http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c174 Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c174 the South being synonymous with stupidity]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11200723149/war-journalists-doj-claimed-fox-news-reporter-was-aider-abettor-co-conspirator-with-leaker.shtml#c18 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:55:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11200723149/war-journalists-doj-claimed-fox-news-reporter-was-aider-abettor-co-conspirator-with-leaker.shtml#c18 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c392 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:55:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c392 Are you arguing is that I can't name my kid, say, Jack because that name was used by a notorious criminal

speaking of full retard...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c842 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:52:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c842
He claims that the this group "has written a ridiculous letter with little basis in fact, arguing that this treaty for the blind would be 'casting aside' the 'international copyright infrastructure.'" But then he never actually explains why that's not true. No substance."

I read it for myself. Business Europe never presents any factual evidence behind why they think this will affect things. I don't know why that needs to be spelled out in detail since you can just click and read the letter.

As for substance, you're right in that regard. He didn't cycle in enough information to really make this into a debatable issue.

"He claims that the proposal would "provide extremely limited situations in which copyright restrictions would be limited for the sake of making it easier for vision-impaired people to access works." But he never bothers to back that up textually. No substance."

That's a debate for the treaty, not the letter.

"It's just a bunch of faith-based, conclusory statements. I'm pointing out that he's a total hypocrite when he castigates others for making faith-based assertions because he does the same with alarming frequency. I'm pointing out that the whole point of this article is merely to discredit a group that he disagrees with (despite him not appearing to actually understand the substance of the arguments or counterarguments). It's total bullshit. I'm calling him out for it."

Your original post had some merit because you were right, there wasn't much fiber to this post, but if you're going to call him out for anything, I don't understand why you think filling your response with insults is going to merit any attention.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c168 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:51:22 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c168 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c826 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:46:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c826 1)Copyright law needs reform, with an eye toward a balance between encouraging content creating, protecting the public good.
2) Businesses need to review what is in their own best interest.
A)Are they punishing their paying customers attempting to fight piracy?
B)Are there ways to increase profits while ignoring piracy.
C) Are they ignoring potential markets, by failing to give the customer what he wants, when and how he wants it?

I am sure I have missed a bunch of things, and perhaps I have gotten something wrong. But this is what I have taken away from Mikes posts, and why I comeback.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c391 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:44:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c391
I am completely in line with .se on this one. As they state:
".SE will naturally respond to the prosecutor]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c495 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:44:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130508/06065623001/new-hope-how-going-free-to-play-brought-redemption-to-star-wars-mmo.shtml#c495 I don't think our friend Blue understands how important those 70% 'freeloaders' are for a f2p MMO (I'll give him a hint--MMO = massively MULTIPLAYER online). If only a very few are playing, the game becomes almost impossible to play because you can't find anyone to play with (almost all the content worth playing needs multiple people to experience it--especially endgame content and PvP). With every MMO I've played, the main reason I quit was the lack of decent people playing at the time of day I was playing it. Those 'freeloaders' are providing a service in the game by creating a large player base which makes the game more valuable to the ones who are willing and able to pay. This is why their revenue doubled. At the rate things were going, if they didn't go f2p the game would have been dead in a year (and it's kinda hard to get any profit from a dead MMO).

Even EvE, where every moment you spend in LowSec/NullSec you wish there were less people playing the game at that particular moment, wouldn't be awesome without the number of players it has.

The only reason EvE hasn't gone F2P is that there is still a bunch of folks willing to pay $35 for two months to play it (and considerably less considering you can pay in advance or with ISK.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c280 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:44:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/18383623114/your-word-against-ours-how-fbis-no-electronic-recording-policy-rigs-game-destroys-its-credibility.shtml#c280 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c803 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c803
I know this is just another brainless FUD piece so you can attempt to discredit these pro-copyright people by making it sound like they hate the blind, but your argument that "it does no such thing" would be much more effective if you actually quoted the text of the proposed limitations and exceptions. You could also add something productive to the conversation by telling us your proposed solution to this problem. Or are you only capable of hit pieces like this that add ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE to the debate?

"The level of freakout from these giant companies over helping the blind is really quite incredible."

Your portrayal of these people as hating the blind is what I find to be "really quite incredible," as in, completely not believable and only reflective of your own deep-seated hatred of others who don't think the same as you. Again, if you cited the text and/or told us your suggestions, that would be a lot more productive. As it is, you just come across as a whiny blogger who is only capable of publishing mindless crap in a desperate attempt to discredit others. Add something positive to the discussion for once. Take a concrete stand yourself rather than just shitting on everyone else's beliefs. Seriously, you come across as writing for disgruntled eighth graders.

Nailed it, AJ]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c380 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c380
That's not true.There are plenty of things they are doing successfully right now - streaming albums in advance, for instance. Which is why we have more reason than ever to be suspicious of radical new legal responses.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c157 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:41:14 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c157 In my opinion, that was bullshit as well. As horrible as real child porn is, drawings are..well, drawings. I can draw two stick figures in a compromising position, and if I happen to put the text "8 years old" on the one with a dress, does that make it illegal child porn? What if I draw a vertical line next to the 8, making the girl 18?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c791 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:47 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c791 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c136 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:38:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c136 Exhibit A: A random collection of comments from Youtube.

Followed by Exhibit B: the flagged comments from Sophisticatedjanedoe's Favorite Posts of the Week.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c132 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:33:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/14372422951/court-finds-fantasy-stories-obscene.shtml#c132
Mark my words, all this censorship will do is increase the popularity of the piece.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/17274422984/house-judiciary-committee-sets-up-first-hearing-copyright-reform.shtml#c540 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:32:46 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/17274422984/house-judiciary-committee-sets-up-first-hearing-copyright-reform.shtml#c540 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/16203623112/nintendo-exchanges-goodwill-control-issues-mass-monetization-claims-lets-play-videos.shtml#c374 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:32:29 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130516/16203623112/nintendo-exchanges-goodwill-control-issues-mass-monetization-claims-lets-play-videos.shtml#c374
Twilight Princess is still amazing. Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. If you like Resident Evil 4, the Wii version is the absolute best version of all. Okami is pretty good on the Wii too. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is an epic RPG.

Basically, if you think there are no good Wii games, you just aren't looking.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c372 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c372 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c783 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:56 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/08324323118/trade-group-representing-many-large-companies-claims-that-exceptions-blind-would-cast-aside-copyright.shtml#c783 Yet, for some reason, you envision Techdirt readers as an obedient, unthinking cult, hanging on Masnick's every word and regarding him as their "leader".

I think that because it's true. It gets proven daily.

Mike and his guest bloggers just relay reports of outrageous things that the IP industry is up to, and they often express their opinions about it, and we all chime in with ours. It's as simple as that. He doesn't have us under mind control. He's not our "leader". One misstep and we'll turn on him...for that one post, which is how it should be.

You're one of the few regulars who is capable of independent thought. I appreciate that.

Along those lines, let me ask you this. Do you agree with me that Mike has said practically nothing of substance in this post and instead is just making another attempt to discredit copyright holders without actually even looking at their arguments?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/17274422984/house-judiciary-committee-sets-up-first-hearing-copyright-reform.shtml#c534 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:28:40 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130507/17274422984/house-judiciary-committee-sets-up-first-hearing-copyright-reform.shtml#c534