http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/23021017604/white-house-says-it-cant-comment-possible-chris-dodd-investigation.shtml#c957 Thu, 2 Feb 2012 05:14:40 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/23021017604/white-house-says-it-cant-comment-possible-chris-dodd-investigation.shtml#c957
Anyone else notice that the 'other option' of the current administration seems to be a constant train-wreck of a contest to see who can be bat-shit crazier, thereby getting more people to vote Obama back in again? Almost like someone out there wants to keep the status-quo as long as possible?

"hey everyone... look how craaaazy your other options are! A bunch of nutty bible-beating scary's! Those would be much worse than a Kenyan Socialist Commie!"

Now go cast that vote which has never mattered because your election isn't based on the general popular majority and is instead based on the Electoral College and this whole Primary Party Vote and one candidate-per-party thing is not listed anywhere in the constitution. But never mind that! vote vote vote!!! You're an American hating TERRORIST who not only doesn't support our troops, but actively causes them to DIE if you don't vote. And you hate puppies.


Crap. Dropped my tinfoil hat.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/05205917599/angry-birds-ceo-explains-how-company-embraces-piracy.shtml#c96 Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:35:02 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/05205917599/angry-birds-ceo-explains-how-company-embraces-piracy.shtml#c96
Sorry... feeling plucky today. I like the fact that there's yet another example (because, you know, it won't work for everyone) of how you can turn piracy into a boon. And make a great success at it as well.

My example: Shared my copy w/ my two girls... Cost Rovio what? $20? $30? Now they both snatch up Angry Birds Merch wherever they can. Already paid Rovio over $100 last year alone.

Win!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/23021017604/white-house-says-it-cant-comment-possible-chris-dodd-investigation.shtml#c232 Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:53:58 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120131/23021017604/white-house-says-it-cant-comment-possible-chris-dodd-investigation.shtml#c232 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c1227 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:34:29 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c1227
I think they're both crap... each for different but equally vapid reasons.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c1131 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:34:38 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c1131
You: "Hollywood is innovative"
Me: "No they're not... show this innovation"
You: "Well, neither was Silicon Valley!"

Do I need to point out the argument fail there?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c705 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:18:57 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c705 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c678 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:18:03 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c678 that cave wall.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c654 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:13:59 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c654
So, where are these new stories?

As Katt Williams says: "Don't worry... I'll wait"]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c631 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:56:07 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c631 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c620 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:54:17 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c620
I don't think TPB meant that they were making the movies.

But if you continue their line of reasoning, what they're wanting to do is turn the whole world into Hollywood... where anyone can not only make a movie, but get it distributed without being mired down under the legal muscle of a vastly over-inflated beast.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c602 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:49:12 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c602 not wrong. Look at the lines of people to get in to the latest orgy of idiocy in the Twilight saga[sic]. They keep churning out the same crap year after year, and/or repackaging (read: raping) the classics we grew up with... and people. keep. going.

Sounds to me like they know a winning thing when they see it.

Me? I haven't been to the theater in a while. Haven't bought a DVD in a while either. I do, however, love my "goofy movies from the 80's" list and the like on NetFlix.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c581 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:43:21 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120119/12273017472/pirate-bay-press-release-sopa-we-are-new-hollywood.shtml#c581 this time is special and history won't repeat itself.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/22241617464/jon-stewart-now-knows-about-sopapipa-hes-not-impressed.shtml#c1062 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:04:13 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/22241617464/jon-stewart-now-knows-about-sopapipa-hes-not-impressed.shtml#c1062
Anal-iaze.

Thanks for catching that ;)]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/22241617464/jon-stewart-now-knows-about-sopapipa-hes-not-impressed.shtml#c187 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:55:50 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/22241617464/jon-stewart-now-knows-about-sopapipa-hes-not-impressed.shtml#c187 supposed to work for... you know, us]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111008/01404116265/should-we-pass-law-to-stop-yelp-harming-chain-restaurants.shtml#c10 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:17:44 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111008/01404116265/should-we-pass-law-to-stop-yelp-harming-chain-restaurants.shtml#c10
Is this just another example of shifting the blame and shirking responsibility?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12361216076/is-creating-same-software-feature-copyright-infringement.shtml#c149 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:57:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12361216076/is-creating-same-software-feature-copyright-infringement.shtml#c149
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110925/22403016086/did-few-million-virtual-monkeys-randomly-recreate-shakespeare-not-really.shtml#c1107]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12361216076/is-creating-same-software-feature-copyright-infringement.shtml#c27 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:28:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12361216076/is-creating-same-software-feature-copyright-infringement.shtml#c27 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110927/01281116105/no-internet-doesnt-do-away-with-middlemen-it-just-changes-their-role.shtml#c40 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:14:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110927/01281116105/no-internet-doesnt-do-away-with-middlemen-it-just-changes-their-role.shtml#c40
For example: I work for a major insurance company who was, and still is, a major player in the Agent business model. When the Great Big Interweb came along and our competitors started trying to say "see, you can buy it here, no need for agents!", we shifted what our agents do. Now, they enable the purchase of insurance by providing additional value to the purchase. By answering questions and offering guidance on what and how much to purchase, these enablers are able to make the purchase a better experience for the customer.

In this sense, 'enabler' isn't necessarily the dry, dictionary definition, but the 'marketing power word' that means "the people who assist in getting prospects to become customers by giving value to the experience"... which is exactly what the article is talking about.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12332116072/another-day-another-story-police-lying-only-to-be-found-out-due-to-video-incident.shtml#c466 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:03:34 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110923/12332116072/another-day-another-story-police-lying-only-to-be-found-out-due-to-video-incident.shtml#c466 Feb: "Broadbrush" month
Mar: "Kool-Aid" month
Apr: "Sycophant" month
May: "jackwagon" month
June - Dec: ???]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110927/16414616118/righthaven-loses-big-time-colorado-as-well.shtml#c540 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:42:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110927/16414616118/righthaven-loses-big-time-colorado-as-well.shtml#c540 "Mike also tends to argue that copyright and patents don't "promote the progress", but in fact hinder it. Too bad the judge just doesn't agree with that." (emph added by me) [citation needed]

From what I'm reading, the judge is arguing the same thing as Mike... that the original purpose of copyright was to promote progress. The judge doesn't say anything about whether this is still applicable.]]>