Violynne 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: The Oatmeal Sued Again – This Time For Trademark Infringement

    Violynne ( profile ), 27 Nov, 2012 @ 03:46am

    Then shouldn't the rabbit be suing the card store?

    Faith in humanity: -1
    Hope the Mayans were right: +1

  • On the post: China Hails ITU Internet Takeover By Blowing Its Favorite Trumpet: Distrusting The US

    Violynne ( profile ), 27 Nov, 2012 @ 03:42am

    Hmm. If the US truly controlled the internet, then someone explain how the Great Firewall of China can exist.

    I ask because we know the US hates that wall (because they can't break into it and steal secrets).

  • On the post: Disney Sued For Copyright Infringement

    Violynne ( profile ), 26 Nov, 2012 @ 02:51pm

    Re:

    You beat me to it. :)

    +1 to Insightful, young lass or sir. ;)

  • On the post: The Littlest Thug: Prince Sends Cease And Desist To Fan Who Created 'Le Petit Prince' Miniature Doll

    Violynne ( profile ), 21 Nov, 2012 @ 06:09am

    Prince still thinks it's 1999, and expects every to party as though it is.

    More power to him... or should I more precisely say "it".

  • On the post: US Patent Boss Completely Clueless: Insists That Patent Fights Show The System 'Wires Us For Innovation'

    Violynne ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2012 @ 08:21pm

    There's a clarification which is needed. While the government does back the USTPO, it's important to realize much of the fees the office generates does NOT stay within the office. Instead, the government appropriates those fees elsewhere, usually without disclosure.

    In other words: don't expect Kappos to change his mind anytime soon. He's not working to ensure IP protection, but to ensure the influx of patent applications continues so the government can bilk even more millions from US citizens.

    The office was turned into a joke in the 1990s, when Congress pretty much told it to fend for itself off the fees it collects.

    Pretty damned difficult to do when those fees are taken.

    Kappos' job is one of the most secured in the US. Even if the country hits a depression, his job is safe. Everyone will still file patents.

  • On the post: Rep. Darrell Issa Wants To Make It Clear That You're Allowed To Rip Your DVDs

    Violynne ( profile ), 19 Nov, 2012 @ 07:51pm

    Retraction of statement in 3... 2... 1...

    Cheese for everyone! On the house!

  • On the post: Bad Reasoning: We Don't Need More High Speed Internet Because People Don't Use Fast Internet Now

    Violynne ( profile ), 16 Nov, 2012 @ 07:46am

    Those 6.6% are of the 1%...


    ...because they can afford the higher speeds.

    The rest of us? We get mailers every month our bill comes in to drop another $75 for faster "up to" speeds (translation: as long as you're online during the time all other customers are, you'll be paying $75 a month for the same speed you have now).

  • On the post: If You Read Just One Article About The Patent Mess, Make It This One

    Violynne ( profile ), 14 Nov, 2012 @ 11:34am

    "Outrage may one day swing the pendulum back from patent madness to something resembling what the Constitution?s framers had in mind."
    Except... many of the framers of the Constitution did not want this added because they knew the provision would be used to prevent innovation, not promote it.

    Despite the wording, the provision was still a derivative (infringement!) of British laws. The difference being the very word "promote", implying (but has always been ignored) patents were not to be used to hinder.

    I'm sure the framers are shaking their heads right now, disgusted in both government, for failing to fix the problem, and for Americans who abuse each other over a dollar bill.

  • On the post: The DHS And FBI Present: You Might Be A Terrorist If… (Hotel Guest Edition)

    Violynne ( profile ), 14 Nov, 2012 @ 10:30am

    Okay, Tim, that's not funny.

    Right now, I enjoy paying for my hotel rooms using the credit card I lifted from the FBI trailing me, because they violated the law to lo-jack my car.

    Once inside, I immediately don a pair of sunglasses, both for the intimidation of the staff as well as looking as though I'm someone with authority. Like the FBI.

    After I enter my room, I immediately plug snooping technology into all communication systems, hack the hotel's registration, then download the guest list so I can forward it the laptop of an FBI agent, who'll then lose it to Anonymous.

    I visit areas of interest, photographing them. I be sure to take multiple angles and note interesting changes. When I'm approached by the other nervous wreck, the local PD, I insist I'm doing surveillance for the FBI, and then point to the two following me. Works ever time, those sunglasses.

    When I leave, I don't even bother checking out. My way of saying "Thank you" to the FBI agent whose card I lifted. Though, I do wish I could see the look on their face when they see how much porn and room service I ordered.

    So, while I appreciate your advice not to look suspicious, I'll just continue playing G-Man, because no one ever questions the fact the FBI are the true terrorists.

  • On the post: Draconian Downloading Law In Japan Goes Into Effect… Music Sales Drop

    Violynne ( profile ), 12 Nov, 2012 @ 08:25am

    Sony was a huge player in getting this bill passed, and it was so rushed, the very government passing it into law could not address simple questions asked by the public.

    The biggest concern was streaming, which created a cache now illegal under this new law (though some say provisions would be "excluded" despite the letter of the law).

    Of course, the public was not satisfied by this answer, especially since it's a felony conviction, not a civil one. Every day, people are being arrested in Japan for doing things that shouldn't be illegal, such as modifying a One Piece figure (to make it more sexy) and reselling it. Not a counterfeit, but actual modifications to the purchased good.

    I feel sorry for people in Japan. Their entertainment is so expensive, I'm wondering just how in the hell anyone can afford it. Sales aren't just down because of the law, but prices are going up there.

    It'll just be a matter of time before we're under the same umbrella.

  • On the post: Apparently Attacking A Candidate For Being A World Of Warcraft Player Is Not An Effective Campaign Strategy

    Violynne ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2012 @ 12:14pm

    She got chicken.

  • On the post: Police Chief's Custom Spam Filter Blocks Occupy Protestors, Brutality Complaints And (Oops) Federal Monitors

    Violynne ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2012 @ 10:44am

    It could be worse. If it were the filters of the RIAA/MPAA, only emails getting to the inbox are those featuring a "RE: $" in the subject line.

    All other email is deleted from the server, you know, to conserve space and ensure there's no copyright infringement in them.

    /sarcasm for the win

  • On the post: Apple, Google Lose Big Patent Cases To Trolls

    Violynne ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2012 @ 03:32am

    The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

    Many of us understand our patent system is broken, but this article demonstrates a great example of cause and effect. Apple has the highest number of court cases regarding patent infringement (and some are on design), that now it cries wolf?

    Personally, I hope these large businesses sue each other out of existence so small businesses can finally have a chance.

  • On the post: Cause For Concern: 'Experimental' Patches Applied To Ohio Voting Machines Without Certification

    Violynne ( profile ), 06 Nov, 2012 @ 12:15pm

    We can design an electronic device to manage our daily lives with schedules, bells and whistles, and even include communication services, but to build a device which can simply count "yes" and "no" seems to be impossible.

    The rest of the world should be laughing at this stupidity.

  • On the post: Epic's 'Music First' Approach: Delay Album Release; Drop Band When They Leak It

    Violynne ( profile ), 06 Nov, 2012 @ 08:21am

    The Truth In Words.

    "Epic Records is a music first company that breaks new artists. That is our mission and our mandate."

    Indeed, while others break in new artists, Epic breaks them.

    No wonder the band made a choice to serve its interests.

  • On the post: Biden Takes Part In MPAA Board Meeting; Suggests Studios Tell Paying Customers They're Thieves

    Violynne ( profile ), 05 Nov, 2012 @ 11:03am

    Well, it can get worse:

    In the middle of the greatest action scene in movie history, up pops up a black bar in the lower half of the screen: "THIS MOVIE WILL NOT BE PROFITABLE BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDS PIRATE.", written in yellow, and comes with animations of an eagle fighting against a pirate ship, with sound effects so loud, it drowns out the dialogue on screen.

    In 10 years, though, it'll be the ultimate annoyance: you have to buy a disk, feature 2 hours of anti-piracy messages, before you're allowed to access the movie online.

  • On the post: Ridiculous: Vietnam Sentences Musicians To Jail For Songs That Protest Government Actions

    Violynne ( profile ), 05 Nov, 2012 @ 03:43am

    "The US, thankfully, has condemned these sentences, but this is an issue that more people need to know about and speak out about."
    Of course it did. It's appalled it gave these two individuals a trial rather than skip the process and keep them jailed indefinitely.

  • On the post: MoviePass Offers 'Unlimited' Movie Tickets For $29.99 A Month — But Can It Ever Hope To Turn A Profit?

    Violynne ( profile ), 01 Nov, 2012 @ 03:25am

    "Another hitch is that MoviePass requires you to sign up for an entire year, which is the sort of thing people shy away from."
    These same people, who buy $600 toys that cost less than $200 to make, and then pay for a two year contract of capped service?

    MoviePass is going to be very profitable.

  • On the post: Game Publisher Stardock Apologizes To Its Customers For Releasing A Subpar Game… By Giving Them Its Latest Game Free

    Violynne ( profile ), 30 Oct, 2012 @ 12:05pm

    Take notes, EA.

  • On the post: Supreme Court Will Decide If You Actually Own What You've Bought

    Violynne ( profile ), 29 Oct, 2012 @ 09:43am

    You mean the same SCOTUS which allows patents on living organisms and blocked Costco from legally reselling purchases abroad?

    Yep. We're fucked.

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