Believe me. Domestic terrorism is much more dangerous to Americans. If the Americans were really serious about saving lives, they would actually DO something about drunk drivers. They kill an airplane load of people every two days.
These laws aren't meant to actually "work". They are just trying to maintain the illusion of safety. The "bad guys" already know how to get around these kind of things, and each new measure will be cracked within months, if not days, of implementation. In a way, it's already working, because the Americans are swallowing it hook, line, and sinker, and they're probably going to re-elect the guy responsable for the whole thing. The U.S. is THE biggest arms dealer in the world. They have absolutely NO interest in resolving the Mideast thing, or any other conflict for that matter. The Mexican border is probably pretty tight compared to the Canadian border, but there's not too many Canadians crossing over looking for the "good life". So, it's not going to get the press coverage. Man, I would love to see a concerted effort by everyone to avoid doing any business with the Americans until they come down off their high horse and start treat others with some respect. Judging from the American farmer strike a long time ago, entertainment boycotts, etc., it's not bloody likely.
I'm not the least bit qualified to discuss the merits of your post, but...
The solution is to create a new license...
Goodness no...That last thing the world needs is a new license. We're already suffering from license bloat.(see the example set by XFree). The only license we need is one that protects the welfare of the public(that would also include creators, obviously), not one the protects publishers the way the present ones do. Actually, the licenses aren't the problem. It's the law that "promotes innovation" of bad licenses. Kind of like the way current patent law is "promoting innovation" of so many junk inventions that are clogging the patent office today.
The "benefits" of capitalism happen to include the mass availability of mostly junk computers and a bunch of other stuff that barely works when it's new. (even if it's only because enough people don't demand better)
The only alternative to capitalism is rationing...
That's pretty closed minded. I guess we should rule out just plain old "giving".
Capitalism isn't perfect, but it's the best system we've been able to come up with.
So don't even think of looking for or making up something better? There are still some people on the planet that might take issue with your statement, but I'm sure that capitalism IS the best system for some. Most people that believe that are really saying, "It's good to be king."
I represent the Sim Industry Association of America (SIAA), and hereby order you to stop this unauthorized imitation. Is it alright if I just lay down in the street and die? Yes...that would be acceptable.
...don't think this is a tactic only big n' evil Microsoft uses.
It sure isn't. Let's not forget how Lee Iacoca dealt with the Ford Pinto's gas tank "problem". It could have been fixed with a $5 part, but it was still more expensive to install the part than it was to deal with potential lawsuits. The man should definitely be up on murder charges for that. He was fully aware of the problem, and he ignored it. Some companies actually believe it's better that a person dies, in order to make a one time payment to the family of the victim as opposed to a lifetime of payments to an injured party. Obviously, we shouldn't tolerate this, but it seems our economic system leaves no choice.
The published statistics do not specifically tell who was where when for what.
That's pretty much what I meant. The homeles might not be tracked idividually. Anyway, I knew the story was a joke, but it's the thought that counts. You can be sure that if somebody is interested, we are all being tracked. I can take solice in that I don't think anyone is interested in me. All that is really necessary is a way to neutralize this stuff.
The homeless are the only group that's not being tracked at the moment. All the rest of you are already being tracked by your: credit card membership card (wall mart, sams, grocery store, etc.) utility bills bank employer(time cards, drug testing, etc.) state ID IRS ISP slashdot(you never know) Did I miss anything?
That's because it's impossible to prove how it affected the unsuccessful example. That's why I included the word might in my statement. The successful ones speaks quite loudly for themselves.
In the US anyway, copyright is not a Constitutional right.
Absolutely. It's a service provided by the gov't. Unfortunately, the only ones benefiting from this service is the publishing industry. And, like a driver's license, it should be applied for and maintained by the owner if he wants to keep it. None of this "automatic copyright" crap.
Is strong copyright going to force Microsoft to open up their files to see if it contains GPL code? There could be tons in there, and we'll never know. It does seem that copyright law IS being used to force users, ISP's, etc. to open up THEIR files. We only need GPL to counter the inequities the copyright law. Copyright law should only involve the creators and the public. Anything else is industry "featherbedding". Being a software engineer, maybe you should follow the Microsoft/Adobe/AutoCAD method. Let 'em bootleg your product until it becomes a standard and nobody can live without it. Then TA DA... Product activation! Then watch sales plummet as the OSS community scrambles to create an alternative.:-)
You make the point yourself: "Unauthorized copies of AutoCAD no doubt hurt AutodDesk's bottom line"
You conveniently left out the happy ending.
What about the unauthorized copies of ProCAD? What ever happened to them?
What DID happen to them? If they went out of business, it's obviously because they didn't catch on. There was a better product out there. Don't try to blame it on piracy. Even if they were able to stop all bootleg copies, they might not have sold eneough copies to stay in business.
He has a business that depends on things remaining the way they are. When you get "confortable" in your situation, any change can be very disruptive. It happened to me also, when I was in the tv biz during the last fifteen years. The job was very cushy, and I didn't want to see anything change. Hell, I was "mildly irritated"(kinda pissed) for a half a second when the FCC changed my first class phone license(transmitter operator) to a "general" class. Damn, now those second class weasels are the same as me!:-) Read Dr. Suess's book about the sneeches for the reasoning behind my attitude and how obviously silly it is.(you don't need all that grown up philosophy crap) Given human history, it's probably more profitable if the issue remains unresolved.
I feel pretty much the same way. The real problem however, is that the publishing industry has way too much power, and is hurting all of us by crippling our tech, limiting competition, etc. The law is set up so that you can re-sell old stuff as new over and over, and that's obviously wrong also. We can repeat this argument until we're blue in the face, but the drones simply won't hear it. The gravy train must roll on. Even the "struggling" independants are convinced the world will end if we don't maintain the status quo. The power of greed is ruining generation after generation. So sad to see in this world of literally unlimited abundance and opportunity
Um, how is the artist supposed to make his *fair* share of money?
Don't give up your day job?:-) Actually There are a whole bunch of people in this and other "copyright" threads that have already explained it much better than I could ever hope to. Anything I say now (and already have said earlier) is just redundant. Most of the "pro-copyrighters" are just trying to cash in before their business model gets thrown by the wayside. Their rants are becoming tiresom and redundant also. They just don't want to hear the opposition. If they don't wake up soon, they are going end up "up a tree without a paddle"(MASH or Charlie Brown? I don't remember.)
I never said anything about this particular study. What I saw by cross referencing the trade rags is that file sharing and CD sales rose and fell pretty much in sync with each other. As for for its affect on online music stores, only time will tell. If online music stores put in too much DRM, they will and should fail.
Slashdot Mirror
Believe me. Domestic terrorism is much more dangerous to Americans. If the Americans were really serious about saving lives, they would actually DO something about drunk drivers. They kill an airplane load of people every two days.
Even the old Harleys didn't have that many.
These laws aren't meant to actually "work". They are just trying to maintain the illusion of safety. The "bad guys" already know how to get around these kind of things, and each new measure will be cracked within months, if not days, of implementation. In a way, it's already working, because the Americans are swallowing it hook, line, and sinker, and they're probably going to re-elect the guy responsable for the whole thing.
The U.S. is THE biggest arms dealer in the world. They have absolutely NO interest in resolving the Mideast thing, or any other conflict for that matter.
The Mexican border is probably pretty tight compared to the Canadian border, but there's not too many Canadians crossing over looking for the "good life". So, it's not going to get the press coverage.
Man, I would love to see a concerted effort by everyone to avoid doing any business with the Americans until they come down off their high horse and start treat others with some respect. Judging from the American farmer strike a long time ago, entertainment boycotts, etc., it's not bloody likely.
how do you acheive the equivalent of getting slashdot surfers to want to click on a McDonalds banner ad?
Maybe if they delivered?...
has enough bicycle chains on there to make the Wright Brothers proud
I'm not the least bit qualified to discuss the merits of your post, but...
The solution is to create a new license...
Goodness no...That last thing the world needs is a new license. We're already suffering from license bloat.(see the example set by XFree). The only license we need is one that protects the welfare of the public(that would also include creators, obviously), not one the protects publishers the way the present ones do. Actually, the licenses aren't the problem. It's the law that "promotes innovation" of bad licenses. Kind of like the way current patent law is "promoting innovation" of so many junk inventions that are clogging the patent office today.
The "benefits" of capitalism happen to include the mass availability of mostly junk computers and a bunch of other stuff that barely works when it's new. (even if it's only because enough people don't demand better)
The only alternative to capitalism is rationing...
That's pretty closed minded. I guess we should rule out just plain old "giving".
Capitalism isn't perfect, but it's the best system we've been able to come up with.
So don't even think of looking for or making up something better? There are still some people on the planet that might take issue with your statement, but I'm sure that capitalism IS the best system for some. Most people that believe that are really saying, "It's good to be king."
I represent the Sim Industry Association of America (SIAA), and hereby order you to stop this unauthorized imitation.
Is it alright if I just lay down in the street and die?
Yes...that would be acceptable.
...convinced that they're adding to the GDP.
Their product IS kinda gross:-)
That should say 'solution in search of a problem.'
Or a 'solution in search of a patent'
...don't think this is a tactic only big n' evil Microsoft uses.
It sure isn't. Let's not forget how Lee Iacoca dealt with the Ford Pinto's gas tank "problem". It could have been fixed with a $5 part, but it was still more expensive to install the part than it was to deal with potential lawsuits. The man should definitely be up on murder charges for that. He was fully aware of the problem, and he ignored it. Some companies actually believe it's better that a person dies, in order to make a one time payment to the family of the victim as opposed to a lifetime of payments to an injured party. Obviously, we shouldn't tolerate this, but it seems our economic system leaves no choice.
The published statistics do not specifically tell who was where when for what.
That's pretty much what I meant. The homeles might not be tracked idividually. Anyway, I knew the story was a joke, but it's the thought that counts. You can be sure that if somebody is interested, we are all being tracked. I can take solice in that I don't think anyone is interested in me. All that is really necessary is a way to neutralize this stuff.
You're unemployed? Where did you steal the cash? :-)
The homeless are the only group that's not being tracked at the moment.
All the rest of you are already being tracked by your:
credit card
membership card (wall mart, sams, grocery store, etc.)
utility bills
bank
employer(time cards, drug testing, etc.)
state ID
IRS
ISP
slashdot(you never know)
Did I miss anything?
Well, this is a leap year.
...and truly something a lot of Canadians feel.
You mean, besides the cold?
And right on our continent, too! How can we allow this to stand?
The Americans must have lost their nerve after that fiasco in 1812.
That's because it's impossible to prove how it affected the unsuccessful example. That's why I included the word might in my statement. The successful ones speaks quite loudly for themselves.
In the US anyway, copyright is not a Constitutional right.
Absolutely. It's a service provided by the gov't. Unfortunately, the only ones benefiting from this service is the publishing industry. And, like a driver's license, it should be applied for and maintained by the owner if he wants to keep it. None of this "automatic copyright" crap.
Is strong copyright going to force Microsoft to open up their files to see if it contains GPL code? There could be tons in there, and we'll never know. It does seem that copyright law IS being used to force users, ISP's, etc. to open up THEIR files. We only need GPL to counter the inequities the copyright law. Copyright law should only involve the creators and the public. Anything else is industry "featherbedding". Being a software engineer, maybe you should follow the Microsoft/Adobe/AutoCAD method. Let 'em bootleg your product until it becomes a standard and nobody can live without it. Then TA DA... Product activation! Then watch sales plummet as the OSS community scrambles to create an alternative.:-)
You make the point yourself: "Unauthorized copies of AutoCAD no doubt hurt AutodDesk's bottom line"
You conveniently left out the happy ending.
What about the unauthorized copies of ProCAD? What ever happened to them?
What DID happen to them? If they went out of business, it's obviously because they didn't catch on. There was a better product out there. Don't try to blame it on piracy. Even if they were able to stop all bootleg copies, they might not have sold eneough copies to stay in business.
He has a business that depends on things remaining the way they are. When you get "confortable" in your situation, any change can be very disruptive. It happened to me also, when I was in the tv biz during the last fifteen years. The job was very cushy, and I didn't want to see anything change. Hell, I was "mildly irritated"(kinda pissed) for a half a second when the FCC changed my first class phone license(transmitter operator) to a "general" class. Damn, now those second class weasels are the same as me! :-) Read Dr. Suess's book about the sneeches for the reasoning behind my attitude and how obviously silly it is.(you don't need all that grown up philosophy crap) Given human history, it's probably more profitable if the issue remains unresolved.
I feel pretty much the same way. The real problem however, is that the publishing industry has way too much power, and is hurting all of us by crippling our tech, limiting competition, etc. The law is set up so that you can re-sell old stuff as new over and over, and that's obviously wrong also. We can repeat this argument until we're blue in the face, but the drones simply won't hear it. The gravy train must roll on. Even the "struggling" independants are convinced the world will end if we don't maintain the status quo. The power of greed is ruining generation after generation. So sad to see in this world of literally unlimited abundance and opportunity
Um, how is the artist supposed to make his *fair* share of money?
:-) Actually There are a whole bunch of people in this and other "copyright" threads that have already explained it much better than I could ever hope to. Anything I say now (and already have said earlier) is just redundant. Most of the "pro-copyrighters" are just trying to cash in before their business model gets thrown by the wayside. Their rants are becoming tiresom and redundant also. They just don't want to hear the opposition. If they don't wake up soon, they are going end up "up a tree without a paddle"(MASH or Charlie Brown? I don't remember.)
Don't give up your day job?
I never said anything about this particular study. What I saw by cross referencing the trade rags is that file sharing and CD sales rose and fell pretty much in sync with each other. As for for its affect on online music stores, only time will tell. If online music stores put in too much DRM, they will and should fail.