Jon Renaut 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (196) comment rss

  • On the post: Software Startups Realizing That Cookie-Cutter Freemium Doesn't Always Work Well

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 02 Sep, 2010 @ 06:02pm

    Re:

    Flickr is actually a great example of how the free accounts make the paid accounts more valuable. I've paid for an account for years - it's one of the few websites I actually pay money to. I do it for two reasons. One, I like having a backup of 30 gigs of photos or whatever it is I have up there.

    But more importantly, it means that I can post pictures of my daughter, and her grandparents and aunts and uncles and all my contacts on free accounts can see them. Each additional person that I know who has a free account makes my account more valuable.

    Flickr has other benefits, too (I'm really pissed that they no longer print to the Target three blocks from where I live, though), but it's a fantastic example of how the free part makes the paid part more valuable.

  • On the post: Another ISP Fighting US Copyright Group Subpoenas; Why Aren't More ISPs Protecting Your Privacy?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2010 @ 11:07am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    All over the place. Here, or here. A quick Google of "site:www.techdirt.com broadband competition" would probably help, too.

  • On the post: Another ISP Fighting US Copyright Group Subpoenas; Why Aren't More ISPs Protecting Your Privacy?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2010 @ 10:10am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Is Clear actually a viable alternative?

    And yeah, I've read Mike's thoughts on broadband competition, and totally agree, though I don't see it happening any time soon. We can't even get FIOS in DC, which would at least make Comcast work a little harder.

  • On the post: Another ISP Fighting US Copyright Group Subpoenas; Why Aren't More ISPs Protecting Your Privacy?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2010 @ 09:08am

    Re:

    The problem is, where is elsewhere? I live in downtown Washington DC, and my choices for broadband are Comcast cable and Verizon dsl. That's it. And much of the country has even fewer options than I do.

  • On the post: How Should Facebook Respond To The Social Network Movie?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 24 Aug, 2010 @ 01:46pm

    Facebook the Movie

    They should throw together a competing movie telling the real story. We'd see Zuckerberg in a flowing white robe, handing out hot meals to homeless children with a big smile on his face. We'd see the teenage girl saved from a suicide attempt by the friends she made playing Farmville. We'd see a couple, reunited after 20 years through a mutual friend using Facebook's Friend Finder, and we'd watch bits of their spectacular wedding.

  • On the post: Dear Hans Pandeya: Buying A Website Involves More Than Just Saying You're Going To Buy It…

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2010 @ 06:31am

    Re: Re: Related news

    Not if my lawyers' demands that Techdirt turn over your IP address get through the courts first. The next thing you see will be a lawsuit.

  • On the post: Dear Hans Pandeya: Buying A Website Involves More Than Just Saying You're Going To Buy It…

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2010 @ 05:08am

    Related news

    I am planning to buy Techdirt. I'm going to fire that Masnick guy and turn it into a location check-in service that will blow Foursquare and Facebook out of the water.

    If Techdirt misreports this news, they will be hearing from my lawyers.

  • On the post: Professor Says News Should Get Special 24 Hour Protections So No Aggregator Can Link To It

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 18 Aug, 2010 @ 05:42pm

    Don't underestimate human ingenuity

    If good journalism is both worthwhile and important to people, someone will figure out how to do it profitably.

    The only "problem" is that the someone is unlikely to be one of the incumbents.

  • On the post: Is Free Parking Costing Us Billions?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 17 Aug, 2010 @ 04:31am

    Influence behavior rather than cover budget shortfalls

    I live in downtown Washington DC, right near the new Target that went in a year or so ago. Parking can be bad around here, and we don't have a reserved parking space, so parking for residents is something I have thought a lot about.

    I'm okay with aggressive enforcement of parking violations and changing free spots to pay spots, but only if the end goal is to encourage more socially beneficial behavior. It is quite clear that DC treats parking as a source of revenue rather than an opportunity to promote the public transportation system or encourage walking.

    If we think about the money that free parking is costing us, then I think we're already down the wrong path. I agree with many of the above who state that it's not "lost" money, it's just used somewhere else. What we're really losing is the opportunity to improve quality of life in our highly populated areas.

    I would gladly pay more to park if it meant that more people left the car at home, choosing instead to bike or walk or take the bus/subway. I realize that's not always possible, but when it is, it should be encouraged.

  • On the post: If You Don't Get The Matching Brand Paper Towel Out Of A Dispenser In A Restroom… Is That Trademark Infringement?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 16 Aug, 2010 @ 06:36am

    Re: Wrong lawsuit?

    Either way, this looks like a "Steve Dallas" lawsuit, where they're going after the wrong party because it's easier, and because that party has deeper pockets.

  • On the post: If You Don't Get The Matching Brand Paper Towel Out Of A Dispenser In A Restroom… Is That Trademark Infringement?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 16 Aug, 2010 @ 04:21am

    Wrong lawsuit?

    Apparently, the company Georgia Pacific makes the EnMotion brand of paper towel dispensers for restrooms -- and includes a contractual provision that those used will only use EnMotion brand paper towels.

    Isn't this a contractual issue, not a trademark one? I agree that it does seem like a pretty absurd reading of trademark law, but it also seems like a clear contract violation, so unless the contract is illegal, why aren't they pursuing that?

  • On the post: Which Is Better: A Tiny Number Of Creators Hitting The Jackpot… Or Many Making A Living Wage?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 14 Aug, 2010 @ 05:10am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The rise of the part-time creator

    The book publishing industry has had its chance to learn from the music industry, who got hit first by digital distribution. For the most part, they're making the same mistakes as music did.

    At the same time, just like in music, I think we're better off with a ton of authors making a decent living rather than a bunch of writers with second and third jobs plus a few rock stars.

  • On the post: Newsweek Insists People Don't Do Stuff For Free… And Then Shows Why People Do Stuff For Free

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 10 Aug, 2010 @ 02:26pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    I know, blame Android. It wouldn't let me uncapitalize.

    But, yeah, I see your point, and how it would be funnier without my response, but then you were wrong in thinking the capitalization was a grammatical mistake rather than an overzealous auto-correct, so I had to set the record straight.

  • On the post: Newsweek Insists People Don't Do Stuff For Free… And Then Shows Why People Do Stuff For Free

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 10 Aug, 2010 @ 12:14pm

    Re: Re:

    The desire to correct someone who is wrong on the internet (where's that XKCD cartoon when you need it?) Is a stronger motivator than cash.

  • On the post: From Magazines To Restaurants… Conde Nast Licensing Magazine Names For Restaurants

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 05 Aug, 2010 @ 10:24pm

    license?

    That's an infinite good. I'll license it, but I'm not paying you for it.

  • On the post: US Copyright Group Caught Red Handed Copying Competitor's Website

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 30 Jul, 2010 @ 11:39am

    Intentional Streisanding?

    They can't possibly be that insane, right? There must be more to this story.

  • On the post: Are Investment Ticker Symbols Covered By Trademark Law?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 27 Jul, 2010 @ 04:20pm

    Designed to confuse

    I'm a bit torn. I think it would set a very bad legal precedent if trademark law were applied to ticker symbols. However, this is clearly designed to mislead, and there is a reasonable expectation that a somewhat unintelligent person in a bit of a rush would be confused.

    Then again, there is so much information on these funds readily available online that anyone not doing the tiny bit of research required to clear up the confusion probably deserves to lose their money.

  • On the post: Vampire Weekend Sued Because Photographer Might Have Falsified Model Release

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 16 Jul, 2010 @ 12:01pm

    Re: Nospam@nospam.com

    Clearly Polo will sue the model, as well, for wearing their shirt on a day when she might be photographed for an unauthorized album cover which might be reprinted on blogs like Techdirt. They'll get Google, too, for returning your comment on a search for "polo logo lawsuit".

  • On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2010 @ 12:41pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Misplaced liability

    If I know that I am liable and sue you anyway, then you should get legal fees reimbursed. If I am suing to determine liability, then you don't get anything (aside from whatever you are due as the injured party).

    In this case, as far as I can tell, he had a patent that Netflix was violating. He had every right to sue, and Netflix doesn't deserve anything. But, like I said in another comment, I didn't click through beyond the Techdirt article, so there might be more to it that I'm not taking into account.

  • On the post: Should Those Sued In Bogus Patent Infringement Cases Be Able To Recover Legal Fees?

    Jon Renaut ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2010 @ 12:26pm

    Re: Re: Misplaced liability

    That's not how I read the post, though I admit I did not click through to read the details.

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