http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c876 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:27:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c876 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c863 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:25:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c863 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130611/00503223401/public-outcry-taiwan-kills-their-version-sopa.shtml#c84 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:21:31 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130611/00503223401/public-outcry-taiwan-kills-their-version-sopa.shtml#c84 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130616/20142123500/games-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-used-games-must-be-killed-order-unsustainable-aaa-development-to-live.shtml#c1692 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:14:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130616/20142123500/games-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-used-games-must-be-killed-order-unsustainable-aaa-development-to-live.shtml#c1692
I don't understand why that isn't good enough for everyone?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c68 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:14:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c68 as for the figures from independent sources, the government refuses to take any notice of these, (even information and recommendations from the government sponsored investigator, Professor Ian Hargreaves, is often ignored) as does the entertainment industries, who actually try to make out that the losses 'are considerably higher' than the estimates already put forward. the important term here is 'estimates'. no one in their right mind can estimate losses. it is an unprovable amount. to then say, as i saw the head of the UK movie industry say 'the estimate should be much higher' is totally absurd!!
France is about to disconnect their first 'file sharer', even though it is illegal. i am waiting, like others, to see the outcome. France could find itself in deep shit here and to no small amount, the entertainment industries too!!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c839 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:12:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c839 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c818 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:10:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c818
"Given all the suicides, bashings, bullying ,and yes, even murders _directly attributed_ to telephones, I think its high time those gutless cowardly bastards were held accountable for their part.

death to AT&T/Verizon!"

Now makes as much sense - but there would be more people agreeing with you ;)]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c796 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:07:21 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c796
Oh wait, that would be a scary proportion of your population.

Although now I think about it, 'crazed loonies' is a good description of your gun lobby. 'Wayne "Crazed Loony" LaPierre' has a nice ring to it. Or 'Charlton "Prise my gun out of my crazed loony dead hands" Heston'.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130611/00503223401/public-outcry-taiwan-kills-their-version-sopa.shtml#c68 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:03:27 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130611/00503223401/public-outcry-taiwan-kills-their-version-sopa.shtml#c68 But by all means, carry on your ranting, don't let the actual article get in the way of your preconcieved notions.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c441 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:01:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c441
Frankly, I could get more intelligent discourse on Free Republic, Spearhead or InfoWars...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c791 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:59:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c791 AGs want this legal.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c424 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:57:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c424 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c400 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:56:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c400
There, I managed to contribute more to this than your ongoing Google paranoia.

Seriously, if you were picking on other 'big search' or ad-monetised content (FB etc) you might seem reasonable, but you seem incapable of moving off your MS-sponsored talking points.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c62 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:49:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c62
"... whilst the specific figures may have been questioned there has not been a serious attempt from any side to deny that this widespread infringement is causing harm to the creative industries, which is why it should be tackled as quickly as possible"

and also

"Figures are not available for the losses from unlawful file-sharing in other content industries such as publishing as you rightly mentioned, business software or computer games, but it is clear that they are all suffering significant losses."

Apparently if you discount all the people and studies that have pointed out the decided lack of harm to the creative industries from copyright infringement you end up with a situation where no 'side' has made a serious attempt to deny such. Maybe there had only been jocular attempts to do so.
Also, lack of even estimates of loss, indicate significant losses.

Of course back then they were careful to note that
".. the provisions of the Act are designed to build gathering of impartial evidence and real feedback on impact to all parties..."
and that
"This process will continue as Ofcom researches benchmark levels of copyright infringement and assesses the initial impact of the two initial obligations. These assessments from Ofcom will provide the sort of evidence that you want to see and that the Government agrees it would need to have before taking any steps that would impact on people]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c46 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:48:21 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c46 /sarc]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/17490723465/leaked-nsas-talking-points-defending-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c1232 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:43:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/17490723465/leaked-nsas-talking-points-defending-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c1232
A PS Fact: Do to so many so called "laws" the fact is "You're (Probably) a Federal Criminal."]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/17490723465/leaked-nsas-talking-points-defending-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c1207 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:34:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/17490723465/leaked-nsas-talking-points-defending-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c1207
We are now a nation of the rule of men, not the rule of laws.

FACT: There are no rights recognized in Federal Courts, except to plead for bail.

The so-called rules of law are for the poor, the uneducated and working class. Everyone else is privileged, entitled, exempt or immune from so-called rules of law. How ya like those rules?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c923 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:34:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c923 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c922 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:33:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c922 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c902 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:33:17 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c902