Perhaps it's not what the OP is looking for, but others reading these answers might be looking for simple solutions for creating 3D-printable designs.
Minecraft is a 3D editor that a 7-year-old can use. And exporting the models into a printable format with MIneways is also child's play. Honestly, if one were to add a few blocks to Minecraft (such as half-cubes bisected diagonally to allow for more "rounded" shapes), it could actually be a very effective and simple tool for making basic 3D models. Not a professional engineering tool, obviously, but if someone is daunted by spending months learning a serious tool, they can simply fire up Minecraft and Mineways and be printing their creations in 10 minutes.
I bought a 4-way "microphone amplifier" (like this).
With some 1/4" to 3.5 mm adapters and 3.5 mm cable, you can run a signal to 4 PC speaker systems. The individual gain controls for each line out allow you to compensate for the specific loss in each line due to varying cable lengths.
If you buy the right speaker systems, they could also have local aux in jacks in case you want to listen to an ipod or something. You might want to check whether it replaces or is layered onto the main input, though.
What if I pointed a webcam (with sufficient resolution) at the cease and desist letter and sent out a live stream. Would that still be violating the copyright?
The article mentions that it was a "confidential" document. I don't see how someone can send me something I never asked for and bind me automatically against my will into a confidentiality agreement. Unless maybe its the government and involves a legitimate state secret, but even that must provide some reasonable recourse.
Maybe if the streaming thing doesn't work, someone could start an organization that people would send the letters too and they could provide third party verification that it exists and what the general content is without reproducing or posting the precise "copyrighted" content. It would be like a book review. They could also display the "original works" in some kind of museum.
Unless they start claiming copyright on all discussion and descriptions of the content like the NFL does...
They are the public airwaves, after all. And there are still lots of people who only have broadcast tv, no cable, no internet. Maybe a radio. We can't just up and revoke people's access to what might be their main source of mass media / news.
Anyway, what we are apparantly really paying for is better communications for public safety responders.
Probably a relatively cheap license to get, plus all the fan base.
And the only name that would make sense to me: The Verse
But seriously, it seems like a very difficult task. Gameplay does trump graphics, but only barely, so they'd better have some money to spend on art design and graphics.
And I sincerely hope that they allow atmospheric ship flying. I want to chase down canyons and threaten bar brawlers with imaginary weapons...
I like the way he admits he has no idea what he's talking about.
"If Sony and Honda are making robots, they must know that there is this huge market out there."
Because its not possible that they are just trying to demonstrate their technological prowess?
And strong AI in 8 years? Does this guy even know how to write code? Or does he just assume that since there are so many people out there who do, they must have a good reason for doing it, so they will develop strong AI real soon now.
In a game like EVE, where there is no officially accepted exchange rate with a real currency, no defrauding of actual money can technically take place, making it a poor case for considering this question.
As long as the player's actions do not violate the stated rules of the game, there should be no punishment virtual or otherwise. If the player's actions violate the rules but no real money was stolen, the game company can decide on any punishment.
Now in games that do have an interface with real money (Entropia Universe, Second Life,...), it is possible to defraud people of what could be considered real money.
If the money was stolen against the rules, the company would clearly be liable to the victims and be justified in punishing the culprit as far as their game authority extends (but could they claim any existing in-game money of the player without real world restitution?). This would depend largely on the agreements and contracts on which the game is based.
But what if the money was stolen in a way not against the rules? Then maybe the victims could sue the game company, but probably not the thief. But even here, the game company could probably exclude relatively small amounts of per-player liability.
Maybe they could say that they take no responsibility for money you deposit in the game at all, but that wouldn't encourage investment. Ultimately, if games wish to pursue these virtual currency business models, they will have to grow investor confidence by demonstrating that they can deal with fraud effectively.
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps it's not what the OP is looking for, but others reading these answers might be looking for simple solutions for creating 3D-printable designs.
Minecraft is a 3D editor that a 7-year-old can use. And exporting the models into a printable format with MIneways is also child's play. Honestly, if one were to add a few blocks to Minecraft (such as half-cubes bisected diagonally to allow for more "rounded" shapes), it could actually be a very effective and simple tool for making basic 3D models. Not a professional engineering tool, obviously, but if someone is daunted by spending months learning a serious tool, they can simply fire up Minecraft and Mineways and be printing their creations in 10 minutes.
Minecraft is the easiest 3D modeling software you will ever find. Once you've built your model, export it with the free Mineways software: http://www.realtimerendering.com/erich/minecraft/public/mineways/
With some 1/4" to 3.5 mm adapters and 3.5 mm cable, you can run a signal to 4 PC speaker systems. The individual gain controls for each line out allow you to compensate for the specific loss in each line due to varying cable lengths.
If you buy the right speaker systems, they could also have local aux in jacks in case you want to listen to an ipod or something. You might want to check whether it replaces or is layered onto the main input, though.
What if I pointed a webcam (with sufficient resolution) at the cease and desist letter and sent out a live stream. Would that still be violating the copyright?
The article mentions that it was a "confidential" document. I don't see how someone can send me something I never asked for and bind me automatically against my will into a confidentiality agreement. Unless maybe its the government and involves a legitimate state secret, but even that must provide some reasonable recourse.
Maybe if the streaming thing doesn't work, someone could start an organization that people would send the letters too and they could provide third party verification that it exists and what the general content is without reproducing or posting the precise "copyrighted" content. It would be like a book review. They could also display the "original works" in some kind of museum.
Unless they start claiming copyright on all discussion and descriptions of the content like the NFL does...
Maybe there is some way to spam users by ID or they are afraid there will be one.
With 47 mil subscribers and 32-bit keys. 1% of randomly generated keys would be real ones.
With 64-bit keys, that drops to 2.5x10^-10 %.
They are the public airwaves, after all. And there are still lots of people who only have broadcast tv, no cable, no internet. Maybe a radio. We can't just up and revoke people's access to what might be their main source of mass media / news.
Anyway, what we are apparantly really paying for is better communications for public safety responders.
Probably a relatively cheap license to get, plus all the fan base.
And the only name that would make sense to me: The Verse
But seriously, it seems like a very difficult task. Gameplay does trump graphics, but only barely, so they'd better have some money to spend on art design and graphics.
And I sincerely hope that they allow atmospheric ship flying. I want to chase down canyons and threaten bar brawlers with imaginary weapons...
Clearly the excitation of air molecules to vibrate in waves of energy transmitted to your ear from a phone should also be taxed.
I like the way he admits he has no idea what he's talking about.
"If Sony and Honda are making robots, they must know that there is this huge market out there."
Because its not possible that they are just trying to demonstrate their technological prowess?
And strong AI in 8 years? Does this guy even know how to write code? Or does he just assume that since there are so many people out there who do, they must have a good reason for doing it, so they will develop strong AI real soon now.
In a game like EVE, where there is no officially accepted exchange rate with a real currency, no defrauding of actual money can technically take place, making it a poor case for considering this question.
...), it is possible to defraud people of what could be considered real money.
As long as the player's actions do not violate the stated rules of the game, there should be no punishment virtual or otherwise. If the player's actions violate the rules but no real money was stolen, the game company can decide on any punishment.
Now in games that do have an interface with real money (Entropia Universe, Second Life,
If the money was stolen against the rules, the company would clearly be liable to the victims and be justified in punishing the culprit as far as their game authority extends (but could they claim any existing in-game money of the player without real world restitution?). This would depend largely on the agreements and contracts on which the game is based.
But what if the money was stolen in a way not against the rules? Then maybe the victims could sue the game company, but probably not the thief. But even here, the game company could probably exclude relatively small amounts of per-player liability.
Maybe they could say that they take no responsibility for money you deposit in the game at all, but that wouldn't encourage investment. Ultimately, if games wish to pursue these virtual currency business models, they will have to grow investor confidence by demonstrating that they can deal with fraud effectively.