The traffic here is utterly terrible, and yet EVERYONE is on a cell phone, and EVERYONE cannot drive.
I had to contain myself as I saw a woman careen over to reach a supermarket parking lot I was going into, I parked, and saw her pass me. She was on a cell phone.
Can we all just drive please? Do we have to try and make it more difficult?
But the "arbitrary machine" can react a lot faster than you.
Most accidents, or potential accidents that occur, at least with me, are because of poor driving on others parts.
I would much rather have tougher traffic laws (not for speeding, but for reckless driving, i.e. crossing 3 lanes of traffic in rush hour to try and circumvent the general speed everyone is going.)
I think that if you drive exceedingly recklessly, your license should be taken away. I am a very fast driver, I follow all of the laws aside from speeding, I let everyone into lanes, I judge my movements on the movements of others.
I also live in Arizona, which has some of the worst drivers in the world. I would much rather have everyone drive just a little bit safer than have a vehicle which will force me to stop in time, just so that someone behind me can rear end me with even less time to react.
Maybe not in The Sims, but a game like Freedom Force is another matter - it's a superhero game. Marvel licenses their properties out to other people to make superhero games, like the two Spiderman comic book games, the Spider-Man movie game, the upcoming Spider-Man 2 movie game, and of course the multiplatform beast which is The Hulk.
Was unaware of that, I concede my point. (I still find their demands incredible.)
Plus Marvel may have to work harder since these properties are so old - it might be easier to argue in a court that Spiderman is in the public domain since it's been around so long, something not true of Buffy.
Another true case. I was looking very narrowly at the situation. Thank you for sheding light on it.
but I was assuming they just put, "Download this skin". How would you get the names?
You couldn't. The site operator could produce his access logs, assuming he keeps any, and they would show IP addresses. You could then try to track them back, but as many of not most of them are dynamic addresses, it would take massive cooperation from dozens of ISP's which is unlikely to happen. The even better solution would be to simply destroy his weblogs and then there is no problem.
And that's my point. If you read the cease and desist letter it says one of the conditions for them not to sue, is he gives the names of each individual who downloaded it.
Yeah, several of the legal threats I've received in the past have signed off with "Very truly yours." I like to write back with "Extremely truly yours.";)
They certainly don't have to comply with Marvel's demands, and Marvel probably won't do anything if they do. But they've already almost certainly violated copyright/trademark law, so even if they pull the stuff now Marvel can still sue them. That's the leverage that Marvel is threatening to use unless they get those names.
My question was more, How would they be able to get the names of people who downloaded the skins if they just placed them in an easy to access place. I'm not entirely sure that happened, but I was assuming they just put, "Download this skin". How would you get the names?
Unfortunately, it's not just their right, it's required of them if they wish to hold the trademarks. I don't believe the other portions they mentioned require them to stop people from doing so, but with trademarks you will lose them if you allow people to continue to use them. Once they lose the trademarks, they stand to lose a great deal of potential earnings, because there'd be no stopping everyone from making SpiderMan, X-Men, The Hulk, etc movies without paying Marvel for the use of those names and characters.
How much effort is needed to hold a trademark? There are skins for every other trademarked television show, comic, movie created. Does that mean that at some point (who judges how long) I can create a Buffy the Vampire slayer movie because they have not told "skinzforus.com" to cease releasing skins.
I'm not trying to be combative. It's just that this has been happening for awhile, and I honestly don't beileve that I could wait 3 years (if this continued), released a Spiderman movie, and used some Sims skins as justification for it.
Actually, I think my comment above isn't quite on target. I didn't realize that Marvel wasn't actually the game maker, but rather was a third party whose characters were being used by skinners to create cool characters for various games made by other companies. So Marvel doesn't really have a financial upside to this practice (at least in a short-sighted view).
Still too bad.
That's the bad thing about it. Marvel is losing no money from this. No one is going to avoid the Spiderman movie because they have a spiderman skin in The Sims.
It is there right, granted. I an not saying they do not have the right to do this. I just wish they wouldn't.
It doesn't matter to Marvel if they advertise, if they don't protect the IP at least in name only, they can't complain if someone sells a 'Marvel Super Heroes Skins CD' along side their latest video game.
(This is using a huge if) So if SCO has IP that was in Linux for many years, and never once said a word about it, they couldn't sue because they didn't protect their ip, and even went so far as to sell the very products with their ip that was used without their permission.
It's all a matter of time before before the jocks get it. But will Microsoft ever get it? I don't know.
Good way to bring it all back on topic:)
I noticed the same thing. Grade 7-8 was the worst, regardless of the HighSchool Football hero stereotype. By HighSchool, there were enough people that it didn't matter if they thought they were cool. We had e-zines, and computer labs.
And they'd have to ask us how to minimize the screen.
Maybe it's just that I know that I won't be screwing hot chicks any time soon, and so I've relinquished the belief that it's what I want.
I do the same thing.:)
I'm sorry to hear about the drinking thing, and how it alienates you from your friends. Maybe it's a small consolation, but I think you've definitely made the right choice.
It's the right choice for me. It's not about consolation, but thank you. It's a choice I made, and I don't have any problem with it.
Congrats on the job - I bet you're the envy of many in your social circle.
No, They envy the money, but not the fact I have to be in to work at 5am.
Not to boast, but since I just did something very stupid (locked my keys in my car while it was running.. someone almost hit my car, and I got pissed.)
I drive a camelon honda del sol. Colours are mostly purple and green, but it fades through about 5. They don't care where I work, they just want to drive in my car.
And as far as "screwing hot chicks" is concerned...that's not what makes you happy.
I beg to differ.
I was really kidding, I have noticed everything you have said, and concur. Aside from the fact that I don't drink, and thus have alienated a huge part of the culture at my age (22), I have a much more respectable job than the majority of my friends. All is well.
And I may be a geek, but screwing hot chicks definately makes me happy.
What you and other seem to forget that while Microsoft may be able to sue for $500 (or $1000) per, it's not like the Spammers are going to have that type of money. In other words, If they only have $20,000 Microsoft can sue them for $100 million, but they're not going to get more than $20,000.
You make a fair point, but the good press will be worth it's weight in gold, which I'm sure is what Microsoft is thinking.
Everyone told me that if I worked hard in school, and embraced my geekdom, the high school jocks would be working at Jack in the Box, while I was screwing the hottest chicks with the most money.
Slashdot Mirror
You are slowly devolving into someone that not only has no book sense, but cannot spell anything without help.
:)
And that's why I post on slashdot. If I tried to communicate with everyone around me at work, I would actually feel bad if I made an ass of myself.
you dont have enough coffee to think this morning...
I blame all of my poorly thought out slashdot posts on that, and I've already had 5 cups.
That is exactly what I am saying!
The traffic here is utterly terrible, and yet EVERYONE is on a cell phone, and EVERYONE cannot drive.
I had to contain myself as I saw a woman careen over to reach a supermarket parking lot I was going into, I parked, and saw her pass me. She was on a cell phone.
Can we all just drive please? Do we have to try and make it more difficult?
But the "arbitrary machine" can react a lot faster than you.
Most accidents, or potential accidents that occur, at least with me, are because of poor driving on others parts.
I would much rather have tougher traffic laws (not for speeding, but for reckless driving, i.e. crossing 3 lanes of traffic in rush hour to try and circumvent the general speed everyone is going.)
I think that if you drive exceedingly recklessly, your license should be taken away. I am a very fast driver, I follow all of the laws aside from speeding, I let everyone into lanes, I judge my movements on the movements of others.
I also live in Arizona, which has some of the worst drivers in the world. I would much rather have everyone drive just a little bit safer than have a vehicle which will force me to stop in time, just so that someone behind me can rear end me with even less time to react.
Unfortunately, Japanese regulations don't allow for the system to fully stop the vehicle
Because what I want is to have less and less operation value, and rely more on technology!
We are slowly devolving into a society that not only has no common sense, but cannot operate anything without help.
No thank you auto stop. I have breaks. I know how to downshift. I'm fine.
I feel much safer knowing the control is in my hands, than an arbitrary machine anyway.
Is it just me?
Maybe not in The Sims, but a game like Freedom Force is another matter - it's a superhero game. Marvel licenses their properties out to other people to make superhero games, like the two Spiderman comic book games, the Spider-Man movie game, the upcoming Spider-Man 2 movie game, and of course the multiplatform beast which is The Hulk.
Was unaware of that, I concede my point. (I still find their demands incredible.)
Plus Marvel may have to work harder since these properties are so old - it might be easier to argue in a court that Spiderman is in the public domain since it's been around so long, something not true of Buffy.
Another true case. I was looking very narrowly at the situation. Thank you for sheding light on it.
but I was assuming they just put, "Download this skin". How would you get the names?
You couldn't. The site operator could produce his access logs, assuming he keeps any, and they would show IP addresses. You could then try to track them back, but as many of not most of them are dynamic addresses, it would take massive cooperation from dozens of ISP's which is unlikely to happen. The even better solution would be to simply destroy his weblogs and then there is no problem.
And that's my point. If you read the cease and desist letter it says one of the conditions for them not to sue, is he gives the names of each individual who downloaded it.
Can I just copy and paste my comments about this article from yesterday?
Yeah, several of the legal threats I've received in the past have signed off with "Very truly yours." I like to write back with "Extremely truly yours." ;)
They certainly don't have to comply with Marvel's demands, and Marvel probably won't do anything if they do. But they've already almost certainly violated copyright/trademark law, so even if they pull the stuff now Marvel can still sue them. That's the leverage that Marvel is threatening to use unless they get those names.
My question was more, How would they be able to get the names of people who downloaded the skins if they just placed them in an easy to access place. I'm not entirely sure that happened, but I was assuming they just put, "Download this skin". How would you get the names?
Abundantly, and Entirely yours,
-Notque
Actually, apples and oranges here.
One is trademark, the other is copyright/patent.
Trademark you have to protect to retain it and I do not believe it expires.
Copyright/patent are granted and are valid until it expires.
You may be right, now that I think about it, and if so, excuse me.
But Intellectual Property was definately part of SCO's complaint, and Intellectual Property was the basis of this complaint.
I connected the two as the same, but I may be wrong.
Unfortunately, it's not just their right, it's required of them if they wish to hold the trademarks. I don't believe the other portions they mentioned require them to stop people from doing so, but with trademarks you will lose them if you allow people to continue to use them. Once they lose the trademarks, they stand to lose a great deal of potential earnings, because there'd be no stopping everyone from making SpiderMan, X-Men, The Hulk, etc movies without paying Marvel for the use of those names and characters.
How much effort is needed to hold a trademark? There are skins for every other trademarked television show, comic, movie created. Does that mean that at some point (who judges how long) I can create a Buffy the Vampire slayer movie because they have not told "skinzforus.com" to cease releasing skins.
I'm not trying to be combative. It's just that this has been happening for awhile, and I honestly don't beileve that I could wait 3 years (if this continued), released a Spiderman movie, and used some Sims skins as justification for it.
Actually, I think my comment above isn't quite on target. I didn't realize that Marvel wasn't actually the game maker, but rather was a third party whose characters were being used by skinners to create cool characters for various games made by other companies. So Marvel doesn't really have a financial upside to this practice (at least in a short-sighted view).
Still too bad.
That's the bad thing about it. Marvel is losing no money from this. No one is going to avoid the Spiderman movie because they have a spiderman skin in The Sims.
It is there right, granted. I an not saying they do not have the right to do this. I just wish they wouldn't.
I think you are going to games.slashdot.org
In the Games section, every article will be about games.
You need to make sure you are going to www.slashdot.org
This article isn't even on the main page (I don't think.)
If every article you are reading is in purple, you are at games. There is a section table to the left hand side as well.
It doesn't matter to Marvel if they advertise, if they don't protect the IP at least in name only, they can't complain if someone sells a 'Marvel Super Heroes Skins CD' along side their latest video game.
(This is using a huge if) So if SCO has IP that was in Linux for many years, and never once said a word about it, they couldn't sue because they didn't protect their ip, and even went so far as to sell the very products with their ip that was used without their permission.
Oh... Okay.
Memories.... nothing like sweet... memories....
I love the end
Very truly yours,
As if truly yours wasn't good enough. Very truly yours, we will sue you.
My question is, it states they HAVE to give the names of all downloaders of Marvel IP.
How exactly is that possible?
And, personally, I don't care that I don't see that money. I'd rather not have porn and viagra ads in my inbox all the time.
I've had my email address for over 5 years. I recieve a spam message every couple weeks.
It's highlighted by the server as potential spam, and I rarely even think about it as I delete.
Obviously my concern for the issue just isn't very high.
It's all a matter of time before before the jocks get it. But will Microsoft ever get it? I don't know.
:)
Good way to bring it all back on topic
I noticed the same thing. Grade 7-8 was the worst, regardless of the HighSchool Football hero stereotype. By HighSchool, there were enough people that it didn't matter if they thought they were cool. We had e-zines, and computer labs.
And they'd have to ask us how to minimize the screen.
Things have definitely turned around since my black trenchcoat wearing days.
Remember when Black Trenchcoat meant computer geek, and not shooter?
Memories...
I should unretire my black trenchcoat for the weekend, as well as the large black boots.
Maybe it's just that I know that I won't be screwing hot chicks any time soon, and so I've relinquished the belief that it's what I want.
:)
I do the same thing.
I'm sorry to hear about the drinking thing, and how it alienates you from your friends. Maybe it's a small consolation, but I think you've definitely made the right choice.
It's the right choice for me. It's not about consolation, but thank you. It's a choice I made, and I don't have any problem with it.
Congrats on the job - I bet you're the envy of many in your social circle.
No, They envy the money, but not the fact I have to be in to work at 5am.
Not to boast, but since I just did something very stupid (locked my keys in my car while it was running.. someone almost hit my car, and I got pissed.)
I drive a camelon honda del sol. Colours are mostly purple and green, but it fades through about 5. They don't care where I work, they just want to drive in my car.
And as far as "screwing hot chicks" is concerned...that's not what makes you happy.
I beg to differ.
I was really kidding, I have noticed everything you have said, and concur. Aside from the fact that I don't drink, and thus have alienated a huge part of the culture at my age (22), I have a much more respectable job than the majority of my friends. All is well.
And I may be a geek, but screwing hot chicks definately makes me happy.
I wish I could disagree with you, but I am starting to feel the same way with all video games.
I want to praise RPGS, and their singular style, but more and more I find myself not finishing games.
What you and other seem to forget that while Microsoft may be able to sue for $500 (or $1000) per, it's not like the Spammers are going to have that type of money. In other words, If they only have $20,000 Microsoft can sue them for $100 million, but they're not going to get more than $20,000.
You make a fair point, but the good press will be worth it's weight in gold, which I'm sure is what Microsoft is thinking.
Everyone told me that if I worked hard in school, and embraced my geekdom, the high school jocks would be working at Jack in the Box, while I was screwing the hottest chicks with the most money.
I'm still waiting.
(great post)
I think I am the only person siding with Spam on this one, but don't worry.
I'm crying too.