People can already see me when I am in the public view and I can't control what they remember and who they tell - all this does is increase the quality and quantity of the information. And there was a great example of someone showing how this can backfire on Ted Talks (I can't remember his name but he basically uploads all of his information - including when he urinates... to the government).
If you want true privacy you have to be a private person - at all times and in all respects.
It seems like what is being debated is selective privacy - not true privacy.
I'm not interesting so I have no fear that I am going to end up being stalked by some paparazzi, even an automated one. I'm sure many people are famous but it is the threshold that is being debated here - if it truly was privacy that we were concerned with then we wouldn't allow paparazzi.
But this Chertoff guy is a complete tool - he's talking out of three sides of a mouth, never mind 2.
Maybe I just don't see the perspective many others here see though.
"The only way to fix this mess is to move to invalidate useless patents and tie them up in court with crowd funded defenses. We are many, they can be beat at their own game here."
You realize that they still win with that approach right? Lawyers get paid for being in court...
A better use of those funds would be to crowd-source information gathering on all of the people they employ - make their life an open book and advertise, advertise, advertise.
The public needs information, and explanation of what the information means. Crowd-source investigative journalism and hit them in the media. Expose their connections to politicians - get people to actually talk about the negative impact of what they are doing. They add nothing to GDP - but they are closing down companies that do.
How many people who are eating the pie complain to the people who aren't getting any how terrible it tastes? They don't want them to know that they are eating pie that they took from them in the first place because then they would have to answer some uncomfortable questions themselves.
I think there are those few smart, honest industry folk but they are going to be drowned out and will have a hard time getting factual evidence - and they need to prove harm, not just speculate on it.
I also believe that the people who make the big moves in the markets aren't the complainers - they are the ones who see what is going on and get in on the deal.
It's speculation on my part, of course, but I'm honestly not smart enough to catch these people.
Why are we all so divided on the subject? This whole thing just doesn't add up. Biologically we are here to multiply and all of this conversation subtracts from the time we have to do that.
"Just quit blaming creators. Pay them what they ask, or go without."
Who's blaming the creator? And the challenge here is that we would like to know exactly what we are paying them for. Am I paying for a movie, to watch the content of it, or am I paying only for the experience of watching it in the manner to which they later decide I should watch it even if originally we had agreed upon something else? Should they (this creator you describe... you know, the corporation that now merely owns the copyright, not the actual person/people who invested creative effort) get to retroactively decide what I do with a work that I purchased under previous terms? Do they get to decide how long I get to enjoy something for?
The problem for me is that they can't even clearly articulate what I am actually getting.
I understand clearly when I go to a movie theater to watch a movie what exactly I am getting - I am getting access to a seat in a room with a big screen, big sound, a bunch of other people, to watch a movie exactly once. That is very clear. And when I fork over my money, I understand that clearly.
What I don't understand is why when I purchase a movie on DVD I can't watch it on any DVD player, forever.
Next it will be that we can only watch certain movies on a certain size of TV... that's right, next you will only be able watch Spider-Man on a Sony TV because that is clearly what the creator wanted...
I think the answer is confusion. If people don't understand how they are being manipulated it is harder for them to articulate dissatisfaction.
Scenario 1) They are clearly crooks (people easily understand taking what they have)
Scenario 2) They got a deal (they don't understand that they lost the opportunity to gain - it was something they never had so there is less likelihood they understand it is missing)
In scenario 1 there is an emotional response that is easily understood by humans (from children to adults - everyone understands "he took my cookie").
In scenario 2 they don't understand that they never got the cookie that the other person is now eating - they may think, hey, why does he have a cookie? but they don't understand that it should have been their cookie in the first place since they never had possession of it.
So in the end, those people roam the streets because we (gerenally speaking) don't understand their crime.
No. This is bad. He may be the type of person who sees this as his responsibility because he may feel he should have prevented it, but it isn't the same thing as him being responsible for the actions of another.
If someone takes my car and runs someone over, I can feel bad about allowing them to use the car, but it was not my action or inaction that caused them to do it. That is too far a stretch of transference. (And I am assuming the individual I loaned the vehicle to was someone who was legally able to drive and not knowingly impaired)
I read the full source article and it is one of the best written examples of the "true" cost of piracy - the one you can quantify and the one shareholders should know about.
Well written and I highly recommend everyone head over to original article after reading the commentary.
"But as the societal stigma comes off pirating that 10% piracy ratio will rise to 20%, then 50%, and at SOME point practical concerns will matter."
What stigma? I don't pirate stuff but it isn't because I am afraid it will make me look bad - I don't pirate because I actually want to reward people for their work in the hopes that they continue to provide me with enjoyment. I have friends who take what they can... and I don't treat them any different. Heck, because they are willing to do the leg work and try all this crap out there for me, I only get their good recommendations. It saves me time and it saves me money.
"This guy is assuming that societal sanctions will remain the same, and already pirates here at Techdirt believe that "sharing" everything for free is practicable for an industry."
I agree that some people seem to present that point but I don't think it is something that is applicable to everyone here.
"And let's also say that a "pirate" finds a way to hack his own game or make it better and of course at zero cost -- how much longer will he go on developing them when others get all the rewards?"
S/He will continue doing it as long as s/he receives pleasure from it. For some, pleasure is monetary, for others it is accomplishment. Not every action everyone does is for money.
Yeah. But I'm too lazy to find and link it. It's worse then them just having their head in the sand, they have to take everyone else's head and stick it in there with them.
Hold on - I just want to make sure I understand this - are you saying that piracy is only a matter of scale?
These guys have millions... and if they think the director/producer/actor whatever is worth promoting, why don't they just buy those 10 copies? It's still likely to only cost them lass than 50 bucks. And it would allow them to travel on the "moral high ground."
I am pretty sure someone here can find ready examples of when the "hackers" did all the right things (contacted the company, didn't share the details, tried to warn security makers) and were still punished for even being smart enough or unlucky enough to find the problem. And the companies probably didn't even take it seriously.
Too often we punish the people who are trying to help us because of ego.
Re: Re:
You're a twit.
(untitled comment)
I'm sorry, I just don't get it.
People can already see me when I am in the public view and I can't control what they remember and who they tell - all this does is increase the quality and quantity of the information. And there was a great example of someone showing how this can backfire on Ted Talks (I can't remember his name but he basically uploads all of his information - including when he urinates... to the government).
If you want true privacy you have to be a private person - at all times and in all respects.
It seems like what is being debated is selective privacy - not true privacy.
I'm not interesting so I have no fear that I am going to end up being stalked by some paparazzi, even an automated one. I'm sure many people are famous but it is the threshold that is being debated here - if it truly was privacy that we were concerned with then we wouldn't allow paparazzi.
But this Chertoff guy is a complete tool - he's talking out of three sides of a mouth, never mind 2.
Maybe I just don't see the perspective many others here see though.
Re:
The movie "Idiocracy." Watch the first 5 minutes.
Great, someone else telling me what I'm ready for
First it was solid foods, then potty training, and now that I'm an adult (with kids of my own...) someone else it telling me what I'm ready for?
How about you let me damn well choose what I'm ready for.
I can see what is next... "Hey, he looks like he's ready to die, so into the mix he goes and green shakes for everyone!"
Re: Re:
Well said.
Re:
"The only way to fix this mess is to move to invalidate useless patents and tie them up in court with crowd funded defenses. We are many, they can be beat at their own game here."
You realize that they still win with that approach right? Lawyers get paid for being in court...
A better use of those funds would be to crowd-source information gathering on all of the people they employ - make their life an open book and advertise, advertise, advertise.
The public needs information, and explanation of what the information means. Crowd-source investigative journalism and hit them in the media. Expose their connections to politicians - get people to actually talk about the negative impact of what they are doing. They add nothing to GDP - but they are closing down companies that do.
Re: Do not confess to things you did not do.
If things keep getting worse I can see people giving them just the ammunition... via its standard delivery system.
Re: Re: Re:
How many people who are eating the pie complain to the people who aren't getting any how terrible it tastes? They don't want them to know that they are eating pie that they took from them in the first place because then they would have to answer some uncomfortable questions themselves.
I think there are those few smart, honest industry folk but they are going to be drowned out and will have a hard time getting factual evidence - and they need to prove harm, not just speculate on it.
I also believe that the people who make the big moves in the markets aren't the complainers - they are the ones who see what is going on and get in on the deal.
It's speculation on my part, of course, but I'm honestly not smart enough to catch these people.
(untitled comment)
Why are we all so divided on the subject? This whole thing just doesn't add up. Biologically we are here to multiply and all of this conversation subtracts from the time we have to do that.
Re: Silly premise. First, DRM works unless circumvented.
"Just quit blaming creators. Pay them what they ask, or go without."
Who's blaming the creator? And the challenge here is that we would like to know exactly what we are paying them for. Am I paying for a movie, to watch the content of it, or am I paying only for the experience of watching it in the manner to which they later decide I should watch it even if originally we had agreed upon something else? Should they (this creator you describe... you know, the corporation that now merely owns the copyright, not the actual person/people who invested creative effort) get to retroactively decide what I do with a work that I purchased under previous terms? Do they get to decide how long I get to enjoy something for?
The problem for me is that they can't even clearly articulate what I am actually getting.
I understand clearly when I go to a movie theater to watch a movie what exactly I am getting - I am getting access to a seat in a room with a big screen, big sound, a bunch of other people, to watch a movie exactly once. That is very clear. And when I fork over my money, I understand that clearly.
What I don't understand is why when I purchase a movie on DVD I can't watch it on any DVD player, forever.
Next it will be that we can only watch certain movies on a certain size of TV... that's right, next you will only be able watch Spider-Man on a Sony TV because that is clearly what the creator wanted...
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Awesome game...
Re:
I think the answer is confusion. If people don't understand how they are being manipulated it is harder for them to articulate dissatisfaction.
Scenario 1) They are clearly crooks (people easily understand taking what they have)
Scenario 2) They got a deal (they don't understand that they lost the opportunity to gain - it was something they never had so there is less likelihood they understand it is missing)
In scenario 1 there is an emotional response that is easily understood by humans (from children to adults - everyone understands "he took my cookie").
In scenario 2 they don't understand that they never got the cookie that the other person is now eating - they may think, hey, why does he have a cookie? but they don't understand that it should have been their cookie in the first place since they never had possession of it.
So in the end, those people roam the streets because we (gerenally speaking) don't understand their crime.
Re: So you've come out against personal responsibility!
No. This is bad. He may be the type of person who sees this as his responsibility because he may feel he should have prevented it, but it isn't the same thing as him being responsible for the actions of another.
If someone takes my car and runs someone over, I can feel bad about allowing them to use the car, but it was not my action or inaction that caused them to do it. That is too far a stretch of transference. (And I am assuming the individual I loaned the vehicle to was someone who was legally able to drive and not knowingly impaired)
Required Reading
I read the full source article and it is one of the best written examples of the "true" cost of piracy - the one you can quantify and the one shareholders should know about.
Well written and I highly recommend everyone head over to original article after reading the commentary.
Re:
I can't wait until the automotive or housing markets go this route... damn resale market...
Re: Pirates are now doing accounting!
"But as the societal stigma comes off pirating that 10% piracy ratio will rise to 20%, then 50%, and at SOME point practical concerns will matter."
What stigma? I don't pirate stuff but it isn't because I am afraid it will make me look bad - I don't pirate because I actually want to reward people for their work in the hopes that they continue to provide me with enjoyment. I have friends who take what they can... and I don't treat them any different. Heck, because they are willing to do the leg work and try all this crap out there for me, I only get their good recommendations. It saves me time and it saves me money.
"This guy is assuming that societal sanctions will remain the same, and already pirates here at Techdirt believe that "sharing" everything for free is practicable for an industry."
I agree that some people seem to present that point but I don't think it is something that is applicable to everyone here.
"And let's also say that a "pirate" finds a way to hack his own game or make it better and of course at zero cost -- how much longer will he go on developing them when others get all the rewards?"
S/He will continue doing it as long as s/he receives pleasure from it. For some, pleasure is monetary, for others it is accomplishment. Not every action everyone does is for money.
Re: Lawmakers
I think this is an awesome idea.
Re: Re: Re: Bad idea
Yeah. But I'm too lazy to find and link it. It's worse then them just having their head in the sand, they have to take everyone else's head and stick it in there with them.
Re: SHEESH! Lawyer redefines ripping a single DVD as "piracy"!
Hold on - I just want to make sure I understand this - are you saying that piracy is only a matter of scale?
These guys have millions... and if they think the director/producer/actor whatever is worth promoting, why don't they just buy those 10 copies? It's still likely to only cost them lass than 50 bucks. And it would allow them to travel on the "moral high ground."
Put your money where your morals are.
Re: Bad idea
I am pretty sure someone here can find ready examples of when the "hackers" did all the right things (contacted the company, didn't share the details, tried to warn security makers) and were still punished for even being smart enough or unlucky enough to find the problem. And the companies probably didn't even take it seriously.
Too often we punish the people who are trying to help us because of ego.