commenter8 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (22) comment rss

  • Court Finds Fantasy Stories Obscene

    commenter8 ( profile ), 20 May, 2013 @ 09:43pm

    District Court In Error

    On appeal, cite these cases:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_v._American_Civil_Liberties_Union

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashcroft_v._Free_Speech_Coalition

    District Court ruling goes down in flames.

  • CISPA Sponsor Mike Rogers May Go On To Lead The FBI

    commenter8 ( profile ), 14 May, 2013 @ 02:58pm

    Biden oversees the search

    According to the linked article, Joe Biden's office is overseeing the search for the new FBI director. That's the same Joe Biden whose biggest BFF is Chris Dodd, CEO of the MPAA. The same Joe Biden that Kim Dotcom believes to be personally responsible for the MegaUpload fiasco. The same Joe Biden whose former Staff Director and Chief Counsel was MegaUpload persecutor Neil MacBride, yet another of Biden's BFFs. The same Joe Biden who's widely seen as a likely 2016 candidate for the US Presidency. The same jackass who personally embodies the rapacious interests of the copyright monopolists and who evidently does absolutely everything possible to abuse and pervert the law according to their wishes.

  • John Steele Plans To Appeal Judge Wright's Order; Says Judge Is 'No Fan Of IP Law'

    commenter8 ( profile ), 07 May, 2013 @ 08:25pm

    http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Sanctioned-Copyright-Lawyer-Says-He-Will-Appeal-Judge-s-Order-516284.html

    [...] Regarding the referral for sanctions imposed by Judge Wright, Steele said, ?As far as the referrals to the various Bar associations, the Illinois Bar is well aware of this type of litigation. I have had inquiries from the office of the Illinois State Bar and have satisfied their requests in the past. I am confident that agencies like the IRS and the Illinois State Bar require actual evidence before taking action against someone.

    ?Most importantly,? he added, ?hundreds of judges across the country have ruled on these same cases and have thrown out the crazy conspiracy theories of people like Mr. Pietz [Morgan Pietz, a defendant?s attorney in the case] and groups like the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation). Content producers are still winning the vast majority of hearings in piracy cases, but it is inevitable that an anti-piracy attorney would have a case in front of a judge such as Mr. Wright.?

    [...] Steele told AVN that it is his understanding that Livewire Holdings, one of the entities identified by Judge Wright?by way of an actual Prenda relationship chart included in the order?as being a member of the Prenda family, ?is filing multiple new cases this week."

    ?Hopefully,? he added defiantly, ?the pirate that got away in this matter will be caught and brought to justice down the road.? [...]

  • Judge Wright Tells Team Prenda To Pay $80k, Refers Their Activity To State Bars, Feds & IRS

    commenter8 ( profile ), 07 May, 2013 @ 08:12pm

    An article over at Xbiz quotes Steele as saying he's going to appeal Wright's ruling. Yet another plot twist in this fascinating drama!

  • New Special 301 Report Shows Spain's Kowtowing Paid Off

    commenter8 ( profile ), 01 May, 2013 @ 05:20pm

    "The Ukraine" is offensive, don't use it!

    "The Ukraine" refers to the bad old days when the country was subservient to the USSR. "Ukraine" refers to the independent country of today. The people of Ukraine take offense when their country is referred to with the old term. It's as if somebody referred to the United States as "England's subservient colonies".

  • US Gov't Tops Itself In Waiting Years Before Responding To FOIA Requests With Nothing

    commenter8 ( profile ), 15 Apr, 2013 @ 01:16pm

    Florida's Open Records law is way better than the federal FOIA. It's time to overhaul FOIA - Florida's law can be a very useful model.

  • US Attorneys Reveal Online Bullying To Explain Why People Who Helped Them Prosecute Aaron Swartz Should Remain Anonymous

    commenter8 ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2013 @ 04:58pm

    No penalties for abusive prosecutors :-(

    http://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/whats_being_done_to_oversee_prosecutors_who_abuse_their_power_partner/

  • Microsoft Makes Retail Versions Of Office Single Install

    commenter8 ( profile ), 14 Feb, 2013 @ 07:20pm

    LibreOffice is awesome and free

    Micro$uck is also screwing customers in many other ways. Anyone who buys a Win 8 Home Edition laptop expecting to downgrade the OS to XP or 7 is in for a very rude awakening - you will have to upgrade to Win 8 Pro before you can downgrade to XP or 7. Time to get off Micro$uck's vampire wagon...

    http://www.libreoffice.org/

  • How PeerJ Is Changing Everything In Academic Publishing

    commenter8 ( profile ), 13 Feb, 2013 @ 03:29pm

    Well conceived & executed :-)

    Not many papers yet, but with a larger population of papers and a site search capability - this really has very strong potential. Congratulations to Pete Binfield for a much-needed job very well done! :-)

  • A Week Later: Reflecting On Aaron Swartz

    commenter8 ( profile ), 19 Jan, 2013 @ 05:14pm

    Swartz's Girlfriend Explains

    Just found this great article over at The Guardian:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/18/aaron-swartz-suicide-girlfriend-internet-reddit

    Aaron Swartz girlfriend blames suicide on 'vindictiveness' of prosecution

    The partner of the internet activist Aaron Swartz, who killed himself earlier this week, has blamed his suicide on the stress of his prosecution.

    Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman said she was "absolutely confident" that Swartz killed himself because of the case, in which he was being prosecuted for downloading academic articles from a university archive.

    Swartz, 26, a prominent open-internet advocate who helped build Reddit and RSS, was found dead in the Brooklyn apartment he shared with Stinebrickner-Kauffman on January 11. They started dating a few weeks before Swartz was indicted in 2011.

    He was set to go trial next month for downloading academic articles from JSTOR, an online academic journal library, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.?If convicted, he could have faced a 30-year jail sentence, although it emerged this week that he had been offered a six-month term in a plea bargain.?"The legal system has lost all sense of mercy and justice and it has been replaced with punitiveness and vindictiveness," Stinebrickner-Kauffman told Mail Online.

    "Felony charges change the course of people's lives. There are things Aaron maybe wanted to do ? like go into government ? and it's just ludicrous that one act like this could prevent somebody like him from serving his country. The risk was too much for him."

    [...] Strinebrickner-Kauffman is the executive director and founder of SumOfUs [http://sumofus.org], a movement that attempts to counterbalance the power of corporations. She said that Swartz would take the subway with her to work, but the morning of January 11, he told her he wanted to stay home and rest.

    "I wanted to stay with him but he said he didn't want me to and that I should go to the office," Strinebrickner-Kauffman said. "So I did."

    She found him that evening dead of an apparent suicide in their apartment. [...]

  • For Internet Freedom Day, Watch Aaron Swartz Explain How SOPA Was Stopped

    commenter8 ( profile ), 18 Jan, 2013 @ 04:17pm

    Sign these White House petitions!

    White House petition to Fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz (41,903 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    White House petition to Fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann (8,074 now)

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to Reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (3,151 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reform-computer-fraud-and-abuse-act-reflect-realities-computing-and-networks-2013/qMvdwVNw

    White House petition to Limit Copyrights to a Maximum of 10 Years (2,438 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • Dan Bull's Latest Song: We Are All Aaron Swartz

    commenter8 ( profile ), 18 Jan, 2013 @ 04:15pm

    Sign these White House petitions!

    White House petition to Fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz (41,903 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    White House petition to Fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann (8,074 now)

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to Reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (3,151 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reform-computer-fraud-and-abuse-act-reflect-realities-computing-and-networks-2013/qMvdwVNw

    White House petition to Limit Copyrights to a Maximum of 10 Years (2,438 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • Senator John Cornyn Asks Eric Holder To Explain DOJ Prosecution Of Aaron Swartz

    commenter8 ( profile ), 18 Jan, 2013 @ 04:14pm

    Sign these White House petitions!

    White House petition to Fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz (41,903 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    White House petition to Fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann (8,074 now)

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to Reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (3,151 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reform-computer-fraud-and-abuse-act-reflect-realities-computing-and-networks-2013/qMvdwVNw

    White House petition to Limit Copyrights to a Maximum of 10 Years (2,438 now)

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • Why Did The Secret Service Take Over Aaron Swartz's Case Two Days Before He Was Arrested

    commenter8 ( profile ), 15 Jan, 2013 @ 03:09am

    White House Petitions

    Prosecutors turned down Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz's request for plea deal over MIT hacking case TWO DAYS before his suicide

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262137/Aaron-Swartz-Reddit-founder-request-plea-deal-turned-Massachusetts-prosecutor.html

    Lawyer says he warned prosecutors that Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz was suicidal

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262518/Lawyer-says-warned-prosecutors-Reddit-founder-Aaron-Swartz-suicidal.html

    White House petition to fire US Attprney Carmen Ortiz for her misconduct in this case

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    The petition to fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz has already exceeded the 25,000 signatures needed to get a response from the White House.

    Here's a new petition to fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann:

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to limit copyrights to a maximum of 10 years

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • The Case Against Aaron Swartz Was Complete Garbage

    commenter8 ( profile ), 15 Jan, 2013 @ 03:07am

    White House Petitions

    Prosecutors turned down Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz's request for plea deal over MIT hacking case TWO DAYS before his suicide

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262137/Aaron-Swartz-Reddit-founder-request-plea-deal-turned-Massachusetts-prosecutor.html

    Lawyer says he warned prosecutors that Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz was suicidal

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262518/Lawyer-says-warned-prosecutors-Reddit-founder-Aaron-Swartz-suicidal.html

    White House petition to fire US Attprney Carmen Ortiz for her misconduct in this case

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    The petition to fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz has already exceeded the 25,000 signatures needed to get a response from the White House.

    Here's a new petition to fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann:

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to limit copyrights to a maximum of 10 years

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • A Fitting Tribute For Aaron Swartz: Researchers Post Free PDFs Of Their Research Online

    commenter8 ( profile ), 15 Jan, 2013 @ 03:06am

    White House Petitions

    Prosecutors turned down Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz's request for plea deal over MIT hacking case TWO DAYS before his suicide

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262137/Aaron-Swartz-Reddit-founder-request-plea-deal-turned-Massachusetts-prosecutor.html

    Lawyer says he warned prosecutors that Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz was suicidal

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262518/Lawyer-says-warned-prosecutors-Reddit-founder-Aaron-Swartz-suicidal.html

    White House petition to fire US Attprney Carmen Ortiz for her misconduct in this case

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck

    The petition to fire US Attorney Carmen Ortiz has already exceeded the 25,000 signatures needed to get a response from the White House.

    Here's a new petition to fire Assistant US Attorney Steve Heymann:

    http://wh.gov/Ex1n

    White House petition to limit copyrights to a maximum of 10 years

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/shorten-excessive-copyright-terms/XMc72zjc

  • Embedded In The Fiscal Cliff Deal: Hollywood Gets A Big Tax Break

    commenter8 ( profile ), 03 Jan, 2013 @ 07:08pm

    How To Cut Spending: End Corporate Welfare!!! ???? ????

    As Rex Nutting of Marketwatch noted in his 12/18/2012 article ?Why isn?t Obama demanding corporate welfare cuts??, ?$2.6 trillion could be saved [...] It?s possible to achieve all the budget savings we need for the next 10 years simply by cutting the fat out of discretionary spending programs and tax expenditures [removing all of the corporate welfare] without raising tax rates on the wealthy or cutting the safety net at all.??????
    ?????
    Oil and gas companies, which are raking in record profits, certainly don?t need $4 billion a year in subsidies, and even the oil company CEOs admit they don?t need it!?????
    ?????
    Why are cuts to Social Security and Medicare even being discussed while literally billions in corporate welfare are constantly spilling out of the Treasury??
    ????
    White House petition to End Corporate Welfare:?http://wh.gov/Qa6f

  • Embedded In The Fiscal Cliff Deal: Hollywood Gets A Big Tax Break

    commenter8 ( profile ), 03 Jan, 2013 @ 07:06pm

    How To Cut Spending: End Corporate Welfare!!! ????
    ????
    As Rex Nutting of Marketwatch noted in his 12/18/2012 article ?Why isn?t Obama demanding corporate welfare cuts??, ?$2.6 trillion could be saved [...] It?s possible to achieve all the budget savings we need for the next 10 years simply by cutting the fat out of discretionary spending programs and tax expenditures [removing all of the corporate welfare] without raising tax rates on the wealthy or cutting the safety net at all.??????
    ?????
    Oil and gas companies, which are raking in record profits, certainly don?t need $4 billion a year in subsidies, and even the oil company CEOs admit they don?t need it!?????
    ?????
    Why are cuts to Social Security and Medicare even being discussed while literally billions in corporate welfare are constantly spilling out of the Treasury??
    ????
    White House petition to End Corporate Welfare:?http://wh.gov/Qa6f

  • Embedded In The Fiscal Cliff Deal: Hollywood Gets A Big Tax Break

    commenter8 ( profile ), 03 Jan, 2013 @ 07:06pm

    How To Cut Spending: End Corporate Welfare!!! ????
    ????
    As Rex Nutting of Marketwatch noted in his 12/18/2012 article ?Why isn?t Obama demanding corporate welfare cuts??, ?$2.6 trillion could be saved [...] It?s possible to achieve all the budget savings we need for the next 10 years simply by cutting the fat out of discretionary spending programs and tax expenditures [removing all of the corporate welfare] without raising tax rates on the wealthy or cutting the safety net at all.??????
    ?????
    Oil and gas companies, which are raking in record profits, certainly don?t need $4 billion a year in subsidies, and even the oil company CEOs admit they don?t need it!?????
    ?????
    Why are cuts to Social Security and Medicare even being discussed while literally billions in corporate welfare are constantly spilling out of the Treasury??
    ????
    White House petition to End Corporate Welfare:?http://wh.gov/Qa6f

  • Embedded In The Fiscal Cliff Deal: Hollywood Gets A Big Tax Break

    commenter8 ( profile ), 03 Jan, 2013 @ 07:03pm

    How To Cut Spending: End Corporate Welfare!!! ????
    ????
    As Rex Nutting of Marketwatch noted in his 12/18/2012 article ?Why isn?t Obama demanding corporate welfare cuts??, ?$2.6 trillion could be saved [...] It?s possible to achieve all the budget savings we need for the next 10 years simply by cutting the fat out of discretionary spending programs and tax expenditures [removing all of the corporate welfare] without raising tax rates on the wealthy or cutting the safety net at all.??????
    ?????
    Oil and gas companies, which are raking in record profits, certainly don?t need $4 billion a year in subsidies, and even the oil company CEOs admit they don?t need it!?????
    ?????
    Why are cuts to Social Security and Medicare even being discussed while literally billions in corporate welfare are constantly spilling out of the Treasury??
    ????
    White House petition to End Corporate Welfare:?http://wh.gov/Qa6f

Next >>