Matthew 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (148)

• On the post: Members Of Congress: India's Pharma Industry 'Protectionism' Is Harming US Pharma Industry's Abuse Of Patent System

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 03 Jul, 2013 @ 06:41am

  The senator from Sharkland has the floor.

  Senate President: This meeting of the North Atlantic Undersea Predators' Senate is now called to order! Senator Blueshark from Sharkland has the floor.
  Senator Blueshark: I would like to complain on behalf of all Sharkland, and in the name of all predators that the Union North Atlantic Non-Predators has sanctioned the Tuna's practice of avoiding known shark feeding grounds. This is a clearly protectionist and discriminatory policy and needs to be stopped immediately. Motion to officially sanction UNANP.
  Senator Greatwhite: Seconded.
  ...

• On the post: Who Would You Rather Trust: Bankers Or Regulators?

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 10 May, 2013 @ 06:44am

  I would rather trust...

  I would rather trust Regulators, but i don't. It's a trick question - the revolving door means they're all bankers.

• On the post: John Steele To Court: You Have No Evidence That I've Done Anything Wrong

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 10 Apr, 2013 @ 01:33pm

  Only a matter of time now...

  Seems like it's only a matter of time now before one of these people turns coat fully and starts working with a federal prosecutor to get amnesty for themselves and send the rest down the river. Probably already happened.

• On the post: Florida Homeowner's Association Sues Resident For Critical Blog Comments, Seeks Identity Of Other Commenters

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 26 Mar, 2013 @ 06:40pm

  I've never...

  I've never met an intelligent bigot and I've never heard a positive story about an HOA. I don't think these two things are related, but I also don't think they are coincidental.

• On the post: What To Expect When You're Expecting Prenda Law To Get A Judicial Beat Down

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 06 Mar, 2013 @ 02:14pm

  I think we're pretty much all in agreement here...

  I think we're pretty much all in agreement here right?
  
  Pass the popcorn!

• On the post: HOA President Receives Public Criticism; Responds With Baseless Claims And Empty Legal Threats

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 08 Feb, 2013 @ 07:55am

  legal terminology tourettes

  One of the comments attached to the audio clip has nailed it: "legal terminology tourettes"

• On the post: The Oatmeal Sued Again – This Time For Trademark Infringement

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 27 Nov, 2012 @ 07:26am

  Did they try talking it out?

  Did they try giving him a call and working it out like adults first? If not, then whether or not they have a case, they are assholes.

• On the post: HBO Go Goes Everywhere… Except Your TV Set

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 29 Aug, 2012 @ 11:55am

  Wired no better than wireless

  I bought an HD out dongle for my iPad so my daughter can watch her netflix shows on the big screen. When i tried using it with HBO Go it said that app was not authorized to use HD out.
  
  Let me get this straight: i can only use the app if i subscribe to your channel, but i can't watch video from the app on the same HD tv that the subscription service feeds?
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qileP4bAzek
  
  P.S. Dear HBO, stop putting un-skippable ads for your other shows in front of stuff i watch on HBO Go. You already have my money. Making me watch ads for other stuff i already have access to makes me LESS likely to keep giving you my money, not more.

• On the post: Is Trolling Just A Form Of Practical Jokes?

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2012 @ 07:12am

  Harrassment

  It's a practical joke when you do it to your friends. Otherwise it's harassment. The targets of trolling do not consider the trolls to be their friends.

• On the post: Chinese Companies Again Using Patents To Punish Foreign Competitors: Apple Sued Over Siri In Shanghai

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 09 Jul, 2012 @ 01:35pm

  Re:

  For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

• On the post: Rep. Jackie Speier Puts Forth Bill To Extend TSA To Mass Transit

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 28 Jun, 2012 @ 01:57pm

  Re: Re: Overreacting?

  Ok...that's still a kind of putting the cart before the horse worst case scenario, but I find it to be pretty compelling. It's a more plausible slippery slope than the one that first popped into my mind.

• On the post: Rep. Jackie Speier Puts Forth Bill To Extend TSA To Mass Transit

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 28 Jun, 2012 @ 09:46am

  Overreacting?

  I know...i know...slippery slope and all, but isn't this just talking about local mass transit authorities getting more information from the TSA?
  
  From TFA: "Speier said the bill would increase information sharing at "fusion centers" between TSA and local law enforcement and emergency management officials....Transit riders probably won't see more TSA agents in subways or bus stops, though, Speier said. The expanded TSA role falls more on analysts, she said."
  
  As much as i'd like to see the TSA scrubbed entirely, and despite the newspeakishness of "fusion centers" I'm not freaking out over this.

• On the post: Insanity: CISPA Just Got Way Worse, And Then Passed On Rushed Vote

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 27 Apr, 2012 @ 06:29am

  Motherfuckers

  Congratulations "Aye" voters - you just got on my "do not re-elect" list! You've joined the illustrious ranks of unrepentant SOPA and PIPA supporters. I want Obama to veto this piece of shit legislation, but your opponent in your next election just got my vote no matter what else happens.
  
  http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll192.xml

• On the post: New York Times Adapts Open Source Mini-Game For Some Meta-Journalism

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2012 @ 09:55am

  Re:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrVkEKcSoFE

• On the post: Supreme Court Says You Can Be Strip Searched When Admitted To Jails For Any Offense

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 03 Apr, 2012 @ 09:24am

  Guaranteed Abuse

  This will be the new go-to intimidation tactic. Someone needs to start compiling strip search statistics. (Do not insert the "with pictures" joke here - it's not as funny as you think it is.)

• On the post: Rumblefish CEO: Claiming Copyright On Your Incidental Recordings Of Birds Was Merely A Series Of Unfortunate Errors

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 27 Feb, 2012 @ 03:02pm

  Oh Look...

  "We review a substantial amount of claims every day and the number is increasing significantly. It's been rather challenging. We have millions of videos now using our songs as soundtracks and keeping up is getting harder and harder."
  
  I hear you saying that the situation current copyright law puts you in is untenable and that you would like to see comprehensive copyright reform take place. I applaud you for your progressive attitude when so many in your industry are focused on backwards, money-grubbing punishment schemes that harm the artist and the consumer alike. Thanks also for your heartfelt apology and pledge to never let this sort of thing happen ever again - that sort of thing, when it's sincere, really goes a long way towards establishing a positive relationship with consumers.
  
  Oh wait...you say the only copyright reform you want is more copyright and you didn't actually apologize or pledge to do better? In that case it's a solo bird salute to you. Stop trying to get ahead of the story and spin it and start fixing the problem or you're just another asshole in a vast sea of them.

• On the post: Did Universal Music Try To Expense The Costs Of Eminem's Producers Suing Over Unpaid Royalties… Back To Eminem's Producers?

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 24 Feb, 2012 @ 09:21am

  Balls of solid brass.

  Stay classy UMG!
  
  When life gives you lemons, charge life a handling fee for those lemons, write them off as a lemonade-making business expense, claim an organic food producers' tax credit, and then sell the lemonade. Don't forget to charge for the cup, a modest pouring fee, and a bathroom access fee. You'll need that money to pay lobbyists to get laws passed outlawing those cute little kids on the corner of the next block.
  
  Note that you'll probably lose money on this whole venture, but hey - write-off, plus it's more evidence of the economic harm those kids are causing you. Win-win.

• On the post: Protecting The Artists? Disney's Marvel Uses Copyright To Crush Already Broke Ghost Rider Creator

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 13 Feb, 2012 @ 01:30pm

  Lesson:

  Lesson: Do not conflate copyright owners with content creators and be especially suspicious when the owners who are not creators start pretending to be concerned with the welfare of the creators who are not owners.

• On the post: Ex-FTC Officials Remind Current FTC Officials That They're Supposed To Protect Consumers, Not Competitors

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 09 Feb, 2012 @ 08:43am

  eerie is not harmful...

  Scary is not harmful, lack of direct and obvious consumer benefit is not harmful.
  
  I agree that online privacy issues have the potential to turn into a very harmful situation. I don't see evidence that they are currently harmful to the consumer.

• On the post: Hollywood Wants To Kill Piracy? No Problem: Just Offer Something Better

  

  Matthew ( profile ), 06 Feb, 2012 @ 08:55am

  Crazy!

  The only discs I have bought in the last 5 years are a few kids' shows and movies for long car rides. An idea like this might actually get me to spend more.
  
  Clearly it will not happen.

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