearman
Ummm... Closed source doesn't necessary hit it either. As a programmer, I can tell you that we often have time overruns due to a large variety of reasons. One of which includes QA finding some mistakes in our programming assumptions.
EFGearman
I believe that his point is that it was a precursor to the modern internet. And also that it was government sponsored.
EFGearman
Plus, he owes me money... So he better not be getting an XBox before I do...
EGearman
Think about it for a second. A whole new season of junkyard wars... With nukes...
Eric Gearman
My opinion is that the case should go to trial. I'm not for the DMCA, but this would give it a test case in court, and if the ruling goes against the DMCA (and it should by all rights) then that would help to get it changed or revoked. Eric Gearman
Two words for you....
Xerox Parc
Eric Gearman
Since it seems that, as far as the abstract states, that they are limiting the patent to a digital version of the 'watch one thing, record another', with mention of some of the breakdown of how they do it, it looks as if this is actually a decent patent of technology. I can't think of any prior art which would cause this to be invalid (the VCR is different enough).
More power to TiVo.
EFGearman
"How does giving the source code of the program to the player make it fair? Are we to assume that when two humans play, the one human knows how the other will always react." Always? No. But in a match of this type, human players usually get to see tapes, write-ups, etc. of thier opponent beforehand to get some idea of the style of who they will play. You do get an idea in tournament play of what kind of adversary you will be facing. Plus, just having the source doesn't mean that he will be able to understand it. I mean, what if they wrote it in PERL?? :)
Eric Gearman
I'm nowhere near an expert in patent law, but it looks like these examples of prior art should be patent busters. After all, from my limited understanding, you can't patent something that has either been done before, or that has been 'released' to the public domain.
Eric Gearman
--
"(You ever notice we didn't hear any screaming about duped tapes?)"
Actually, we did. It was just so long ago and it was very quiet compared to what was going on now. Plus, a number of the bands that are screaming about duped CDs and MP3s are ones that benefited from duped tapes. The message changes significantly when the money starts to roll in.
Eric Gearman
--
"Tell that to the doctors and patients at abortion clinics that are harrassed and abused by Operation Rescue under the claims of Free Speech."
Depending on the location of the clinic and local laws, if the protesters get to close or cause to much of a hassle, they can indeed be arrested.
I've known it to happen.
Eric Gearman
--
that the cops (campus or otherwise) have really cracked down on the steam tunnel intrusion in the last few years...
I can remember a few forays through the steam tunnels that ended with some co-eds getting the holy !#%&*^ scared out of them when the 'tunnel party' emerged. The fact that the one in the lead was wearing a 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' mask might have had something to do with it.
Eric Gearman
--
heh... yep... See what happens kiddies, when you don't have your regular intake of sugar and caffeine. You miss all kinds of things. The above figure of 16000 km./hr. should be 16000 km./min. The actual figure for hourly travel is now 960,000 km./hr.
And now back to our regular program...
Eric Gearman
--
I get the same answer. But remember that velocity isn't necessary indicative of the situation. What you have described is constant acceleration and deceleration. If that is so, then at the point of change over, ie. the time going from speeding up to slowing down, the spacecraft in question is traveling over 266 km/sec. This tranlates to 16 thousand km/hr.
Fast, huh.
Eric Gearman
--
"Shouldn't the hackers in the movie be using Gnome and KDE and all the heavies using Windows or Mac0SX?"
Maybe they want to show this as a tecno-fantasy... or that you doesn't matter what the OS is, but that the person who 'invented' it will stop at nothing to keep it on top.
Just my opinion...
Eric Gearman
--
Do you actually see ads like this?
I usually see a religious preference, non-smoker, that kind of thing, but D&D???
Weird.
Eric Gearman
--
I can understand the authors (and their representatives) not wanting the resale of used books on Amazon. After all, they do not get any money off of those sales. Amazon, however, is in the business of selling books. Selling used books is a fairly common practice, from the garage sale to the book store on the corner. Now, I haven't seen many chain book stores offer much of a used book section before, but that could change.
I would venture that the best way to solve this would be for Amazon not to offer to buy/resell new books for a period of time (say 3-6 months) after the book comes out. It is my understanding, based on friends who work in bookstores, that anything that is selling decently, sells the majority of its copies during that period. After that, it is usually spur of the moment buys.
Just my $0.02 worth,
Eric Gearman
--
that some of the 'standards' do need to be made open in order to encourage competition. If Microsoft isn't required to open up some of these standards, how are competiters supposed to compete?
If the only company that knows the 'best' ways to interact with the OS is Microsoft Applications (or whatever the company is named), then you might as well not split the company up.
Eric Gearman
--
Maybe /. is using an old Pentium processor.
Seriously though, the patent issue in the US is not easily resolved, as the ones who are abusing the system always seem to have backers, and the ones that they are sueing usually seem to be willing to settle. This just encourages the same behavior. If the patent office/judicial system allowed for more severe penalties for filing and/or sueing over frivilous patents, maybe the situation would correct itself. I just don't see it happening.
Eric Gearman
--