copyright: the government gives the creator of a work a limited time monopoly on the work and derivative works.
It is a privilege and a reward for contributing to the realm of public knowlege (or culture, etc). It is not a property right. It is not unalienable. It is not permanent. The phrase "owns the rights" is idiotic on its face. A more proper term would be "holds the copyright".
These days corporations have turned copyright and patents upside down, and turned them into a system of legalized extortion and eternal ownership of works they did not even create.
The USPTO and current laws concerning copyrights and patents are corrupt and worthless, and need reform. Start by voting out of office a few corrupt senators who are well-paid lapdogs of the RIAA and MPAA. (Fritz Hollings et al)
Until it develops *some* kind of nervous system, it is physically impossible for the ball of flesh to feel or think anything whatsoever. A ball of flesh that never felt or thought anything whatsoever is farther from personhood than a cat. Pro-life activists are foolish.
The protection that should be exteded embryos is just that either they should be nourished to full potential, or their development be stopped entirely. There is no middle ground because birth defects lead to real suffering.
"It's my right to swing my fists where I please, stay out of my way!"
To claim that right, you must admit that others have the right to swing their fists wherever, including at you. This constitutes admission that you do not have the right to not be assaulted for no reason.
"It's my right to put cameras wherever I want! It's your fault if you don't want to be taped while using the toilet!"
To claim that right, you must admit everyone else has the right to tape anyone they want, wherever they want, including you in the toilet.
"It's my right to investigate anyone I damn well please, whether I honestly think they are a terrorist or political opponent or whatever or not."
To claim that right, you must admit that everyone else has the right to investigate you and violate your privacy for any reason.
"It's my right to decide how I want to raise my children!"
To claim that right (without qualifications), you must admit that everyone else also has the right to decide how to raise their children, even if they want to raise their children to be suicide bombers.
The only logical way to define morality is to define your own rights in such a way that you can define the rights of everyone else identically.
It's the golden rule, people. It follows easily from the idea of equal rights.
There's another type of very very widespread copyright infringement that takes place entirely offline. As soon as 1 person in the dormitory gets the halo CD or what have you, they share it with everyone else on their floor and set up huge lan games.. all from 1 CD.
I estimate about 10 people on my floor got Call of Duty from 1 guy's CD and we can all play multiplayer online at the same time:)
Any act that does not harm an unwilling party cannot logically be considered immoral. The only logical way to define morality is to define your rights in such a way that you can define the rights of everyone else identically without causing a conflict. Then ask, "does an act of _______ infringe anyone's rights but the perpetrator(s)?" If not, it is a classic victimless crime, like having a sip of beer at age 15.
but for the rules to be a valid reason for terminating your license, they would have to habve been publicly available to you BEFORE you baught the game, IMO.
yeah, but the game is purchased with the implied warranty that you'll be able to use it for multiplayer games on battle.net before you can even read the eula. And it's impossible to return any opened software for a refund. IANAL, but Legally, that's fucked up.
IANAL but that sort of "we can change this contract however and whenever we want without notifying you" clause would (should) never hold water in court.
Slashdot Mirror
20% SG&A??? Talk about wasteful overhead!! Or does that include executives' salaries and bonuses?
copyright: the government gives the creator of a work a limited time monopoly on the work and derivative works.
It is a privilege and a reward for contributing to the realm of public knowlege (or culture, etc). It is not a property right. It is not unalienable. It is not permanent. The phrase "owns the rights" is idiotic on its face. A more proper term would be "holds the copyright".
These days corporations have turned copyright and patents upside down, and turned them into a system of legalized extortion and eternal ownership of works they did not even create.
The USPTO and current laws concerning copyrights and patents are corrupt and worthless, and need reform. Start by voting out of office a few corrupt senators who are well-paid lapdogs of the RIAA and MPAA. (Fritz Hollings et al)
that is the most racist, sexist book ever. no, see THE BIBLE. Especially the OT fairy tales about God smiting all the rivals of the israelites.
nt *just kidding
and that damn all caps NIGERIAN MONEY SCAM spam is still around!!! I get about 2 of those a month!
Where's the obligatory "*RAKE IS DYING" troll?
you mean deep fried / fast baked potato/grain products. It doesn't mention any bread or pasta. Potatoes are crap anyway.
No He has his own talkshow to deal with, geez.
Yes
Until it develops *some* kind of nervous system, it is physically impossible for the ball of flesh to feel or think anything whatsoever. A ball of flesh that never felt or thought anything whatsoever is farther from personhood than a cat. Pro-life activists are foolish.
The protection that should be exteded embryos is just that either they should be nourished to full potential, or their development be stopped entirely. There is no middle ground because birth defects lead to real suffering.
"It's my right to swing my fists where I please, stay out of my way!"
To claim that right, you must admit that others have the right to swing their fists wherever, including at you. This constitutes admission that you do not have the right to not be assaulted for no reason.
"It's my right to put cameras wherever I want! It's your fault if you don't want to be taped while using the toilet!"
To claim that right, you must admit everyone else has the right to tape anyone they want, wherever they want, including you in the toilet.
"It's my right to investigate anyone I damn well please, whether I honestly think they are a terrorist or political opponent or whatever or not."
To claim that right, you must admit that everyone else has the right to investigate you and violate your privacy for any reason.
"It's my right to decide how I want to raise my children!"
To claim that right (without qualifications), you must admit that everyone else also has the right to decide how to raise their children, even if they want to raise their children to be suicide bombers.
The only logical way to define morality is to define your own rights in such a way that you can define the rights of everyone else identically.
It's the golden rule, people. It follows easily from the idea of equal rights.
Heh, that "other evil symbol" is a thumbs-up.
Well the 15 year old is doing something victimless. I didnt mention who gave it to them, of course their action is debatable.
There's another type of very very widespread copyright infringement that takes place entirely offline. As soon as 1 person in the dormitory gets the halo CD or what have you, they share it with everyone else on their floor and set up huge lan games.. all from 1 CD. I estimate about 10 people on my floor got Call of Duty from 1 guy's CD and we can all play multiplayer online at the same time :)
Any act that does not harm an unwilling party cannot logically be considered immoral. The only logical way to define morality is to define your rights in such a way that you can define the rights of everyone else identically without causing a conflict. Then ask, "does an act of _______ infringe anyone's rights but the perpetrator(s)?" If not, it is a classic victimless crime, like having a sip of beer at age 15.
The majority of worldwide internet infrastructure was built by US-based telcom companies.
Wow, so the bottom 10% of IT wanna-be's cant find jobs. Ill bet most of them don't even have college degrees. Boo hoo.
FP?
I mean, what kind of skinny-ass nerd wouldn't get up for food/soda at least once every 3 hours?
no it's commonly pronounced nook-you-ler
more commonly known as Nuclear Engineering, not Nuclear Chemistry.
I hereby claim this first post in the name of the 40-hathcery zerg lamerism!
but for the rules to be a valid reason for terminating your license, they would have to habve been publicly available to you BEFORE you baught the game, IMO.
yeah, but the game is purchased with the implied warranty that you'll be able to use it for multiplayer games on battle.net before you can even read the eula. And it's impossible to return any opened software for a refund. IANAL, but Legally, that's fucked up.
IANAL but that sort of "we can change this contract however and whenever we want without notifying you" clause would (should) never hold water in court.