http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130523/00174423181/kim-dotcom-threatens-to-sue-google-facebook-twitter-over-2-factor-authentication-patent-if-they-dont-help-him.shtml#c39 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:07:55 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130523/00174423181/kim-dotcom-threatens-to-sue-google-facebook-twitter-over-2-factor-authentication-patent-if-they-dont-help-him.shtml#c39 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c243 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:06:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c243
No, boy.
Because it's a case of a copyright owner figuring out a way for both it and the fans (who wouldn't make a cent otherwise) to monitize their work, Masnick thinks it's cool.
And so do I.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130521/20101423164/att-says-you-can-use-any-video-streaming-app-you-want-just-as-soon-as-it-can-get-meter-running.shtml#c304 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:04:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130521/20101423164/att-says-you-can-use-any-video-streaming-app-you-want-just-as-soon-as-it-can-get-meter-running.shtml#c304 You are my new hero.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c239 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:03:40 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c239 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130523/00174423181/kim-dotcom-threatens-to-sue-google-facebook-twitter-over-2-factor-authentication-patent-if-they-dont-help-him.shtml#c26 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130523/00174423181/kim-dotcom-threatens-to-sue-google-facebook-twitter-over-2-factor-authentication-patent-if-they-dont-help-him.shtml#c26
But I hope Dotcom does sue over this alleged patent! What a bunch of tangles for Mike! He'd have to choose between Dotcom and Google, and whether Dotcom is just a patent troll! And this is VERY MUCH like extortion.


Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
http://techdirt.com/
If you're against copyright, quit putting your name on posts! You don't own the idea!
02:00:36[c- 1-0]]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c224 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c224
"Incorrect. Amazon would hold the rights to the story, and they could then license it to the studio for development. There is nothing that says Amazon would be the ones making movies or whatnot. Why think so narrowly?"

Because I've worked on licensed products since 1981?
Written, illustrated, and occasionaly edited for several comic book companies on licensed series (including Star Trek, X-Files, Jurassic Park, and GhostBusters), the terms are usually that the publisher has to have approval from the licensor on story (and art) content (I could tell you horror stories on that score) and that the licensor has control over reprinting and ancillary rights (including use in other media)
That's why, for example, Dark Horse was able to reprint Marvel's Star Wars comics, since LucasFilm, not Marvel, controlled the rights.
Theoretically, the licensors could, once the contract with Amazon expires, move the project to Barnes & Noble.
Either way, the licensor controls the re-use rights.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c220 Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:03 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c220 Moreover, and perhaps more worrisome, I can easily see the 'the only fair use is paid use' lot using this to attack derivative works where the character's/settings aren't licensed, by insisting that now a system is in place where you can pay to use the characters and settings in a derivative work, that means you have to do so, otherwise you're 'stealing from the original writer(s)'.

I think you are off with your concern of 'the only fair use is paid use'. But, I think where people seek to monetize derivative works (in any manner); that this will be cited.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c184 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:59:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c184 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/17321623162/released-video-silva-beating-shows-his-last-moments-video-actual-beating-still-missing.shtml#c794 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:54:20 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/17321623162/released-video-silva-beating-shows-his-last-moments-video-actual-beating-still-missing.shtml#c794 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c202 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:54:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c202 How is this different to traditional publishers?

It's not one bit different. But because it's a tech company Masnick thinks it's cool.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c159 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:53:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c159
Look guys, most music and movies are made with expectation of getting money, and copyright is simply common law recognition of who made it and attempt to see that those persons and no others get the rewards. Copyright IS crowfunding. You wouldn't need Kickstarter in the absence of commercialized piracy such as Megaupload! "File hosts" break the connection between fans and creators, besides break the law in getting money from works they didn't produce.

And now supposed "patronage", eh? This is even less likely to work because breaks the direct connection between product and paying: eventually patrons are going to wonder why they're paying. -- You can't compete with free when it's your own product! If you encourage free distribution without some moral hook then most people will take it for free. You might as well just stick to traditional copyright that's been proven for over a hundred years.


"a blog like ours that produces a bunch of content every day," -- HA! Talk about self-aggrandizing! You re-write from what others did last week! That's EASY. -- Just try offering some real world solutions rather than gushing over the latest scam or your endless complaints.



Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
http://techdirt.com/
Mike may sell a few T-shirts with Techdirt logo, but I bet his lunch dates are open.
01:51:30[b-602-3]]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/10391523084/vp-joe-biden-believes-theres-no-legal-reason-government-cant-slap-sin-tax-violent-media.shtml#c614 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:53:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/10391523084/vp-joe-biden-believes-theres-no-legal-reason-government-cant-slap-sin-tax-violent-media.shtml#c614
I am tired of playing games with constant violence and blood in them, yet I can't strip my characters down without someone crying tears about it. One thing about the sex though I don't like how this nation constantly puts the female up as this big-breasted creature and that's the ONLY way a female body is suppose to look like.

Lots of love for the D and F cups, lots of hate for the B and A cups.

This is why I love South Korea and Japanese games the most. They give me what is lacking severely in western titled games. Seriously though we need to get over sexuality being this very voodoo thing. Face it, teen pregnancies or whatever are happening. Without the video-games.

Video-games are NEVER the cause for any real-life trauma. So we need to stop blaming inanimated objects for the actions of whack-jobs in the real world, who's actions have existed before the creation of video-games by other kooky or evil people.

Murders have always happened. A video-game does not cause or is the blame for murder. Same with rape. Rape has happened video-games do not cause rapes.

If the game industry would stop being such whimps, we would see more meaningful plot-twists and truly adult-themed topics in games. But if the audience can't handle anything that isn't sanitized to the great beyond, then we'll continue to stay in the idiot bubble. And the 'games are only for kids' crowd that is plaguing the market.

We're STILL stuck in the big huge Nintendo era of censorship.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c155 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:53:26 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c155 crowdpatron system. In the very old days, under patronage, one rich dude would pay an artist to produce works for him. With the Internet, individuals can pay a small amount to support their favorite artist, but add many individuals together and you potentially have an artist making a decent living via ongoing payment for production.

This is better than the current regime in several ways. Most importantly it funds FUTURE work of an ARTIST's own creation, and does not extort money out of people for the PAST work of OTHERS.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/17321623162/released-video-silva-beating-shows-his-last-moments-video-actual-beating-still-missing.shtml#c786 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:52:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/17321623162/released-video-silva-beating-shows-his-last-moments-video-actual-beating-still-missing.shtml#c786 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130521/20101423164/att-says-you-can-use-any-video-streaming-app-you-want-just-as-soon-as-it-can-get-meter-running.shtml#c279 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:50:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130521/20101423164/att-says-you-can-use-any-video-streaming-app-you-want-just-as-soon-as-it-can-get-meter-running.shtml#c279 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c150 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:48:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c150 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c138 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:47:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130510/00083123031/cool-new-platform-supporting-artists-patreon-jack-conte.shtml#c138
That is a paywall.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c280 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:46:46 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c280
How can you possibly expect to sue someone for breaking a patent without actually a) declaring what the patent is (Microsoft pay heed!) and b) saying who has a financial interest (even if it is only to the court officials)?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c271 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:44:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c271 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c199 Thu, 23 May 2013 05:44:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c199 The writers are writing the stories simnply for the love of the series/movie, without thought of profit

You don't think that profit motivation will change all that? All of a sudden you will have writers not really interested in the series will be cuing up to churn out material with the hope of a marginal profit.

Money changes everything.

The licensors (tv/movie studios) control the rights, so even if one of these fanfic stories prove good enough to adapt into an episode or film, the studio, not Amazon makes the money on it.

Incorrect. Amazon would hold the rights to the story, and they could then license it to the studio for development. There is nothing that says Amazon would be the ones making movies or whatnot. Why think so narrowly?]]>