Indeed that is one the problems with Digital Rights Restriction, and the DCMA. The DCMA allows companies to Rights Restrict copyrighted works in perpetuity, granting them an illegal end run around the constitutional limits of copyright terms.
It does, and I'd be concerned about this except for two things:
1. You aren't going to be using your MP3s or DVDs in 75 years. Period. I probably won't be alive then, but if I am, I won't be using them. It's just not relevant.
2. Copyright terms are now "perpetuity. Do you think Disney isn't going keep buying extensions every few years? This is what Lessig argued before the Supreme Court and he was absolutely right.
Knowing the DRM is a fundamentally flawed technology, and knowing that Hollywood keeps the entire Democratic party and about half the Repulican party in their pocket, Bob calls up his employee Fritz in the Senate and says "introduce this much needed copyright legislation that we wrote and make sure it's passed. It's very important, but since you're too dumb to understand it we'll provide you with everything you'll need to say, also." The law that Bob wrote makes it illegal for Alice to break the encryption, talk about breaking the encryption, or writing a program to break the encryption on anything that she owns which is copyrighted by someone else. Oh, and, it's a cause for criminal action, so Alice can be thrown in jail for even trying. That way, even though DRM is flawed, Bob can threaten Alice with jail if she tries to gain "unauthorized" access to whatever Bob sends her. What Bob couldn't do technically, he tried to do legally. The End?
but should you be able to own game concept and rules?
Yes, you should. I'm sorry- I (and most people) think that people should be able to make money from creative works. Sorry if you don't agree, comrade, but that's the way it is...
Part of convincing your users to download that platform is being able to let them feel like there's no ill effects. This is why web plugins have essentially disappeared, people are afraid or too lazy to install all that shit.
The Flash "market penetration" is over 95%- better than IE. This isn't an issue.
The American people chose for things like this to happen to them
This statement is backed by the incredibly naive assumption that John Kerry would have done things differently. Perhaps you folks have forgotten about the Clinton era...
1. Java penetration is nowhere near that of Flash. If you really want to go proprietary, use Flash. Not only does it also allow XML requests to the server, it also has a very nice application creator.
2. The differences between platforms is way overstated. My apps run in Firefox, Mozilla, and IE for Windows, as well as newer versions of Safari.
Javascript is included in all browsers. Every platform that matters has an interpreter already. It's a great choice.
So, this guy (not a kid, he's 23) makes Apple's OS available on bitorrent and now they're suing him? Okay, that's what happens. I read about how this is going to ruin his life. I guess I'm confused, but his life will go on, he'll just owe some money.
Ah, but he won't be able to finish med school. Is that what we're so worried about? I'm not sure that I want someone with such poor judgement being a doctor.
Call me a jerk, mod me down, whatever. The guy did something really stupid, something really illegal, and now he's being asked to pay.
By the way, Woz. If you want to help the guy, $1000 isn't going to do much.
One other thing while I'm burning karma. To the guy who wrote that he wonders if the company is being run by Jobs or greedy lawyers: you might want to consider the oh-so-tiny possibility that this is the result of Jobs running the company. I don't blame him, I'd do the same thing.
I just don't find this surprising, except for the people rushing to his defense.
It seems to me that their business model (sell a mediocre version of Unix on highly specialized machines to retailers) wasn't working well...
It's worse than you think. The business model that you describe above is for Sun, HP, DEC (yeah, I know, owned by HP), SGI, IBM, et al. SCO's business model was selling a mediocre version of Unix that ran on standard PC hardware- which they didn't sell. In a modern view, it's essentially like a bad version of Linux.
That's why they're hurting more than the others. Their biggest competition is free, Free, and way better...
Last I looked, Windows IIS ran fewer than 1/3 as many sites as Apache, but had 3 times as many defacements. In perspective, you're 9 times as likely to be hacked if running Windows.
Obviously my research methodology isn't perfect, but intuitively it's obvious that a Windows-based web server is less secure simply based on real-world observation.
I always find it interesting that the pro-Microsoft crowd is forced to talk about "theoreticals" while deftly ignoring reality.
I know that I buy the cheapest, crappiest gas I can find for the mower, whilst the aging car gets mid-grade in hopes that it will keep the engine from completely crapping out anytime soon...
High octane gas isn't "better" any more than size 13 shoes are "better" than size 10 shoes. Think about it.
Higher octane gas (note that I refuse to use terms such as "grade" or "premium", as an octane rating has nothing to do with that) is needed by some engines. Unless your car engine specifically calls for it, it won't help. Actually, you will know easily if you need to use higher-octane gas as your engine will "ping", particularly under load. Don't ask what pinging is, if your engine does it you'll hear a distinct sound and feel a loss of power; you'll know exactly what it is if you are experiencing it.
Now, as for your lawn mower, if it's like all the ones that I've owned, it needs high-octane gas. Check out the owner's manual and feed it what it needs. Maybe your yard is huge, but for me the difference amounts to maybe 50 cents over the course of the summer. But since it makes my mower run correctly, I may not be spending any extra money at all.
I went running to dictionary.com, also, and if you read the third entry:
n : extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information v 1: exert pressure on someone through threats [syn: blackjack, pressure] 2: obtain through threats
Then blackmail works. It's not the common usage in the US, though, where we use the first definition. "Extortion" is a better term.
I was in Beijing last summer, and the one thing that struck me was how our American media promotes an image of an evil tyranny in China.
Yeah, at least if you consider Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to be "American media".
Some Christian pastors affiliated with my church are currently being tortured over there for talking about Christianity. Maybe that's not evil to you, or a necessary freedom, but most of us think it's a basic right.
I've been playing AA:SF on Linux for a couple of weeks and it is rock solid. I was amazed to find that there was a Linux version, and there is one single guy in the credits who is credited with both the Linux and Mac OSX ports. The only problem is that I couldn't signup on their web site with Firefox, had to use IE.
Anyway, good FPS, absolutely free, and downloadable via a torrent (check out the 3dgamers link for download).
Microsoft announced that they will integrate the electronic identification into the Windows Software so they can deliver more security and privacy on the internet.
If their goal is to delivery more security and privacy to the internet, they need to remove the tcp/ip functionality of their operating systems.
is to buy some legislation to outlaw these communistic "free" services so that the for-pay providers can make money, pay taxes, and help the economy (did I miss anything?). Let's get Dan Lyons to write a brilliant article about how the free hot-spots aren't as good as the for-pay ones...
Right, we can cope because our economic and political system allow for that. Let me put it another way.
Someone else mentioned on this page that the Amish run a communist community. That's not really right, they're very capitalistic in many ways, probably most ways, but they do a lot of "sharing" and such. A barn-raising is a good example where everybody pitches in to help someone, knowing that person will do the same for them. It's similar to what we do in the FOSS world.
If I'm in Pol Pot's utopia, on the other hand, and I want to simply open a store to sell something, or perhaps create a business where I see a need, that's not an option. In the most extreme examples, it'll lead to my death. If I want, I can become a party member and rise high enough to do it there, but, well, do I need to point out the absurdity of it all. Even that doesn't guarantee immunity.
The point is that people here can do what they want within the bounds of the law. But if a group of people want to form a commune, that's fine, and it's been done before. New Harmony, Indiana is a good example of a commune that did well.
Most of us aspire to be more than that, and we don't care to be members of The Party in order to get there.
I'll echo what others have said on this page. Modern communists keep whining about "it's never been done right" and "if only everybody would see". Newsflash, folks, there is no right way to do communism on a large scale. If you're forcing people in to your system, it won't work.
It can work in a place like New Harmony where people volunteered. But to create a communist state means putting walls around it and killing those who don't want to be a part. Sorry.
This is true, but that economic system cannot exist in a vacuum. The problem with communism is that maybe not everybody wants to be a communist. What do you do with those that don't? Well, the answer so far has been make your government totalitarian and kill them. Pol Pot, Lenin, Stalin, etc. all did this.
There's a reason that democracy and capitalism tend to go together, in the same way that communism (stalinism) and totalinarianism tend to go together.
Well, the best solution, as others have said, can be summed up as "why in the hell did you buy your own router?"
Other than that, you can do what I did. Now, I live in a house, but there are three access points visible here. One of them was on my channel (9- only one that works well in my house) so I did the obvious. I changed his channel. He gave up after the second time and 9 is all mine.
Slashdot Mirror
It does, and I'd be concerned about this except for two things:
1. You aren't going to be using your MP3s or DVDs in 75 years. Period. I probably won't be alive then, but if I am, I won't be using them. It's just not relevant.
2. Copyright terms are now "perpetuity. Do you think Disney isn't going keep buying extensions every few years? This is what Lessig argued before the Supreme Court and he was absolutely right.
It is a fundamentally flawed concept
You didn't finish your analogy, but I'll help.
but should you be able to own game concept and rules?
Yes, you should. I'm sorry- I (and most people) think that people should be able to make money from creative works. Sorry if you don't agree, comrade, but that's the way it is...
Wal-Mart employees are allowed to go in the doors marked "employees only".
Part of convincing your users to download that platform is being able to let them feel like there's no ill effects. This is why web plugins have essentially disappeared, people are afraid or too lazy to install all that shit.
The Flash "market penetration" is over 95%- better than IE. This isn't an issue.
Hell, I got three emails from them just yesterday about it!
The American people chose for things like this to happen to them
This statement is backed by the incredibly naive assumption that John Kerry would have done things differently. Perhaps you folks have forgotten about the Clinton era...
1. Java penetration is nowhere near that of Flash. If you really want to go proprietary, use Flash. Not only does it also allow XML requests to the server, it also has a very nice application creator.
2. The differences between platforms is way overstated. My apps run in Firefox, Mozilla, and IE for Windows, as well as newer versions of Safari.
Javascript is included in all browsers. Every platform that matters has an interpreter already. It's a great choice.
So, this guy (not a kid, he's 23) makes Apple's OS available on bitorrent and now they're suing him? Okay, that's what happens. I read about how this is going to ruin his life. I guess I'm confused, but his life will go on, he'll just owe some money.
Ah, but he won't be able to finish med school. Is that what we're so worried about? I'm not sure that I want someone with such poor judgement being a doctor.
Call me a jerk, mod me down, whatever. The guy did something really stupid, something really illegal, and now he's being asked to pay.
By the way, Woz. If you want to help the guy, $1000 isn't going to do much.
One other thing while I'm burning karma. To the guy who wrote that he wonders if the company is being run by Jobs or greedy lawyers: you might want to consider the oh-so-tiny possibility that this is the result of Jobs running the company. I don't blame him, I'd do the same thing.
I just don't find this surprising, except for the people rushing to his defense.
It seems to me that their business model (sell a mediocre version of Unix on highly specialized machines to retailers) wasn't working well...
It's worse than you think. The business model that you describe above is for Sun, HP, DEC (yeah, I know, owned by HP), SGI, IBM, et al. SCO's business model was selling a mediocre version of Unix that ran on standard PC hardware- which they didn't sell. In a modern view, it's essentially like a bad version of Linux.
That's why they're hurting more than the others. Their biggest competition is free, Free, and way better...
Last I looked, Windows IIS ran fewer than 1/3 as many sites as Apache, but had 3 times as many defacements. In perspective, you're 9 times as likely to be hacked if running Windows.
Obviously my research methodology isn't perfect, but intuitively it's obvious that a Windows-based web server is less secure simply based on real-world observation.
I always find it interesting that the pro-Microsoft crowd is forced to talk about "theoreticals" while deftly ignoring reality.
China has created brand-new form of capitalism: Bill Gates
It would seem that "communist" isn't as much of an insult coming from Bill these days....
I know that I buy the cheapest, crappiest gas I can find for the mower, whilst the aging car gets mid-grade in hopes that it will keep the engine from completely crapping out anytime soon ...
High octane gas isn't "better" any more than size 13 shoes are "better" than size 10 shoes. Think about it.
Higher octane gas (note that I refuse to use terms such as "grade" or "premium", as an octane rating has nothing to do with that) is needed by some engines. Unless your car engine specifically calls for it, it won't help. Actually, you will know easily if you need to use higher-octane gas as your engine will "ping", particularly under load. Don't ask what pinging is, if your engine does it you'll hear a distinct sound and feel a loss of power; you'll know exactly what it is if you are experiencing it.
Now, as for your lawn mower, if it's like all the ones that I've owned, it needs high-octane gas. Check out the owner's manual and feed it what it needs. Maybe your yard is huge, but for me the difference amounts to maybe 50 cents over the course of the summer. But since it makes my mower run correctly, I may not be spending any extra money at all.
what? yes, my mower needs 91 octane gas.
I don't know if you're trying to be funny, but chances are that your mower does need high-octane gas while your car doesn't.
I went running to dictionary.com, also, and if you read the third entry:
n : extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information v 1: exert pressure on someone through threats [syn: blackjack, pressure] 2: obtain through threats
Then blackmail works. It's not the common usage in the US, though, where we use the first definition. "Extortion" is a better term.
I was in Beijing last summer, and the one thing that struck me was how our American media promotes an image of an evil tyranny in China.
Yeah, at least if you consider Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to be "American media".
Some Christian pastors affiliated with my church are currently being tortured over there for talking about Christianity. Maybe that's not evil to you, or a necessary freedom, but most of us think it's a basic right.
No, they're a totalitarian capitalist country now.
According to Bill, it's a new form of capitalism.
China has created brand-new form of capitalism: Bill Gates
Microsoft has enough cash to pay 50,000 employees $100,000/year for the next 10 years even if they don't bring in another dime in revenue.
Do the math...
I've been playing AA:SF on Linux for a couple of weeks and it is rock solid. I was amazed to find that there was a Linux version, and there is one single guy in the credits who is credited with both the Linux and Mac OSX ports. The only problem is that I couldn't signup on their web site with Firefox, had to use IE.
Anyway, good FPS, absolutely free, and downloadable via a torrent (check out the 3dgamers link for download).
Microsoft announced that they will integrate the electronic identification into the Windows Software so they can deliver more security and privacy on the internet.
If their goal is to delivery more security and privacy to the internet, they need to remove the tcp/ip functionality of their operating systems.
is to buy some legislation to outlaw these communistic "free" services so that the for-pay providers can make money, pay taxes, and help the economy (did I miss anything?). Let's get Dan Lyons to write a brilliant article about how the free hot-spots aren't as good as the for-pay ones...
Right, we can cope because our economic and political system allow for that. Let me put it another way.
Someone else mentioned on this page that the Amish run a communist community. That's not really right, they're very capitalistic in many ways, probably most ways, but they do a lot of "sharing" and such. A barn-raising is a good example where everybody pitches in to help someone, knowing that person will do the same for them. It's similar to what we do in the FOSS world.
If I'm in Pol Pot's utopia, on the other hand, and I want to simply open a store to sell something, or perhaps create a business where I see a need, that's not an option. In the most extreme examples, it'll lead to my death. If I want, I can become a party member and rise high enough to do it there, but, well, do I need to point out the absurdity of it all. Even that doesn't guarantee immunity.
The point is that people here can do what they want within the bounds of the law. But if a group of people want to form a commune, that's fine, and it's been done before. New Harmony, Indiana is a good example of a commune that did well.
Most of us aspire to be more than that, and we don't care to be members of The Party in order to get there.
I'll echo what others have said on this page. Modern communists keep whining about "it's never been done right" and "if only everybody would see". Newsflash, folks, there is no right way to do communism on a large scale. If you're forcing people in to your system, it won't work.
It can work in a place like New Harmony where people volunteered. But to create a communist state means putting walls around it and killing those who don't want to be a part. Sorry.
I'm not the best person to argue this, but....
communism is an economic system, not political
This is true, but that economic system cannot exist in a vacuum. The problem with communism is that maybe not everybody wants to be a communist. What do you do with those that don't? Well, the answer so far has been make your government totalitarian and kill them. Pol Pot, Lenin, Stalin, etc. all did this.
There's a reason that democracy and capitalism tend to go together, in the same way that communism (stalinism) and totalinarianism tend to go together.
that they can't make it worse than the original.
Well, the best solution, as others have said, can be summed up as "why in the hell did you buy your own router?"
Other than that, you can do what I did. Now, I live in a house, but there are three access points visible here. One of them was on my channel (9- only one that works well in my house) so I did the obvious. I changed his channel. He gave up after the second time and 9 is all mine.