An excellent example of hubris. The ancient Greeks seemed to consider it the worst possible character flaw; tragic heroes afflicted with hubris inevitably ended up dead, insane, maimed, or some combination thereof. Basically, it's playing God. That said, may the Furies perch upon the shoulders of the RIAA, its clients, and agents.
It's not a perfect world. Look back at the list of companies being sued. Who do you think will ultimately pay the costs should the troll win? Symantec? Microsoft? Novell? I don't think so. Everyone who uses products from those companies will foot the bill. That's hundreds of millions of people vs a handful of "inventors." Personally, I'm no fan of any of these companies... however, it's bullcrap for them them be held up at the point of a [legal] gun. No better than extortion in my opinion.
With apologies to Jonathan Swift...Most of this crap seems to come out of LLCs (limited liability companies). That allows LLCs to go on wanton suing binges like this and never have to face the consequences of losing. However, if the principals had to personally face the consequences if their bogus patents are overturned by prior art, or they otherwise lose, it would be a lot more interesting. Patent suits by outfits which produce no products are just shakedowns. Lets treat them like shakedowns....
Try it and lose, the corporate officers, the partners, the corporate account, and the stockholders (if any) should be held personally liable) not only for the legal fees of the successful defendants, but also for treble damages. No bankruptcies allowed. That would be real interesting. Wonder how many bogus suits we'd see then.
Legal changes required: 1) definition of a patent troll; 2) stripping patent troll LLC's of their protected liability status; 3) stripping them of bankruptcy eligibility, both as corporations as as individuals; and, 4) loser pays winner's legal fees + triple punitive damages. Better still, add patent-troll lawyers to the list of liable parties. Finally, make three time losers eligible for life in prison, and strip them of the right to file or own patents. This would have no effect on legitimate companies that produce real products, such as those being sued by patent-troll parasites./end soapbox rant
Part Deaux? part deux? try "deuxieme partie," s'il vous plait [dropped the accents deliberately, as they got mangled in the preview]. Hmmh, have I just become a mots-Nazi, yech!
Microsoft contends that much of the bogus software was detected by its Windows Genuine Advantage program, which is automatically installed on users' machines.
This could mean anything. It could mean, as others have said above,
a) that people's s/w just failed validation and the people complained to MS, leading to the case(s) breaking, or
b) that WGA fingered the specific computers and the PRC police took care of the rest.
MS officially denies b, but one suspects that it wants you to believe it, whether it is true or not, as they seem to want people to fear them. The question becomes, does you believe MS when they assure you that personal information is not collected? Those paragons of honesty? Who could doubt their sacred word? Have they ever been less than 100% honest? I might believe MS--if they swore to it on a 10,000 meter high stack of $100 bills, which is probably the only thing sacred to MS.
Yep. Justice-if you can call it that-favors these corporations who have bought the law from corrupt lawmakers, and can exploit the law with unlimited legal budgets. Justice-if you care to call it that-does not favor single mothers with negligible financial resources and no Congressional suck-buddies.
Well knock me down and mod me flamebait! Oh, never mnd, somebody else already took care of that. If novelty is not a requirement for patentability, I'm moving my flag to the patents should be outlawed camp. Seems like a constitutional amendment would do it.
Somebody should clue the USPTO about that though, so that they can take down or appropriately modify this page. Maybe just a footnote that says "the requirement for novelty shall not be used to keep well-connected parasites from getting a free ride for the rest of their lives." Yeah, that should do it.
Can a post be modded lower than -1 Flamebait or -1 Troll? Anxiously awaiting the answer. Burn Karma, Burn!
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated, your computer will be re-educated, and your bank account will be merged with the Collective.
If you think it's bad here, try OS News. Win 7 is being followed and blindly praised in excruciating detail. Never anything even mildly negative about MS or Novell, or anything positive about other Linux or BSD there. I deleted my bookmark.
Transformative? What, pray tell, is novel about immunizing animals? WTF is novel about studying the effects of vaccines, to determine if they are effective?! Finally, can you suggest any sound reason why those who submitted this drivel should not have telephone poles shoved up their asses!!?
Artistes and Politicians. Two elite groups of narcissistic parasites, who thrive on sycophantic praise and have no morals to speak of--just an insatiable desire for money. We have the same problem in the U.S. Good Luck!
If you had ever eaten squirrel and sausage gumbo, you would know that this is a BIG DEAL.
Seriously, it is a big deal for squirrels and other wildlife depending on them from Ohio to Southern New England and some parts of Virginia, isolated reports from Texas and Arkansas. Could be a statistical fluke, some folks at the forum were reporting back-to back bad years. That could be a fluke, too. If it persists, it probably isn't a fluke.
What's wrong with identifying climate change as a cause? It happens naturally, too. Late Pleistocene climates were radically different from the present all over North America. If the apparent warming trend continues, it's going to get real different. If, however, they are a simple prelude to the reassertion of Late Pleistocene climate, expect things to get really, really different, and maybe pretty fast link.
Sounds swell, except that it's probably already been subverted to exactly the opposite purpose from what you propose by... "interested parties" such as Apple, Intel, MS, RIAA, MPAA and more government acronyms that I could type in a half hour.
Owner control is one thing, external control is another. We have been sold on the idea that we own the hardware we pay for, but... "interested parties" have an interest in controlling it themselves.
I think you are right about it not being arbitrary, but I doubt that it was a really an attempt to improve usability. MS knows it can do whatever it wishes to its users and there is nothing they can do about it, i.e. I suspect that they are intoxicated with power. MS has the power to inflict whatever it wishes to on its captive-users, and there is nothing that they can do about it. MS knows that and that those who have to use Office will have no choice. Power.
If it were not about forcing its will upon its slaves, why not afford users the option of using the original menus? That would have been a reasonable approach to a massive change by a company which actually gave a shit about its customers, instead of what it can get away with. Interesting that you mention the transition between Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, because MS allowed users having trouble with the new UI to keep the old file manager. However, they were not yet power-drunk and did not have the sense of entitlement I see on their blogs. You want to see whining? Check out some of the MS blogs! They exude a sense of entitlement, of being misunderstood, and being unappreciated. Waah! Waah!! Waah!!!
Despite your contemptuous assertion that learning "The Ribbon" only takes 30 seconds, one suspects that it will take others slightly longer, perhaps a helluva a lot longer, as they also have to unlearn everything they had learned before, in some cases over a decade.
If most people have nothing to hide why aren't most people living in houses or apartments with no curtains or blinds ans with transparent walls? Bring back the party line! Hmmh, according to that, there still are party lines. Want to get one?
The FBI thinks there are 200,000 terrorists here!!?? Arent we in Iraq to keep from having them here. If there were 200,000 terrorists here there would be bombings every day. A number like 200,000 suggests to me that there is something other than terrorism of interest... like screwing political opponents of the Bush regime.
I vote for the end of "professional musicianship." This tax will be a foundation of an internet police state. Given a choice between freedom and no musicians... fuck the musicians, the Music-Mafia, et al.
If perfect compatibility with Windows' behavior is a criterion, it makes more sense to use Windows and ".NET" than Mono on Linux or any other free platform. MS would never allow it, so if y'all succeed expect MS to launch Global Thermonuclear Patent War shortly thereafter.
Novell's business model is "interoperability." Mono will provide a significant level of interoperability between Windows and Linux.
If "interoperability" is Novell's business model, what does it do if MS chooses not to renew the patent deal they signed a couple of years ago which had a five year term?. Tick... tick... tick... Up the creek without a paddle? tick...
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An excellent example of hubris. The ancient Greeks seemed to consider it the worst possible character flaw; tragic heroes afflicted with hubris inevitably ended up dead, insane, maimed, or some combination thereof. Basically, it's playing God. That said, may the Furies perch upon the shoulders of the RIAA, its clients, and agents.
It's not a perfect world. Look back at the list of companies being sued. Who do you think will ultimately pay the costs should the troll win? Symantec? Microsoft? Novell? I don't think so. Everyone who uses products from those companies will foot the bill. That's hundreds of millions of people vs a handful of "inventors." Personally, I'm no fan of any of these companies ... however, it's bullcrap for them them be held up at the point of a [legal] gun. No better than extortion in my opinion.
With apologies to Jonathan Swift...Most of this crap seems to come out of LLCs (limited liability companies). That allows LLCs to go on wanton suing binges like this and never have to face the consequences of losing. However, if the principals had to personally face the consequences if their bogus patents are overturned by prior art, or they otherwise lose, it would be a lot more interesting. Patent suits by outfits which produce no products are just shakedowns. Lets treat them like shakedowns....
/end soapbox rant
Try it and lose, the corporate officers, the partners, the corporate account, and the stockholders (if any) should be held personally liable) not only for the legal fees of the successful defendants, but also for treble damages. No bankruptcies allowed. That would be real interesting. Wonder how many bogus suits we'd see then.
Legal changes required: 1) definition of a patent troll; 2) stripping patent troll LLC's of their protected liability status; 3) stripping them of bankruptcy eligibility, both as corporations as as individuals; and, 4) loser pays winner's legal fees + triple punitive damages. Better still, add patent-troll lawyers to the list of liable parties. Finally, make three time losers eligible for life in prison, and strip them of the right to file or own patents. This would have no effect on legitimate companies that produce real products, such as those being sued by patent-troll parasites.
Now, mod me into oblivion.
Right. Just like this.
Part Deaux? part deux? try "deuxieme partie," s'il vous plait [dropped the accents deliberately, as they got mangled in the preview]. Hmmh, have I just become a mots-Nazi, yech!
This could mean anything. It could mean, as others have said above,
a) that people's s/w just failed validation and the people complained to MS, leading to the case(s) breaking, or
b) that WGA fingered the specific computers and the PRC police took care of the rest.
MS officially denies b, but one suspects that it wants you to believe it, whether it is true or not, as they seem to want people to fear them. The question becomes, does you believe MS when they assure you that personal information is not collected? Those paragons of honesty? Who could doubt their sacred word? Have they ever been less than 100% honest? I might believe MS--if they swore to it on a 10,000 meter high stack of $100 bills, which is probably the only thing sacred to MS.
Yep. Justice-if you can call it that-favors these corporations who have bought the law from corrupt lawmakers, and can exploit the law with unlimited legal budgets. Justice-if you care to call it that-does not favor single mothers with negligible financial resources and no Congressional suck-buddies.
Well knock me down and mod me flamebait! Oh, never mnd, somebody else already took care of that. If novelty is not a requirement for patentability, I'm moving my flag to the patents should be outlawed camp. Seems like a constitutional amendment would do it.
Somebody should clue the USPTO about that though, so that they can take down or appropriately modify this page. Maybe just a footnote that says "the requirement for novelty shall not be used to keep well-connected parasites from getting a free ride for the rest of their lives." Yeah, that should do it.
Can a post be modded lower than -1 Flamebait or -1 Troll? Anxiously awaiting the answer. Burn Karma, Burn!
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated, your computer will be re-educated, and your bank account will be merged with the Collective.
If you think it's bad here, try OS News. Win 7 is being followed and blindly praised in excruciating detail. Never anything even mildly negative about MS or Novell, or anything positive about other Linux or BSD there. I deleted my bookmark.
Transformative? What, pray tell, is novel about immunizing animals? WTF is novel about studying the effects of vaccines, to determine if they are effective?! Finally, can you suggest any sound reason why those who submitted this drivel should not have telephone poles shoved up their asses!!?
If you are still reading, NYCL, could the RIAA's actions be considered contempt of court? Judges don't seem to appreciate that a whole lot...
Artistes and Politicians. Two elite groups of narcissistic parasites, who thrive on sycophantic praise and have no morals to speak of--just an insatiable desire for money. We have the same problem in the U.S. Good Luck!
What mod in his/her right mind would waste points on an obvious flamebait like yours, Darl?
Well said.
If you had ever eaten squirrel and sausage gumbo, you would know that this is a BIG DEAL.
Seriously, it is a big deal for squirrels and other wildlife depending on them from Ohio to Southern New England and some parts of Virginia, isolated reports from Texas and Arkansas. Could be a statistical fluke, some folks at the forum were reporting back-to back bad years. That could be a fluke, too. If it persists, it probably isn't a fluke.
What's wrong with identifying climate change as a cause? It happens naturally, too. Late Pleistocene climates were radically different from the present all over North America. If the apparent warming trend continues, it's going to get real different. If, however, they are a simple prelude to the reassertion of Late Pleistocene climate, expect things to get really, really different, and maybe pretty fast link.
Sounds swell, except that it's probably already been subverted to exactly the opposite purpose from what you propose by ... "interested parties" such as Apple, Intel, MS, RIAA, MPAA and more government acronyms that I could type in a half hour.
... "interested parties" have an interest in controlling it themselves.
Owner control is one thing, external control is another. We have been sold on the idea that we own the hardware we pay for, but
For Number Three/DiAnna! Hot, hot HOT!
I think you are right about it not being arbitrary, but I doubt that it was a really an attempt to improve usability. MS knows it can do whatever it wishes to its users and there is nothing they can do about it, i.e. I suspect that they are intoxicated with power. MS has the power to inflict whatever it wishes to on its captive-users, and there is nothing that they can do about it. MS knows that and that those who have to use Office will have no choice. Power.
If it were not about forcing its will upon its slaves, why not afford users the option of using the original menus? That would have been a reasonable approach to a massive change by a company which actually gave a shit about its customers, instead of what it can get away with. Interesting that you mention the transition between Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, because MS allowed users having trouble with the new UI to keep the old file manager. However, they were not yet power-drunk and did not have the sense of entitlement I see on their blogs. You want to see whining? Check out some of the MS blogs! They exude a sense of entitlement, of being misunderstood, and being unappreciated. Waah! Waah!! Waah!!!
Despite your contemptuous assertion that learning "The Ribbon" only takes 30 seconds, one suspects that it will take others slightly longer, perhaps a helluva a lot longer, as they also have to unlearn everything they had learned before, in some cases over a decade.
If most people have nothing to hide why aren't most people living in houses or apartments with no curtains or blinds ans with transparent walls? Bring back the party line! Hmmh, according to that, there still are party lines. Want to get one?
The FBI thinks there are 200,000 terrorists here!!?? Arent we in Iraq to keep from having them here. If there were 200,000 terrorists here there would be bombings every day. A number like 200,000 suggests to me that there is something other than terrorism of interest ... like screwing political opponents of the Bush regime.
I vote for the end of "professional musicianship." This tax will be a foundation of an internet police state. Given a choice between freedom and no musicians ... fuck the musicians, the Music-Mafia, et al.
I'm with you. What do I have to pay to have all music sites BLOCKED? Wait a minute, can't I do that with a "hosts" file? Fork the parasitic bastards.
If perfect compatibility with Windows' behavior is a criterion, it makes more sense to use Windows and ".NET" than Mono on Linux or any other free platform. MS would never allow it, so if y'all succeed expect MS to launch Global Thermonuclear Patent War shortly thereafter.
If "interoperability" is Novell's business model, what does it do if MS chooses not to renew the patent deal they signed a couple of years ago which had a five year term?. Tick... tick... tick... Up the creek without a paddle? tick...
Not in debian unstable ... or experimental, yet.