Gothenem 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (130) comment rss

  • On the post: Revolving Door: US Copyright Office General Counsel Becomes IFPI Lobbyist

    Gothenem ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2012 @ 02:12pm

    Re: Re:

    Actually, Chuck Norris found the entire thing funny and amusing. He even has selected his own favorite "Chuck Norris Facts".

    Initially, there was some resistance, but after about a year, he embraced it.

  • On the post: Congressional Research Service Takes On The Question Of Patent Trolls

    Gothenem ( profile ), 28 Aug, 2012 @ 10:46pm

    A great step in the right direction. Lets hope that Congress listens to the report and realizes the serious problem that Patent Trolls are, and how they stifle innovation instead of promoting it.

    Though I am worried that, with altering tech patents affecting trade agreements, congress will be resistant to changing things on these grounds, this definitely seems like it could lead to more positive patent reform.

  • On the post: Help Us Expand The Insider Shop By Voting On Ideas For New Techdirt Gear

    Gothenem ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2012 @ 06:49pm

    I suggested an "I'm an Anonymous Coward on TechDirt" t-shirt :)

  • On the post: If I Were The MPAA… How I Would Deal With My Car Break-In

    Gothenem ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2012 @ 12:37pm

    Re: Punsick War

    Tell that to Megaupload and Kim Dotcom. The **AA is pushing for these to become criminal actions, and not civil actions, so the comparison may soon become all to real.

  • On the post: If I Were The MPAA… How I Would Deal With My Car Break-In

    Gothenem ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2012 @ 12:36pm

    Re:

    OK, you seem to have completely missed it. He isn't saying that he was wrong to leave his iPod on the front seat of his car. While he certainly has a right to do so, it doesn't make very much sense to do so.

    Because of how he acted (ie. leaving his iPod clearly visible on the front seat of his car), he invited theft.

    What he is saying is that when the same thing happens to the **AA (ie. making their content so hard to access in formats they want), they are also inviting theft. And then goes to correlate their response to theft with his own situation.

    Clearly leaving your iPod on the front seat of your car is a bad idea. It is not illegal, and you certainly have a right to do so, but it is still a bad idea.

    Creating content, and then locking it down behind paywalls, DRM, physical copies (when none are needed) isn't illegal, but in today's digital world, it is a bad idea.

    He simply took the responses the **AA use for the "theft" of their content, and hypothetically applied it to the theft of his iPod.

    No one is saying he is right, but they are saying the overreacting isn't the right idea either.

  • On the post: If I Were The MPAA… How I Would Deal With My Car Break-In

    Gothenem ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2012 @ 11:31am

    This is hilarious!!

    It is also sad, because this is true. I think that putting their situation into this context really helps regular people understand why we are up in arms against the current IP Industry lobbying efforts.

    It isn't because they are wrong (they DO have the right to leave their iPod in the front sead), but because they are going overboard in trying to criminalize or demonize behavior that is not illegal (living in the neighbourhood, suggesting that iPods should not be left on the front seat).

    I would continue, but I would be re-iterating the above article.

    Well Done Harold!!!

  • On the post: Video Of Dotcom Raid Revealed, As NZ Police Admit It Was 'Over The Top'

    Gothenem ( profile ), 08 Aug, 2012 @ 01:13pm

    Way to go FBI! Now you have shown your true colors. Dotcom will walk free after all of this, not because he is guilty or innocent, but because of the bad decisions made in his arrest.

    This is similar to the reasons OJ Simpson got to walk free for murder. You botch up arresting the suspect (in the OJ Case it was the gathering of the evidence that was botched). And you give the accused all the leverage they need to force the courts to let them walk. And since this is a criminal case, not a civil one, Double Jeopardy applies.

  • On the post: The Silencing Of Guy Adams Gives Another Graphical Representation Of The Streisand Effect

    Gothenem ( profile ), 01 Aug, 2012 @ 03:53pm

    Re: Re: Streisand Effect

    This is so true. Today's societies are filled with products and services we don't need to solve problems that don't exist for reasons that don't make sense.

    But people and companies get filthy rich selling them anyways :(

  • On the post: Press Speculates Batman Shooter Must Have Played Video Games; They're Right: He Loved Guitar Hero

    Gothenem ( profile ), 24 Jul, 2012 @ 08:53am

    Re: Re:

    Sorry, I have to disagree. Even if the US had gun control laws equal to Canada or many European Nations, this event still would have happened. Gun Control Laws or Gun Ownership Bans will not eliminate events like these. It may make it easier for law enforcement agencies to catch people before the act, but nothing is fool proof.

    Now, I am not saying that better Gun Control Laws aren't needed, they are, but they aren't the issue here.

    And taking guns away from people? That is not a good idea.

  • On the post: Feds Wait Until Late Friday To Admit That, Yeah, They Ignored The 4th Amendment

    Gothenem ( profile ), 23 Jul, 2012 @ 12:33pm

    Orwell

    It's 1984. Orwell got the concept right, just missed on the year.

  • On the post: Judge Posner Rips Apart Apple's Patent Litigation Strategy: Being 'Really Annoyed' Is No Reason To Sue

    Gothenem ( profile ), 25 Jun, 2012 @ 05:33am

    Re: *Claps*

    Hear Hear!!

  • On the post: Wyden & Udall Block FISA Amendments Act Until US Admits How Many Americans Are Being Spied On

    Gothenem ( profile ), 12 Jun, 2012 @ 07:47am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Foreigners are gingers?

  • On the post: Cisco Has Enough Of TiVo Patent Claims, Files To Invalidate TiVo Patents

    Gothenem ( profile ), 05 Jun, 2012 @ 01:08pm

    Re: Re:

    Sorry, I meant that is where a patent is NOT a good thing.

    My bad.

  • On the post: Cisco Has Enough Of TiVo Patent Claims, Files To Invalidate TiVo Patents

    Gothenem ( profile ), 04 Jun, 2012 @ 05:37am

    I always find it amazing that patent trolls continue to sue others. To the point of rediculousness, and yet the government officials are blind to it and STILL claim that patents spur on innovation.

    While the patent system is a neccessary one, it needs to be changed. I do not suggest removing patents entirely, the purpose they were created for is still valid, much like copyright. To create a limited time monopoly for a person to make money with - to innovate without having their work stolen right out the gate and make someone else wealthy off their innovation. What I suggest is limit the amount of time a patent is valid, and base that time on the half-life of a product.

    Thus, something in the world of computer software would have a short half-life, meaning the innovator has a short time to make money on their new innovation, and then they must continue to innovate or be forced out of the market by those that do. However, someone who makes a new type of washing machine with a half-life of 6 years, has a bit more time to make money on his idea, but even then, after 6 years, there is room for other companies to step in and try to make the product better, less expensive, or both, allowing the free market to decide who wins and who looses.

    Some people will pay more for the same product because the companies brand is trusted. People who buy Kleenix over no name brand facial tissue. People who buy Heinz Ketchup instead of no name Ketchup. Others will seek the less expensive alternative. That is what the free market is about. Patents can be used to help innovation. Why create a new drug if other companies will make a Generic drug right away? You won't be able to recoup your costs for developing the medicine, and others will reap the benefits of your labour.

    That said, allowing the drug company to hold the patent on the drug for an extended period makes the drug out of reach for many who cannot afford to purchase it. That is where a patent is a good thing.

    You develop the drug, and are given a set amount of time to produce it without others doing the same. When your patent runs out, it is time for others to enter the market. Now the Patent system already works in this way, but the LENGTH of the patents are far too long for many products. Especially in the technology industry, where new technologies replace older models on a yearly basis AT THE SLOWEST!! Often, a product is out-staged a few months or weeks after it hits the market, but the Patents last for YEARS, turning the whole mess into an arms race to get patents as a "Nuclear Deterrent" and eventually as a "Threat to exort money".

  • On the post: If People Won't Pay A Monthly Fee For Facebook, Why Would They Pay For Newspapers?

    Gothenem ( profile ), 29 May, 2012 @ 04:56pm

    But, But, Piracy.

  • On the post: Thank Twitter For Standing Up For User Rights

    Gothenem ( profile ), 16 May, 2012 @ 05:10am

    Re: A great idea, but ...

    Meh, I just used my default of 11111 as a zip code. It doesn't accept canadian postal codes.

  • On the post: US Gov't Says Megaupload Shouldn't Be Allowed To Use Top Law Firm It Hired For Its Defense

    Gothenem ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2012 @ 04:56pm

    Re: good news

    My word. This is a well done document highlighting the Government's attempts to force MegaUpload into a guilty verdict without even allowing them a chance to defend themselves.

    This smacks of guilty until proven....more guilty than originally thought.

  • On the post: Canadians Respond To Internet Spying Bill By 'Revealing All' To Politician Backing It

    Gothenem ( profile ), 17 Feb, 2012 @ 02:40pm

    I, being a Canadian, cannot stand this guy. He thinks that if I want to keep my right to privacy, guaranteed to me by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that I am essentially aiding and accepting child pornography in Canada.

    This is rediculous in the extreme. To take away the rights of thirty million Canadians just to catch a few child pornographers? Especially when police have caught over 30 child pornographers in Canada over the last 2 years.

    Vic Toews is a part of a problem in most developed countries. They are politicians who feel a need to take away our rights so they can "keep us safe" without ever really knowing how to do that.

  • On the post: 'The Economist' And 'Financial Times' Already Writing Off ACTA As Dead

    Gothenem ( profile ), 10 Feb, 2012 @ 04:18pm

    There will be more coming, and don't forget that SOPA and PIPA aren't dead yet either. They are in critical condition, but they are still around. They could make a miracle recovery when no one is looking.

    We must remain vigilant if we are to protect our rights and freedoms, and we must let the governments know that it is NOT OK to censor us to protect a few legacy entertainment industries.

    While they certainly have rights as well, our rights (the basic and fundamental rights of the people) far outway the rights of a corporation. Laws to protect the corporations cannot also strip us of our own rights.

  • On the post: Park Ranger Tases Guy Walking Dogs Without A Leash

    Gothenem ( profile ), 10 Feb, 2012 @ 09:55am

    Re: no excuse

    While I agree the Ranger should be charged, with assault.

    Attempted Murder? Really? With a non-lethal weapon? Sorry, the ranger should NOT be charged with attempted murder.

    Charge with Assault, or Assault with a Weapon. Charge with use of excessive force or even false arrest.

Next >>