http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130511/02295223046/pretending-that-instructions-to-print-gun-arent-out-there-wont-change-reality-that-they-are.shtml#c556 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:37:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130511/02295223046/pretending-that-instructions-to-print-gun-arent-out-there-wont-change-reality-that-they-are.shtml#c556 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130429/07214322874/homeland-security-participates-trademark-raid.shtml#c512 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:42:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130429/07214322874/homeland-security-participates-trademark-raid.shtml#c512
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130429/07214322874/homeland-security-participates-trademark-raid.shtml#c487 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:40:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130429/07214322874/homeland-security-participates-trademark-raid.shtml#c487
Plus, often aftermarket parts are the same quality - if not better.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130424/19014922826/doj-helped-att-others-avoid-wiretap-act-promised-not-to-charge-them-if-they-helped-spy-people.shtml#c326 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:14:45 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130424/19014922826/doj-helped-att-others-avoid-wiretap-act-promised-not-to-charge-them-if-they-helped-spy-people.shtml#c326
No surprise of course.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130315/01534722333/no-photos-sky-bill-trimmed-back-still-could-create-felons-out-kids-playing-with-toy-drones.shtml#c269 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:37:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130315/01534722333/no-photos-sky-bill-trimmed-back-still-could-create-felons-out-kids-playing-with-toy-drones.shtml#c269
Oh well - what are they going to do if they see it? How will this be enforced?

Will a local cop shoot at one if he thinks it's military? So yeah - just make it look like one the CIA might use and you're good~]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130307/09035022240/uk-politicians-offer-awful-bargain-give-up-free-press-if-you-want-defamation-reform.shtml#c323 Fri, 8 Mar 2013 07:29:55 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130307/09035022240/uk-politicians-offer-awful-bargain-give-up-free-press-if-you-want-defamation-reform.shtml#c323
Classy.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130307/14574822243/simcity-backlash.shtml#c566 Fri, 8 Mar 2013 06:51:45 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130307/14574822243/simcity-backlash.shtml#c566
But between my frustration this week getting the SIMS 3 running for my wife and this crappy DRM - I guess I'll try CitiesXL.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130304/16271422195/librarian-congress-shoots-back-white-house-over-phone-unlocking-were-just-doing-our-job.shtml#c714 Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:50:17 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130304/16271422195/librarian-congress-shoots-back-white-house-over-phone-unlocking-were-just-doing-our-job.shtml#c714 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130304/16271422195/librarian-congress-shoots-back-white-house-over-phone-unlocking-were-just-doing-our-job.shtml#c710 Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:49:18 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130304/16271422195/librarian-congress-shoots-back-white-house-over-phone-unlocking-were-just-doing-our-job.shtml#c710
But they assuming someone wants to unlock the phone to 'circumvent' technological protections.

There could be numerous reasons one would want to do this - including wiping it's OS and installing something custom on the hardware - that's not at all 'circumventing software'.

While the DCMA may cover various things - if it doesn't restrict what you can load on a Laptop; why a cell phone?

Many Laptops are designed for 'Windows 7' - does that make loading Linux on it illegal?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130304/12141322193/swedish-bittorrent-user-accused-sharing-beyonce-album-hit-233000-lawsuit-sony.shtml#c552 Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:31:19 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130304/12141322193/swedish-bittorrent-user-accused-sharing-beyonce-album-hit-233000-lawsuit-sony.shtml#c552
In 98% of cases - most people don't buy software, movies, or music unless they have already heard it for free - or they are big on a specific title or artist; in which case, they'll buy anyway most of the time.

I wouldn't download this one for free. Just not interested.

Hell, you don't need torrent for music downloads now anyway :O]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130220/00203822034/court-wont-block-cnet-offering-bittorrent-downloads-not-public-interest-to-stifle-public-discussion.shtml#c200 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:59:05 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130220/00203822034/court-wont-block-cnet-offering-bittorrent-downloads-not-public-interest-to-stifle-public-discussion.shtml#c200
Yeah, it's because ruling's rarely have much to do with 'law' - and more to do with who has the largest pile of cash to throw at it.

So basically; you'd be betting on resources on each side.

I wonder if bookies take bets on these?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130219/09591822028/armed-uk-police-raid-house-over-facebook-picture-showing-toy-weapon-background.shtml#c576 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:59:42 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130219/09591822028/armed-uk-police-raid-house-over-facebook-picture-showing-toy-weapon-background.shtml#c576
So... these cops are so pitifully trained that they mistook a toy mortar for the real thing?

Does this make anyone more confident in their abilities? lol]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120923/21335520476/anonymous-hacks-us-sentencing-commission-website-grabs-sensitive-files-demands-legal-reform.shtml#c176 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:02:20 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120923/21335520476/anonymous-hacks-us-sentencing-commission-website-grabs-sensitive-files-demands-legal-reform.shtml#c176 Maybe it's my cynicism talking, but I'm fairly sure Anonymous and every other group like them could have stood back and done nothing, and the government still would have continued to ramp up the violation of liberties.

Problem with 'leaders' - as history shows, they tend to get fearful.. and feel as though 'controlling the masses' somehow makes them safer. Seems to be more of an issue, the longer someone is in 'power' - perhaps more term limits on more offices would help correct that.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130127/19023721799/redditor-points-out-flaws-simcitys-online-only-drm-gets-banned-ea-his-troubles.shtml#c849 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:39:55 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130127/19023721799/redditor-points-out-flaws-simcitys-online-only-drm-gets-banned-ea-his-troubles.shtml#c849
Dunno why, I even got Sim City societies in spite of how 'easy' it was. I've bought all the SIMS3 expansions too - never had a problem buying their stuff, well.. until this new DRM is packaged with it.

My internet is on 99% of the time; and usually I don't care. But then I tend to play a lot of REAL multiplayer online stuff - and games like SimCity; are my 'rainy day' games, if I'm having connection issues and such - so this won't work.

Do what you want EA - no DRM like this and I'll buy it.

DRM doesn't stop piracy, lol - it just annoys us paying customers, with ONE MORE THING that can break.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130125/01260721784/obamas-techies-want-to-open-source-their-work-politicians-want-to-keep-it-secret.shtml#c459 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:16:51 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130125/01260721784/obamas-techies-want-to-open-source-their-work-politicians-want-to-keep-it-secret.shtml#c459
But... they get government dollars.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130125/08230821788/cnet-you-cant-trust-our-reviews-you-can-trust-our-news-honestly.shtml#c138 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:07:26 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130125/08230821788/cnet-you-cant-trust-our-reviews-you-can-trust-our-news-honestly.shtml#c138
I forget when, around the early 2000's - it got way too 'corporate bloated' - that's a good point to ditch a site.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130124/07015421777/just-two-more-days-to-unlock-your-phone-then-youll-be-breaking-law.shtml#c689 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:05:43 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20130124/07015421777/just-two-more-days-to-unlock-your-phone-then-youll-be-breaking-law.shtml#c689
Keep your overpriced junk.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/02480221558/pharma-companies-try-drm-drugs-as-ploy-to-stymie-generics.shtml#c171 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:00:27 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/02480221558/pharma-companies-try-drm-drugs-as-ploy-to-stymie-generics.shtml#c171 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130114/18442221671/dear-hbo-disney-netflix-et-al-fragmenting-online-tv-lets-piracy-keep-its-biggest-advantage.shtml#c790 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:59:45 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130114/18442221671/dear-hbo-disney-netflix-et-al-fragmenting-online-tv-lets-piracy-keep-its-biggest-advantage.shtml#c790
Yep, with you 100%.

It's why people rarely worry about being 'late' for a movie - you just miss the ads anyway.

I don't mind seeing a couple previews - but it's getting ridiculous. What's worse is the ton of ads on the DVD's I buy - but there's an easy fix for that... But the DVD you want, rip it to a digital file and put it on a writable DVD.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130110/02454621625/yet-another-study-cracking-down-piracy-not-effective.shtml#c219 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:18:03 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130110/02454621625/yet-another-study-cracking-down-piracy-not-effective.shtml#c219
Name a person that buys more than 10% of media - that they have *never* seen/heard FIRST - before buying it.

Now in the digital age, or before....

I might own five out of 200 store bought DVD's that I didn't see before buying it - and I could pretty well guarantee; they were under $5.00 or I wouldn't have.

The only small exception to that is a series/artist that I am almost positive I like, or that I follow a lot. Which... if Pink Floyd releases a new CD, I'll just buy it. There might be 3-4 other artists I would do that with. But 98% of the time - I've seen or heard it first.

And yes, Pandora has prompted me to buy more CD's over the last year than I had the previous 10 years before now.]]>