Didn't microsoft leak a way to break plays for sure so that they could kill the format and come up with some other new thing? I'm sure I read that somewhere...
I don't know about that, but I would think that the only thing Microsoft would need to obsolete PFS is a better (or New! Better Marketed!) format and dropping support for the old format.
I think you missed the part about how if they don't become "Rock Stars" within the set amount of time, the chip in their brain explodes.
It's a voluntary deal. If they don't want to sign on to Big Music's terms, they can either go on an independent label, or self-publish (which, in some ways, is much easier in the Internet world). If the countless stories of major-label screw-jobs I'm constantly hearing are any indication, it's probably even a better proposition.
If one were to make a lens interoperability kit, would that be illegal? If one were to make a DRM-breaking format convertor, that is illegal. I'm not sure about writing a PS2 emulator for the XBox (disregarding obvious technical limitations).
For a Coward, you bring up a good point. Even if the software's open-source, who's to say that the hardware isn't vulnerable and you can't just short-circuit the software, be it open or closed source.
I'm not implying that you didn't (speaking more to the OP, really), but I'd put a list of points like this, as well as a general catch-all in the work-order contract:
The original installation media and proof of ownership (registration keys, dongles, keydiscs, etc.) may be necessary if programs or system software need to be re-installed. Unlicensed software or software lacking the proper proof of ownership WILL NOT be reinstalled. We cannot take responsibility for reinstallation issues or loss of function resulting from lost, broken, defective, unlicensed, improperly licensed/activated, or incompatible media or software. You should also have any login names, passwords, license keys, or other such information available and "backed up". We cannot be responsible for lost login information, stored history, bookmarks, settings, customizations, etc., resulting from reinstallation or reconfiguration.
Hardware problems may involve, natch, buying new hardware.
Please notify the technician, before the diagnosis and repair, about any critical, sensitive, or irreplacable data/programs that should not be deleted, so that efforts may be made not to disturb that data. Although every effort blah blah blah data or settings loss is still a possibility.
Then of course mention that if any of these things hinders your ability to fix the computer beyond their willingness to accomodate (meaning they won't run out and buy a new copy of XP to replace the missing system discs), that you'll still get paid for your time and the computer may be left in a worse state than it started.
It might also be a good idea to make a form for these situations... sort of a "Could Not Complete" form, with a simple...
Due to --- --- could not be repaired it is recommended that you ---
Just some ideas. I've never done this myself, but I'm a decent ass-coverer in general terms.
I don't have any WMA media. I do have iTunes Fairplay media. It doesn't support that.
And that's your unfortunate decision.
I could say the opposite if I had more WMA+DRM media than AAC+DRM, although I would have better selection, since Microsoft is more openly licensing (read: 'is licensing') the WMA+DRM codecs than Apple is with AAC+DRM.
Of course, I'll just be happy with my unencumbered MP3 that plays on damn-near anything with an audio jack. (Yeah, if I was a purist, I'd be up-in-arms for an unpatented format, but until someone sues the LAME folks, there's little practical difference.)
I doubt it would be that difficult, assuming you were doing something illegal enough to warrant the effort. If they had full access to the site and the AP (which I'm assuming they would), they could try everything from traffic analysis, the direction of the signal, to "knock on doors and see when the browsing stops".
I use a PC at home and a Mac at work. So far, about the only thing that's really made me drool for a Mac has been CoverFlow, a simple but unfortunately Mac-unique program. I've always detested iTunes. That's a given. So, is CoverFlow on the PC enough of a killer app to justify installing the clunky behemoth iTunes?
Now, if someone could make a PC version that just loaded the album into Winamp, I'd be happy.
I'll one-up that. Put the 2-second blurb at the beginning, then drop a still frame (or another blurb ending in a still frame) that links to the advertiser's website after the video. Captive audience at the beginning, but not enough to be annoying, then a link to more in-depth content at the end, where it's not getting in the way.
Really, though, I think this sort of thing will be best used by advertisers who get in and create ad content that's both relevant to their product and entertaining enough to actually be a draw in and of itself-- make an ad so good that people look for it, not the other way around. With YT content being niche-friendly and disposable, they can also try more edgy or target-specific content that might not be worth TV distribution (or might not be suitable for a general audience), but would resonate on a much deeper level with audiences who "got it".
Facts, whether collected or singly, are not copyrightable. An effort was made a couple years (?) ago to try to make fact compliations copyrightable, but I think that fell through. The specific expression of those facts can be copyrighted, if expression is applied, so if the name and address were put, say, into a catchy song, reproducing the same form of song would be a violation, but paraphrasing or simply relaying the facts would not be a violation.
If it starts with "F" and it ends with "C", chances are it's going to involve fuzzy definitions, arbitrary and variable interpretations, and gigantic monetary fines. It just comes with the territory.
That is to say: they tend to be more gullible, have less life experience and less insight as to how they can be victimized, have less maturity and less self-control. Perhaps if the Internet were one-way, and kids couldn't input their own information, it would be more acceptable, but we're trusting the people we remind not to take candy from a random goon in a van not to give out their address and personal information on a messageboard to someone they've been talking to for a significant amount of time.
That said, goatse et al should be part of the Internet Welcome Kit for the whole family. Toughen 'em up a bit.
Hell, I can't stand it just because I'll lose anything that's of minimal importance. I've got a boss who always prints-out and hands me emails, rather than just forwarding them. I also have an unwieldly pile of printed-out unimportant emails. There are advantages to paper, but if you're going to be sitting at the desk anyway, I'll take the copyability, searchability, and indexability of digital any day.
Really, someone needs to come out with a specialized educational e-book reader. Of course, it's a chicken-and-egg problem with content, but I could see that being a possible solution.
Nope, but restricted online play has helped a LOT.
The problem with that? Try getting a game secondhand. Actually, I've even had enough problems getting games with just serial keys second-hand from yard sales. Perfectly usable disc, but if it's not in the right case... well, there's a five-dollar coaster. I'd look for a keygen, but there's little chance of finding one that isn't just a shameless Trojan.
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Didn't microsoft leak a way to break plays for sure so that they could kill the format and come up with some other new thing? I'm sure I read that somewhere...
I don't know about that, but I would think that the only thing Microsoft would need to obsolete PFS is a better (or New! Better Marketed!) format and dropping support for the old format.
I think you missed the part about how if they don't become "Rock Stars" within the set amount of time, the chip in their brain explodes.
It's a voluntary deal. If they don't want to sign on to Big Music's terms, they can either go on an independent label, or self-publish (which, in some ways, is much easier in the Internet world). If the countless stories of major-label screw-jobs I'm constantly hearing are any indication, it's probably even a better proposition.
If one were to make a lens interoperability kit, would that be illegal? If one were to make a DRM-breaking format convertor, that is illegal. I'm not sure about writing a PS2 emulator for the XBox (disregarding obvious technical limitations).
For a Coward, you bring up a good point. Even if the software's open-source, who's to say that the hardware isn't vulnerable and you can't just short-circuit the software, be it open or closed source.
I'm not implying that you didn't (speaking more to the OP, really), but I'd put a list of points like this, as well as a general catch-all in the work-order contract:
The original installation media and proof of ownership (registration keys, dongles, keydiscs, etc.) may be necessary if programs or system software need to be re-installed. Unlicensed software or software lacking the proper proof of ownership WILL NOT be reinstalled. We cannot take responsibility for reinstallation issues or loss of function resulting from lost, broken, defective, unlicensed, improperly licensed/activated, or incompatible media or software. You should also have any login names, passwords, license keys, or other such information available and "backed up". We cannot be responsible for lost login information, stored history, bookmarks, settings, customizations, etc., resulting from reinstallation or reconfiguration.
Hardware problems may involve, natch, buying new hardware.
Please notify the technician, before the diagnosis and repair, about any critical, sensitive, or irreplacable data/programs that should not be deleted, so that efforts may be made not to disturb that data. Although every effort blah blah blah data or settings loss is still a possibility.
Then of course mention that if any of these things hinders your ability to fix the computer beyond their willingness to accomodate (meaning they won't run out and buy a new copy of XP to replace the missing system discs), that you'll still get paid for your time and the computer may be left in a worse state than it started.
It might also be a good idea to make a form for these situations... sort of a "Could Not Complete" form, with a simple...
Due to ---
--- could not be repaired
it is recommended that you ---
Just some ideas. I've never done this myself, but I'm a decent ass-coverer in general terms.
I don't have any WMA media. I do have iTunes Fairplay media. It doesn't support that.
And that's your unfortunate decision.
I could say the opposite if I had more WMA+DRM media than AAC+DRM, although I would have better selection, since Microsoft is more openly licensing (read: 'is licensing') the WMA+DRM codecs than Apple is with AAC+DRM.
Of course, I'll just be happy with my unencumbered MP3 that plays on damn-near anything with an audio jack. (Yeah, if I was a purist, I'd be up-in-arms for an unpatented format, but until someone sues the LAME folks, there's little practical difference.)
Well, if nobody understands you already, why not go all the way and make it a concious lifestyle decision?
(( Thunderous applause ))
I've been contemplating a system like that. How much modem-time do you get on something like that?
So that's why they always rattle off an 800 number I'm going to have no chance in Hell of remembering or ever calling back. Hmm. Interesting.
I doubt it would be that difficult, assuming you were doing something illegal enough to warrant the effort. If they had full access to the site and the AP (which I'm assuming they would), they could try everything from traffic analysis, the direction of the signal, to "knock on doors and see when the browsing stops".
It's really becoming a problem lately, as the latest round of cachey-cookies can SUCK YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER FROM YOUR BRAIN!!!
Hmm... decisions...
I use a PC at home and a Mac at work. So far, about the only thing that's really made me drool for a Mac has been CoverFlow, a simple but unfortunately Mac-unique program. I've always detested iTunes. That's a given. So, is CoverFlow on the PC enough of a killer app to justify installing the clunky behemoth iTunes?
Now, if someone could make a PC version that just loaded the album into Winamp, I'd be happy.
Maybe I'm misreading you, but isn't that what punishing people is supposed to do as well? Get people to not want to do some illegal thing?
Wouldn't that be only the elements common to tea and coffee?
Jeez, why don't I just have a representative of the MPAA come live at my house and keep track of what movies I watch,
Uhm... that would actually end up being public performance*, and the movies are specifically licensed for private personal viewing.
* (Lawyers: I know it wouldn't be. It was a joke.)
I believe that would be a tea-coffee mix, then. Mixing all the bits of tea and all the bits of coffee.
I'll one-up that. Put the 2-second blurb at the beginning, then drop a still frame (or another blurb ending in a still frame) that links to the advertiser's website after the video. Captive audience at the beginning, but not enough to be annoying, then a link to more in-depth content at the end, where it's not getting in the way.
Really, though, I think this sort of thing will be best used by advertisers who get in and create ad content that's both relevant to their product and entertaining enough to actually be a draw in and of itself-- make an ad so good that people look for it, not the other way around. With YT content being niche-friendly and disposable, they can also try more edgy or target-specific content that might not be worth TV distribution (or might not be suitable for a general audience), but would resonate on a much deeper level with audiences who "got it".
Facts, whether collected or singly, are not copyrightable. An effort was made a couple years (?) ago to try to make fact compliations copyrightable, but I think that fell through. The specific expression of those facts can be copyrighted, if expression is applied, so if the name and address were put, say, into a catchy song, reproducing the same form of song would be a violation, but paraphrasing or simply relaying the facts would not be a violation.
If it starts with "F" and it ends with "C", chances are it's going to involve fuzzy definitions, arbitrary and variable interpretations, and gigantic monetary fines. It just comes with the territory.
Ahh, but children are stupid.
That is to say: they tend to be more gullible, have less life experience and less insight as to how they can be victimized, have less maturity and less self-control. Perhaps if the Internet were one-way, and kids couldn't input their own information, it would be more acceptable, but we're trusting the people we remind not to take candy from a random goon in a van not to give out their address and personal information on a messageboard to someone they've been talking to for a significant amount of time.
That said, goatse et al should be part of the Internet Welcome Kit for the whole family. Toughen 'em up a bit.
Hell, I can't stand it just because I'll lose anything that's of minimal importance. I've got a boss who always prints-out and hands me emails, rather than just forwarding them. I also have an unwieldly pile of printed-out unimportant emails. There are advantages to paper, but if you're going to be sitting at the desk anyway, I'll take the copyability, searchability, and indexability of digital any day.
But you aren't doing any protected copying. Therefore, no "copy protection mechanism" has come into play.
I believe the legality of this action comes down to whose lawyer can spin it better.
Really, someone needs to come out with a specialized educational e-book reader. Of course, it's a chicken-and-egg problem with content, but I could see that being a possible solution.
Nope, but restricted online play has helped a LOT.
The problem with that? Try getting a game secondhand. Actually, I've even had enough problems getting games with just serial keys second-hand from yard sales. Perfectly usable disc, but if it's not in the right case... well, there's a five-dollar coaster. I'd look for a keygen, but there's little chance of finding one that isn't just a shameless Trojan.