DB’s Techdirt Profile

On the post: How Civil Subpoenas Are Used To Unmask Online Speakers, And How A Recent Decision Will Help Deter Bogus Ones

DB ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2018 @ 11:00am

My first reaction was "that is a lot of research time and money for an easily-decided case".

But that assumption was belied by the extensive judicial review when affirming the decision. If it was that close of a call, and fought that strongly, the research was worthwhile. Halbig's own appeal showed that the hours were justified.

On the post: School Security Software Decides Innocent Parent Is Actually A Registered Sex Offender

DB ( profile ), 27 Nov, 2018 @ 06:36pm

Re: Re: When ego and profits are on the line

It's difficult to estimate the percentage of stranger sexual abuse of children because we can't know what incidents aren't reported.

But a reasonable proxy is abductions. It's not an exact analogy, but it's somewhat informative. Children taken by strangers or slight acquaintances represent only one-hundredth of 1 percent of all reported missing children.

On the post: Dystopia Now: Insurance Company Secretly Spying On Sleep Apnea Patients

DB ( profile ), 26 Nov, 2018 @ 09:49am

Re:

"Don't sign the paperwork if you aren't going to read it."

That's nearly worthless advice.

Reading the paperwork won't inform you about the implications of the terms. Permission to share information "with your doctor, healthcare providers, hospital and other parties" covers... everyone.

On the post: Nintendo Gets Huge Settlement Against ROM Site Probably Just To Scare Other ROM Sites

DB ( profile ), 16 Nov, 2018 @ 10:31am

Re: Legal theater

That is close to my reaction as well: why would a judge sign off on a settlement that was clearly so far out of line of what was reasonable, and didn't reflect the reality of the situation.

On the post: The Girl Scouts Sues The Boy Scouts Over Trademark

DB ( profile ), 13 Nov, 2018 @ 10:05pm

The term "Scouts" and "Scouting" have been used by the Boy Scouts for decades. They were the broad terms covering Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers and Sea Scouts. So it's not a new use of the term.

There is a bit of "damned if you do, damned if you don't" going on here. There were increasingly frequent minor issues because of the gender discrimination. Traditional activities such as marching in parades or using government facilities would become unexpectedly complicated because of broadly worded 'equal opportunity' laws. The same rule that was intended to keep the KKK from marching in the 4th of July parade or reserving the picnic area of a park for a rally applied to a Boy Scout troop that didn't allow girls full membership.

The Boy Scouts took a major step forward in eliminating gender discrimination. It was a divisive issue, and the change cost them a huge amount of support. The LDS (Mormon) church used to a major charter sponsor of scout troops. In May 2018 they announced they were eliminating all support. That means that 20% of scout troops will need to find new sponsors or dissolve.

On the post: Arkansas Police Department Has Been Engaging In Illegal Drug Raids For Years

DB ( profile ), 23 Oct, 2018 @ 12:13am

Re: CI statement doesn't make sense

Presumably the police provide the cash for the purchase, and take the drugs into evidence.

It should be obvious how to make a quick, safe profit. The police aren't going to care that the informant turned over low-grade heavily cut drugs, as long as it tests positive.

On the post: Appeals Court Says Of Course Georgia's Laws (Including Annotations) Are Not Protected By Copyright And Free To Share

DB ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2018 @ 02:21pm

Re: look out NFPAyou're next

I'm not as sure as you are about the NEC.

The first part of the analysis explicitly differentiates this case from the situation where externally written code is incorporated by reference.

On the post: Boeing Accused Of Covert, Coordinated Op-Ed Smear Campaign Against Space X

DB ( profile ), 11 Oct, 2018 @ 01:24pm

Re: LOL

Most companies have no ethics and like money.

It's why "corporations are people" is fundamentally flawed. People generally have a broad view of what they want out of government and society.

On the post: FBI's Latest Crime Stats Continue To Undermine AG Sessions' Criminal Apocalypse Fantasies

DB ( profile ), 27 Sep, 2018 @ 11:59am

Misleading with percentages.

If you lose 20% of 100 you have 80.

If you gain 10% on that, you have 88.

If you have a 50% loss then a 50% gain, you are only back to 75.

On the post: Louisiana's Attorney General Wants To Break Up Google Over 'Bias'

DB ( profile ), 25 Sep, 2018 @ 12:33pm

Re: I can see a rationale for breaking up Google... but Facebook?

The argument (well, one credible argument) for breaking them up is their dominance in advertising services.

If you want to place an online advertisement, you will very likely to be going to either Google or Facebook.

However there is vigorous competition between the two, which is a good argument that neither has monopoly power.

On the post: New York Times Sues FCC With Eye On Bogus Russian Net Neutrality Comments

DB ( profile ), 24 Sep, 2018 @ 10:48am

I'm hoping that "the press" rolls this up, right to the doorsteps of Comcast et al.

No doubt they are several intermediaries away from the people that submitted the bogus comments, but paying PR companies to submit fake comments should be treated just like hiring a hit man -- a conspiracy charge on top of the crime itself.

On the post: GDPR Being Used To Try To Disappear Public US Court Docket

DB ( profile ), 21 Sep, 2018 @ 01:21pm

I wonder if Michael Francois Bujaldon has managed to eliminate the name Michael Francois Bujaldon from being mentioned in relation to a lawsuit with Michael Francois Bujaldon as a party.

I doubt that Michael Francois Bujaldon has accomplished his goal. Certainly someone searching for Michael Francois Bujaldon will find articles mentioning Michael Francois Bujaldon or at least comments talking about the Michael Francois Bujaldon lawsuit.

On the post: Apple Didn't Delete That Guys iTunes Movies, But What Happened Still Shows The Insanity Of Copyright

DB ( profile ), 17 Sep, 2018 @ 02:01pm

Globalism: it is just for the corporations

Corporations want to source and sell into a global market for their goods, but they want to segment the market for higher profit.

As a worker I'm supposed to compete against low wage labor, but my $160 textbook costs $6 in India. (The only difference: lower quality paper.)

On the post: You Don't Own What You've Bought: Apple Disappears Purchased Movies

DB ( profile ), 12 Sep, 2018 @ 03:41pm

Re: Re: Re: Lost

I've certainly had CDs and DVDs go bad.

Most of them were small scale recordings from local bands (probably CD-Rs with ink jet printing), but I've had commercially pressed ones that have had the aluminum layer delaminate (?!) or apparently corrode.

I've heard people claim "that can't happen", but am I going to believe them or my eyes?

On the post: ISPs Push Employees To Urge Governor Brown Veto New California Net Neutrality Bill

DB ( profile ), 10 Sep, 2018 @ 02:45pm

I have to wonder how that talking point plays to the public.

They are paying $200 to Comcast as a monopoly, and $10 to Netflix in a competitive market. Comcast claiming that Netflix isn't paying its way rings pretty hollow.

I think that it much more closely reflects the mindset of Comcast executives: "we are providing the highway, we should get the tolls plus a cut of the sales of all the businesses reachable by the highway".

On the post: Judge Roy Moore Sues Sacha Baron Cohen For Ruining His Immaculate Reputation

DB ( profile ), 06 Sep, 2018 @ 03:59pm

Re: Re:

Investigative reporters providing a misleading representation of themselves is a long-standing pattern. The plaintiff might try to argue fraud from the misrepresentation, but it's unlikely to go anywhere.

I do wonder if they have thought this through to the trial. Cohen will be taking the stand. Perhaps there will be a jury. Perhaps cameras in the courtroom. Clips will be shown repeatedly. Late night talk shows will be covering the highlights. Internet memes will abound.

On the post: California Shakes Off ISP Lobbyists, Embraces Real Net Neutrality

DB ( profile ), 04 Sep, 2018 @ 08:22am

Federal preemption

Federal preemption in 3..2..1

Of course the big ISPs have created their own problem, and federal rules that preempt state regulations will now take much longer to implement, and be subject to much stronger court challenges.

On the post: That Time Telco Lobbyists Sent Me All Their Talking Points About Trying To Shift The Blame To Internet Companies

DB ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2018 @ 11:31am

Re: Well, if you insist...

C-SPAN is a broadcaster, not a news organization. They just run the cameras, they don't have reporters or ask questions.

On the post: Flordia AG Somehow Pivots To The Danger Of Video Games After The Latest Florida Shooting

DB ( profile ), 29 Aug, 2018 @ 04:19pm

Re:

Have you ever even met children?

They are influenced by their upbringing, but they have strong, unique personalities from early in life. You can screw them up, but you generally can't fix them.

On the post: Billionaire Steve Wynn, Who Once Tried To Kill Nevada's Anti-SLAPP Law, Loses Defamation Case Under That Law

DB ( profile ), 28 Aug, 2018 @ 03:39pm

Re: Re: A Slapp in the face

How is that a flaw?

Saying bad things about a person or corporation known to be litigious will not force them to file a bogus lawsuit. They are choosing to abuse the courts to punish someone, and now doing so won't work as well.

If the situation (and speech) is truly defamatory, then anti-SLAPP legislation wouldn't apply.

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