TechNoFear 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: CBS Announces New Ad-Free More-Expensive Streaming Service…That Includes Ads

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 02 Sep, 2016 @ 08:19pm

    Unlimited / Limitless?

    >>calling its plans "unlimited", even though they are very much limited.

    Australia has strict consumer protection laws and a specific ACCC ruling on the use of 'unlimited' in those type of adverts.

    Yesterday I saw an ISP advertising using their plans as 'limitless'...

  • On the post: Rather Than Coming Up With Brand New Taxes For Tech Companies, The EU Just Issues A Massive Fine On Apple

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 02 Sep, 2016 @ 08:04pm

    Tax Venue Selection

    This appears to be the tax equivalent of patent venue selection, where Ireland is the equivalent of East Texas.

    Apple is allocating profits to a head office that does not exist, has no employees and no business activity.

    So just as other "Non-Practicing Entities" select East Texas for favourable patent conditions, Apple has selected Ireland for favourable tax conditions.

  • On the post: Australian Government's Stupid Census Plans Puts Privacy At Risk, May Destroy Their Own Census

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2016 @ 02:07am

    Re: Re:

    In contrast to the US, which is a nation of children pretending to be adults...

  • On the post: Australian Police Confiscate Pastafarian Man's Guns Because He Posed For His ID Card Wearing A Colander

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 28 Jun, 2014 @ 12:22am

    Re: Re: Re: The worst part of this story....

    You appear to be spreading FUD as well...

    According to the FBI UCR there are 8-9,000 homicides with a firearm each year between 2008 and 2012.

    The CDC lists over 81,000 Americans non fatally shot in 2012.

    An additional 19,990 Americans used a firearm to commit suicide in 2011.

    All because less than 30% of Americans want to own a firearm...

    Homicides;
    http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_8_murder_victims_by_weapon_2008-2012.xls

    Injuries;
    http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/nfirates2001.html

    Suicides;
    http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html

    Ownership rates;
    http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/04/a-minority-of-americans-own-guns-but-just-how-many-is-unclear/

  • On the post: DOJ's Tone Deaf Criminal Charges Against Chinese Hackers Helps No One, Opens US Officials Up To Similar Charges

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 21 May, 2014 @ 01:24am

    Don't worry, once net neutrality is killed all foreign hackers traffic will be too slow to be effective...

  • On the post: Pakistani Musicians Claiming Piracy Is Worse Than The Taliban

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 06 May, 2014 @ 10:38pm

    If I was a Pakistani musician I would also say that piracy is worse than the Taliban.

    Simply because 'pirates' do not burn your home down, kill your family and friends (or worse) just because you said something the 'pirates' did not like...

  • On the post: Company Uses Bogus Polls And Gag Orders To Protect Image Of License Plate Scanning

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 06 May, 2014 @ 01:05am

    Re: Re:

    As an example;

    The police department that investigates 'bad cops' would not want those 'bad cops' to see that they were being investigated / followed (and / or the number plates of the cars belonging to the investigators).

  • On the post: Company Uses Bogus Polls And Gag Orders To Protect Image Of License Plate Scanning

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 03 May, 2014 @ 11:04pm

    I have done some work on ALPR systems for law enforcement outside of the US (as I also designed some AEI and digital image processing systems).

    Even the police here had concerns about privacy.

    An issue that delayed the implementation was that the ALPR system would also record covert police vehicles, which the covert police departments did not like anyone having access to.

    No problem, supply a list and those plates will be excluded from capture.

    But that would require the covert police department to publish a current list of all its plate numbers, which it also did not want to do...

    [Note: This system was not publicly accessible, nor even accessible by your 'average policeman'. Access is very strictly controlled and monitored. Even the developers did not have access to the 'real' data.]

  • On the post: History Repeating: Google Glass Getting Same Treatment As Walkman And Cameras Once Did

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 02 May, 2014 @ 04:14am

    I develop IT / OT solutions for a living and love technology, but I do find my self disliking Google Glass.

    I think it is because I cannot opt out.

    Currently I can (mostly) choose where on the internet info on my activities appears, once this technology is common that will no longer be true.

  • On the post: Kenny Rogers' Lawsuit Shows The Many Ways That A Major Label Screws Artists (Even The Big Ones)

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 15 Mar, 2012 @ 10:01pm

    Re: Re: Re: Cheats

    I wonder how much the record companies charge the artist for an audit?

    Probably a multiple of the amount of royalties owed to the artist, plus costs.

  • On the post: A Look At Internet Censorship Around The World

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 13 Feb, 2011 @ 08:37pm

    Images are well out of date...

    According to the images Australia does not have 'free' internet.

    This is because of Conroy's proposed ISP level filter.

    A filter that is clearly NOT going to be implemtented under the current Australian parliment.

    The filter has not been mentioned since ALL political parties (apart from Conroy's Labor) declared they would NOT support a filter (and would vote against it) in the run up to the 2010 election.

  • On the post: Tobacco Companies Using Trademark Claims To Try To Avoid Putting Warning Labels On Cigarrettes & Cigars

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 08 Jan, 2011 @ 08:24pm

    The pack can't be displayed in a shop so the logo won't be seen until after purchase....

    Read the first report, this is a tabbacco company suing the local distributor of their product for putting legally required stickers on packs (imported into Australia).

    Why don't they just reprint the pack so the logo is not covered? (they have had 5 years to do so)

    Is putting a label with the percentage of each ingredients and RDI on the pack also trademark infringement?

    What about labels for localised promotional competitions?

    How about warnings that the product may contain nuts, dairy or other ingredients you may be allergic too?

    What about a pharmacy/doctor that puts stickers (with dose, patient etc) over the brand on medicine bottles?

    Tabacco is a restricted product in Australia (selling tabacco to a under 18's is a very large fine) and can not even be diplayed in shops. So only after purchase will the logo be seen.

    For decades there has been no tabacco advertising allowed on TV.
    For 5 years the 100% of the back panel and 25% of the front of all tabacco products has been a graphic warning.
    For the last year tabacco products can not be displayed in shops (hidden inside cabinets).
    Recently cigarettes had to meet fire hazard standards (must self extinguish).
    Soon all the packs will have to be blank, except for the warning.

    Clearly the tabacco industry knows this will harm their business and are fighting back (by trying to set an obtuse legal precident).

    BTW a pack of 25 costs US$15 - US$20 in Australia, due to massive taxes.

    Why?

    Because Australia has full public health care, paid for by the Australian tax-payers (and 1/4 of all Australian tabacco users need expensive health care at some point).

  • On the post: Australia Says No Warrants Necessary If Law Enforcement Thinks You're A Terrorist

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 18 Nov, 2010 @ 12:10am

    Re: Re: The Terrorists Win

    "Furthermore, as someone born to Indian parents, I also fear for this new rule because of the recent spate of violence against people of Indian descent in Australia that has often been willfully ignored by the officials; as a lot of Indian people probably look like "terrorists", this sort of harassment (often violent) will now effectively be officially condoned. Truly sickening."

    Much of this is an Indian media beat up (similar to the Australian media beat up of the Commonwealth Games).

    Did the Indian media mention these murders of Indian nationals?

    Did the Indian media report that all were later found to be committed by Indians nationals?

    Jyoti Mehta and Ujalla Dinesh murdered 5 March 2008 by Indian national.
    Ranjodh Singh murdered December 29 2009 by another 2 Indian nationals.
    Navdeep and Kawaldeep Singh murdered February 11 2010 by another Indian national.
    Gurshan Singh Channa murdered 3rd March 2010 by Indian national.

  • On the post: Australia Says No Warrants Necessary If Law Enforcement Thinks You're A Terrorist

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 17 Nov, 2010 @ 11:50pm

    It always amuses me when Americans forget that the US was also a penal colony AND had slavery.

    Even though Australia had ~160,000 convicts in the 1860's (compared to the US's ~60,000), Australia had [b]zero slaves[/b] compared to the US's ~4,000,000.

  • On the post: Australia Says No Warrants Necessary If Law Enforcement Thinks You're A Terrorist

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 17 Nov, 2010 @ 11:44pm

    Australia has a written constitution.

    "As Australia has no written Constitution "

    What about the "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia" (1901)?

    And the protections provided by the ICCPR or UDHR?

  • On the post: New Speed Cameras Can Spot Multiple Offenses At Once… And Send Off A Ticket Immediately

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 13 Nov, 2010 @ 11:23pm

    I get fined Au$75 for doing up 8 Kmph (5 mi/hr) over the speed limit. 9 - 19 Kmph is Au$150.

    More than 40 Kmph (25 mi/hr) is Au$1,000 (plus some other serious charges probably resulting in confiscation of both vehicle and license for a considerable time period).

    Speed cameras are randomly hidden, numerous and often check for seat belts, registration (even if by manual viewing of the image).

    I may not be safer, but I am spending much more time checking I am not exceeding the speed limit (and checking the side of the road for cameras).

  • On the post: Visiting Australia? Make Sure You Tell The Customs Officials About The Porn On Your Hard Drive

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 22 Oct, 2010 @ 12:19am

    They have just added a box on the customs declaration arrival cards mentioning porn.

    I cant imagine a customs office viewing all your porn to ensure it is not 'offensive'.

    Australian Customs Web Page
    "Prohibited and restricted items
    It is illegal to carry drugs including marijuana, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines in and out of Australia.

    Counterfeit goods and offensive types of pornography are also banned.

    Other items may be restricted. You will need a permit to carry these items in and out of Australia."
    http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4443.asp


    I could not find the link to where you get a permit to carry porn...

  • On the post: Results From Dungeons & Dragons Online Going Free: Revenue Up 500%

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 11 Oct, 2010 @ 11:56pm

    Re: Free with a catch

    That is the 'Pando Media Booster'. It is used to download the game faster using P2P.

    Uninstall it using Windows 'Add and Remove Programs'.

  • On the post: Noncompete Agreements Are The DRM Of Human Capital

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 04 Jul, 2010 @ 10:25pm

    I am restricted by a NC

    I can not work in the rail industry for another 12 months, an industry in which I have a decade of experience with the specialised systems, locations and equipment (trackside and rollingstock).

    I know that the 2 year NC agreement would not stand up in court.

    BUT the companies in the local rail sphere all know each other and are not willing to risk annoying my previous boss (in case he then refuses to do all those 'extra' little customer service tasks for free).

    Most annoying is that I did most of those 'extras'....

  • On the post: UK Court Says Software Company Can Be Liable For Buggy Software

    TechNoFear ( profile ), 13 May, 2010 @ 11:32pm

    I develop bespoke asset protection and safety systems for mining operations.

    No one sues if something goes wrong because the companies know these new systems save them money in the long run, even if the system makes the odd error.

    Companies that produce buggy systems quickly disappear as word travels very quickily.

    Any company knows if it sues one supplier (for bugs in one of these new systems) it will no longer be able to buy from any supplier or will pay much more for these systems (as the suppliers will factor in the cost of possible litigation with that company).

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