David 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (199)

• On the post: Once More, With Feeling: It Wasn't Silicon Valley Or Google That Stopped SOPA/PIPA, It Was The Internet

  

  David ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2012 @ 10:04am

  Here's the funny thing

  The point that everyone seems to miss is that the internet has again acted as a communication medium. In the same way that the legacy distribution channels for content are now obsolete, because the content can be quickly disseminated over the 'net, the people who were heard were not limited to those who actually took the time to (and succeeded in) getting an appointment with their congressmen. Many more people's voices were heard.
  
  Could the Internet become the thing that makes true democracy possible?

• On the post: Senator Marco Rubio Dropping His Co-Sponsorship Of PIPA

  

  David ( profile ), 18 Jan, 2012 @ 08:12am

  About time Congressmen listen

  I'm glad I wrote him, along with the others in FL.
  
  Now it's time to hit the other senator in FL who apparently needs more persuasion...

• On the post: Android App Helps You Avoid Supporting SOPA Supporting Companies

  

  David ( profile ), 10 Jan, 2012 @ 08:25am

  I disagree

  This is not a censoring program. This program merely gives you information from which you can make an informed choice.
  
  I for one did not know that the Coca-Cola company supported SOPA. Now that I do, I now have the choice to move to an alternate product. But no one is compelling me to or forcing me to... Therein lies the difference.

• On the post: Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against eBay Because Of The Way Its Auctions Work

  

  David ( profile ), 06 Jan, 2012 @ 07:22am

  How about...

  ...if you don't like the way eBay works, just don't use it? Some of these lawsuits are really stupid.
  
  I agree that they were upfront from the get-go about how their auctions work. I also don't use them much. Bought a few items in the early days, but have not really gone there much lately.

• On the post: Congressional Research Service Shows Hollywood Is Thriving

  

  David ( profile ), 12 Dec, 2011 @ 02:04pm

  Re:

  I am sure you are right. My roommate is a production assistant who does work on movies specials, commercials, etc. She works less than a week out of each month...

• On the post: Congressional Research Service Shows Hollywood Is Thriving

  

  David ( profile ), 12 Dec, 2011 @ 02:00pm

  I think you mean

  "...the underwhelming majority of movies are so bad..."

• On the post: Who Owns The Data Collected About You From Devices Inside Your Body?

  

  David ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2011 @ 01:12pm

  IANAL, but..

  The data is factual in nature, and is Data. Databases are not copyrightable, as there is no creative expression involved. I don't think that is Mike's question.
  
  The question over ownership is more important in that the person whose body it was wants to see this data, not just the report results. I am not sure that this is covered by law, except the provisions mentioned in A Guy's post that the patient is entitled access to their medical records.
  
  It should be interesting if this becomes a test case...

• On the post: Internal Fight Within The ABA Over Position On SOPA

  

  David ( profile ), 05 Dec, 2011 @ 01:34pm

  Of course there is

  If there wasn't a split among lawyers, how would someone represent both sides when the lawsuits start flying?

• On the post: How Much Does File Sharing Really Cost Hollywood?

  

  David ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2011 @ 02:41pm

  Re: 3D as theater incentive?

  You are probably right about this, or why would the latest "Harold & Kumar" movie have 3D?

• On the post: How Much Does File Sharing Really Cost Hollywood?

  

  David ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2011 @ 01:15pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Simple Answer

  I guess what I meant was "they make less profit than they want to"

• On the post: How Much Does File Sharing Really Cost Hollywood?

  

  David ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2011 @ 08:45am

  Re: Re: Simple Answer

  How about Dictionary.com?:
  
  Cost (n): the price paid to acquire, produce, accomplish, or maintain anything
  
  Infringement has no direct cost. They are not buying or producing or maintaining infringement. What does happen is less money paid back to them after they lay it out to produce content. This is a common misnomer that goes through reporting in a lot of ways, like when a company predicts a profit of 10 million and they only have a 7 million profit, it gets spun as a 3 million loss. Calling it a loss does not make it one. Anymore than calling the making less in profits from potential sales of infringed material is a cost.
  
  Although I am willing to admit that they dump money down a hole by having lawyers chase after infringers, but that is a choice they make and not one that comes from infringement.

• On the post: How Much Does File Sharing Really Cost Hollywood?

  

  David ( profile ), 01 Dec, 2011 @ 07:38am

  Simple Answer

  How many file sharing servers and domains does "Hollywood" own? 0.
  
  The simple truth is that infringing does not COST them 1 red cent.
  
  What does happen is that they make less profit. Let's at least get real about that

• On the post: DailyDirt: On The Way, The Paper Bag Was On My Knee…

  

  David ( profile ), 29 Nov, 2011 @ 11:48am

  Just for fun:

  The onion has a piece about new fees. I hope the airlines don't see it, as it may give them ideas:
  
  http://www.theonion.com/articles/american-airlines-now-charging-fees-to-nonpassenge,2614/

• On the post: Authors Guild Threatens Amazon For Daring To Allow Library Lending Of Ebooks

  

  David ( profile ), 17 Nov, 2011 @ 01:35pm

  Re:

  You forget: they don't like libraries either.

• On the post: Innovation In Retail: The Informed Shopper Is A Happier Shopper

  

  David ( profile ), 26 Oct, 2011 @ 02:04pm

  Brick and Mortar need to stop "ignoring" online

  I remember going to Best Buy needing to pick up an SD Card. I showed a printout of an add for the same card for 1/3rd the price. Their guarantee says they'll match any price.
  
  But they won't match online prices. The funny part: the add was from Best Buy online. They had different prices in the 2 places and would not match them.
  
  Brick & Mortar need to add value to the experience of shopping there, in addition to meeting the prices.

• On the post: Louisiana Makes It Illegal To Use Cash For Secondhand Sales

  

  David ( profile ), 20 Oct, 2011 @ 10:43am

  Re: Re:

  This is not strictly true. You can pay cash at the end of the rental. The credit card is used to secure a deposit... They will happily refund the amount billed to your credit card.
  
  But only one they have the car back.

• On the post: Universal Music Keeps Trying To Claim Zoe Keating's Royalty Checks, Despite Having Nothing To Do With Her

  

  David ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2011 @ 10:54am

  Sounds like SE uses it as a way to hold the money

  On top of that, each time this happens, such funds are held until the conflict is resolved. For an indie musician, having such funds held can be a pretty big deal.

  
  
  It would make sense that this way Sound exchange holds onto the money while it is resolved.

• On the post: Merger Of The Also Rans: Rhapsody Buys Napster

  

  David ( profile ), 04 Oct, 2011 @ 11:46am

  Re: Rhapsody

  I also liked Rhapsody, but found I was not using it much. I have changed to Spotify, and recently became a premium member. I like their Android integration better than Rhapsody's...
  
  It is possible to turn off the Facebook announcement of your playing Facebook's favorite song: "Ooops, I did it again", and when it comes to the always running thing, clicking close on the program closes it's window, but you can completely close the program by selecting Exit from the File menu...

• On the post: Even If You Cancel Your OnStar Service, The Company Will Still Track (And Sell) Your Location

  

  David ( profile ), 22 Sep, 2011 @ 12:51pm

  Waiter!

  Two tin-foil hats for these folks, please.

• On the post: Even If You Cancel Your OnStar Service, The Company Will Still Track (And Sell) Your Location

  

  David ( profile ), 22 Sep, 2011 @ 11:13am

  Just Rip it out

  I would just rip the thing out of the dashboard... Put in a nice potted plant.

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