http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c632 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:17:05 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c632
Well yeah, I mean if I went to the West Boro Baptist church blog and made constant remarks about their Pasture instead of debating their perceptions of reality, I would expect the same kind of treatment.

You're a big boy Joe, you should know that debating on a website that stands on the other side of the spectrum compared to your viewpoint is going to be difficult. Otherwise, why go through the trouble?

"Address the merits of my post if you would: Do you agree that Mike has not even begun to back up his assertion that this is a "ridiculous letter with little basis in fact"? "

Yes, but then there's little information to go on to say how this will affect international copyright in the long run. You can make the assumption it will damage the finances of all the companies Business Europe represents, or you can assume it will barely affect them.

" Do you agree that Mike hasn't shown us the text of the proposal and explained why this response is bullshit?"

He hasn't taken the time to dissect it yet, yes, but the focus of this article isn't that specific document, it's the letter that Business Europe sent out concerning the draft treaty.

"Do you agree that Mike's purpose in writing this article was not to actually advance the debate in a positive way but was instead solely for the purpose of discrediting these people with his usual "they hate the blind!" trope?"

Mike may interpret that these companies hate blind people, but that's absolutely an opinion, which makes this article an "opinion piece." If you are unable to distinguish opinion from reality, then I don't know what I can do for you.

"I feel like I added to the discussion by pointing out how Mike added nothing."

You also made a bunch of accusations and insults...I don't see how that is at all conducive to any kind of discussion. If you really wanted to add to things, you could read the draft treaty here - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CGEQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wipo.int%2Fedocs%2Fmdocs%2Fcopyright%2Fen%2Fsccr_25%2Fsccr_25_2_rev.doc&ei=8FWaUeqlKKrJygGh9YDADg&usg=AFQjCNFH5LfVxJf7y4tRkDYCi89jt_EdnQ&sig2=oIkruGn4R5ZQQ1eUBHswuA&bvm=bv.46751780,d.aWc - and see if it actually woudl cause a disruption in the international copyright structure.

"I'm not familiar enough with the proposals to add much of value on the merits, but apparently neither is Mike. That doesn't stop him from writing this crap though. Why aren't you grilling him if you agree with me in part?"

I don't grill Mike because his opinions don't matter that much to me (I like his ideas though). I come to Techdirt for the information (I mentioned before I usually click the links to see for myself what they say).]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c607 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:16:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c607 Let's see the proposal. Let's see the exact text they are taking issue with. Let's discuss it on the merits.

Never thought I'd see you say that. It's pretty much a staple complaint on Techdirt that the public never gets to see the text of the various treaties and international agreements.

So Joe, here's a question. Are you agreeing with Techdirt and most of its readers and commenters that these agreements should be open and transparent to the public?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c229 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:15:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c229 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c63 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:14:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c63
The US owned .com domain has aided and abetted MUCH worse and much more numerable crimes! Including

-Hosting child porn
-Hosting illegal files for download like music and videos
-Hosting porn in general
-Hosting websites that tell people how to do dangerous things, such as build an atomic bomb, cover your tracks after you commit a serious crime like murder

Imagine all the economic damage if .com starts arbitrarily dumping large numbers of websites to avoid legal liability from all that stuff!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c214 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:14:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c214 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130516/10513523106/att-continues-to-mock-concept-net-neutrality-this-time-with-google-hangouts-block.shtml#c445 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:13:01 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130516/10513523106/att-continues-to-mock-concept-net-neutrality-this-time-with-google-hangouts-block.shtml#c445 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130511/03220823047.shtml#c1257 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:12:13 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130511/03220823047.shtml#c1257 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c3786 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:07:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c3786
But in some cultures, public nudity is the norm, so the general moral standard regarding decency isn't universal. Indecency laws are one of the few statutes that are based solely on common practice and not on pragmatic purpose. Those that oppose restrictions on public nudity note that it's more natural to not wear clothing than to adorn one's self with artificial skins (so the debate comes down to an appeal to convention vs. an appeal to nature and the public's interest in retaining personal liberty). Now, as it is, the decency laws as they are here in the industrialized world aren't that much of an inconvenience, so the society isn't collapsing under the contention, but this violation of personal liberty might serve as a precedent to violate further personal liberty with later laws, and there's no real good reason why we refuse to let people run around naked....

I opine that we'd be much better off as a society if we didn't freak out over other people's genitals, and a clothes-optional society would be a significant step in that direction.

Sorry, all, for writing before my first cup of coffee.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c38 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:05:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c38 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c191 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:02:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c191 simply questioning the transcript opens the questioner up for charges of "making false statements."
That is a nice offence, you are guilty of you agree with our version, and guilty if you don't.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c482 Mon, 20 May 2013 10:01:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c482 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c169 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:58:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c169 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c584 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:34 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c584 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c144 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:01 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c144 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c583 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:56:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c583 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c137 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:54:26 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c137
Legal scholars continued to be baffled by the sheer number of people who willingly implicate themselves.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c578 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c578 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c136 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c136 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c134 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:44:53 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c134
Never say a word to any law enforcement official. Ever. It can come back to bite you in ways you could never imagine. You have a right to remain silent. Exercise it.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c129 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:44:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c129
Know what their state legislature did to rectify the problem? They required ALL police interrogations be recorded, because of how useful of such videos have proven to be at both getting incriminating evidence against the real criminal, and at proving innocence of the falsely accused (including those bullied into false confessions by police).

The Illinois police even supported the changes, the FBI could learn something from them.]]>