John85851 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Bobby Jindal Announces Violent Games/Movies To Blame For All Those Mass Shootings

    John85851 ( profile ), 12 Oct, 2015 @ 12:02pm

    Every politican needs a soundbite

    And which soundbite is quicker and easier for the 24-hour news cycle to digest?
    1) I think we should look into the causes of mental illness and the reasons why people think they should express their anger by killing other human beings.
    Or:
    2) It's because of violent video games... and movies... and TV shows... and comic books.

  • On the post: NBC's Ingenious Solution To Ad Skipping And Low Ratings: More Embarrassingly Unfunny Product Placement

    John85851 ( profile ), 08 Oct, 2015 @ 04:30pm

    What's the ROI?

    I'd like to know what the return on investment is for these kinds of ads?
    If a vodka company spends $300,000 to get the lead actor to mention their product, how many sales does this create? Are there viewers who think "If that guy drinks the vodka, I should also?" Does that really happen in 2015?

    On the other hand, how much ill-will does it create when so many people say a product placement like this will take them out of the story? How long will it be until people are talking about show for its product placement instead of the characters and plot?

  • On the post: Train Simulator 2016 And How We've Reached The Crest Of The Dumb DLC Wave

    John85851 ( profile ), 07 Oct, 2015 @ 11:35am

    Re: Re:

    If they were to drop the price of the DLC to, say, a tenth of what it is right now, then maybe instead of getting a dozen buyers, they might get hundreds. 20 or 30 times as many sales at a tenth the profit each is still 2 or 3 times the profit.

    There's a flaw with this calculation. Although you're correct that a vendor would get more customers if he lowered the price, he now has to deal with questions and issues from more customers.

    I don't mean to sound elitist, many markets have price levels which are geared to newbies and experts.
    For example, Alienware prices their computers to experts and they don't expect to get customer support calls from people who think the DVD tray is a cup holder.

    By comparison, by selling digital trains for $20, the vendors are appealing to collectors who know what they're getting into. If the vendor priced the same train for $1.99, he might be spending more of his time trying to help people who may not even know how to get the models into the train simulation game and who may have bought only because the price was cheap.

  • On the post: Train Simulator 2016 And How We've Reached The Crest Of The Dumb DLC Wave

    John85851 ( profile ), 07 Oct, 2015 @ 11:26am

    I disagree with the "cost"

    First, is this really "downloadable content" or are they downloadable add-ons? Do people need these digital trains to run the game or get past a certain level? If they're add-ons, then buying them is not mandatory to win the game. Then who are we to complain about how people spend their money on their hobby?

    Second, like other people are saying, how the pricing of digital models any different than physical models? If you buy an HO train engine for $200, isn't it functionally the same as a $15 motor, only with a prettier cover?
    Okay, it can be argued that digital models don't have a cost of goods like physical models, but what's the digital modeller's time worth?

    Third, let's compare apples to apples. How is this kind of DLC any different than 3d model sites like TurboSquid? You could say that it "costs" tens of thousands of dollars to buy every model, but no one person needs every model.

    And what's the value of the model? If the market says $20 is a fair price for a digital model and people will pay it, then who are we to complain?

  • On the post: Reddit's New 'Upvoted' Clickbait Website Will Ignore Everything That's Great About Reddit

    John85851 ( profile ), 07 Oct, 2015 @ 11:15am

    Did someone say clickbait?

    The headlines for this story almost write themselves:

    Reddit says it's going to change their site. What happens next will restore your faith in humanity.

    Why does Reddit want a new clickbaity site? This guy nails it!

    A new Reddit site was announced. What happens next will make your jaw drop.

    Do you live in Florida? You must read these crazy things about the new Reddit site.

    These people review Reddit's new site. What happens next will blow your mind and usher in a new age of prosperity and enlightenment for the entire human race.

  • On the post: Motherboard's Version Of 'Valuing Discussion' Involves No Longer Letting You Comment

    John85851 ( profile ), 05 Oct, 2015 @ 05:58pm

    Am I missing something

    So I read this quote:
    ... our belief that killing comments and focusing on other avenues of communication will foster smarter, more valuable discussion and criticism of our work

    If they kill the comments section, how exactly will that foster smarter or more valuable discussion? I think it'll kill some of the conversation since some people don't want to create a Facebook or Twitter account just to post a comment and other people can't log into Facebook or Twitter (such as on a work computer). Plus, there are numerous other reasons why people may not want to post a comment through Facebook.

    Maybe the bigger issue is that sites don't want anonymous people criticizing them or pointing out flaws in the articles. This way, if someone criticizes, they have to log in with their real name on Facebook for the world to see. Many people are probably okay with this, but some may not be.

  • On the post: John Oliver Would Like You To Replace Your Bogus Facebook Copyright Privacy Statement With His Own

    John85851 ( profile ), 01 Oct, 2015 @ 04:41pm

    Re: Compare to ProCD

    Although copyrights or contracts can be negotiated after the fact, let's put this idea aside and focus on the point of the article. Namely, how is posting anything on your wall considered "notice" to Facebook's legal department? Doesn't the concept of giving notice require giving notice to the appropriate person or department so they can take appropriate action on their end?
    Posting a notice on your wall is as effective and legally binding as yelling it in front of Facebook's office.

    And continuing with that analogy, when was the last time a contract was negotiated by yelling something to random people in front of an office?

  • On the post: ISP Announces It's Blocking All Facebook And Google Ads Until Companies Pay A Troll Toll

    John85851 ( profile ), 01 Oct, 2015 @ 04:18pm

    Greed

    As with the European news organizations who want a cut from Google's traffic, how did we get to a point where so many people are so greedy?
    This is yet another case of someone in charge saying "They're making more money than us, so how can we get some of that money". Yet they don't realize they're making plenty of money connecting their own customers to sites like Google.

  • On the post: Amazon Bans Sale Of Competing Apple TV, Chromecast Devices To 'Avoid Customer Confusion'

    John85851 ( profile ), 01 Oct, 2015 @ 04:13pm

    Stopping customer service

    I wonder if this is more about cutting back on customer service for a device they don't own. I have Amazon Prime and AppleTV and the way to watch Prime shows is to start in on the iPhone, then click the button to send it to AppleTV. Easy, right?

    But there have been a few times when it hasn't worked, so I called Amazon. Their stock response was that they support AppleTV... yet they support the iPhone which can play video *over* AppleTV. Basically, their customer service rep was helpless to figure out a solution.

    I then did the usual: I unplugged the AppleTV unit, plugged it back in, and then it worked fine.

    So if Amazon doesn't sell AppleTV, they can punt the question and tell people to talk to Apple... who will tell them to to talk to Amazon about Prime Video... and back and forth.

  • On the post: The Increasing Attacks On The Most Important Law On The Internet

    John85851 ( profile ), 30 Sep, 2015 @ 01:27pm

    These people would trap themselves in their own laws

    I half-wish laws like this would be passed just so people like this would be caught by their own rules.
    What would Chu do if someone complained and sued him about his comments? Would he be quick to say that the system is working as he designed it? Or would he complain about the complainer and claim he has a right to say whatever he wants?

  • On the post: You Can Now Turn Off Ads On Techdirt

    John85851 ( profile ), 29 Sep, 2015 @ 04:23pm

    My own story

    I may have mentioned this before in another article, but here's my experience with ads:

    Years ago, I used Yahoo Mail on IE. Okay, I was young and I didn't know any better. ;)
    Anyway, as with any website, Yahoo Mail had banner ads, most of which were flashing, annoying and irrelevant.
    - No, I do not want to refinance my house at 2% interest since I'm living in an apartment.
    - No, I won't click on a banner that says I won a prize for being the 1 millionth person to see the banner ad.
    - No, I don't want free "smilies" or animated cursors.
    - No, I don't want to click to impeach the president or tell Congress to take a hike.

    Then one day, my computer was hit by malware:
    First, Windows asked if I wanted a software program to change the registry. Then my firewall software asked if I wanted some program to access the internet.
    Then Windows asked about changing the registry as fast as I could click No.
    I had to unplug the computer to get the crap to stop... and when I turned my computer back on, my desktop wallpaper had been replaced by a black screen with an IP address on it.
    My Start Menu was also full of crap, such as search engines, tool bar installers, affiliate-clicks programs, and more.
    Luckily, I was able to restart in Safe Mode and do a System Restore.

    And of course, Yahoo denied it was their fault, even though it happened when I was reading mail.

    I then switched to GMail and the ad-experience was completely different. Now, ads were on the side of the e-mail I was reading... and they were relevant!
    When I talked to my friend about a Star Wars movie, the ad were for Star Wars toys... which I clicked on... and actually bought some things.

    So, what's the moral for advertisers? Force crappy banner ads on people and they'll never click. But give them ads relevant to them and they'll click and maybe buy.

  • On the post: Appeals Court Says The Batmobile Is A 'Character' Covered By Copyright

    John85851 ( profile ), 24 Sep, 2015 @ 04:16pm

    Re: Re:

    When does a prop become it's own character? You could claim that the Doctor couldn't get out of a jam without the sonic screwdriver. And if the Golden Snitch flies around on its own, how is it any different than R2-D2?

    However, I think the real issue is that the guy was making replicas without official permission from DC Comics, so they sued with any laws they could think of.

  • On the post: Ridiculously Thin Skinned Donald Trump Threatening Critics With Totally Bogus Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

    John85851 ( profile ), 24 Sep, 2015 @ 04:00pm

    I'm not a lawyer, but...

    ... don't people give up rights to their name and likeness when they run for public office? This is why people could sell things with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but not when he was an actor.

  • On the post: UK Copyright Group Plans Heavy Anti-Piracy Measures For Bond Film Because Of How Successful It Will Be

    John85851 ( profile ), 24 Sep, 2015 @ 03:56pm

    It's all misdirection

    Like a good magician, these copyright groups are becoming very good as misdirection: they're getting everyone in a froth over cam-cording, yet there's no "market" for poor quality movies like this.
    On the other hand (that they don't want you to see) are the 1080i Blu-Ray versions giving out to critics and screeners, which somehow end up on the torrent sites.

    So, it's better to blame cam-corders instead of coming down on screeners and friends of the studio.

  • On the post: Turing Pharma Boss Martin Shkreli Defends Massive Price Increase As A Good Thing For Patients

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2015 @ 08:05am

    Re:

    And who's up for waiting a few years for research, development, and FDA approval?

    And then what happens when this guy finds out another company is about to release their version of the drug for $30? Oh, look, he's suddenly being big-hearted and pricing his own drug for $20, which once again, undercuts the competition... which is basically what the drug has been doing for the past 50 years.

  • On the post: Turing Pharma Caves; Says Drug Price Will Move In Generally Downward Motion At Some Point In The Future

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2015 @ 07:50am

    Re:

    I was just about to say this.

    The same thing happens to gas prices:
    Starting price: $2.00 a gallon.
    Then prices go to up to $2.50 because of "reasons".
    People complain.
    Then the gas companies "bow to public pressure" and reduce the price to $2.25.
    People rejoice because they "won" because they got the big gas company to lower the price.

    Yet the price is still higher than it was before this started. Sure, it's not as high, but the company is still making more money.

  • On the post: Monkey Business: PETA Sues On Behalf Of The Monkey Selfie; Claims Copyright Belongs To The Monkey

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2015 @ 08:19am

    I'm not a lawyer, but I watch TV

    In all the lawyer TV shows I've been watching, the characters talk about how the plaintiff needs to have "standing".
    1) How can PETA sue on behalf of a monkey over a copyright issue? I can understand suing on behalf of an animal over mistreatment, but not giving a monkey proper copyright isn't abusing an animal.

    2) How can they file a lawsuit in a California court when the photo shoot took place in Indonesia? How does the US or California have jurisdiction?

    Also, if they're suing on behalf of a monkey in Indonesia, how do Indonesia's copyright laws come into it?

    3) And even if they win (which is a stretch) how exactly will the winnings help the monkey? Like the other poster said, will PETA go to Indonesia and help fund the monkey's park?

  • On the post: Turing Pharma Caves; Says Drug Price Will Move In Generally Downward Motion At Some Point In The Future

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2015 @ 07:53am

    Price it out of the market

    Or alternatively, this guy could be even more of a jerk and find a price point that's still high for patients, but too low to make it un-profitable for other drug companies to make a competing drug.
    And even then, how long will it take for a competitor to make their own drug- 2 or 3 years or longer? In the meantime, the guy enjoys the monopoly the previous company created by selling the drug for such a low price.

  • On the post: Judge Says Warner Chappell Doesn't Hold The Copyright On Happy Birthday (But Not That It's Public Domain)

    John85851 ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2015 @ 07:45am

    Any refunds?

    If Warner/ Chappell doesn't own the copyright, can the court order them to issue refunds to everyone they charged for licenses to play the song?
    Doesn't this drive home the fact that the $2 million they collect each year is fraudulent?

  • On the post: Company Acquires Rights To Drug Used By AIDS/Cancer Patients; Immediately Raises Per Pill Price From Under $14 To $750

    John85851 ( profile ), 21 Sep, 2015 @ 12:24pm

    Re: When corpses are just numbers

    I forget which TV show or movie had a pharm executive as a bad guy, but the point was basically this: pharm companies don't want to cure customers (I mean "patients") since this will end the income stream. Instead, pharm companies sell drugs to counter the side effects and get people legally hooked.

    And not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but there's probably a reason why pharm companies haven't found a cure for cancer or AIDS.

    Now, granted, the show was a fictional drama, but it seems a little too accurate.

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