I wanted to comment on editorial grounds since not everyone reading Techdirt (and ideally so) is going to be accustomed to the intricacies of legal jargon.

The author used the acronym “TRO” to indicate a “Temporary Restraining Order”, which was admittedly a bit confusing given I’m used to having this read as “an injunction”. Ideally, tough or lesser used acronyms should be defined (even as a footnote) for lay readers and the general public. I have been a long time reader of Techdirt for well over 10-years and plan to continue well into the future (so long as my body takes breath) as I hope for others — it has been an incredibly useful site for hard-hitting journalism in an ever accelerating and consolidating capitalist dystopian hellscape (read, arguably, in the most generous of terms so as not to alienate my own readership with my own inherent biased).

I know, unfortunately, that Techdirt lacks the sort of powerful, army of techflexing editorial staff to rope its (oftentimes legal scholars) contributors writirng on vital stories of significance to both industry and the general public.

Antitrust law being critical to maintaining an open and efficient marketplace that is free of ridiculous barriers to entry or other artificial obstructions that might harm it.

Thankfully, it’s a term that readily came up without much difficulty (thanks in major part to the likewise army of activists and scholars who have made such internet facing resources free and publicly available to anyone with an open internet connection). However, it could have equally have been a commonly used, but less easily searched term that might have thrown some readers.

I have appreciated Mike wnd other writers’ consistent transparency as part of their efforts doing journalism, often in an incredibly restrained and restricted budget—journalism forced to live on an anorexic (loss of appetite) restricted Caloric intake as though truth and good journalism were some kind of super morbidly obese cardiac and diabetes patient with congestive heart failure, and therefore needs to be managed and limited at all costs—🙄 I know, it’s a travesty to say the least—but Techdirt has consistently kept afloat and operating — thanks in great measure to our fellow generous readers who choose to give back. I want to likewise thank those people involved in the process and sing their praises.

That said — I also want to be able to toss a Techdirt article at a random, far less informed friend (only to have them scream in horror at what seemingly new horror is being doled out by corporate interests), and have them not have to run an internet search for terms (for I try not to assume everyone knows the [define] function or even, sadly, where to look up a decent dictionary online, or has easy access to dictionaries, the time, proclivity, patients, nor necessarily even the raw attention span to look such content up — I have a diverse group of friends is all I’ll say on the matter [those with a less impressive grasp on English, let alone, legalese]). I want to be able to toss articles and have them accidentally learn something while they are perusing an article (just like was my privilege upon reading the finely crafted articles of my own youth) I share.

I frequently get nitpicked about my own choice of terms, so I admit this may be an extension of my own efforts at readability, but when I (a generally well informed reader) came across an acronym that I was unacquainted with (in this case, “TRO” or “Temporary Restraining Order”), it threw me for a sec. I had to do the aforementioned web search to figure out the definition. I’m the type inclined and able to put said time into writing, so its easier for me to parse said articles. But not everyone is — even if we might like it to be otherwise.

Some might accuse me of unnecessarily trying to “dumb down” Techdirt with this comment — I don’t see it that way myself; rather, I see myself trying to help writers help their readers in what to me is a much loved periodical, or news/research/nonfiction publication. (Though, Lord knows there are those who would claim that’s all that is done here — but I try not to let my worldview be guided by the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 policy of reactionary jurisprudence.)

In future, if possible, I encourage writers at Techdirt (and editors, if Techdirt can even afford or has access to them) to try to, at least once, define either in tye article or a footnote, any acronym or particularly technical term. You’ve probably done it thousands of times before, but as my own friends remind me — journalism is supposed to assume at most a 6th grade reading capability, which itself is generous given what was expected of 6th graders’ vocabulary when those policies [or to those ardently strict journalism purists, “laws”] were first instituted into the halls of journalism well over one hundred years ago.

Anyhow, thank you Timothy and thanks to Mike and everyone at Techdirt. I appreciate everyone’s work and passion (even when it doesn’t get said nor sai$ sufficiently for the Common Good). So, here’s my metaphorical box of epic cookies to have and share with your colleagues. And while you all [?] munch away, please, take pity on your prospective readership, he says with the affirmationed now to the powers that be.