egghead 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Fox Responds To 'Piracy Surge' By Answering A Different Question

    egghead ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2011 @ 11:26am

    Re: Re:

    Then the second person (SP) sees the video and likes it enough to hunt down the other episodes. SP finds Fox's webpage with the lineup and checks the schedule for when the show airs next. Sadly, SP has other commitments that will take SP away from home for a significant period of time. SP would still like to watch the new episodes and tries to find ways to watch the show legally. Sadly again, SP finds that the geographical restrictions prevent SP from viewing the legal videos outside SP's home country. Downtrodden, SP does a Google search including the shows name and the search token ':filetype torrent' which points SP to a plethora of options for viewing the videos on whatever device and wherever SP currently is. It's too bad that SP couldn't provide Fox with additional viewership simply because SP is physically distant from home. If only Fox had figured out the internet and how to deliver SP the desired content in the desired format.

  • On the post: Fox Responds To 'Piracy Surge' By Answering A Different Question

    egghead ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2011 @ 11:15am

    Re: Re: Re: @ "turning a class of people ... into social pariahs"

    Instead of stealing the physical book, I'll just bring my ultra-portable, energy harvesting copy machine to the party and take a gander at your book. I'll later go home and peruse my copy while coming up with my own ideas. Hell, I may even improve upon your book.

    Wait...you want to sue me for using such a tool? Well, lets just line up the entire world population, along with any animal capable of mimicking behaviors since my tool was simply my vision system combined with memory controlled by an organ called the brain. Oh...and you can't patent that...well maybe with the current patent system.

  • On the post: Stop The Scourge Of Illegal 'Downwriting'

    egghead ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2011 @ 08:16am

    Re: Re: Re: fair use.

    How is it possible to function with that irrational brain? I hope that was sarcasm, my filter has been on the fritz lately.

    using the internet to save money that rightfully belongs to a large corporation is piracy
    My money rightfully belongs to me, not some corporation. I guess downloading coupons and using coupon codes is piracy then.
    making a phone call through the internet to save on mobile minutes: piracy
    Starting to sound like sarcasm. I paid for my internet connection and I can choose to voice chat with whomever I want; besides, the voice quality is way better than with a phone call.
    telecommuting instead of buying gas to drive to work: piracy
    Here's where the sarcasm flag billowed out and waved in all its glory. Regardless, someone might just take this line of thinking as serious, so I'll refute it. Again, I paid for my internet connection and my employer has agreed to allow me to attach my computer to their network remotely in order for me to perform my duties while reducing the load on their air conditioners and power grid.

    Thank you, and good day.

  • On the post: Stop The Scourge Of Illegal 'Downwriting'

    egghead ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2011 @ 07:57am

    Re: Re:

    Oh, the buttery mess that must make.
    I know my old Macbook Pro could have made grilled cheese with the heat coming off the bottom case; but a photocopier?

  • On the post: Modern Art: $5 Million Worth Of Unauthorized Downloads On A Hard Drive On Display

    egghead ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2011 @ 08:19am

    Re: Contents of the PDF file.

    My main concern is with the prices of the font collections. $80k for 21GB of fonts, ~$3.72/MB? Of course, Adobe has to top that and have $20k for only about 71MB of fonts, ~$281.69/MB.

    It really makes me wonder how those valuations were determined; and if from the companies themselves, it's no wonder their software has so many unauthorized downloads. Maybe if they would restructure their pricing to reach more consumers, they'd see greater gains.

  • On the post: Are People Copy Machines?

    egghead ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2011 @ 07:57am

    Re: Re: Re: We need aliens to arrive so we can copy their tech.

    Damn, it didn't work.

  • On the post: Are People Copy Machines?

    egghead ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2011 @ 07:56am

    Re: Re: We need aliens to arrive so we can copy their tech.

    HAHA, I broke your chain! MUAHAHAHA...HA!

  • On the post: Dear World: Self-Driving Cars Will Get Into Accidents Too (Though, This One Wasn't The Computer's Fault)

    egghead ( profile ), 05 Aug, 2011 @ 02:51pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    Here's an idea--it's novel, I know--don't mess with the registry (caveat: unless you have had sufficient training on how the registry functions)! I've had to fix too many computers where the user thought they'd be doing themselves a favor by googling the symptoms and following the regedit instructions. Yet, they wonder why their computer suddenly won't open executable files or let them access their lolcatz favorites.

  • On the post: Without Copyright, Hollywood Would Never Be Incented To… Make A Bunch Of Remakes?

    egghead ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2011 @ 03:05pm

    Re:

    There is no winning in the Tardian world.

    Yes, there is! Stop thinking that you've already lost and instead try to figure out what you potential customers want. Trial and error will also help you to determine what will serve them best. Perhaps, the funding for a movie should come from somewhere other than ticket/disc/download sales; that way those items could be priced much lower and the profits are hardly impacted. Imagine a world where recorded entertainment is created alongside the fans, bring them along for the ride as the film is being made, let them have the chance to sculpt the movie with additional ideas and maybe even charge a small fee and open it up for donations with some rewards!

  • On the post: Without Copyright, Hollywood Would Never Be Incented To… Make A Bunch Of Remakes?

    egghead ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2011 @ 11:49am

    Re: Obviously copyright isn't strong enough yet

    I swear, if I see a little light-bulb show up next to his title, I might just pull all my hair out, run around buck naked and recite the lyrics of every emo/pop song there is!

  • On the post: Kim Kardashian Sues Old Navy For Hiring Actress Who Looks Like Her

    egghead ( profile ), 22 Jul, 2011 @ 12:04pm

    Re: Re: The REAL reasons for the lawsuit

    I'm sorry, I really misread what you wrote and was hoping for the tape to leak.

  • On the post: Aaron Swartz Indictment Leading People To… Upload JSTOR Research To File Sharing Sites

    egghead ( profile ), 21 Jul, 2011 @ 02:31pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    And my fly swatter!

  • On the post: Aaron Swartz Indictment Leading People To… Upload JSTOR Research To File Sharing Sites

    egghead ( profile ), 21 Jul, 2011 @ 02:30pm

    Re:

    Sadly, once I hit "Could a golden age be born of this?" I immediately envisioned playing a game of Civilization. After I snapped back to reality and got to the end of your first paragraph, I was sitting on the edge of my chair silently chanting "Yes!" Then, you had to go and tear down the beautifully painted facade to reveal the tepid corruption that is our legal system. That was one hell of a roller-coaster ride!

  • On the post: What Idea/Expression Dichotomy? Microsoft Sued For Having Sorta Similar Commercials

    egghead ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2011 @ 01:06pm

    Re:

    I'm not Mike, but I'll answer all the same.
    "...why do you hate rainbows, puppies, and the smiles of children. While loving both hitler and satan?"
    I hate rainbows because they only reveal an extremely small section of the electromagnetic spectrum. So what if that section is the only one visible to the naked eye? That, and it means the rain is gone; if you've been in Texas during the summer dry-spells, then you'd understand.
    I hate puppies simply because they garner the adoration of countless beautiful women that have shown the least bit of interest in me; adorable as I may be.
    I hate the smiles of children, only when they are about to do something that they are fully aware to be against my wishes.
    I love both Hitler and Satan simply because I have always been taught to love everyone. That doesn't mean I have to like what they do. Judge the actions, not the person; for only God can know the person's heart and judge fairly.

  • On the post: Woman Faces Felony Charges For Groping A TSA Agent

    egghead ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2011 @ 12:02pm

    Re: Enough, already!

    "Cripes...if you want to travel, you have to make sacrifices. Let the American government do what they feel is needed to be done, to keep Americans safe. After all, they know best. That is why we voted them in. And if you don't like being groped, take the bus."

    First, do these politicians go through the same security screening when they travel? Second, I only voted in the Senators and Representatives for Texas; unfortunately, they appear to be going against the ideals they projected during their campaigns and I have severely limited power to have them punished or removed from their position. Third, no politician is omniscient and therefore cannot know for certain what is best.

    I'd take the bus, but a bus is limited to the posted speed limits and typically unionized agreements on driver fatigue; thereby reducing the serviceable radius for a given block of time. They also are not very efficient at international travel, especially when the origin and destination landmasses are separated by vast expanses of water.

    Only when the TSA can definitively prove that such excessive security measures have and will stop every conceivable threat, will I voluntarily subject myself to the otherwise sexually abusive violations of the unalienable rights provided me by the very Constitution of these United States of America.

  • On the post: Woman Faces Felony Charges For Groping A TSA Agent

    egghead ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2011 @ 11:32am

    Re: Re: Re: Crime

    I don't see how it wouldn't scale. You train people to look for suspicious activity, that's perfectly scalable. It would require a whole lot less time than running every traveler through a gauntlet of "security measures," so, that's easily scaled. More flights? More trained security professionals.

    The goal should be to earn the respect of travels, not their ire.

  • On the post: Woman Faces Felony Charges For Groping A TSA Agent

    egghead ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2011 @ 10:03am

    Re: Re: Re: Crime

    Actually, it all depends on how you define eating and having. I can eat a slice of the cake and still have the cake available. Also, I can eat all the cake and I still have it, all in my stomach (not recommended in one sitting). I could also cut out a section of the cake from the bottom, eat that and still have my cake appear to be untouched.

    So, tell me again why I can't have my cake and eat it too?

  • On the post: MPAA Shows How Teachers Should Record Movies By Camcording Their TVs

    egghead ( profile ), 07 May, 2009 @ 03:00pm

    Re: Recursive Exhibitionists

    I was wondering when someone was going to comment on the "Analog Hole"

  • On the post: Convenience Matters: People Will Still 'Pirate' Content That Is Available For Free In Less Convenient Packages

    egghead ( profile ), 08 Sep, 2008 @ 10:49am

    Re: Not just free, but enhanced?

    LostSailor,

    I understand fully that the content, of which you speak, is relatively expensive to create. What you don't seem to understand is that by creating the goods, they have already spent money and are simply recouping the loss.

    There are many ways to recover what was spent that also allow that content to be 'sold' to a customer. Most of these companies feel they have overall rights to the creation even after it has been 'sold,' or in their mind 'leased,' to the customer.

    Once something is created, it can be copied and sold as a replica. These replicas can be infinite and therefore the value of them drops. What must be done to bring value back to the replica? You could add more works to it, but then you are pouring more lost money into it. You could place ads in the content, but then consumers could be come annoyed. You could reduce the number of units produced, but that means only collectors will buy. You could even charge a rental for the content, but even then the customer would be angry.

    So, what is a creator to do? Make content that their audience wants, while keeping the cost of creation low. Remove hindrances to the customer and allow them to place their own specific value on your content.

    For those that made it all the way through, thank you for reading, and I expect nothing in return.

  • On the post: NBC Universal Realizes That Ads Are Content Too

    egghead ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2007 @ 10:08am

    Re: People Don't Hate Advertising?

    Shawn, you seem pretty adamant about hating commercials. I have to ask though, how did you wind up coming to this site? Did you hear about it from a friend, click on a link, or just happened to defy all odds and randomly type in characters in the URL to navigate here.

    All but the last were because of some form of advertisement, i.e. they were commercials.