http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c418 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:58:44 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c418 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c898 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:57:47 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c898
There is only one troll here and he will not offer a legitimate opinion on this or any other case.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/18102623141/so-its-come-to-this-seven-high-school-students-arrested-throwing-water-balloons.shtml#c2121 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:57:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/18102623141/so-its-come-to-this-seven-high-school-students-arrested-throwing-water-balloons.shtml#c2121 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c411 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:56:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02350923170/new-bill-would-stop-patent-trolls-hiding-behind-shell-companies.shtml#c411 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/18364622931/ma-teen-arrested-held-without-bail-posting-supposed-terrorist-threat-facebook.shtml#c1384 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:56:54 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/18364622931/ma-teen-arrested-held-without-bail-posting-supposed-terrorist-threat-facebook.shtml#c1384 Now, for the record I am a first amendment advocate who lectures on the topic quite frequently and when I first got word of this story my PERSONAL opinion was that charging this GUY (he is no kid) with terrorism was an affront to the friends I lost on 911.

NOW.... having said that... let's take a look at the story you are criticizing, shall we?

You ASSume when reading this straight news story that the writer was "breathlessly" trying to bias the readers of said story and that said bias was to paint Carmen D'Ambrosia in a bad light as to railroad an INNOCENT FLOWER with negative press.

But..... since my PERSONAL opinion was (at the time)disgusted that he was being charged with "terrorism" ... and the FACTS of the story showed D'Ambrosio in a bad light... it was the FACTS that lead the story not any personal bias. If there was personal bias in this NEWS story it would have favored Cameron.

But this does bring up an interesting point when dealing with people who like to recklessly attack others without knowing the true motives... or even bothering to ask.
It seems from your criticism of my piece, that your beef is really centered around why I did NOT show my bias when writing the story .... since THAT bias is one you would AGREE with. This amuses me greatly.

The satanic depiction on his Facebook page in and of itself means nothing. But when you take it in context with what he was being charged with, his bragging on facebook that he was going to "beat every murder charge", and saying his acts would be bigger than the Boston Marathon, previous threats,complaints by dozens of kids at Methuen High School that they felt he was a threat, and some rather DISTURBING previous posts (which we did NOT report) the satanic imagery BECOMES relevant.

Now let's address another issue. FACTS
It is rare today to find people interested in those pesky facts because most people want to fit a story to THEIR narrative not let the facts SHAPE their narrative.

Tea Party conservatives are writing blog postings and emailing me saying D'Ambrosio was targeted for his "anti government posts". Several other blogs paint him out to be a goofy kid, who was just clowning around and is up against jack booted thug government cops looking to take away his rights.

But the facts show differently.
#1 He is not being charged under the patriot act or any FEDERAL charges at all. He is being charges under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, Section 14B. (Bomb Threats/Hijacking threats). Which is commonly referred to by Law Enforcement as a "terrorism statute" But does not elevate the criminal offense to the Federal level.
#2 He has an arrest record and a probation record that shows him to be anything BUT a "goofy kid" or an innocent flower.The neighbors we spoke with ALL said that he was a violent kid with a really troubled home and every one of them said being in jail was better than what he had to go home to. EVERY ONE OF THEM. I did not include that in the story because I didn't think smearing the father was relevant to the story.
#3 He was not charged because of anti-government rapping, he wasn't charged because the evil government conspired against him, he was charged because he sent TEXT messages where he threatened a mass murder (NOT RAP LYRICS) and he then posted similar threats on line. Hiding behind "They were rap lyrics" doesn't cut it in the real world. This isn't high school. I cannot post on line that I am going to go out and rape women and when I get caught get a free pass claiming they were lyrics to a song.
#4 None of his threatening posts SAID they were rap lyrics. to those unfamiliar with Cameraon's aspiring rap career they looked more like the messages we saw from the columbine killers in their notebooks. These were not written in lyric form, and they didn't rhyme (though I agree not all rappers rhyme)
#5 A LIBERAL MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE looked at the ACTUAL EVIDENCE in LAWRENCE district court (the poorest city in MA and the highest minority population with BY FAR the most liberal judges). She said she found his pattern of behavior (oddly missing in your criticism) "Very troubling". I have followed Judge Rooney... she is as liberal as they come!
#6 Police that I spoke with, both the chief and officers involved said they had arrested him because they believed he was a threat and was escalating violent threats on line and in text messages, as well as verbally to students. At no time did ONE officer on or off the record cite anti government opinions as a motivating factor.

Now it is up to a jury if it goes that far.
Cameron D'Ambrosi is not a terrorist by any stretch. Deeming him a terrorist is an afront to every American who died at the hands of REAL terrorism.
But he isn't a "goofy kid" or a victim of the evil government who is prosecuting him for a RAP song either. He is a VERY troubled kid with violence issues, a very troubled home life and the perfect profile of a mass shooter. His postings and his personal behavior landed him where he is. Not some jack booted government agent hell bent on taking people's free speech rights away.

The story I wrote was an accurate depiction of the facts we had at the time. It was those FACTS that determined the direction of the story. I am sorry if they are inconvenient FACTS to those looking for a poster boy for their cause (a cause I actually agree with).

Maybe in course of fighting monsters you have become one yourself.

http://valleypatriot.com/methuen-teen-being-held-on-terrorism-charges-becomes-free-speech-poster-boy]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c889 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:56:31 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c889
If your opponent is an ankle-biter, his response cannot be "ad hom."

Looks like he's saying anything and everything he thinks will offend without even considering whether he contradicts himself.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c873 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:54:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c873 It has nothing to do with HIS speech, merely his ability to copy someone else's speech. If he were really expressing himself, he wouldn't need to copy someone else.

It sounds to me that you are claiming false play on his part.

The video is his own rather low quality speech. His documentary seems jovial to the human story it was trying to deliver.

The bots get false positives at times and one is one too many. In this case it seems like a lot of independent false positives on something that do not make these studios look good. That is rather suspicious!

As for if artists should police, I have to ask, who should take the bill? Government, some vague "teh intarconnected webz" or the ones who live off of it. To me your argument is backwards since this guy is on the recieving end of these claims.

As for his "legal rights". The guy is from Scandinavia. Thus DMCA does not apply directly to him (It is solely a rightholder vs site dispute legally since it has no jurisdiction there!). It is quite rich to expect him to know the law in every country where a site he visits is from.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c857 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c857
The idea that someone who disagrees with you is doing no more or less than biting your ankle is obnoxious.

Just down-vote and ignore.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01434213446/dailydirt-tuition-debt-is-chumps.shtml#c27 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01434213446/dailydirt-tuition-debt-is-chumps.shtml#c27
If you need money for college, ask your parents for a loan they say ... Can't afford college, go to trade school they say. College is elitist and brainwashes you into becoming a democrat they say. What a load of crappola.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01434213446/dailydirt-tuition-debt-is-chumps.shtml#c25 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:51:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01434213446/dailydirt-tuition-debt-is-chumps.shtml#c25 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c842 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:46:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c842 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#c1988 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:45:40 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#c1988 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c559 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:44:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/11301723178/amazon-wants-to-sell-fan-fiction-with-it-originator-fanfic-author-all-sharing-profits.shtml#c559
But go ahead, keep laughing. The Pirate Party is merely the tip of a much bigger movement, as you'll figure out eventually. ;)

(And yes, I did mean cigars made out of hundred dollar bills. The cigars are lit with smoldering hopes of dreams of the gullible young writers who gave up all their rights for a pittance.)]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c837 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:43:49 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c837
Why don't you speak for yourself instead of putting words in somebody else's mouth?

The only things you make are your posts on this blog, which you have given away for years.

"copyright recognizes that no one else has a right to copy works"

It does something entirely different, as everyone in any IP industry knows. Again, stop pretending to speak for people who you aren't.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02514123171/partisanship-over-spying-journalists-is-stupid-spying-journalists-is-bad-period.shtml#c205 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:41:17 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/02514123171/partisanship-over-spying-journalists-is-stupid-spying-journalists-is-bad-period.shtml#c205
Thus, outrage of a DOJ that has the power to tap my phone without a warrant, tap 1st Amendment Protected reports, monitor this post & put me in jail for their reasons MUST go straight to the President's desk (R or D) for hiring the people who carry out such activities.]]> 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#c1967 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:41:03 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#c1967
' I mean, I'm stupid and you're smart,so it should be simple for you.']]> 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#c1959 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:39:39 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#c1959 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c813 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:38:03 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c813
No. Speech does not require income.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130424/00010122821/adam-savage-why-copyright-trademark-holders-need-to-get-over-their-obsession-with-control.shtml#c142 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:37:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130424/00010122821/adam-savage-why-copyright-trademark-holders-need-to-get-over-their-obsession-with-control.shtml#c142
I've written this before on a techdirt article, so forgive me for repeating myself, but if the people who owned Star Trek in the early 70s had come down like a ton of bricks on the fans who were throwing cons where they charged people entry, printing and selling zines, and creating and selling art (the way Paramount's lawyers totally would do today and sometimes sort of try to do, only to be slapped down by the fans), Star Trek would not be the fat-and-sassy cash cow Paramount is milking to this day. STAR TREK WOULD BE COMPLETELY, UTTERLY FORGOTTEN. Paramount considered Star Trek worthless, you could have bought the whole thing for about a hundred grand; it was beneath Paramount's notice so they didn't care what the little people did with it. Considered worthless and given freely away, Star Trek became an incredibly valuable "franchise" (a phrase I detest). The fans gave it worth.]]> 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#c1934 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:37:47 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#c1934