http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/01495623420/rep-peter-king-says-reporters-should-be-prosecuted-reporting-government-leaks.shtml#c586 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:06:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/01495623420/rep-peter-king-says-reporters-should-be-prosecuted-reporting-government-leaks.shtml#c586 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/17083023397/unfortunate-that-russ-feingold-got-swept-out-office-2010-as-his-predictions-have-come-true.shtml#c415 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:02:47 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/17083023397/unfortunate-that-russ-feingold-got-swept-out-office-2010-as-his-predictions-have-come-true.shtml#c415 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130605/20062423332/leaked-document-shows-nsa-is-harvesting-call-data-millions-verizon-subscribers.shtml#c486 Thu, 6 Jun 2013 06:26:24 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130605/20062423332/leaked-document-shows-nsa-is-harvesting-call-data-millions-verizon-subscribers.shtml#c486 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130531/01293823260/utah-sheriff-claims-copyright-mugshot-photos-to-avoid-releasing-them.shtml#c728 Wed, 5 Jun 2013 11:44:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130531/01293823260/utah-sheriff-claims-copyright-mugshot-photos-to-avoid-releasing-them.shtml#c728
Putting someone on a lifetime sex offender registry or labeling them a felon does much the same thing. Felons have trouble getting jobs. Sex offenders have trouble finding housing. Both labeling systems result in undue hardships and ostracizing of the person labeled.

If ind it hard to understand how a "compassionate society" would endorse either scenario. I find it hard to understand how someone could advocate against a site that publishes mugshots, claiming that it is a form of scarlet lettering, while supporting a "justice" system that does far more damage.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130531/01293823260/utah-sheriff-claims-copyright-mugshot-photos-to-avoid-releasing-them.shtml#c380 Wed, 5 Jun 2013 08:44:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130531/01293823260/utah-sheriff-claims-copyright-mugshot-photos-to-avoid-releasing-them.shtml#c380 "A compassionate society does not utilize the scarlet letter," he said"

So is this guy an advocate for ending sex offender registries and felony labeling? If not, he is a hypocrite and needs to rethink his position.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c44 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:12:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130522/18103323179/filmmaker-behind-pirate-bay-documentary-says-bogus-dmca-takedowns-take-away-his-free-speech.shtml#c44 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/10391523084/vp-joe-biden-believes-theres-no-legal-reason-government-cant-slap-sin-tax-violent-media.shtml#c493 Thu, 16 May 2013 06:36:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130514/10391523084/vp-joe-biden-believes-theres-no-legal-reason-government-cant-slap-sin-tax-violent-media.shtml#c493 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/16411122954/fight-over-drm-html5-should-represent-last-stand-drm.shtml#c4 Mon, 6 May 2013 05:57:09 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130505/16411122954/fight-over-drm-html5-should-represent-last-stand-drm.shtml#c4
However, their stance on DRM is the primary focus of the hate part of the relationship. Their insistence on using DRM, driven mostly by their media partners, has prevented me from being able to watch online any content on my primary PC and my HTPC. The reason is that the DRM they use, Microsoft Silverlight, is not compatible with my operating system, Linux. It never has been and never will.

Lucky for me, some clever users were willing to violate the DMCA and risk fines and jailtime to circumvent the DRM and allow Netflix's Watch Instantly software to run in Linux based PCs. It is absolutely insane that one must risk financial and social ruin to allow people to use services they are already paying for.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/19421722759/former-policy-secretary-dhs-uses-boston-bombing-to-point-out-how-eff-aclu-are-wrong-about-surveillance-cispa.shtml#c189 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:28:52 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/19421722759/former-policy-secretary-dhs-uses-boston-bombing-to-point-out-how-eff-aclu-are-wrong-about-surveillance-cispa.shtml#c189 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/10170622751/cispa-passes-house-as-288-representatives-dont-want-to-protect-your-privacy.shtml#c369 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:38:32 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/10170622751/cispa-passes-house-as-288-representatives-dont-want-to-protect-your-privacy.shtml#c369 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130415/14130522712/boston-officials-allegedly-shut-down-mobile-service-boston-to-prevent-remote-detonation.shtml#c143 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:34:05 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130415/14130522712/boston-officials-allegedly-shut-down-mobile-service-boston-to-prevent-remote-detonation.shtml#c143 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c815 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:02:22 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c815 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c441 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:07:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c441 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c404 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:05:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c404 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c359 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:03:16 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml#c359
Now, the question then becomes, can you legally recreate and sell the hat without using the term "Jayne"? If people are selling replica's but not referring directly to the show, would Fox be in its right to send a C&D? I wouldn't think so. While the hat had a unique look in the show (did you see any other knitted caps?), it isn't unique in the real world.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c407 Thu, 4 Apr 2013 08:50:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c407 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c367 Thu, 4 Apr 2013 08:48:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c367
I set up an HTPC to record shows that come on during hours in which I am away from the TV so that I can watch them at my leisure.

Just last week, the CPU fried and my HTPC is dead.

Is it infringement for me to the go to the pirate bay and download the very episodes I recorded, legally, so that I can still watch them?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c260 Thu, 4 Apr 2013 08:44:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130403/16412622564/copyright-as-censorship-university-threatens-own-faculty-with-copyright-infringement-campus-survey.shtml#c260 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130328/16411922505/successful-self-published-ebook-authors-sells-print-movie-rights-1-million-keeps-digital-rights-to-himself.shtml#c101 Wed, 3 Apr 2013 06:36:24 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20130328/16411922505/successful-self-published-ebook-authors-sells-print-movie-rights-1-million-keeps-digital-rights-to-himself.shtml#c101
As a self published author, you get 70% of whatever you price your book at. As a traditionally published author with a digital release, I think it is around 12-25% of the profit. That is after the 30% the distribution service (Amazon) takes and whatever other expenses the publisher claims. Often this ends up as less than 10% the list price.

So what do you want, 70% of a $3 book or 10% of a $10 book?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130322/23560222425/copyright-lobby-public-has-no-place-policy-discussions.shtml#c1425 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:47:40 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130322/23560222425/copyright-lobby-public-has-no-place-policy-discussions.shtml#c1425 Mike clearly wants authors to have no exclusive rights whatsoever.

Interesting, he has never said as much publicly or in private.]]>