JTO 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (30) comment rss

  • On the post: ASCAP Continues Propaganda Campaign With Laughably Bad Video [Updated]

    JTO ( profile ), 02 Aug, 2010 @ 01:49pm

    Umm...

    Mr. ASCAP exec, that's not milk if it comes from a bull or steer. And judging by the smile on his face, I think you've already paid for it...

  • On the post: Twilight Producers Sue To Stop Fashion Design Firm From Pointing Out That 'Bella' Wore Its Jacket

    JTO ( profile ), 16 Jun, 2010 @ 02:10pm

    Re: Google House

    Well yes, as "Google" is a brand-mark. "Twilight" is a common use word.

  • On the post: Pentagon: If You Don't Let The US Gov't Spy On Your Network, You Place American Lives At Risk

    JTO ( profile ), 28 May, 2010 @ 10:18am

    Right...

    Dear Pentagon,

    Given that my network is FAR more secure than yours, I think I'll take a pass on your monitoring equipment.

    @Darryl: Nice rant. Unfortunately, you're distant relation to the facts is a little hard to swallow. The NSA has a long (and secret) history of screwing things up. I wouldn't be surprised if they were on the class-action against Google StreetView. If someone can hack the GPS satellites, we're already screwed. GPS navigation is a one-way communications system. CPUs can already do JIT encryption. Most DRM is not based on need, but paranoia. DRM did not stop music piracy, the availability of quality music at a decent price did (iTunes). The failure of the powergrid in '97 was traced to an engineer not following proper protocols. The energy policies of the Clinton and Bush administrations allowed power companies to connect their grids so they could sell energy in different markets. This led to grids without buffers, Enron, and the California energy crisis. It had nothing to do with Internet security.

    But that's all moot. The Pentagon want civilian contractors to accept NSA-monitoring of their networks. This is a colossally bad idea, as it effectively gives network admin rights to a third-party without any oversight or liability. If the NSA wants to monitor my network, then they'll have to prove that my network doesn't meet their standards.

  • On the post: Stephen Conroy Continues To Attack Google; Claims WiFi Data Collection Was Done On Purpose

    JTO ( profile ), 27 May, 2010 @ 06:05am

    Re: There might be some argument

    Google's data capture WAS intentional. They were mapping free, open WiFi connections. Any other data captured were incidental.

    If I wanted to pirate WiFi, I can simply walk out my door. The dismal state of WiFi security would be laughable if the potential for harm weren't so great. Even then, I could simply go to a Panera Bread, McDonalds, or local coffee shop if I wanted to use anonymous, free Internet resources.

    I don't know if you're aware, but storage is cheap. When you collect data in such a scatter-shot pattern, you only filter out the data you want and ignore the rest. Eventually, it will be overwritten, but a 1.5TB drive can contains a lot of data before throwing any warnings. Heck, a 500GB drive can contain loads of harmful data.

    If a college coed takes off her shirt at Mardi Gras, there is a REASONABLE expectation that someone will take her picture. There is also a REASONABLE expectation that some Japanese businessman might end up buying that same picture out of a vending machine in a Tokyo train station. If you stand in front of your windows naked, don't be upset when you find pictures of your naked butt on the Internet.

    Take the 3 minutes to secure your network using the wizards included with the router software.

  • On the post: Class Action Lawsuit Launched Against Google, Because Some Woman Didn't Secure Her Own WiFi

    JTO ( profile ), 20 May, 2010 @ 12:51pm

    Re: I Gots Class

    My fly was open. Can I sue Google for taking naughty pics of me?

  • On the post: Brief In Viacom/YouTube Trial Tries To Rewrite The DMCA

    JTO ( profile ), 13 May, 2010 @ 02:34pm

    There seems to be a paranoia held by some copyright holders that everyone on the Internet are marauding pirates, intent on stealing everything not nailed down by ironclad security. The fact is, that's simply not the case. Sure, people will steal content. It's really no different that people making photocopies of books or others making mix tapes. Apple proved that making content accessible and reasonably-priced will attract great gobs of money. Despite the labels' claims, the music industry is far larger today than it ever was. That's because the Internet provides a massive distribution network to the top 1% of the planet's richest people. Recently, we are starting to see the same thing with books and other printed works.

    No matter how the DMCA is worded or interpreted, you can't get the toothpaste back in the tube. If publishers do not find ways of distributing content to those who want it, they only thing they can ensure is that it WILL be stolen. People will pay for legal, portable, high-quality content. Not everyone, but enough to make the process worthwhile. In the meantime, publishers save on printing, packaging, and distribution costs.

    However, holding ISPs liable for user-generated content is potentially hazardous. In such a case, ISPs have a choice between potentially expensive fines or violating users' civil rights.

  • On the post: Apple Sued For Patent Infringement Over One Of The Broadest Patents You'll Ever See

    JTO ( profile ), 05 May, 2010 @ 03:03pm

    SD,
    When dinosaurs ruled the Earth, my pager had a phone feature. It could do 2-way text paging and, therefore, could be interpreted as email. I always had the option of calling back the number right from the pager. It was a pretty fancy pager.

    A few years later, my fancy mobile phone could accept pages, but they were brought in through the local pager network, as text messaging wasn't around yet. It was nice because, even though my mobile service would die, I could still receive text pages. Again, that pager could be considered a form of electronic mail...

  • On the post: Now, Apparently It's Not Just Content Providers That Are Getting A Free Ride On Broadband Networks, But Consumers Too

    JTO ( profile ), 22 Apr, 2010 @ 01:12pm

    I don't know about the English, but I pay a fee every month for my bandwidth. In fact, I pay a premium for greater bandwidth because I'm impatient and use it for work.

    When you pay the CableCo or TelCo for your broadband, you get two pipes, one up and one down. The downstream pipe (to your computer) is generally much faster than the upstream pipe. That's one of the big reasons P2P *sux* . But you pay for it. Both ways, whether you use it or not.

    Trust me, every single broadband company out there knows there are no freeloaders on their networks. EVERYONE pays for bandwidth whether they use it or not. The gross majority of users never come close to stressing the network. Even high-cap users shouldn't really be a burden. This is just another attempt at getting people to pay a lot of money for nothing.

  • On the post: Alumnus Sues NYU Over Logo That The School Asked Her To Design

    JTO ( profile ), 16 Sep, 2009 @ 09:53am

    This is actually an open-and-shut case. Copyright laws specifically protect the employer in this instance. She was already compensated for her work, whether she now deems it fair or not.

    Sadly, this has a greater chance of ruining her ability to get new jobs. I know I wouldn't hire a person who has a habit of suing employers....

  • On the post: Filmmaker Sues Websites After Commenters Cost Him A Job

    JTO ( profile ), 16 Jul, 2009 @ 01:33pm

    First, no matter how much money they've got, you don't want an investor who gets scared away from a project just because of what some anonymous person wrote on an Internet site.

    Second, if you can't defend yourself against baseless accusations made by a bunch of paint-eating Internet wingnuts, you don't deserve to have anyone give you money.

    Oh yeah. CHT, while it is nice to be in a situation where you have general counsel on retainer, you don't need it. Simply sending the claimant a link to the section that protects you is usually enough. You have the resources. You can either use the Internet or go to your local library and ask a librarian for help. Both are generally free.