Comments by Andrew F http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... Horses http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/06185923116/rice-university-professor-skynets-gonna-take-ur-jerbs.shtml#c453 Sat, 18 May 2013 11:51:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/06185923116/rice-university-professor-skynets-gonna-take-ur-jerbs.shtml#c453 When the automobile was invented, it isn't as though the buggy whip makers simply died off in unemployed starvation.
Horses did.

Can machines make rugs? Yup, yet there's a huge market in hand-woven rugs out there.

And some people enjoy riding horses -- that doesn't mean demand for horses is anywhere close to what it was in 1910.

People aren't horses of course. As the economy changes, people can adapt to provide labor in a way horses can't. But people adapt slowly -- certainly not as quickly as automation replaces jobs. There's no Moore's Law for labor.

And service jobs aren't really an answer. Wages for service jobs are low because there's excess supply in the labor market there -- that excess supply is coming from all of the manufacturing workers that have, essentially, been replaced.

I don't think it's the end of the world, but it definitely deserves more of a response than simply dismissing the people raising those concerns as luddites.

A short read on this topic that's neither dismissive nor neo-luddite: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-The-Machine-ebook/dp/B005WTR4ZI]]> Tax Code http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130513/16014423066/more-details-show-irs-targeted-groups-critical-how-government-was-run.shtml#c206 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:41:15 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130513/16014423066/more-details-show-irs-targeted-groups-critical-how-government-was-run.shtml#c206
Given that, it's not surprising that the IRS would focus on Tea Party groups. Imagine if you saw a sudden surge in non-profit applications under a section of the tax code that prohibits lobbying for or against specific candidates and that these groups are associated with movements were explicitly organized to protest the election of a political candidate that now happens to be President. That would raise all sorts of red flags!

That's not to say what the IRS did was legal or proper. But I'd chalk this up to overzealous enforcement of the tax code rather than any specific malicious or ideological intent.]]> Recent Techdirt Ads http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130422/07343022798/native-advertising-is-advertising-people-want.shtml#c586 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:02:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130422/07343022798/native-advertising-is-advertising-people-want.shtml#c586
Also, a request: I want the ability to post comments on inline ads -- e.g. if I see an Intuit ad, I want to be able to post an angry screed about Intuit next to it for the benefit of other Techdirt readers.]]> Not Twitter http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130417/04412522739/double-blow-against-freedom-speech-twitter-users-turkey.shtml#c9 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:13:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130417/04412522739/double-blow-against-freedom-speech-twitter-users-turkey.shtml#c9 Reasons http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/17210122754/police-japan-want-isps-to-block-tor.shtml#c374 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:13:21 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130418/17210122754/police-japan-want-isps-to-block-tor.shtml#c374
"Over the past several years, the Tor system was abused in a number of crimes including the posting of online murder threats on Internet bulletin boards, theft of money from accounts via illegal accesses to Internet banking sites, postings on dating sites by those seeking relationships with children, and leakages of security information from the Metropolitan Police Department."

I wonder which of those triggered the request to block ...]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: No. That isn't natural. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110203/05150212950/dailydirt.shtml#c187 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:01:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110203/05150212950/dailydirt.shtml#c187
Those folks at the marathon were.]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130411/11122622680/oh-look-number-people-employed-movie-music-recording-business-just-hit-all-time-high.shtml#c418 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:35:16 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130411/11122622680/oh-look-number-people-employed-movie-music-recording-business-just-hit-all-time-high.shtml#c418
"Do you listen to music at work? Yes? Then you have a job in the music industry!"]]> Pretty clear infringement on the bag http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130409/09473422634/copyright-maximalist-disney-accused-copying-artists-painting-cosmetic-bag.shtml#c193 Tue, 9 Apr 2013 14:38:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130409/09473422634/copyright-maximalist-disney-accused-copying-artists-painting-cosmetic-bag.shtml#c193
Think of this way: fair use allows you to quote a book in a book review, but it doesn't allow the book author to copy the entire review wholesale.]]> Call her http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130406/18105622612/sen-feinstein-says-congress-ready-to-take-action-to-rein-violent-video-games.shtml#c983 Tue, 9 Apr 2013 14:27:09 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130406/18105622612/sen-feinstein-says-congress-ready-to-take-action-to-rein-violent-video-games.shtml#c983 http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/washington-dc

Those calls actually do work if enough people call.]]> Suggested Fix http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c177 Mon, 8 Apr 2013 20:58:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c177
It's not a complicated change to patent law and, for better or worse, wouldn't affect patent law except to discourage this type of trolling. I'm surprised Congress hasn't taken this up yet.]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c163 Mon, 8 Apr 2013 20:49:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c163
Except as otherwise provided in this title, whoever without authority makes, uses, offers to sell, or sells any patented invention, within the United States or imports into the United States any patented invention during the term of the patent therefor, infringes the patent.


MPHJ could try suing the scanner manufacturer on the grounds that the seller is "inducing" infringement, but there's nothing in patent law that keeps them from suing the end user as well.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c126 Mon, 8 Apr 2013 20:40:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130408/02163322621/more-details-revealed-patent-lawyers-demanding-1000-every-worker-companies-using-scanners.shtml#c126
"99 percent of people are using it," says Rust. "You know it and I know it. So, yeah."


So yes, they really do intend to sue everyone.]]> Re: Re: Re: I liked this part http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/08094922377/supreme-court-gets-it-right-kirtsaeng-you-can-resell-things-you-bought-abroad-without-infringing.shtml#c738 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:25:46 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/08094922377/supreme-court-gets-it-right-kirtsaeng-you-can-resell-things-you-bought-abroad-without-infringing.shtml#c738
I imagine this is less true in markets where Wiley charges a low price, and that professors there might be open to, e.g., teaching a course using free alternative materials found online.]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: I can see it now... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130315/16453322344/prenda-law-tries-to-close-barn-door-after-horse-has-lawyered-up.shtml#c576 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 11:46:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130315/16453322344/prenda-law-tries-to-close-barn-door-after-horse-has-lawyered-up.shtml#c576 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130313/12234722314/warner-bros-lets-veronica-mars-crew-prove-demand-movie-via-kickstarter.shtml#c966 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:33:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130313/12234722314/warner-bros-lets-veronica-mars-crew-prove-demand-movie-via-kickstarter.shtml#c966 Re: Take away copyright! http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130314/06175522320/modder-makes-simcity-capable-offline-play-which-works-flawlessly.shtml#c168 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:25:40 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130314/06175522320/modder-makes-simcity-capable-offline-play-which-works-flawlessly.shtml#c168
Fool me once? Shame on you. Fool me twice? Shame on me. Fool me thrice? I'm a gullible schmuck TAKE MY MONEY.]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: You mean relying on FREE products is risky? http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130313/17262322315/killing-google-reader-highlights-risk-relying-single-provider.shtml#c1736 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:13:22 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130313/17262322315/killing-google-reader-highlights-risk-relying-single-provider.shtml#c1736
A number of popular ad-driven sites also don't make their full content available via RSS, and require the reader to click through to see more.]]> Re: Advertising http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130301/01541322166/crowdfunding-picks-throw-trucks-with-your-mind-other-cool-control-interfaces.shtml#c232 Sun, 3 Mar 2013 01:03:34 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130301/01541322166/crowdfunding-picks-throw-trucks-with-your-mind-other-cool-control-interfaces.shtml#c232 Advertising http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130301/01541322166/crowdfunding-picks-throw-trucks-with-your-mind-other-cool-control-interfaces.shtml#c222 Sun, 3 Mar 2013 01:02:26 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130301/01541322166/crowdfunding-picks-throw-trucks-with-your-mind-other-cool-control-interfaces.shtml#c222 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130215/15093722002/arthur-conan-doyle-estate-sued-to-show-that-sherlock-holmes-is-public-domain.shtml#c51 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:46:06 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130215/15093722002/arthur-conan-doyle-estate-sued-to-show-that-sherlock-holmes-is-public-domain.shtml#c51
(2) To the extent that authors want to create an official canon and prevent knock off sequels that confuse readers, trademark law is sufficient to do this.

(3) Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this book non-fiction? There's no infringement because the Holmes character is not actually being used as a character.

(4) Even if this non-fiction book would otherwise infringe, how is this not fair use?]]>