ralph_the_bus_driver 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (115)

• On the post: Apple Bullies Pharmacy Over Trademark Because All The Apples Are Belong To Them

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 10:00am

  Re:

  The shapes are similar, with slight modifications. I can see someone being confused by the two. However, since Apple doesn't trade in pharmaceuticals then that similarity is minimized.

• On the post: Charter, Disney Execs Pledge To Crack Down On Streaming Password Sharing 'Piracy'

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:43am

  Re: Re:

  Activation hacking is still above most consumer's ability. MS Windows went from maybe 75% compliance to 90%+ compliance by requiring activation.

• On the post: Epic Sues 14 Year Old It Accuses Of Cheating In Videogames After He Counternotices a DMCA On His YouTube Video

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:31am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Now you're for cheaters, besides pirates.

  Epic can use records of use from before the cheats became available and the use after. That may even be compared to other properties that don't have known cheats.
  
  That wouldn't be a question as much as what is Epic's losses from a free game.

• On the post: Epic Sues 14 Year Old It Accuses Of Cheating In Videogames After He Counternotices a DMCA On His YouTube Video

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:26am

  Re: Re: Ugly problem

  One simple answer. Yes.
  
  If you agree to it then they may force and enforce any silly, incomprehensible, unequal, or whatever punishment on the end user. Remember, you did agree to it.
  
  If you get into a poker game, you agree to the rules. If the random cards end up against you then tough sheet, you lose. You agreed to the end user agreement in order to join the game.

• On the post: Epic Sues 14 Year Old It Accuses Of Cheating In Videogames After He Counternotices a DMCA On His YouTube Video

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:20am

  Re: Re: Ugly problem

  • If his cheat contains copyrighted material, then it's probably infringing.
    
    Any use of the code outside of the game or alteration of the code would be copyright infringement. So, the question is "is use of a tool to make use of the code without altering it copyright infringement?". To that I would say no.
    
    I would think using a cheat is no different from using plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop. You are not changing the code but adding to it.

• On the post: Epic Sues 14 Year Old It Accuses Of Cheating In Videogames After He Counternotices a DMCA On His YouTube Video

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:05am

  Re: Re: Oh, but he's 14! -- SO?

  If he is a minor, then the parents become responsible and should be named.
  
  The suit should hinge on Epic's claim of damages. I think their showing that cheats cost them money will be an uphill fight. Without showing a loss on a free game then they have no claim.

• On the post: The Original 'Fashion Santa' Gets His Trademark After Mall Decides To Settle

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 04:31pm

  Is the term "Fashion Cop" copyrighted?
  
  Asking for a friend.

• On the post: Another Court Says Compelled Password Production Doesn't Violate The Fifth Amendment

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 05:01am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Slightly Misunderstood

  FIFTH AMENDMENT
  
  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
  
  Read again, "..., nor be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, ..." By forcing him to open the phone, or a safe, or decipher a code; they are compelling him to be a witness against himself.

• On the post: Another Court Says Compelled Password Production Doesn't Violate The Fifth Amendment

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 04:53am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Slightly Misunderstood

  • " that the defendant's own statements supported that the data was there,"
    
    No. The prosecution stated that data was there, not THE data. They don't know WHAT data is on the phone and is on a fishing expedition to discover what data.
    
    If they knew what data was there then they could identify it with specificity, which is a general requirement for a search warrant.
    
    (caps used for emphasis only)

• On the post: Keeper Security Files Bullshit SLAPP Suit Against Ars Technica, Letting Many More People Know Not To Use Its Software

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 09:54am

  Ars Technica is a California based company. I suspect they will ask a California Court to hear it as they have no presence in Illinois.
  
  And as if MicroSoft didn't have enough bad publicity about Windows 10. Suing reporters that report their problems won't get them many brownie points.

• On the post: Charter, Disney Execs Pledge To Crack Down On Streaming Password Sharing 'Piracy'

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2017 @ 07:03am

  With the early MicroSoft versions of Windows, most of the people I know were sharing passwords and/or using illegal versions. Once they had killed off OS2, made Apple a shadow of it's former self, and had well over 90% market did they get serious and put controls on Windows XP.
  
  Just saying I know a guy that had a copy.

• On the post: New Documents And Testimony Shows Officers Lied About Their Role In An Arrested Teen's Death

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 16 Dec, 2017 @ 07:28am

  Re:

  This has zero to do with Snowden and everything to do with cops that don't have reasonable oversight.
  
  From the sounds of the report, this was manslaughter and that doesn't have a statute of limitations.

• On the post: Cop Shuts Off Dashcam During Drug Dog Sniff. Appeals Court: This Is Fine.

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 15 Dec, 2017 @ 06:19pm

  Re:

  No. His parole officer may do these things with or without the assistance of police. Police may not do these things on their own though. A person does not lose their rights just because they have been jailed or are on parole or probation.
  
  Turning the camera off is most likely a direct obstruction of justice.

• On the post: Florida Public Officials Face Criminal Charges For Dodging Public Records Laws

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2017 @ 02:32pm

  Re: microscopic win

  I would assume that if a court finds them personally guilty they could be banned from holding office. I don't know Florida law, but most States do allow that when a politician has been found guilty of corrupt practices.

• On the post: Florida Public Officials Face Criminal Charges For Dodging Public Records Laws

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2017 @ 02:28pm

  Re: Re: Hillary Clinton

  Troll harder moron. Clinton turned over her emails when asked.

• On the post: Deputies Involved In 62,000 Criminal Cases Shown To Be Liars, Frauds, Domestic Abusers, And Sexual Predators

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2017 @ 02:27pm

  Re: Re: Dismissing problematic officers

  The Sheriff yes, the union, no. The employer is responsible for the conduct of its employees. While the employer may always fire an employee, as government employees, it is a lot harder to fire police. The union doesn't hire the cops so they aren't responsible for them.
  
  I don't disagree with you, but the attitude is the police are allowed a more lenient performance than ordinary employees simply because of their job.

• On the post: NY Attorney General Finds 2 Million Fake FCC Net Neutrality Comments

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2017 @ 01:57pm

  Re:

  Not to mention Fonzi Bear and Spongebob Squarepants.

• On the post: Florida Public Officials Face Criminal Charges For Dodging Public Records Laws

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2017 @ 01:51pm

  Like the arrest of Micheal Flynn, its a start.

• On the post: UK Drug Lab Misconduct Calls 10,000 Convictions And Prosecutions Into Question

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 13 Dec, 2017 @ 05:01am

  Re: Also...

  Similar situations have happened in the US with both public and private labs. One well known case involved over 20,000 cases from a State Police lab in Boston.
  
  The worse though are the "Field Kits" that allow cops to check suspected drugs in the field. These kits end up with a very high rate of false positives yet the courts allow they give reasonable cause.

• On the post: Hospitality Industry Group Pushes Back On Portland's Attempt To Trademark Bully A Local Brewery

  

  ralph_the_bus_driver ( profile ), 13 Dec, 2017 @ 05:17am

  A couple of breweries sell beer with moose heads on the bottle. Having the poor fortune of tasting what I can only describe as moose urine, ya, I can see this being a micro-brewery.

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