http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/09430123119/eu-commission-sued-refusing-to-reveal-trade-agreement-documents-they-shared-with-lobbyists.shtml#c155 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:54:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/09430123119/eu-commission-sued-refusing-to-reveal-trade-agreement-documents-they-shared-with-lobbyists.shtml#c155 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/06185923116/rice-university-professor-skynets-gonna-take-ur-jerbs.shtml#c894 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:53:15 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/06185923116/rice-university-professor-skynets-gonna-take-ur-jerbs.shtml#c894
Feeling empathy, writing books, imagining, admiring art, feeling regret or any other human emotion, and various patterns of thought are things we don't know how to make machines do yet. The fact that humans can do those things shows that it's possible for things to do those things, therefore it's possible in principle for us to design things that can do those things. We just need to figure out how.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c174 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:52:39 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c174 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c163 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:51:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c163 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c154 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:51:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c154
1) AC above has it right; this doesn't mean EA has learned anything.

2) I think most publishers understand that free *can* work - it is just that many times they either a) aren't certain that it *will* work or b) believe they can make more money with a pay-to-play model. In this case, EA probably knew beforehand that a free to play model would have more accounts, but that wasn't what they were interested in.

What they wanted was to replicate the success of WoW, which made money hand over fist. The goal was to attract a paying subscriber base, which would have significantly more revenue per account than a free-to-play/advertising based model. Now, with that said WoW still made more money than any video game ever. The question EA asked (and we should be asking) is this: would WoW have made more money for Blizzard free-to-play or subscription based?

For their part, Blizzard firmly believes that they would have made less money without paid subscriptions. Free can work, but so can paid.

EA's goal was that high-profit setup. They failed in that aim, and the adjustment is just moving from an unsuccessful fee model to a relatively more successful advertising one.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c21 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:49:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c21 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c152 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:49:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c152 pretty shitty.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/15163123086/did-paul-duffys-wife-admit-that-duffy-was-engaged-interstate-extortion-facebook.shtml#c870 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:48:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/15163123086/did-paul-duffys-wife-admit-that-duffy-was-engaged-interstate-extortion-facebook.shtml#c870
Especially impressive when you consider that at the same time that she is blindly ignoring the minors she considers as being protected are generally more skilled at aquiring porn than the adults they extorting.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c142 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:44:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c142
Now go over to the dark side, ha, and look at the raw number of freeloaders: 1,700,000 to 500,000, or 3.4 : 1 ratio!

This is an established franchise with tons of fans (of all ages, some with actual cash!) over more than 3 decades, and STILL can't get over 30 percent paying, 70 percent freeloaders!

So, NO, still don't see "FREE" working the way you claim.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130515/05513523093/suburban-express-goes-double-nothing-their-aggressive-behavior.shtml#c126 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:41:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130515/05513523093/suburban-express-goes-double-nothing-their-aggressive-behavior.shtml#c126 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/09430123119/eu-commission-sued-refusing-to-reveal-trade-agreement-documents-they-shared-with-lobbyists.shtml#c131 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:38:20 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/09430123119/eu-commission-sued-refusing-to-reveal-trade-agreement-documents-they-shared-with-lobbyists.shtml#c131 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/10535223120/indian-publishing-firm-cant-take-little-criticism-threatens-blogger-with-1-billion-lawsuit-criminal-charges.shtml#c246 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:37:09 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/10535223120/indian-publishing-firm-cant-take-little-criticism-threatens-blogger-with-1-billion-lawsuit-criminal-charges.shtml#c246
Now, just look for politicians publishing 'false' information...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130518/17573523139/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c198 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:35:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130518/17573523139/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c198
A: the existence of legal alternatives doesn't matter and so you bringing up the difference is irrelevant.

IOW, the argument that abolishing IP law would stop terrorists from benefiting from infringement still holds. Adding stricter IP enforcement or stricter laws, like with prohibition, would simply reduce competition for the terrorists which make it even more profitable for terrorists to use infringement to support themselves (econ 101, less competition, more profits).

B: There are situations where legal alternatives are unavailable (ie: Orphaned works) and that's where terrorists are benefiting.

The solution here is for congress to pass laws ensuring that legal alternatives are always available.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130218/23563522021/copyright-harlem-shake-selective-enforcement.shtml#c456 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:33:55 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130218/23563522021/copyright-harlem-shake-selective-enforcement.shtml#c456 youtube]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08111723117/want-to-destroy-any-hope-serious-cybersecurity-give-doj-its-desired-backdoor-wiretaps-all-communications.shtml#c218 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:31:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08111723117/want-to-destroy-any-hope-serious-cybersecurity-give-doj-its-desired-backdoor-wiretaps-all-communications.shtml#c218
Now imagine if those ill-willed people are the Chinese military...

They should be VERY afraid of giving anyone the key to build a cyber-nuke.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130509/18162523030/there-is-no-logic-to-argument-that-zach-braff-shouldnt-use-kickstarter.shtml#c2049 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:28:40 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130509/18162523030/there-is-no-logic-to-argument-that-zach-braff-shouldnt-use-kickstarter.shtml#c2049 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130510/13023123037/lots-people-dont-turn-off-their-devices-when-they-fly.shtml#c1440 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:28:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130510/13023123037/lots-people-dont-turn-off-their-devices-when-they-fly.shtml#c1440
It's a shame because that was otherwise an Insightful, informative answer.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130518/17573523139/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c191 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:27:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130518/17573523139/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c191
According to congress terrorist organizations are benefit from infringement. I already hate IP law and so the takeaway I get is that, like with prohibition, IP law is responsible for them benefiting because without IP law they would be unable to profit from infringement. This just gives me even more reason to hate infringement.

You state that the difference here is that there are legal alternatives. That statement means absolutely nothing and is irrelevant if terrorists are still benefiting from infringing works because, like with prohibition, if you abolish the restrictions (IP law) terrorists can no longer benefit (because people will just seek legal free alternatives instead of funding terrorists to pay for infringing works).

If anything, what congress needs to do to completely stop these terrorists from benefiting from infringement is, according to your logic, ensure that legal alternatives are available. It is the unavailability of legal alternatives, according to you, that enable terrorists to benefit from infringement. Otherwise, if they were available terrorists would be unable to benefit.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c19 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:27:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c19 The level of freakout from these giant companies over helping the blind is really quite incredible.

You wouldn't believe the level of hatred this is generating when people get aware of those actions against the blind. A simple way to nullify these morons is to rise awareness. The backlash will do the rest.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/16203623112/nintendo-exchanges-goodwill-control-issues-mass-monetization-claims-lets-play-videos.shtml#c360 Mon, 20 May 2013 06:24:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/16203623112/nintendo-exchanges-goodwill-control-issues-mass-monetization-claims-lets-play-videos.shtml#c360