Lauriel 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (126) comment rss

  • On the post: Free Culture Is The Response To The Ethical Failings Of The Old Entertainment Industry

    Lauriel ( profile ), 28 Jun, 2012 @ 06:03pm

    Re: Re: A response to the functional failings, rather

    That may be true, but the old model you are referring to would be pre-1709. So now that the pendulum swung too far in the other direction for 300 years we declare that it is unethical and has failed.

    It's not so much that the pendulum swung too far - it's that the grandfather clock was replaced with a digital one, and dad (the **AAs) took the pendulum out and went batshit crazy, swinging it at anyone and everything in sight.

  • On the post: David Lowery Wants A Pony

    Lauriel ( profile ), 19 Jun, 2012 @ 04:31pm

    Re: Friendship is magic

    because Friendship is Magic and friends don't steal from their friends, including their friend's music


    I remember way back in the '80s, before the internet and filesharing came along. My friends and I did, in fact, share a lot of music. We'd loan each other tapes and CDs. We'd use a double tape recorder to record copies of tapes and CDs. We'd record off the radio. We'd bring music over on a Sunday afternoon, or to parties, to increase the options and for all to enjoy. We never told each other "sorry, but friends don't encourage piracy, you'll have to buy your own."

    And friends don't lie to each other? Really? You'd be surprised how often we lie to each other. You break up with your boyfriend - what does your friend say? I'll bet they don't tell you everything you may have done wrong in the relationship, they'll just agree that the guy was a bastard, and it wasn't meant to be. Friends are friends because they do lie - they nurture our egos rather than let rip with the bald truth.

    If you don't want to support or justify filesharing, fine. But please don't pretend that music sharing never existed prior to 1990, or that sharing is an evil thing that has no place in society.

  • On the post: MPAA Ok With Allowing Users To Get Back Their Megaupload Files If 0% Infringement Can Be Guaranteed

    Lauriel ( profile ), 07 Jun, 2012 @ 06:34pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    An honest question, because I don't know much about the law here - but would anti-SLAPP cases, and cases such as Oracle's suit against Lodsys for being a patent troll, count as prior case law?

  • On the post: Megaupload Filings Show Massive Flaws In US Case, Ask Court To Dismiss

    Lauriel ( profile ), 31 May, 2012 @ 06:10pm

    Re: Criminal jurisdiction and Megaupload civil suits

    Hmm. Much has been made of the timing of the raid on Mega, in regards to it being so close after SOPA/PIPA being shot down. I haven't seen much said about the timing based on the assumption that the laws passed (and I have to believe the USG believed these laws would pass with no difficulty).

    Interesting that the raid was planned for the days after these laws were slated to go into effect.

  • On the post: Canadian Politician Claims That Ripping A CD To Your iPod Is Like Buying Socks & Stealing Shoes To Go With Them

    Lauriel ( profile ), 18 May, 2012 @ 01:08am

    Re: Wrong Analogy

    Ironically, that scenario would make you a thief - just not for the stockings (or mp3).

  • On the post: TV Network Execs Contemplate Going To Court To Say Skipping Commercials Is Illegal

    Lauriel ( profile ), 17 May, 2012 @ 01:40am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Oh, yes! Not exactly subtle, was it?

  • On the post: Postal Service Could Be On The Hook For Millions For Daring To Memorialize The Korean War Memorial

    Lauriel ( profile ), 17 May, 2012 @ 01:26am

    Re: Re:

    The spin:

    The USPO, by adhering to strict copyright laws, has contributed over $3 million to the private sector, and several million to the legal sector - promoting American job growth and adding to the American economy.

    And that is how copyright saves jobs and helps the economy. :/

  • On the post: Postal Service Could Be On The Hook For Millions For Daring To Memorialize The Korean War Memorial

    Lauriel ( profile ), 17 May, 2012 @ 01:21am

    Re: Re: Re:

    ...his tights were infringed...

    ROFL! Is that the copyright equivalent of getting his panties in a twist?

    Okay, I know it was a typo, but it made me laugh!

  • On the post: TV Network Execs Contemplate Going To Court To Say Skipping Commercials Is Illegal

    Lauriel ( profile ), 16 May, 2012 @ 03:20am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Hawaii Five 0 has had some clangers too - especially the Microsoft ones. Using the internet on the mobile phone to "bing it" sounded as natural and comfortable as wearing swimwear to Mt. Everest. And your right, the car 'commercials' are pretty obvious too.

  • On the post: TV Network Execs Contemplate Going To Court To Say Skipping Commercials Is Illegal

    Lauriel ( profile ), 16 May, 2012 @ 03:11am

    Re: Re: Re:

    +1 internets for the B5 reference. I'm not sure whether Babylon 5 did a great job mocking news outlets with ISN, or a great job at portraying reality though...

  • On the post: The Ridiculous Hoops Mad Men Had To Jump Through To Use Part Of A Beatles Song

    Lauriel ( profile ), 10 May, 2012 @ 05:07am

    Re:

    "Photoshop a historical event marred by copyright law."


    Can't afford it. According to current law, I have to:
    1. Buy a license to cover publicity rights.
    2. Buy a license to cover copyrights (of the photographers, agents, whatever)
    3. Pay a lawyer to advise me of my options when I get the inevitable nastygram, because it's posted on a blog so it must be infringing.
    4. Pay a huge settlement fee because I can't afford the lawyer to defend me through a protracted and lengthy court case because perchasing the licences doesn't protect me, it's only an "affirmative defense".

    Too expensive for a little light entertainment and 30 minutes creative fun for a Photoshop challenge.

    *Narrows eyes and peers suspiciously* Or are you one of the fair use wackos???

  • On the post: UK Gov't Considering Requiring A 'Porn License' If You Want To Look At Porn Online

    Lauriel ( profile ), 09 May, 2012 @ 12:19am

    Re: Re: Business Opportunity

    Hrm...that give me a new idea for licensed porn...

    Does it involve two "police officers" and a pool cleaner?

  • On the post: Bad Lawsuit, Worse Timing: Beastie Boys Sued Over Infringing Samples On Seminal Albums

    Lauriel ( profile ), 08 May, 2012 @ 08:47pm

    Re: Re:

    +1 on that.

  • On the post: Bad Lawsuit, Worse Timing: Beastie Boys Sued Over Infringing Samples On Seminal Albums

    Lauriel ( profile ), 08 May, 2012 @ 07:27pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    Just because it shares the same root word doesn't mean it shares the same definition. In your link, it also states that the figurative use of "full of possibilities" has been in use since the 1630s.

    Semen is the latin root for seed. We also use seed as an idea, not just in terms of semen, but also plant seeds, the seed of an idea, etc.

    Seminar also has the same root word, and has it's origins as the definition of a nursery or breeding ground.
    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=seminar

    Both meanings have morphed, like many words. A seed becomes an idea, and a nursery becomes a place where the seeds (ideas) are planted and nurtured (seminar, seminary, etc).

    Seminal now can be used, perfectly correctly and acceptably, as "Highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development: a seminal idea in the creation of a new theory".
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/seminal

    Short version: You are both correct. Both meanings are applicable. :)

  • On the post: Dan Bull Talks About Trying To Reach The Charts While Giving Away His Music

    Lauriel ( profile ), 27 Apr, 2012 @ 04:53pm

    Re:

    I suspect mostly he wanted to see how many stupid tardian blogs would carry his story. He has proven his point that you guys are all suckers for his cause.

    Perhaps, but mostly he's proven how much free advertising you can get if you are friendly, enthusiastic, and embrace the public, instead of hurling insults and lawsuits at them.

    I doubt he will be paying you back for all your generosity

    You've missed the point completely. Generosity doesn't require reciprocity. Generosity doesn't involve a quid pro quo, or backscratching deals. The fact that generosity is often returned is due to good will, and the desire to do something nice for those who have done something you feel is worthwhile. Generosity is given freely.

  • On the post: Kim Dotcom Fires Back: Raises Questions About US's Evidence, Shows Studios Were Eager To Work With Megaupload

    Lauriel ( profile ), 28 Mar, 2012 @ 12:31am

    Re: Re: Re:

    While I don't buy into the timing of the SOPA protests being anything more than coincidence, it is absolutely appalling timing for this type of move on behalf of the USG.

  • On the post: Would Australia Go Back And Reject ACTA?

    Lauriel ( profile ), 27 Mar, 2012 @ 09:03pm

    Re: Politicians here are not necessarily know for their common sense

    Senator Ludlam has been arguing against ACTA and similar policies. It's not likely to get much support from the Greens.

  • On the post: Parent Claims 'Ender's Game' Is Pornographic; Teacher Who Read It To Students Put On Temporary Leave

    Lauriel ( profile ), 24 Mar, 2012 @ 07:01pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Or you were being funny and I missed it. :/

  • On the post: Parent Claims 'Ender's Game' Is Pornographic; Teacher Who Read It To Students Put On Temporary Leave

    Lauriel ( profile ), 24 Mar, 2012 @ 04:10pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Oh, okay, I get where you're coming from now.

    I didn't mean 'proper' as in 'correct'. There are two categories of noun - common and proper. A common noun doesn't have a capital letter, and refers to a person, place of thing. A proper noun does have a capital letter, and refers to a spceific person, place or thing. A person's name, 'Marcel' for example, is a proper noun, whereas 'person' is a common noun.

    So the sentence I typed was correct:

    The Almighty Squiggle Line (name)probably believes that "English"(name) is a proper noun, deserving of a capital letter. Your obeisance to the Almighty Squiggle Line was wise, young Grasshopper.(name, and KungFu reference).

    And I try very hard to resist the lure of being a grammar Nazi, but since the OP asked, I thought it was okay to answer. :)

  • On the post: Australian Police To Go Wardriving, Telling People To Lock Up Their WiFi

    Lauriel ( profile ), 23 Mar, 2012 @ 06:59pm

    Re: Re: Re: :eyeroll:

    I'll start with a disclaimer - I'm very, very fuzzy on the details of setting up networks.

    I'm Australian, and with Telstra, one of the largest ISPs. I've never purchased or upgraded my modem/router without it being automatically set up with a WPA/password on it. It doesn't mean others don't, but I've always assumed they do.

    If Australian ISPs set this up out of the box, wouldn't that mean that those with open wifi have done that out of preference? Or am I just severely confused and ignorant on the matter?

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