Christopher Gizzi 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: UK Domain Seizures: Nominet Admits It's Helped Police Seize 3,000 Sites

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2011 @ 06:54am

    Re:

    Interesting you called IP a commodity.

    I agree it is from a certain point of view. But commodities, in the classic sense, are still scarce goods and bought & sold on the open market.

    But if IP is, in fact, property as its proponents suggest, you can come up with a CME, NYBOT, ICE, NYMEX style of exchange around it just like the do coffee, sugar, oil, & nat gas.

    If you tried, you'd see how quickly the prices would go to zero.

  • On the post: Copyright Fight Ensues Over Rebecca Black's 'Friday'

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2011 @ 06:46am

    Promoting Art

    Perhaps this is one example of copyright promoting art in a reverse (and perverse) sort of way.

  • On the post: Google, Facebook Go To Court In France: Claim Data Retention Rules Violate Privacy

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2011 @ 06:40am

    Not sticking up for users.

    I doubt Facebook & Google are doing this for the users. They're doing it so they don't have to spend resources dealing with the authorities - especially when most countries are leaning towards keeping less information and are at odds with France.

    That said, I'm sure they see an issue with the lack of security in plain text passwords but what makes you think those two companies aren't tracking that information already in some way? it just means they might have to keep it longer (again, not bad for them) and they have to give it up when asked.

    It's not rights they're worried about. It's their burden.

  • On the post: Did The NYTimes Just Offload Its Front Page To The Atlantic?

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 06 Apr, 2011 @ 08:00am

    Such a Great Idea

    I live in NYC. The Times is as New York as the Yankees, Times Square, Wall St., and Central Park. But I can't support a paper that puts such restrictions on its content and, as I've said in other comments, seems to be failing at every step.

    The way I consume my news is through RSS - I've created my own aggregation system via Google's Reader & the various iPhone/iPad apps that sync with it. I expect summaries before clicking on a full article or seeing the whole thing without restriction.

    The Atlantic Wire is a perfect substitute. And by acting as a human filter, I can focus on news that actually might have more of an impact to me if someone outside of NYC thought it important to mention on their site.

    I'm impressed and I'll be looking into their site more. I actually never heard of it until now but I can promise I'll be visiting often to get the summary of my (former) newspaper.

  • On the post: If You're Going To Ask People To Pay For Your App, NYT, You Should Make Sure It Doesn't Suck

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2011 @ 02:36pm

    Odd Quotes from Yahoo

    Something else struck out as odd to me in the Yahoo article, this quote from the author which I thought the audience, here, might appreciate (because it's been suggested otherwise):

    "They are a company, after all, and simply giving the product away for free for years and years doesn't make for good business."

    I think many of us believe there is a way to compete with free. In fact, the author even highlights this as a failure on the NY Times' part:

    "If you can't immediately roll out an unbeatable user experience, how can you expect people to thrown down several hundred dollars when there are dozens of other news outlets they can frequent instead for free?"

  • On the post: If You're Going To Ask People To Pay For Your App, NYT, You Should Make Sure It Doesn't Suck

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2011 @ 02:27pm

    Lesson in FAIL

    The whole effort smacks of incompetence. The pricing, the access, the workarounds, the investment costs, the lack of distinction between products and services (vs paper, vs apps, vs website), the customer service, the illogical arguments, the changing features, and the obscured realities just says this is a humongous study in failure at every level of its business.

    It's amazing how much failure there appears to be at the NY Times. They are failing at every turn. And I'm really surprised by it. Even if you think that pay walls can work (which I don't), the execution on this is horrible.

  • On the post: Federal Courts Afraid Your Smartphone Might Be A Bomb

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 29 Mar, 2011 @ 06:34am

    Ban Pens

    Those judges and need to wake up and smell the ink drying on the paper. Pens are the real threat.

    Haven't they seen the James Bond movies?? Those pens ARE mightier than the sword. Three clicks and its all over - just like Goldeneye.

    Pens are so universal - EVERYONE has a pen - and you can't be to careful with them. Pencils are bad enough that they could actually be used as a sword. Smartphones and other "pager-like" technology are small potatoes compared to all the BICs and Montblancs out there.

    They already use chalk to draw people in court. There isn't a need for potentially deadly and terrorizing "writers" out there blowing up the courts.

    *** Disclaimer: Just in case it wasn't obvious, this is supposed to be sarcasm.

  • On the post: Good Question: How The Hell Did The NYT Spend $40 Million On That Paywall?

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 28 Mar, 2011 @ 09:32am

    Re: Re: Easy...

    That's what I thought. I thought they could be taking a "one time charge" to hide their real troubles. I don't know if that easy when you start comparing last year's debt to this year's debt unless it grew by that exact $40m.

    I also wonder if they're just taking previous investments in their systems and totaling it up to $40m because, somehow, a $40m investment is now a marketing tool and promotes how "valuable" it is.

    Or, perhaps, they had to re-engineer the whole thing not because of what the current system could do but what they want to do in two, three five years down the road?? I doubt they have that foresight, though.

  • On the post: Broadcasters To Sue Time Warner Cable For Making It Easier For People To See Their Shows & Ads

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 28 Mar, 2011 @ 07:34am

    Reasonable Response

    Forgetting that consumers actually want this convenience, Time Warner is doing the reasonable thing for everyone involved.

    The networks are adding their shows on Hulu at no cost to the consumer. The stations are offering their content over the internet for free, as well. Time Warner doesn't get anything but their internet fees which people would likely pay for without these services. Therefore, they face a risk that people will cut the cord and go internet only.

    Except if they offer their channels on mobile devices they can help add value to their cord option and keep customers paying. I know several TW customers in NYC who want this type of offering - otherwise, they can just go to any Starbucks and stream shows over their internet and have food and coffee while doing so.

    So Time Warner's streaming plans help everyone and it's a reasonable response. Consumers get yet another way of viewing content. Time Warner doesn't lose business from cord cutters.** And the networks can still show ads for their channels and content.

    ** And cord cutting *WILL* happen. It's just a matter of time. It's what people want and as traditional broadcasting revenue shifts around, so will the availability of content. The viewers have the dollars and networks/advertisers chase them. If people have to give their money to some other venue to get what they want, the traditional producers & deliverers will run after them and offer the services they want to pay for.

  • On the post: Microsoft Wants To Make It Illegal To Buy From An Overseas Company That Uses Unauthorized Software

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 25 Mar, 2011 @ 11:05am

    Re:

    Try convincing China to adopt Google Docs.

  • On the post: Microsoft Wants To Make It Illegal To Buy From An Overseas Company That Uses Unauthorized Software

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 25 Mar, 2011 @ 10:48am

    They know they're trouble.

    This kind of over reaction smacks of fear.

    Microsoft hasn't been a growth company for a long while and I'm sure they know their cash cow is dying. They, themselves, can be a target of this law. It's stupid of them to think they wouldn't.

    It's the next IP arms race. Get your products out there in the hands of your competitors as quickly as you can so you can "allege" they didn't pay for it and bar the sale of their product.

    Just wait until this starts being enforced and you'll see how dumb this idea really is.

    And I, for what its worth, would love it if someone claimed all of Microsoft's X-Box or boxed software cannot be sold because AutoCAD wasn't paid for by the molding companies that make the hardware or packaging.

  • On the post: Homeland Security Says They Could Strip Search Every Airline Passenger If They Wanted To

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 23 Mar, 2011 @ 01:03pm

    Re: Re: Travel in Fear

    Wow, awesome reference! I haven't thought of Nuclear Assault in a while (after leaving my metal days behind when I graduated high school). I know the song you're talking about. For some reason, I only bought Something Wicked but I'm very familiar with the band and the song you mention.

  • On the post: Homeland Security Says They Could Strip Search Every Airline Passenger If They Wanted To

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 23 Mar, 2011 @ 10:01am

    Travel in Fear

    When you travel in fear of being chosen for strip searches, are you really free? Free from worry, free from emotional trauma, free from questionable searches & changing the law on a whim?

    And if you're not free from fear from your own government taking the clothes off someone and prodding them while naked just to move from place to place, haven't the terrorists already won?

    The real fear I have isn't from an violent attack, it's from my government terrorizing me.

  • On the post: Does Your Car Need Its Own App Store?

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 18 Mar, 2011 @ 01:15pm

    Re: Re:

    I think it could work.

    One, cars are closed systems so its attractive to some (not to others, of course).

    Two, most people would see this as a platform investment like Android vs iOS and like a brand association like Benz vs BMW.

    Three, the car customization market is HUGE; the demand to modify a car (including software) is established and strong.

    Fourth, every car made today is run by software so this shouldn't be a huge stretch.

    As for whether or not the apps could compete for essential system resources that control acceleration, braking, steering, & shifting, see my third point.

    I've actually thought about replacing the chips in my cars. But I haven't wanted to get under the dashboard to do it. If I could install an app that would let me change the traction control programs, shift timings, and throttle control with an app, I'd love it.

    Granted, I understand that in a closed ecosystem apps can be controlled and the controllers might not want to allow apps that could have an effect on warranties. But because the aftermarket is so strong, I can see this happening - even if it isn't sanctioned with new cars.

    Now I have to start working on the in-dash computer/radio/nav system that interfaces with the on-board computers so I can build that 3rd party app ecosystem. #BusinessIdea

  • On the post: Another Attempt To Make TSA Searches Open To Sex Offender Charges

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 11 Mar, 2011 @ 10:02am

    Re: Re: Re: Job posting...

    That doesn't make it any less hurtful for those wrongly generalized in that way and you know that.

    Stereotypes exist because there are assumptions made of of ignorance and there are a lot of ignorant people out there.

  • On the post: Another Attempt To Make TSA Searches Open To Sex Offender Charges

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 11 Mar, 2011 @ 09:32am

    They Don't Know What To Do

    I'm pretty sure that most people don't want these searches. States are trying to think of ways to get around them by inventing laws that criminalize the activity. Because they can't refuse the federal government, they think drastically.

    Instead, their elected officials should put their foot down and change things at the federal level. But then they look soft on terrorism and get thrown in jail for aiding the enemy.

  • On the post: GAO Suggests It's Time To Ditch Dollar Bills For Coins

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 07:46am

    Other Mints

    Other mints don't print single unit paper - the UK, for example. Of course, they have a 2p, 20p and ?2 coin which doesn't make much sense to me. But they're on the mark when it comes to paper.

    But I'm in favor of ditching the paper dollar and replacing it with a coin. Keep the penny, though.

  • On the post: New Legislation 'To Protect Farmer IP' Would Make It A Felony To Photograph Farms

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 28 Feb, 2011 @ 11:42am

    Re: Re: Fair Use?

    But the point is that the effectiveness - even under select enforcement - is zero because when word gets out that someone stops someone else from milking a cow because of a photo, they'd get smacked by the public; see the Streisand Effect.

    And again, most people who want to take photos of poor animal treatment don't care for trespassing laws - why would they care about IP laws like this? Most non-activist people probably won't know about the law and probably won't be selected for enforcement. When they are, Mike will report on it and see the Streisand Effect again.

    Now I'll admit I still have faith in the courts, public opinion, and the Streisand Effect to level the playing field. I know that it isn't always the case. Over time, however, bad laws are defeated - by repeal or by becoming marginalized by society as a whole; those obscure laws from the past that are selectively enforced after the public deemed them outdated also become subject to their outcry getting that selective enforcement dropped.

    And it shouldn't have to be that way. This is a stupid law that does set bad precedents. But I'm saying that bad ideas are doomed to fail no matter what; its one of those universal truths. So some individuals might suffer to ultimately keep laws like this from affecting the masses, their public troubles with these laws will keep us all more free in the end.

    Or am I being too hopeful here and we should all give up?

  • On the post: New Legislation 'To Protect Farmer IP' Would Make It A Felony To Photograph Farms

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 28 Feb, 2011 @ 09:21am

    Fair Use?

    Wouldn't they have a fair use argument? I know it would involve a legal battle but the publicity for issuing a "takedown" or something would do more damage than animal rights groups taking photos.

    Its not going to stop the activists from taking photos. Most activists don't care about these types of laws to make a point - just like the trespassing laws.

    Even if it passes, it won't actually do much. That's not to say I want anyone's free speech in jeopardy because of some special interest. But I'm confident that the effectiveness of such a law would be zero.

  • On the post: PayPal Turns Bradley Manning Defense Account Back On; Claims It Was A Paperwork Problem

    Christopher Gizzi ( profile ), 25 Feb, 2011 @ 01:12pm

    Opportunity

    Yet another opportunity for a smaller rival to upset the market and take business away from PayPal.

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