Not sure I see the problem here... if a customer is recording your call, and makes threats toward you, that recording does nothing for him; releasing it to the world will only show what a douche he is (depending on how YOU handle it on your end, of course).
As a customer, the reason I record my calls to CSRs - and the reason your company probably doesn't like it - is to have proof of offers made, arrangements reached, etc.
Say, for example, you convince me that if I sign up for a new more expensive service, I'll get certain perks... then when my bill comes, I see the higher charge, but not the perks. I could TELL your supervisor that, "Oh, well Greg offered me this and this.", and you can say "No I didn't", and it becomes he-said/he-said, and even the company's recording of the call could be conveniently "lost" if it suits their needs.
But if I have MY recording, then I have something to back me up... say, if I decide to cancel my service because your company isn't living up to their end of the deal.
The only reason YOU should be afraid of customers recording their calls is if you're using underhanded tactics with them.
...what if you're visiting someone who does have the paid subscription, you both sit down to watch the show, and then that person leaves as soon as it starts? Is it illegal for YOU to keep watching it?
How about if your friend (with the subscription) comes to your house, fires it up there, and you both watch it?
YouTube sent them a note saying that they had violated the terms of service of the site by using "any automated system, including without limitations, "robots..."
The emailed responses don't address any of the points raised by NMR, but rather just appear to be robotic-like responses...
This was my immediate thought too: no fuss, just return for a refund and get something else. Razer will get the point once they start seeing negative sales.
Note to Razer: if you really want to be clever about it, give the option to save settings and prefs to a flash drive, or cache them locally and complete the upload later.
I recall doing similar exercises in high school as well (early 80s)... so wait, is HSI claiming that Patti infringed on this IDEA, or on their specific wording of it?
And hmmm, according to that Amazon link, the book was published in April 2012. Yet Patti's blog post was over two years ago? Does this mean HSI has perfected time travel? Perhaps they should be going after H.G. Wells next?
The really sad part is, Patti's right - it's probably NOT worth the time, effort, and ridiculous expense it would take to defend herself... which I'm sure is what most copyright ninjas count on when making their claims: hit those who are least able to defend themselves, and they should knuckle under easily.
Reminds me of the old WKRP, where the religious group wants to control what music the station plays: Venus asks why they aren't going after television; Johnny responds that they probably want to practice on a couple guppies first before going after the whale. (Disclaimer: paraphrased shamelessly from an IMDB synopsis of the episode).
So the question now is, who plays the part of Les Nessman here, in the following exchange (copied and pasted shamelessly from IMDB)?
Andy Travis: I'm going to fight them tooth and nail.
Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: I know you are.
Andy Travis: If all else fails, I might set Les Nessman on them.
Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Boy, that could signal the end of organized religion as we know it.
Said the man who has obviously never been in a recording studio.
Err... confirmed by this man who has.
Yes, I've spent many many long hours placing mics, tweaking EQ and compression, placing sound barriers and absorptive panels, running rest tracks, setting headphone levels, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.
I've also put a mic in the middle of a circle of musicians and just let them play, capturing the sound of the environment as well as the instruments. Little more to it than just pressing the big red button.
So, if someone bangs out an album in 8 hours, it has no artistic value whatsoever. Only albums that spring from years and years of "artistic" handwringing are worth tilting your ear towards like, say, "Chinese Democracy"?
Bang on!
Some of the best-loved songs ever written were spur-of-the-moment, dashed-off-on-a-napkin, nothing-but-the-emotion classics.
I'll see your "Chinese Democracy" and raise you "Paranoid".
Maybe more artists need to recognize Al's work for what it really is - recognition and flattery. Kurt Cobain is claimed to have once stated, that despite the record sales and fame and money and acclaim, the thing that really told Nirvana they'd "made the big time" was when Weird Al asked to do "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
How accurate that attribution is, I can't say, but I think it makes the point pretty well.
Re: Re: the CSR is afraid of your motive behind recording the call.
Not sure I see the problem here... if a customer is recording your call, and makes threats toward you, that recording does nothing for him; releasing it to the world will only show what a douche he is (depending on how YOU handle it on your end, of course).
As a customer, the reason I record my calls to CSRs - and the reason your company probably doesn't like it - is to have proof of offers made, arrangements reached, etc.
Say, for example, you convince me that if I sign up for a new more expensive service, I'll get certain perks... then when my bill comes, I see the higher charge, but not the perks. I could TELL your supervisor that, "Oh, well Greg offered me this and this.", and you can say "No I didn't", and it becomes he-said/he-said, and even the company's recording of the call could be conveniently "lost" if it suits their needs.
But if I have MY recording, then I have something to back me up... say, if I decide to cancel my service because your company isn't living up to their end of the deal.
The only reason YOU should be afraid of customers recording their calls is if you're using underhanded tactics with them.
Re:
I had exactly the same thought - I remember my piano instructors (plural!) doing this in the early 70s.
Perhaps they stole the idea from your teacher? Perhaps your teacher should be suing mine?
Re:
rimshot
Which begs the question...
...what if you're visiting someone who does have the paid subscription, you both sit down to watch the show, and then that person leaves as soon as it starts? Is it illegal for YOU to keep watching it?
How about if your friend (with the subscription) comes to your house, fires it up there, and you both watch it?
Tooooooo many "what ifs".
YouTube sent them a note saying that they had violated the terms of service of the site by using "any automated system, including without limitations, "robots..."
The emailed responses don't address any of the points raised by NMR, but rather just appear to be robotic-like responses...
Doesn't the irony just scream at you?
Wiretap laws
This site links the "electronic surveillance" laws by state:
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/electronic-surveillance-laws.aspx
Re:
You, sir, have won the internet for today.
"...hundreds of listing"??
Since it's now almost 10 years later, and the link to the photo still works, I guess it's safe to assume the lawsuit has failed? ;)
Re:
This was my immediate thought too: no fuss, just return for a refund and get something else. Razer will get the point once they start seeing negative sales.
Note to Razer: if you really want to be clever about it, give the option to save settings and prefs to a flash drive, or cache them locally and complete the upload later.
Re: Cool book to read
I recall doing similar exercises in high school as well (early 80s)... so wait, is HSI claiming that Patti infringed on this IDEA, or on their specific wording of it?
And hmmm, according to that Amazon link, the book was published in April 2012. Yet Patti's blog post was over two years ago? Does this mean HSI has perfected time travel? Perhaps they should be going after H.G. Wells next?
The really sad part is, Patti's right - it's probably NOT worth the time, effort, and ridiculous expense it would take to defend herself... which I'm sure is what most copyright ninjas count on when making their claims: hit those who are least able to defend themselves, and they should knuckle under easily.
Reminds me of the old WKRP, where the religious group wants to control what music the station plays: Venus asks why they aren't going after television; Johnny responds that they probably want to practice on a couple guppies first before going after the whale. (Disclaimer: paraphrased shamelessly from an IMDB synopsis of the episode).
So the question now is, who plays the part of Les Nessman here, in the following exchange (copied and pasted shamelessly from IMDB)?
Andy Travis: I'm going to fight them tooth and nail.
Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: I know you are.
Andy Travis: If all else fails, I might set Les Nessman on them.
Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson: Boy, that could signal the end of organized religion as we know it.
Did anyone else notice how Jay stole PrometheeFeu's joke (comments 1 and 2)?
Chill dude...
Said the man who has obviously never been in a recording studio.
Err... confirmed by this man who has.
Yes, I've spent many many long hours placing mics, tweaking EQ and compression, placing sound barriers and absorptive panels, running rest tracks, setting headphone levels, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.
I've also put a mic in the middle of a circle of musicians and just let them play, capturing the sound of the environment as well as the instruments. Little more to it than just pressing the big red button.
Why does it HAVE to be so complicated?
@Lion Tamer
So, if someone bangs out an album in 8 hours, it has no artistic value whatsoever. Only albums that spring from years and years of "artistic" handwringing are worth tilting your ear towards like, say, "Chinese Democracy"?
Bang on!
Some of the best-loved songs ever written were spur-of-the-moment, dashed-off-on-a-napkin, nothing-but-the-emotion classics.
I'll see your "Chinese Democracy" and raise you "Paranoid".
Re: "it's like sticking your head into a boiling chip vat."
Okay, I got a good solid chuckle out of that. To coin a phrase: "Iz funny, because iz true!"
If novelty music and jam bands offend this guy...
...he must really hate the likes of Phish and The Grateful Dead.
The sincerest form of flattery?
Maybe more artists need to recognize Al's work for what it really is - recognition and flattery. Kurt Cobain is claimed to have once stated, that despite the record sales and fame and money and acclaim, the thing that really told Nirvana they'd "made the big time" was when Weird Al asked to do "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
How accurate that attribution is, I can't say, but I think it makes the point pretty well.
All this fuss...
over a JAM SESSION.
Yes, Jeremy, that's all it is: A JAM SESSION.
On to bigger and more important news, I just extracted a monster booger from my nose... how's that for creativity?
Re: Re:
"Just checked and they still appear to be with RCA (subsidiary of Sony Music). I think I'd be more likely to burn the money in their honour."
Better yet: download a torrent of it and mail your cash directly to Dave Grohl, along with a note explaining why. Bet he gets a kick out of it :)
Re: Future TechDirt story
Sadly, this is far too likely to happen in the near future...