They're putting a life sentence on myself, my daughter and Ellie's mum, not to say anything to anyone. If we inadvertently did say anything, no matter what, they would take litigation against us. I thought that was absolutely appalling.
Ok, let's start with the "life sentence" bit. Uh, really? Hyperbole much? Are you joking?
Second, and more importantly, it's pretty standard for a company to require non-disclosure when a settlement agreement is made. In fact, I'd wager that 99% of all settlement agreements made have a non-disclosure clause and the 1% that don't are made by people without a clue. To paint it as if Apple is doing something outrageous or vile in requiring this is akin to painting them as vile and evil for doing business - that's what happens. Deal.
I know people want to hate on Apple lately but let's be serious for a moment - this is such a complete non-issue. Yes, Apple screws up from time to time and I'm fine with people calling them on their mistakes but requiring non-disclosure of a settlement agreement is so far from being an issue worthy of scorn...
I'm fed up. Copyright is evil. I'm a graphic designer who's worked as a writer and an editor so, needless to say, a great deal of my living is made on works protected by copyright but enough is enough. It's a joke. The original intent of copyrights has been so grossly perverted and abused that they're simply evil now. They no longer protect those they were intended to protect and they are abused by those who have absolutely nothing to do with the actual creative works. They're evil.
In regards to your notice that you feel it is fair to arbitrarily remove something I have purchased from my possession (via disabling DRM'd music), I wish to inform you that you will never, ever, ever get another cent from me. I wish you good luck in maintaining your failing empire as it crumbles down around you for I am certain I am far from the only person who is disgusted at your activities and your outright contempt for me as a "customer." Thus I am certain others will also forgo purchasing your latest CD from Pop Star X and chose to instead invest that entertainment dollar in something - anything - that is of value. Your product no longer has value.
The best antipiracy tool is to make something that is good enough that people are willing to spend money on it. Quality. That's your best antipiracy tool.
Up to 800 hours of footage??? Other than an MMO, how many games do people play with up to 800 hours of play? Jesus! We're lucky if a game has 8 hours of game play nowadays. 800?? Are you joking!
I assume they increased their target goal - wasn't it initially a goal of $20k, which they achieved in 3 days? Regardless, good on them. Nice to see them do something worthy for the benefit of others. And, who knows, maybe a healthy dose of slashdot love will result in substantially more than their current target...
I do know what I am talking about, thanks. More than you will ever know. And just because something requires skill does not make it creative. Being a mechanic, especially today with the high tech engines mechanics face every day, requires a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge but there's nothing creative in what a mechanic does. (Yes, someone like Chip Foose is creative but he is not a mechanic.) Sorry. A requirement of skill and a job being hard =/= a creative process.
Even if I wrote out the work of Shakespeare by hand, that doesn't mean I can claim copyright over that copy
To be fair, yes you could - over the actual images of the hand-written pages. The words would not be copyrightable but the images of the handwriting would. That would be your creative work but the words would still be covered under public domain.
I work as a graphic designer so I am fully aware of the hurdles you needed to overcome in copying the art. That said, there is no "artistry" in it. It is a mechanical process. You were not _creative_. Your work was, if anything, mechanical in nature. It should _NOT_ be covered by copyright. And, remember, I am a graphic designer (who has also worked as a writer and editor at various stages of my career) so copyrights are a big part of my livelihood. Mechanical reproduction, while important and valuable, is not creative. Sorry.
I'm (very) rarely a fan of the DMCA but, in my opinion, this is a good example of why it was set up - to stop commercial abuse of IP. These guys were knowingly circumventing copyright protection methods in an effort to make a profit. These exact situations are what needs to be stopped, not the teenager posting a mashup on youtube...
Am I alone in thinking this is exactly what the (pro bono) defense wanted? As I see it, wearing my tinfoil hat, they wanted an insane fine to be imposed so they could defeat it as unconstitutional. They would then establish the "right" fine appropriate with the offense (many opinions on this but most agree it should be in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands - these are songs that sell for 99 cents a piece, after all...). Once that's established, THEN they can fire up their class action suit which is where the real money is to be made. I know I'm being all conspiracy-theory with this but I think most of us agree that the defense didn't exactly do the best job possible and they are very intelligent people so I'm left wondering why - why didn't they do the best job possible? And the only answer I keep coming back to is because there's no money to be made winning _THIS_ case but there's truckloads to be made from winning the class action suit down the road.
EVE continues to be an interesting study in politics and intrigue but I will forever fail to understand its appeal as an MMO. I've tried playing it - it totally does not appeal to me in any way, what-so-ever. It was about as dreadfully boring as a game could possibly be without being nothing at all. In my opinion. But, its political backstabbings and manipulations of its systems sure as hell generate some interesting stories... Intensely interesting and dreadfully boring at the same time.
Ten thousand years is only 400 twenty-five year generations. That's not a lot of time for any significant alteration in how our evolution works...
Not true, at all. I recall reading about a study (in Russia, iirc) where scientists attempted to breed a specific trait into wild foxes. They went through a program of selective breeding and in _seven_ generations, they successfully altered the genetic traits of the animal. Seven. So, 400 generations is _PLENTY_ of time for evolution to alter our species in meaningful ways given that it can be accomplished (admittedly, in a controlled environment) in just 7.
It seems hardware manufacturers have a hard time learning that electronics cause heat and that this heat needs to be led away from the device.
Fixed that for you.
It has nothing to do with Apple - all hardware manufacturers seem to have problems. A quick look at google for "laptop battery catches fire" turns up this story about a Dell battery catching fire, this story about an IBM catching fire, and this story about a Toshiba catching fire. And we know those three stories aren't rare - those were just quick search results to prove a point.
If you're going to pick on a manufacturer for a faulty battery issue, make sure you don't portray it to be something unique to that manufacturer when it's actually something that occurs pretty much across the board.
Translation: We didn't expect this strong an outpouring of opposition and we know we already only have a minority government so we're just going to lay low a bit and not piss people off. Sound good?
And, yes - it does sound good. Stop messing things up! Stop selling our country out! More importantly, stop selling our country out to foreign media corporations!
...they are fast becoming the intermediary between creators and audiences (and vice-versa), and that this poses a danger to everyone involved in the creative industries.
He simply doesn't get it. Thankfully, he outlines just how little he gets it very early in his article but he wants more competition but fails to realize that Amazon and Google, as intermediaries between creators and audiences, ARE competition with big media companies. For too long, big media companies have sat back and been lazy as they've manipulated and controlled their industries with no real competition in sight. Now, companies like Amazon, Google, (and Apple with iTunes and others) are showing up and demonstrating that creators do not need big record labels (for example). They ARE the new competition and they are GOOD for the industry. Sure, some companies may end up going out of business (I'm looking at you big media!) because they have failed to adapt and evolve to the new technologies and meet consumer demand but that's natural. They will fail and the companies that remain will be better, healthier, and stronger. That's capitalism - meet demand or wither and die.
The only people who are endangered by companies like Google and Amazon are people working for big media - the competition - who are failing to adapt and evolve. Everyone else in "the creative industries" will benefit. Artists will have an easier time interacting with consumers and creators - the people who make a creative industry possible - will benefit.
I'm just glad he made it so clear so early on that he doesn't get it...
Now, if Ignatieff (leader of the Liberal party) would just get his ass in gear and get a new election called so that Harper can be shown the door we could get that network neutrality into action....
Slashdot Mirror
They're putting a life sentence on myself, my daughter and Ellie's mum, not to say anything to anyone. If we inadvertently did say anything, no matter what, they would take litigation against us. I thought that was absolutely appalling.
Ok, let's start with the "life sentence" bit. Uh, really? Hyperbole much? Are you joking?
Second, and more importantly, it's pretty standard for a company to require non-disclosure when a settlement agreement is made. In fact, I'd wager that 99% of all settlement agreements made have a non-disclosure clause and the 1% that don't are made by people without a clue. To paint it as if Apple is doing something outrageous or vile in requiring this is akin to painting them as vile and evil for doing business - that's what happens. Deal.
I know people want to hate on Apple lately but let's be serious for a moment - this is such a complete non-issue. Yes, Apple screws up from time to time and I'm fine with people calling them on their mistakes but requiring non-disclosure of a settlement agreement is so far from being an issue worthy of scorn...
I'm fed up. Copyright is evil. I'm a graphic designer who's worked as a writer and an editor so, needless to say, a great deal of my living is made on works protected by copyright but enough is enough. It's a joke. The original intent of copyrights has been so grossly perverted and abused that they're simply evil now. They no longer protect those they were intended to protect and they are abused by those who have absolutely nothing to do with the actual creative works. They're evil.
Dear RIAA,
In regards to your notice that you feel it is fair to arbitrarily remove something I have purchased from my possession (via disabling DRM'd music), I wish to inform you that you will never, ever, ever get another cent from me. I wish you good luck in maintaining your failing empire as it crumbles down around you for I am certain I am far from the only person who is disgusted at your activities and your outright contempt for me as a "customer." Thus I am certain others will also forgo purchasing your latest CD from Pop Star X and chose to instead invest that entertainment dollar in something - anything - that is of value. Your product no longer has value.
Thank you and goodbye.
Dear Ms Morissette,
This is irony. Please take note.
Yours truly
The best antipiracy tool is to make something that is good enough that people are willing to spend money on it. Quality. That's your best antipiracy tool.
I didn't say anything about gratuitous violence - I was talking about game play time. Read my post again. Thanks.
Up to 800 hours of footage??? Other than an MMO, how many games do people play with up to 800 hours of play? Jesus! We're lucky if a game has 8 hours of game play nowadays. 800?? Are you joking!
I could be wrong, but I think there's prior art that might invalidate your patent... Unfortunately...
Um, gas powered cars never have a problem with their energy source and fire?...
I assume they increased their target goal - wasn't it initially a goal of $20k, which they achieved in 3 days? Regardless, good on them. Nice to see them do something worthy for the benefit of others. And, who knows, maybe a healthy dose of slashdot love will result in substantially more than their current target...
I do know what I am talking about, thanks. More than you will ever know. And just because something requires skill does not make it creative. Being a mechanic, especially today with the high tech engines mechanics face every day, requires a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge but there's nothing creative in what a mechanic does. (Yes, someone like Chip Foose is creative but he is not a mechanic.) Sorry. A requirement of skill and a job being hard =/= a creative process.
Even if I wrote out the work of Shakespeare by hand, that doesn't mean I can claim copyright over that copy
To be fair, yes you could - over the actual images of the hand-written pages. The words would not be copyrightable but the images of the handwriting would. That would be your creative work but the words would still be covered under public domain.
I work as a graphic designer so I am fully aware of the hurdles you needed to overcome in copying the art. That said, there is no "artistry" in it. It is a mechanical process. You were not _creative_. Your work was, if anything, mechanical in nature. It should _NOT_ be covered by copyright. And, remember, I am a graphic designer (who has also worked as a writer and editor at various stages of my career) so copyrights are a big part of my livelihood. Mechanical reproduction, while important and valuable, is not creative. Sorry.
And if I find a way to get into your car that you parked on a public street and drive it away, tough tits for you.
Or would that be a crime?
Yeah. I thought so.
I'm (very) rarely a fan of the DMCA but, in my opinion, this is a good example of why it was set up - to stop commercial abuse of IP. These guys were knowingly circumventing copyright protection methods in an effort to make a profit. These exact situations are what needs to be stopped, not the teenager posting a mashup on youtube...
Only $33 million? For a military contract? Really? Not to be a smartass, but that seems insanely cheap for what they're asking for.
Most workplaces that mandate IE6 probably do not allow employees to browse youtube (nor a host of other sites) when at work.
That's a great idea!!
And there can't possibly be any consequences of doing something like that...
Am I alone in thinking this is exactly what the (pro bono) defense wanted? As I see it, wearing my tinfoil hat, they wanted an insane fine to be imposed so they could defeat it as unconstitutional. They would then establish the "right" fine appropriate with the offense (many opinions on this but most agree it should be in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands - these are songs that sell for 99 cents a piece, after all...). Once that's established, THEN they can fire up their class action suit which is where the real money is to be made. I know I'm being all conspiracy-theory with this but I think most of us agree that the defense didn't exactly do the best job possible and they are very intelligent people so I'm left wondering why - why didn't they do the best job possible? And the only answer I keep coming back to is because there's no money to be made winning _THIS_ case but there's truckloads to be made from winning the class action suit down the road.
EVE continues to be an interesting study in politics and intrigue but I will forever fail to understand its appeal as an MMO. I've tried playing it - it totally does not appeal to me in any way, what-so-ever. It was about as dreadfully boring as a game could possibly be without being nothing at all. In my opinion. But, its political backstabbings and manipulations of its systems sure as hell generate some interesting stories... Intensely interesting and dreadfully boring at the same time.
Not true, at all. I recall reading about a study (in Russia, iirc) where scientists attempted to breed a specific trait into wild foxes. They went through a program of selective breeding and in _seven_ generations, they successfully altered the genetic traits of the animal. Seven. So, 400 generations is _PLENTY_ of time for evolution to alter our species in meaningful ways given that it can be accomplished (admittedly, in a controlled environment) in just 7.
It seems hardware manufacturers have a hard time learning that electronics cause heat and that this heat needs to be led away from the device.
Fixed that for you.
It has nothing to do with Apple - all hardware manufacturers seem to have problems. A quick look at google for "laptop battery catches fire" turns up this story about a Dell battery catching fire, this story about an IBM catching fire, and this story about a Toshiba catching fire. And we know those three stories aren't rare - those were just quick search results to prove a point.
If you're going to pick on a manufacturer for a faulty battery issue, make sure you don't portray it to be something unique to that manufacturer when it's actually something that occurs pretty much across the board.
Translation: We didn't expect this strong an outpouring of opposition and we know we already only have a minority government so we're just going to lay low a bit and not piss people off. Sound good?
And, yes - it does sound good. Stop messing things up! Stop selling our country out! More importantly, stop selling our country out to foreign media corporations!
...they are fast becoming the intermediary between creators and audiences (and vice-versa), and that this poses a danger to everyone involved in the creative industries.
He simply doesn't get it. Thankfully, he outlines just how little he gets it very early in his article but he wants more competition but fails to realize that Amazon and Google, as intermediaries between creators and audiences, ARE competition with big media companies. For too long, big media companies have sat back and been lazy as they've manipulated and controlled their industries with no real competition in sight. Now, companies like Amazon, Google, (and Apple with iTunes and others) are showing up and demonstrating that creators do not need big record labels (for example). They ARE the new competition and they are GOOD for the industry. Sure, some companies may end up going out of business (I'm looking at you big media!) because they have failed to adapt and evolve to the new technologies and meet consumer demand but that's natural. They will fail and the companies that remain will be better, healthier, and stronger. That's capitalism - meet demand or wither and die.
The only people who are endangered by companies like Google and Amazon are people working for big media - the competition - who are failing to adapt and evolve. Everyone else in "the creative industries" will benefit. Artists will have an easier time interacting with consumers and creators - the people who make a creative industry possible - will benefit.
I'm just glad he made it so clear so early on that he doesn't get it...
Now, if Ignatieff (leader of the Liberal party) would just get his ass in gear and get a new election called so that Harper can be shown the door we could get that network neutrality into action....