http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c495 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:15:34 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130519/19190923142/if-youre-going-to-illegally-seize-citizens-cell-phones-least-make-sure-youre-grabbing-right-ones.shtml#c495
Tired of Police taking your cellphone? Sick of your precious footage of funny police brutality video disappear into the thin ether?

Prescott industries announce a brand new product today, The Feint Phone(tm)!

The Feint Phone(tm) is a brand new produce specifically designed to act as the "phone" that's recording the surroundings while transmitting wireless signal to your REAL phone, sitting in your pocket. This $10 product is equipped with a medium resolution camera lens and wifi module encapsulated in a form factor to mimic a cell phone. Worried that police might see through the fake phone? Studies shows that up to 90% of police are incompetent enough to believe a fake phone is the real thing!

You would ask, what about the rare 10% competent police? Well, they won't be doing anything worthy for video recording don't they.

In the rare case of an incompetent or a competent police officer sees through your Feint Phone(tm), we have specially designed a smart phone app which could be configured to start transmitting footage to the Internet(youtube) as soon as it detects the Feint Phone(tm) started recording! You'll be the most popular youtube poster with live footage on the Internet!

For the low price of $10 each (or $100 for 12), the Feint Phone(tm) will be your solution to eroding democracy in the U.S. today!

Order now!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c1673 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:30:03 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c1673
2. And Americans have a reverse stereotyping of thinking everyone else in this world think and feel the same way they do, and has the same kind of morality and culture they do.

Congratulations, you are among one of the many that actually think "American Exceptionalism" is a praise. Well, think again.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c1447 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:11:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130508/10233423003/bug-allows-same-sex-marriage-nintendo-game-nintendo-releases-patch-to-fix-it.shtml#c1447
From my knowledge of the Japanese popular culture, I would recommend reading up 'fujoshi' and 'yaoi'.

have fun! ;)]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130506/22112722970/former-dhs-head-google-glass-intrusive-surveillance-is-bad-if-its-corporation-doing-it.shtml#c246 Mon, 13 May 2013 13:28:37 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130506/22112722970/former-dhs-head-google-glass-intrusive-surveillance-is-bad-if-its-corporation-doing-it.shtml#c246 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130428/18232822866/ny-police-chief-ray-kelly-says-boston-bombing-takes-privacy-off-table.shtml#c639 Thu, 2 May 2013 13:55:20 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130428/18232822866/ny-police-chief-ray-kelly-says-boston-bombing-takes-privacy-off-table.shtml#c639

Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130306/10291822217/our-turn-to-get-bizarre-legal-threats-global-wildlife-foundation.shtml#c282 Wed, 6 Mar 2013 12:50:40 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130306/10291822217/our-turn-to-get-bizarre-legal-threats-global-wildlife-foundation.shtml#c282
"Please proceed, governor, I mean, Matherne."]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121202/19532721203/canadian-copyright-law-caps-statutory-damages-5000-just-as-file-sharing-lawsuits-make-their-unwelcome-return.shtml#c675 Wed, 5 Dec 2012 13:32:25 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121202/19532721203/canadian-copyright-law-caps-statutory-damages-5000-just-as-file-sharing-lawsuits-make-their-unwelcome-return.shtml#c675
While you are stuck on the "old" technology of tracking IPs on torrents and the "debunked" idea of 1 IP = 1 Person, many people have already moved on to file lockers (yes they are still around after megaupload died) and good old news servers.

Please keep up the effort to waste money just like the Americans do since you have obviously learned nothing. I wish you godspeed on your pursue of wasted efforts, counter-suits and bankruptcy.

Sincerely,]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121127/14455221158/game-maker-studio-drm-misfires-permanently-replaces-created-game-resources-with-pirate-symbols.shtml#c152 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:56:06 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121127/14455221158/game-maker-studio-drm-misfires-permanently-replaces-created-game-resources-with-pirate-symbols.shtml#c152
"and it's simply not right that some pay good money for it, and have to suffer the DRM because others simply pirate it. In fact, those would not have suffered DRM because they are removed by cracks"]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121127/14455221158/game-maker-studio-drm-misfires-permanently-replaces-created-game-resources-with-pirate-symbols.shtml#c120 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:53:20 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121127/14455221158/game-maker-studio-drm-misfires-permanently-replaces-created-game-resources-with-pirate-symbols.shtml#c120
I think the legit users who had this should be teamed up and sue the company for damages, because this actually damaged their property. Imagine crashing a car because some stupid DRM on the brake misfired and stopped it from working. Shouldn't the brake manufacturer be on the hook? If you are using this application to create an actual product, wouldn't your release schedule be impacted and you might need to remake all the graphics? (a good time to remind people to use source control)

Maybe only when this kind of financial hurt will make them realized that putting a DRM on will actually cost them money, instead of just affected users sucking it up.

Alternatively, most companies have no supporting data on how their DRM is preventing pirated copies and increasing their bottom line. Dailly probably DON'T have any evidence on how this DRM is making them more money, but just think that it "logically should" increase their revenue.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121030/13202220887/george-lucas-finally-relinquishes-his-tight-control-star-wars-to-mickey-mouse.shtml#c766 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:14:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121030/13202220887/george-lucas-finally-relinquishes-his-tight-control-star-wars-to-mickey-mouse.shtml#c766 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121009/08175120661/peta-vs-pokemon.shtml#c636 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:39:15 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121009/08175120661/peta-vs-pokemon.shtml#c636
Essentially I disregard PETA's ad/argument whenever they appear now, even if it's logically sound or contains important message, since their delivery method history has made me disdain for their existence.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121009/08175120661/peta-vs-pokemon.shtml#c628 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:34:33 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121009/08175120661/peta-vs-pokemon.shtml#c628
Another poster mentioned Nintendo is one of the backers for PETA. I can't imagine Nintendo would actually authorize this.

On a separate note, I have always wanted to start PAUTPPETA, People Against the Unethical Treatment of People from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PAUTPPETA's view is that the actions of PETA is considered a physiological/visual abuse to humanity and should be stopped. We advocate the ethical treatment of people around the world.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121002/11573120572/gangnam-style-shows-what-can-happen-when-you-dont-lean-copyright.shtml#c742 Tue, 2 Oct 2012 15:58:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121002/11573120572/gangnam-style-shows-what-can-happen-when-you-dont-lean-copyright.shtml#c742
One of the earlier communities that digged up Gangnam style is actually the North American Anime/Manga circle because in the song, "gangnam style" sounds like "Gundam style", referencing to the Gundam anime series.

And one of the VERY FIRST COPYRIGHT TAKE DOWN on Youtube is the fan altered (or MAD) video, "Gundam Style". I know it because I was one of the many people who got to see it, then found out it's been taken down by copyright. I still remember the take down happened around August 20th and I was very pissed.

So no, Psy is no saint on the copyright take down business.

Up to this day that full video is still offline. You can however see a short version of it by the same author at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMTfWsb-jQk]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120921/11573820461/ftcs-attempt-to-broadly-expand-misguided-child-protection-law-will-chill-innovation.shtml#c607 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:23:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120921/11573820461/ftcs-attempt-to-broadly-expand-misguided-child-protection-law-will-chill-innovation.shtml#c607
Therefore, I am making a proposal to FTC.

FTC is to set up a site, which will take emails and also a simple age verification system/drop down/whatever they want. I'll have 5000 people send in an email each, and the other 5000 people go through the age verification form. If the FTC is able to 100% identi...nay, let say 80% successfully identify those who are children and who are adults, I'll agree to the new proposal.

Deal?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120912/20384720366/seventh-circuit-court-chicago-cops-cant-use-annoyance-as-reason-to-stifle-free-speech.shtml#c266 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:12:44 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120912/20384720366/seventh-circuit-court-chicago-cops-cant-use-annoyance-as-reason-to-stifle-free-speech.shtml#c266
We just had a bunch of Niagara cops accused of importing and using steroid and testosterone up here in Canada.

And according to local population, the cops were a reign of terror for a long time, presumably high on steroid and testosterone. The cops were very aggressive and abusive to anyone who dare to challenge their authoritah. Many time they would just start beating and asking question later. Or in one accusation, start beating while says, "stop resisting".

see:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/09/09/niagara-police-steroids-allegations.html]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120911/01015620336/mpaa-sends-five-key-propaganda-points-to-politicians.shtml#c561 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:33:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120911/01015620336/mpaa-sends-five-key-propaganda-points-to-politicians.shtml#c561
You keep on pounding that square peg at the round hole. We all know what with enough patience and force, it'll fit one day.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120901/09462520249/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c1814 Tue, 4 Sep 2012 11:24:03 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120901/09462520249/funniestmost-insightful-comments-week-techdirt.shtml#c1814 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120824/10510020147/award-winning-manga-author-opens-up-his-work-to-be-used-anyone-anywhere-anything-royalty-free.shtml#c413 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:22:53 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120824/10510020147/award-winning-manga-author-opens-up-his-work-to-be-used-anyone-anywhere-anything-royalty-free.shtml#c413 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120824/10510020147/award-winning-manga-author-opens-up-his-work-to-be-used-anyone-anywhere-anything-royalty-free.shtml#c390 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:21:07 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120824/10510020147/award-winning-manga-author-opens-up-his-work-to-be-used-anyone-anywhere-anything-royalty-free.shtml#c390
In Japan they are allowed because most if not all mangaka (manga artist) either grow out of doujinshi or is related to doujinshi market/artist in some way. In the tradition of encouraging/allowing younger mangaka the opportunity that establish artists had when they were doing doujinshi too, mangaka turns a blind eye toward doujinshi and does not talk about it.

However, that being said, from time to time you COULD have an outlier who is willing to shut down doujinshi of his/her work. Sato is essentially making it official that he is allowing this instead of just let it be.

So your alternative title is appropriate, but that does not make the action less meaningful.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120826/23534320161/applesamsung-jurors-admit-they-finished-quickly-ignoring-prior-art-other-key-factors.shtml#c104 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:00:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120826/23534320161/applesamsung-jurors-admit-they-finished-quickly-ignoring-prior-art-other-key-factors.shtml#c104