http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c71 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:28:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c71
Just look at the whole Sequester thing. Republicans opposed it and blamed it on Obama, until Obama opposed it, then Republicans decided to support it and refuse to repeal or replace it like Obama asked.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c344 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:26:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c344 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c1046 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c1046
It]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c967 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:24:58 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c967 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c69 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:24:52 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c69
However, there's a larger issue. If something is illegal, it's possible for the law, even if typically unenforced, to be used in special circumstances.

Also, there's a general "chilling effect" of something like the DMCA's non-circumvention provision. Any dual-use tool, like a disassembler, or some such, becomes potentially illegal. Nobody wants to come up on the pointed end of a Federal charge in the USA, even if the charge is grossly unfair and probably unconstitutional and maybe even illegal relative to other statutes. So, potentially useful tools don't get developed, sold or circulated. Research is driven underground. When reverse engineering is outlawed, only outlaws will reverse engineer. I remember that some Indian police departments found this out: nobody legit could do some decryption they wanted done.

Down with non-circumvention!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c341 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:22:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c341
Sure as hell won't now, no matter how delicious some think it is (sorry Tim!). Companies who behave this way should not be encouraged with patronage.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c994 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:21:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c994
-Little boy blue]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c332 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:21:12 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c332 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c58 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:20:49 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c58 Pointless. Why create a new law when it's clear the existing law is broken?


This law fixes the old law.

Waste of time. I have zero faith in a Congress that can't even take the time to fix the problems which made the DMCA an issue to begin with.

That's what this law does.

We don't need new laws. We need the existing laws corrected.


That's what this law does.

And obviously, my calls to my (Ind) senators have done nothing to make this happen.


Your calls alone won't, but lots of calls will.

Do that, instead of supporting this law, please.


Uh, again, that's what this law does.

Tell Congress to fix what they broke in the first place.


Again, that's what this law does.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c663 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:20:44 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c663 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c38 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:18:54 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c38
My digital music is all backed up on several devices as well as the provider's cloud.
My e-books are stripped of all DRM, converted and backed up on several hard drives and on my Ubuntu One account.
I share music and e-books with my friends and family because that is what culture is all about.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c34 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:18:07 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/10401723156/if-you-think-you-should-actually-own-products-you-bought-now-would-be-good-time-to-call-congress.shtml#c34 It's difficult to think of any reason why this bill shouldn't become law.
There can be one reason, the same that brought the DMCA idiocy into existence - DRM lobby's desire for control over various technologies.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c643 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:14:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c643
I wouldn't. But they weren't in their yards or inside their homes. They were in a public place in the course of their "duties." If we can be filmed in public and have no expectation of privacy, then neither do they. There is no special privilege of privacy just because they are police officers.

If they weren't doing anything wrong, then what exactly did they have to hide? That's the real issue here.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/02413623115/bogus-lawsuit-plus-threats-to-those-who-write-about-it-leads-to-epic-response.shtml#c926 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:11:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/02413623115/bogus-lawsuit-plus-threats-to-those-who-write-about-it-leads-to-epic-response.shtml#c926 hey mike tl;dr

can those of us that dont have an hour to read this get a very brief summary?

After reading the letter, that WAS a very brief summary.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c622 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:10:53 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c622 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c309 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:10:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c309 "This is typically the kind of situation that happens when lawyers are allowed to become too influential"You are exactly right.
There is also another related [poor] business strategy: Sign on with a consulting firm that will provide "full service" protection of your brands and IP. In that situation, the business may not even be directly involved in the decision to do send this type of letter.

Hint for the MBA set: Any time your decision making process consists of "leaving it up to" someone who is in a different business than you, watch out. They may be making decisions that are not necessarily in your best interest.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c294 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:10:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/01450023148/makers-nutella-force-fan-who-created-world-nutella-day-to-shut-it-down.shtml#c294 i'd get behind that.That's what...oh, never mind....]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c282 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:16 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130521/01321523153/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-infamous-samy-amy-if-they-talk-about-their-experience-show.shtml#c282 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c1021 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:05 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c1021 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c993 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:05 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/18345423136/doj-dept-education-to-colleges-start-restricting-free-speech-campus-kiss-your-federal-funding-goodbye.shtml#c993 Fuck is the worst word that you can say
We shouldn't say fuck, no we shouldn't say fuck, fuck nooooo!!!]]>