Utopian fantasies about supercomputers, AI, gene mapping and nano-technologies abound, but few have yet delivered to make the world different or better.
I agree with the assessment, but the problem isn't with the corporations. Many of us are into technology for technology's sake. Look at what gets posted on slashdot. We admire the environmental acheivements of an electric car on the same level as the technical acheivements (or at least coolness) of battlebots battlebots or whatever cool toys happen to be en vogue.
I suggest reevaluating the priorities, in that some advancements are better than others. A new chip might be cool and might have the potential to do good, but it is inferior to the technology that actually does good.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Someone who's already used to the Dummies series, is comfortable with the idea of installing Linux forherself, and wants a hand to hold through the process would enjoy these books...
I'm not sure if this was intentional, but I'm not sure I like the implications. The best spin I'm going to put on this is that women might ask for directions (thus the "hand to hold") and men would just spend hours of guesswork.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
But who's going to by it? I'm guessing MS is not going the free software route and most (if not all) Linux users are too used to getting free stuff that they're probably not going to shell out the $$$ for a program they could get for free. You could argue MSOffice for Linux would attract more users, but who are we kidding? It's still to complicated for non-techies to use.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
You don't necessarilly need to be willing to go to court over it, you just have to be careful to avoid copyright infringement, defamation, or anything else that's illegal. That's the point of the article - how not to get sued for a parody or "sucks" site.
Unfortunately I can see an upset company sending its legal goons to intimidate a legitimate parody. The website owner, despite being correct, would have to back down simply becasue he can't afford to fight it in court. The EFF can only do so much.
So I suppose it also depends on the nature of the company which is being parodied and how popular/damaging the parody is. A really evil company - or a company which has been severly damaged by a parody might take the chance and try to shut down anything critical. I'm willing to wager that Slashdot took no legal action against the Hot Grits site.
On a related note, there were some recent cases of "tribute" sites which were shut down. Notable the Iron Chef and assorted Mac sites. I find it interesting that "fair use" of copyrighted materials includes criticism but not praise.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
A competing body, eResolution, found for the plaintiffs only 47 percent of the time.
The answer is don't accept WIPO as a binding arbitration - use eResolution. I don't think you have to use a specific body, but if someone takes you to arbitration, don't both sides get to pick the arbiter?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Intel's Desktop 2001 Roadmap Update indicates direct Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) will only be used in the high-end desk-top market
So it's not like Intel is giving up on RDRAM altogether - just on the lower-end machines. If they were switching because one is better, then they would just drop RDRAM totally.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Let me get this straight. The kid made a program for himself to see legally purchased DVDs, but since the program could be used for illegal piracy he was sued. By this logic, software makers could sue Gates for including the "copy" command as it could be used for piracy. Anyone remember copy *.* a: b:?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Once you start banning "inappropriate" web sites in libraries, you're not too far off from banning "inappropriate" books in a public library. Since the definitions of what is or isn't inappropriate gets so subjective, you're going to have every little PC group advocating the removal of "offensive" books with "offensive" being defined according to their standards.
I would sooner limit web sites to limited "reasearch only" e.g. news services (CNN, AP...), encyclopedias, etc...than having full access and being dependent on a filter program, most of which as we have seen are awful. Have policies that these computers are only to check certain sites and nothing else. Not only does this take care of the "offensive" part, it also ensures the computers aren't being used inappropriatly (like someone checking hotmail when someone else has to look up something).
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
It would be tragic to create a more restrictive environment around the Net before we even try and figure out how artists can get the protection and compensation they deserve.
Unfortunately, all we get from Katz is a list of "maybes" with little analysis. It's always easier to say "X is bad" but it's considerably harder to offer legitimate realisic viable solutions.
Instead of constantly slamming the music industry, can we get a full analysis of how things should work taking in to consideration all parties involved?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
What I meant was something like Gnutella is harder to shut down than Napster as it's open source and no central file server.
I agree with you that having compatible software is a better idea, but I'm not sure it will ever happen. I haven't seen the code, but it could be some of the programs are useing protocols which are mutually exclusive. Also you'd have to get the coders together and they can have surprisingly large egos.
But again, if they could all be compatable, that would be phenomenal and even better than Napster.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
With all these Napster alternatives, isn't the collection pool being diluted? One of the reasons Napster was so successful was its large community and hence its large selection. The above links as well as Gnutella and the slew of other file sharing programs means that it will be just as hard to find what you are looking for as it was in the good 'ol days of web pages.
Wouldn't it be better to move to a single (or at least as few as possible) communites - possibly something which would have a harder time being shut down? Of course, there would probably be a whole bunch of flaming with respect to chosing those few communities...
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
One of the reasons Napster was so successful was that there was a large user base, hence a larger selection of files. By having so many alternatives to Napster, aren't you diluting the music pool? I'm not saying this is your fault, but I think fewer (hence larger) communites should be engouraged to have a larger collection of resources. I'm not going to have 5-6 different clients open, and I'm sure others won't as well.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Possibly. You could bring one suit and name numerous defendants. With enough evidence you might be able to nail someone. You may be right that the cost of even that one trial would scare away the MPAA, espescially with each defendant having their own legal team.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
I guess the various Gun manufactures must be in a lot of trouble then.
Actually they are. The difference is that the primary use of cars is to drive (legally of course). The vast majority of people using cars do not do so illegally (unless you count speeding). The primary purpose of piracy software however is to pirate which is illegal. IANAL but I think it has to deal with primary intention and/or likelyhood of a committing a crime.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
This is only good news until people start pirating DVD's. Observe:
He noted that free speech rights allow the publishing of a formula for LSD even though it is illegal to possess LSD -- and the publishing of a schematic for a timing device for a bomb.
But the poster of such information could be held liable as aiding and abetting to a crime. If DVD's start being pirated, couldn't MPAA start suing all the distributors of DeCSS? (Even if thay can't prove a specific site led to it - sue them all and hope one sticks)
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
40 or so years down the track, no-one consides the draft dodgers to have committed a 'crime'
What people consider to be or crime is irrelevant. If people don't consider it a crime to pirate software or go on murderous rampages, that doesn't make it any less of a crime. Dodging the draft was a crime. People who fled to Canada broke the law. The difference is President Ford pardoned all the draft dodgers. This shows 1) why people don't consider it a crime anymore and 2) that it was a crime, as Ford had to issue a pardon.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
There is a big difference between what is seen as "aggressive tactics" in business and playing God. You can't compare anti-cometitive tactics to genetically engeneering an army of mutants. Just because Gates has a counterpart from a business perspective in the Genomics field, doesn't mean we are in for Gattica.
Oh, and if the Government thought something was going on, don't you think they'd step in like they did with MS? People are going to be very careful with things like morality.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
The disappointing thing is that two months from now he's going to announce that the experiment has failed and then either drop the novel, or keep writing it out of the kindness of his heart. Either way, the press is going to report that this new distribution method is a crock. Which is a shame because it only needs to be done right.
Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but he could still publish an actual "book." I for one could care less about the net as a distribution method for books. I like reading from actual pages and not spending even more time staring at a computer screen.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Slashdot Mirror
Remember this article that the companies would have to tell employees of their policies beforehand
Utopian fantasies about supercomputers, AI, gene mapping and nano-technologies abound, but few have yet delivered to make the world different or better.
I agree with the assessment, but the problem isn't with the corporations. Many of us are into technology for technology's sake. Look at what gets posted on slashdot. We admire the environmental acheivements of an electric car on the same level as the technical acheivements (or at least coolness) of battlebots battlebots or whatever cool toys happen to be en vogue.
I suggest reevaluating the priorities, in that some advancements are better than others. A new chip might be cool and might have the potential to do good, but it is inferior to the technology that actually does good.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
that of course proves what all these lawsuits are about *cough*.
So copyright infringement/piracy is ok, provided they make up the difference finacially?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
This was also covered at News.com
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Someone who's already used to the Dummies series, is comfortable with the idea of installing Linux for herself, and wants a hand to hold through the process would enjoy these books...
I'm not sure if this was intentional, but I'm not sure I like the implications. The best spin I'm going to put on this is that women might ask for directions (thus the "hand to hold") and men would just spend hours of guesswork.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Remember John Hancock? This filtering would also ban the Declaration Of Independence!
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
But who's going to by it? I'm guessing MS is not going the free software route and most (if not all) Linux users are too used to getting free stuff that they're probably not going to shell out the $$$ for a program they could get for free. You could argue MSOffice for Linux would attract more users, but who are we kidding? It's still to complicated for non-techies to use.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Still, he says nothing substantiative about why he believes in Napster's case
He doesn't need to explain his opinions or even believe in Napster. He's just a lawer who is probably getting paid really well.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
You don't necessarilly need to be willing to go to court over it, you just have to be careful to avoid copyright infringement, defamation, or anything else that's illegal. That's the point of the article - how not to get sued for a parody or "sucks" site.
Unfortunately I can see an upset company sending its legal goons to intimidate a legitimate parody. The website owner, despite being correct, would have to back down simply becasue he can't afford to fight it in court. The EFF can only do so much.
So I suppose it also depends on the nature of the company which is being parodied and how popular/damaging the parody is. A really evil company - or a company which has been severly damaged by a parody might take the chance and try to shut down anything critical. I'm willing to wager that Slashdot took no legal action against the Hot Grits site.
On a related note, there were some recent cases of "tribute" sites which were shut down. Notable the Iron Chef and assorted Mac sites. I find it interesting that "fair use" of copyrighted materials includes criticism but not praise.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
A competing body, eResolution, found for the plaintiffs only 47 percent of the time.
The answer is don't accept WIPO as a binding arbitration - use eResolution. I don't think you have to use a specific body, but if someone takes you to arbitration, don't both sides get to pick the arbiter?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Intel's Desktop 2001 Roadmap Update indicates direct Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) will only be used in the high-end desk-top market
So it's not like Intel is giving up on RDRAM altogether - just on the lower-end machines. If they were switching because one is better, then they would just drop RDRAM totally.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Let me get this straight. The kid made a program for himself to see legally purchased DVDs, but since the program could be used for illegal piracy he was sued. By this logic, software makers could sue Gates for including the "copy" command as it could be used for piracy. Anyone remember copy *.* a: b:?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Once you start banning "inappropriate" web sites in libraries, you're not too far off from banning "inappropriate" books in a public library. Since the definitions of what is or isn't inappropriate gets so subjective, you're going to have every little PC group advocating the removal of "offensive" books with "offensive" being defined according to their standards.
I would sooner limit web sites to limited "reasearch only" e.g. news services (CNN, AP...), encyclopedias, etc...than having full access and being dependent on a filter program, most of which as we have seen are awful. Have policies that these computers are only to check certain sites and nothing else. Not only does this take care of the "offensive" part, it also ensures the computers aren't being used inappropriatly (like someone checking hotmail when someone else has to look up something).
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
It would be tragic to create a more restrictive environment around the Net before we even try and figure out how artists can get the protection and compensation they deserve.
Unfortunately, all we get from Katz is a list of "maybes" with little analysis. It's always easier to say "X is bad" but it's considerably harder to offer legitimate realisic viable solutions.
Instead of constantly slamming the music industry, can we get a full analysis of how things should work taking in to consideration all parties involved?
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
What I meant was something like Gnutella is harder to shut down than Napster as it's open source and no central file server.
I agree with you that having compatible software is a better idea, but I'm not sure it will ever happen. I haven't seen the code, but it could be some of the programs are useing protocols which are mutually exclusive. Also you'd have to get the coders together and they can have surprisingly large egos.
But again, if they could all be compatable, that would be phenomenal and even better than Napster.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
With all these Napster alternatives, isn't the collection pool being diluted? One of the reasons Napster was so successful was its large community and hence its large selection. The above links as well as Gnutella and the slew of other file sharing programs means that it will be just as hard to find what you are looking for as it was in the good 'ol days of web pages.
Wouldn't it be better to move to a single (or at least as few as possible) communites - possibly something which would have a harder time being shut down? Of course, there would probably be a whole bunch of flaming with respect to chosing those few communities...
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
One of the reasons Napster was so successful was that there was a large user base, hence a larger selection of files. By having so many alternatives to Napster, aren't you diluting the music pool? I'm not saying this is your fault, but I think fewer (hence larger) communites should be engouraged to have a larger collection of resources. I'm not going to have 5-6 different clients open, and I'm sure others won't as well.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
ZDNet covereage is here
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
Possibly. You could bring one suit and name numerous defendants. With enough evidence you might be able to nail someone. You may be right that the cost of even that one trial would scare away the MPAA, espescially with each defendant having their own legal team.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
I guess the various Gun manufactures must be in a lot of trouble then.
Actually they are. The difference is that the primary use of cars is to drive (legally of course). The vast majority of people using cars do not do so illegally (unless you count speeding). The primary purpose of piracy software however is to pirate which is illegal. IANAL but I think it has to deal with primary intention and/or likelyhood of a committing a crime.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
This is only good news until people start pirating DVD's. Observe:
He noted that free speech rights allow the publishing of a formula for LSD even though it is illegal to possess LSD -- and the publishing of a schematic for a timing device for a bomb.
But the poster of such information could be held liable as aiding and abetting to a crime. If DVD's start being pirated, couldn't MPAA start suing all the distributors of DeCSS? (Even if thay can't prove a specific site led to it - sue them all and hope one sticks)
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
40 or so years down the track, no-one consides the draft dodgers to have committed a 'crime'
What people consider to be or crime is irrelevant. If people don't consider it a crime to pirate software or go on murderous rampages, that doesn't make it any less of a crime. Dodging the draft was a crime. People who fled to Canada broke the law. The difference is President Ford pardoned all the draft dodgers. This shows 1) why people don't consider it a crime anymore and 2) that it was a crime, as Ford had to issue a pardon.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
There is a big difference between what is seen as "aggressive tactics" in business and playing God. You can't compare anti-cometitive tactics to genetically engeneering an army of mutants. Just because Gates has a counterpart from a business perspective in the Genomics field, doesn't mean we are in for Gattica.
Oh, and if the Government thought something was going on, don't you think they'd step in like they did with MS? People are going to be very careful with things like morality.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
I'd buy that for a dollar
:-)
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
The disappointing thing is that two months from now he's going to announce that the experiment has failed and then either drop the novel, or keep writing it out of the kindness of his heart. Either way, the press is going to report that this new distribution method is a crock. Which is a shame because it only needs to be done right.
Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but he could still publish an actual "book." I for one could care less about the net as a distribution method for books. I like reading from actual pages and not spending even more time staring at a computer screen.
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another