http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/13431923427/dear-politicians-exposing-us-dirty-laundry-isnt-aiding-enemy.shtml#c292 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:44:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/13431923427/dear-politicians-exposing-us-dirty-laundry-isnt-aiding-enemy.shtml#c292 " the USA government is of the opinion that it can do whatever the hell it likes, to whomsoever it likes,.... Quite true, the US totally ignores (violates) the sovereignty of other countries.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/13431923427/dear-politicians-exposing-us-dirty-laundry-isnt-aiding-enemy.shtml#c288 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:39:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130612/13431923427/dear-politicians-exposing-us-dirty-laundry-isnt-aiding-enemy.shtml#c288
And along with other scandals, the Obama administration's credibility is in the toilet. So why should we, as a nation, continue to allow ever more onerous restrictions on our civil liberties in the name of security?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/11253223394/former-nsa-boss-this-leak-teaches-world-that-america-cant-keep-secrets.shtml#c456 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:06:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/11253223394/former-nsa-boss-this-leak-teaches-world-that-america-cant-keep-secrets.shtml#c456 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/01385123392/author-patriot-act-says-nsa-surveillance-is-abuse-must-end.shtml#c308 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:39:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/01385123392/author-patriot-act-says-nsa-surveillance-is-abuse-must-end.shtml#c308
The Washington Post had this headline today: "Merkel, other European leaders raise concerns on U.S. surveillance"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/merkel-other-european-leaders-raise-concerns-on-us-surveillance/2013/06/10/305eddda-d1da-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html?hpid=z1

So the issue is not simply purported "rogue" individuals like Snowden or Manning, but how the US treats the rest of the world. For example, the US loudly proclaims that China is committing cyber-security attacks against the US, but the US, as the NSA leaks point-out, is itself committing cyber-security improprieties. The US has lost its moral high ground.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/01385123392/author-patriot-act-says-nsa-surveillance-is-abuse-must-end.shtml#c218 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:02:21 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130610/01385123392/author-patriot-act-says-nsa-surveillance-is-abuse-must-end.shtml#c218
Based on anecdotal evidence, it shouldn't take a genius to figure out that the NSA (like IRS) snooping activities could be used for nefarious purposes. (Also don't forget the new facility being built in Utah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Data_Center)

Also how effective has this snooping been? It evidently did not expose the Boston Marathon bombers, the Sandy Hook School mass killer, and it would not likely to be effective against spontaneous acts of terrorism. So is all this supposed snooping actually cost-effective?

So do we allow a police state in the name of supposed security that has the potential to be used for nefarious purposes (despite the denials)?????????? I say not.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130604/00412423310/president-obamas-comes-out-strongly-against-patent-trolls-here-are-details.shtml#c514 Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:45:46 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130604/00412423310/president-obamas-comes-out-strongly-against-patent-trolls-here-are-details.shtml#c514 populist, he offers the adoring masses "candy" to solicit votes. Obama knows how to and is extremely effective at selling populist concepts, but will he actually invest time and effort to pursue fighting patent trolls??? I doubt it.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/02474422373/fight-isnt-about-unlocking-mobile-phones-whether-you-actually-own-what-you-bought.shtml#c528 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:58:38 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/02474422373/fight-isnt-about-unlocking-mobile-phones-whether-you-actually-own-what-you-bought.shtml#c528 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/02474422373/fight-isnt-about-unlocking-mobile-phones-whether-you-actually-own-what-you-bought.shtml#c438 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:52:43 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130319/02474422373/fight-isnt-about-unlocking-mobile-phones-whether-you-actually-own-what-you-bought.shtml#c438
"A former USC student who bought textbooks in his homeland of Thailand and sold them in the United States won a major Supreme Court ruling on copyright law that gives foreign buyers of textbooks, movies and other products a right to resell them in the United States without the permission of the copyright owner."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/03/supreme-court-decision-copyright.html]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130208/18082821928/two-famous-journalism-institutions-shame-themselves-not-standing-up-basic-fair-use.shtml#c329 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 06:39:39 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130208/18082821928/two-famous-journalism-institutions-shame-themselves-not-standing-up-basic-fair-use.shtml#c329
For example, when SOPA/ACTA was running "hot" as a National issue, FOX News had a panel of so-called pundits discuss the copyright law. What floored me, was the call for compromise. Not once was it mentioned that copyright has grown ever "strong". But piracy has. So the obvious implication by the word compromise was the continued trend towards an ever stronger version of copyright. The logical approach of comprise; to restore copyright to its original intent was never raised.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130127/19023721799/redditor-points-out-flaws-simcitys-online-only-drm-gets-banned-ea-his-troubles.shtml#c227 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:07:32 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130127/19023721799/redditor-points-out-flaws-simcitys-online-only-drm-gets-banned-ea-his-troubles.shtml#c227
Anyway, I left my complaint on the ??? website, which remained unanswered by the company for several months. After some complaining, one staff person was honest enough to simply say (paraphrased): "my sympathies, but you are screwed.". Without going into a long discussion, my credit card company did give me a courtesy refund. Unfortunately, that does not teach companies such as EA a lesson in customer service.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121119/10282021093/rep-darrell-issa-wants-to-make-it-clear-that-youre-allowed-to-rip-your-dvds.shtml#c274 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:47:09 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121119/10282021093/rep-darrell-issa-wants-to-make-it-clear-that-youre-allowed-to-rip-your-dvds.shtml#c274 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120717/02364219725/insanity-romneys-ad-featuring-obama-singing-al-green-shut-down-via-copyright-claim.shtml#c850 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:08:47 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120717/02364219725/insanity-romneys-ad-featuring-obama-singing-al-green-shut-down-via-copyright-claim.shtml#c850
Irrespective of who wins the election, I expect a re-emergence of proposals for ever "stronger" legislation to protect so-called "intellectual property".]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120703/10500719565/you-cant-introduce-any-decently-cool-product-these-days-without-some-sore-loser-claiming-patent-infringement.shtml#c232 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:01:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120703/10500719565/you-cant-introduce-any-decently-cool-product-these-days-without-some-sore-loser-claiming-patent-infringement.shtml#c232 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120703/10500719565/you-cant-introduce-any-decently-cool-product-these-days-without-some-sore-loser-claiming-patent-infringement.shtml#c204 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:24:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120703/10500719565/you-cant-introduce-any-decently-cool-product-these-days-without-some-sore-loser-claiming-patent-infringement.shtml#c204
Obama, himself did an ersatz temporary strategic retreat from SOPA/PIPA.

After the election I assume that the protection of so-called "intellectual property" will be reinvigorated. The lawyers will be happy.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120709/00100219617/chinese-companies-again-using-patents-to-punish-foreign-competitors-apple-sued-over-siri-shanghai.shtml#c246 Mon, 9 Jul 2012 13:53:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120709/00100219617/chinese-companies-again-using-patents-to-punish-foreign-competitors-apple-sued-over-siri-shanghai.shtml#c246 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120623/00213319445/judge-posner-rips-apart-apples-patent-litigation-strategy-being-really-annoyed-is-no-reason-to-sue.shtml#c81 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:37:56 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120623/00213319445/judge-posner-rips-apart-apples-patent-litigation-strategy-being-really-annoyed-is-no-reason-to-sue.shtml#c81 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120621/19013019422/apple-reveals-new-iphone-connector-port-thus-wiping-out-several-generations-accessories-one-fell-swoop.shtml#c898 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:06:02 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120621/19013019422/apple-reveals-new-iphone-connector-port-thus-wiping-out-several-generations-accessories-one-fell-swoop.shtml#c898 http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120621/19013019422/apple-reveals-new-iphone-connector-port-thus-wiping-out-several-generations-accessories-one-fell-swoop.shtml#c847 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 06:28:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120621/19013019422/apple-reveals-new-iphone-connector-port-thus-wiping-out-several-generations-accessories-one-fell-swoop.shtml#c847 "new".

Also in the news: Microsoft: It]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120619/18131819392/eff-launches-defend-innovation-site-attempt-to-fix-software-patents.shtml#c285 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:59:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20120619/18131819392/eff-launches-defend-innovation-site-attempt-to-fix-software-patents.shtml#c285
A second issue that requires further review is that there can only be "one" patent holder. We live in a world economy with a world population in excess of 6 Billion people. Given that, many people can "invent" the same thing. If that is the case there should be NO patent or at least a shared patent.

Finally, any patent that is issued must be supported by a real device with real blueprints. A third party should be able to take that blueprint and construct that device. If they can't then NO patent.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120521/03345318988/youre-only-making-things-worse-yourself-us-too-media-industries-part-ii.shtml#c1120 Thu, 24 May 2012 09:20:27 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120521/03345318988/youre-only-making-things-worse-yourself-us-too-media-industries-part-ii.shtml#c1120 "Yet traditional forms of legal enforcement have become nearly impossible.". To get around the impediment of traditional methods of copyright enforcement, infringement for one has been criminalized instead of simply being a civil violation. So we now have the State involved in propping up the revenue stream of corporations.

Not only that but third parties, such as the ISP, are now being required to "filter" and or "read" internet content. Basically wiretapping.

Furthermore, we are seeing the emergence of "automated justice". Basically, if some entity "X" says that you have infringed without any valid proof, ISP "Y" is required to take-down the content and wait for the "offender" to respond and provide proof that the entity "X" actually made a false accusation. (How one can force a third party to act as private law enforcement is beyond me.)

This turns our judicial process upside down. It used to be that the complaining entity had to provide proof and take it to court and try the evidence before an adverse action could be taken. Now one can have an adverse action imposed without a trial and the "offender" then has to defend themselves to rescind that adverse action.

The Washington Times had an editorial condemning cameras that record people going through red lights because in many cases they did not work properly. The Washington Times cited one person defending the use of the cameras who basically said: "Our concern is not justice but maximizing revenue." Similarly, with copyright and patent law, the rule of law and due process are being sacrificed to maximize revenue.]]>