http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11212323508/how-knowing-government-is-spying-you-changes-how-you-act.shtml#c3117 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:52:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11212323508/how-knowing-government-is-spying-you-changes-how-you-act.shtml#c3117 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c930 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:52:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c930 "Anyhoo, when more than one AG comes after you, it's just possible that you're engaged in fairly obvious fiddling."

Nice appeal to authority there. Obviously there's no reason to believe that if one AG seeks to improve their chances of career advancement by grandstanding on a stupid issue like this, that others would jump on the bandwagon for the same ulterior motives. No, AG's clearly have moral superiority when in numbers...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11133123507/steve-wozniak-speaks-out-against-nsa-spying-this-is-not-my-america.shtml#c613 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:46:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11133123507/steve-wozniak-speaks-out-against-nsa-spying-this-is-not-my-america.shtml#c613
But the trend in the latest week is promising. Sooner or later we starve them.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c456 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:45:33 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/14341223521/google-without-admitting-it-gets-fisa-orders-files-lawsuit-to-challenge-fisa-gag-orders.shtml#c456 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c912 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:44:08 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c912 "...don't address the merits of anything I say."

Very little you have to say at the moment has any merit. You have quite literally lowered yourself to the level of spam.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c901 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:43:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c901
I'd be very surprised if one popped up one day with a well-reasoned argument for his or her position. Hell, I might even pay attention to them.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c90 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:41:26 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#c90
It just seems like there are basically three types of "pirate".

A. Those who cannot afford the content but want it.
B. Those that can afford the content but ONLY consume it BECAUSE it's free.
C. Those that can afford the content and WOULD purchase the content if it was not free.

The problem with the content industry is that they count all three groups as a lost sale when ONLY group C is a lost sale.

Then it gets even trickier. Group C is most likely the smallest group and as the amount of choice increases, Group C starts to migrate into Group B.

Then my head nearly exploded when I began to wonder why this is even an issue. Watching the content via stream or download shouldn't even be a crime. It's the person who illegally distributed the content who is actually breaking the law.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130611/09013223404/wipo-intellectual-monopolies-not-needed-innovation-informal-economy.shtml#c176 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:38:46 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130611/09013223404/wipo-intellectual-monopolies-not-needed-innovation-informal-economy.shtml#c176
Of all the Blues, only Rational Blue has anything of value to contribute. The others have only wild conspiracy ravings and tinfoil hattery that clogs up the comments and are quickly reported.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c880 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:37:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130618/11332223519/states-attorneys-general-want-to-special-exception-to-blame-sites-actions-users.shtml#c880 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130608/03355523371/warning-letters-under-uks-three-strikes-plan-unlikely-to-be-sent-out-before-2016-if-ever.shtml#c81 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:37:01 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#c81
There is no question now that the DEA in an official yet unspoken coma going nowhere quickly. They have already wasted around]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/01573323504/senator-lindsey-graham-defends-nsa-surveillance-arguing-about-something-entirely-different.shtml#c699 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:35:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/01573323504/senator-lindsey-graham-defends-nsa-surveillance-arguing-about-something-entirely-different.shtml#c699 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/startups/articles/20100528/0853219616/dailydirt-whats-name.shtml#c130 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:32:24 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/startups/articles/20100528/0853219616/dailydirt-whats-name.shtml#c130 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c935 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:31:12 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130618/10230323518/nsa-claims-surveillance-programs-aided-stopping-50-attacks-details-lacking.shtml#c935 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 ;)]]>