By the way, aren't they implying that Judge Black from OHSD referred to them using a derogatory term if you follow their line of reasoning? A well respected federal judge referring to you in a derogatory manner isn't exactly something to write home about. I had a feeling Judge Black wasn't going to let them get by with their shenanigans, even if he didn't go full Judge Wright, I'm really glad we have him in our district.
There are a lot of restrictions on advertising NC-17 or unrated movies, that's mostly why you've never heard of it. That's where the expression "Hard R" comes from, the process of getting a film through with an R rating so it can get major distribution. The death of the grindhouses and drive-ins is the main reason you don't see X rated movies now, no one will advertise or distribute them and they just can't make money.
I don't want to get into the specifics too much, but there are certain downloading methods that allow you to automate the entire process, if you are generally a fan of a certain release group/content type (hint: the news). You have a lot of people who are just movie completests, who end up downloading more than they would ever watch. I imagine they account for a lot of this. I used download a lot of obscure horror and independent movies this way before copyright trolling ever got started, but Archive.org and file lockers have more or less made that obsolete and are risk free for legal, public domain content.
While I'm glad Mike is covering this, I wish he'd referenced commentary from someone other than Marc "Negligent Router" Randazza. https://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20110801/04233815344/no-having-open-wifi-does-not-make-you-negligent-liable-10000.shtml
I really disagree with this, the issue is that we're pushing people into degrees from four year universities that may not yield employment and leave them saddled with debt. Not everyone has the aptitude for a free ride (If you think for a minute, a B average already means above average, which is a C if grades are administered properly). Should every C student be stuck with a HS Diploma or worthless degree that buries them in debt? Mike Rowe has been on about the need for low cost vocational education, and I think he's right. It's long, but I really agree with this interview he did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzKzu86Agg0
These notions of vague homage being IP theft are just getting crazy. I've heard the wrestler Big Van Vader (Leon White) talk about the Big Bear/Raiden character in Fatal Fury being based on him, and he just said something like "Oh yeah, that was really cool, it helped get me over." not "What! Where is my lawyer!".
I get why you say that, but you're overlooking two things: The issue of whether obscene material is copyright-able in the first place, and the issue of exhibit C. That exhibit C only applies to pornography; Voltage Pictures can't add on a bunch of extra Steven Segal movies to pressure you in the same way that Malibu can with the most objectionable pornography. That's why Malibu are (IMHO) the worst of the worst.
You're right, and maybe I'm getting my hopes up too much, but Judge Black has a pretty good track record on holding attorneys accountable. What I was trying to get across is that you shouldn't read too much into denying that motion to quash. If Malibu keep testing him, he just might be the first judge to go Judge Wright on them.
I'm not sure if people are aware of this, but he was willing to go against the grain to the extent that there were calls for his impeachment over recognizing same sex marriage. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/04/ohio_rep_john_becker_repeats_c.html He's definitely a principled man and not beholden to the ABA, I really hope he proves me right here.
I think you're right about that, but that only works in their favor IF they don't tick off any of our judges, which it looks like they just did. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
One thing I would like to mention, as a resident of Southern Ohio, I'm not sure that Malibu were wise to target this part of the state. We're a bit more culturally conservative than northern Ohio, and not as inclined to give pornographers the benefit of the doubt. Larry Flynt is just one example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flynt#Legal_battles I wouldn't be too surprised if Malibu run into more resistance as this drags on. I feel bad for anyone innocently targeted, but I'm almost glad, because they may be digging themselves a pretty deep hole if they don't cut and run now by going after the wrong district. I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of our judges actually tries to uncover the truth a la Judge Wright in California.
That's a long way of saying, I expect popcorn sales in Cincinnati to go up exponentially.
I never made the claim that they have a more -or equally - secure website, just that they actually accept an alternative to paypal (something that eBay used to do, but chose to discontinue).
I have to disagree on this; coinbase for example have already been cutting off certain services (like gambling) and tracking what their users are spending their Bitcoins on. http://cointelegraph.com/news/113207/coinbase-is-tracking-how-users-spend-their-bitcoins I'm not sure how that really ends up being any better an option than Paypal. My point being when you use those services over volatility concerns, you end up with something just as ripe for abuse as Paypal-like systems, so I still don't see how Bitcoin is any better in that regard.
My problem with Bitcoin is that the value fluctuates so rapidly, and it's no longer possible to at least break even (in terms of electricity costs) by mining it with an AMD GPU, meaning I have to rely on a broker of some sort (which doesn't strike me as better than a paypal alternative using hard currency). It's better than no option, but one based on a hard currency would still be preferable for me anyway.
The problem with that in Appalachia, is the hills and trees. Satellite reception is spotty at best in the rural areas - the ones that are stuck with POTS/dial up and actually need satellite, ironically.
I probably should have clarified that my point in that other discussion (in the comments) was about the lack of build out (to regions outside of the few urban centers) that still only have POTS as an option, but I didn't mean to give the impression that it's only Appalachia affected. My argument (which you highlight here with Frontier) is that when you have only one game in town - and no game in the "country" - there is no incentive for buildout. The more rural area to urban, and the less players in the game, the more the problem is exacerbated.
I don't think anyone disputes that some alternatives exist, but they are not widely accepted, and most sites that accept them aren't used. I have bought some items using eBid via PPPay with no issues - http://us.ebid.net/help_payments.php The issue is that not many items are being listed on eBid compared to eBay.
By the way, aren't they implying that Judge Black from OHSD referred to them using a derogatory term if you follow their line of reasoning? A well respected federal judge referring to you in a derogatory manner isn't exactly something to write home about. I had a feeling Judge Black wasn't going to let them get by with their shenanigans, even if he didn't go full Judge Wright, I'm really glad we have him in our district.
I seem to remember John Steele loved the word freetards, too.
Re: Re: Re: Serious question
There are a lot of restrictions on advertising NC-17 or unrated movies, that's mostly why you've never heard of it. That's where the expression "Hard R" comes from, the process of getting a film through with an R rating so it can get major distribution. The death of the grindhouses and drive-ins is the main reason you don't see X rated movies now, no one will advertise or distribute them and they just can't make money.
Re: Serious question
I don't want to get into the specifics too much, but there are certain downloading methods that allow you to automate the entire process, if you are generally a fan of a certain release group/content type (hint: the news). You have a lot of people who are just movie completests, who end up downloading more than they would ever watch. I imagine they account for a lot of this. I used download a lot of obscure horror and independent movies this way before copyright trolling ever got started, but Archive.org and file lockers have more or less made that obsolete and are risk free for legal, public domain content.
Too bad LDs died off, now that was a good format. They didn't even have Macrovision.
While I'm glad Mike is covering this, I wish he'd referenced commentary from someone other than Marc "Negligent Router" Randazza. https://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20110801/04233815344/no-having-open-wifi-does-not-make-you-negligent-liable-10000.shtml
Re: Free eduycation is not a panacea
I really disagree with this, the issue is that we're pushing people into degrees from four year universities that may not yield employment and leave them saddled with debt. Not everyone has the aptitude for a free ride (If you think for a minute, a B average already means above average, which is a C if grades are administered properly). Should every C student be stuck with a HS Diploma or worthless degree that buries them in debt? Mike Rowe has been on about the need for low cost vocational education, and I think he's right. It's long, but I really agree with this interview he did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzKzu86Agg0
These notions of vague homage being IP theft are just getting crazy. I've heard the wrestler Big Van Vader (Leon White) talk about the Big Bear/Raiden character in Fatal Fury being based on him, and he just said something like "Oh yeah, that was really cool, it helped get me over." not "What! Where is my lawyer!".
Re: Re: Re: About OH's SD...
I get why you say that, but you're overlooking two things: The issue of whether obscene material is copyright-able in the first place, and the issue of exhibit C. That exhibit C only applies to pornography; Voltage Pictures can't add on a bunch of extra Steven Segal movies to pressure you in the same way that Malibu can with the most objectionable pornography. That's why Malibu are (IMHO) the worst of the worst.
Re: Re: Re: Re: About OH's SD...
You're right, and maybe I'm getting my hopes up too much, but Judge Black has a pretty good track record on holding attorneys accountable. What I was trying to get across is that you shouldn't read too much into denying that motion to quash. If Malibu keep testing him, he just might be the first judge to go Judge Wright on them.
I'm not sure if people are aware of this, but he was willing to go against the grain to the extent that there were calls for his impeachment over recognizing same sex marriage.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/04/ohio_rep_john_becker_repeats_c.html He's definitely a principled man and not beholden to the ABA, I really hope he proves me right here.
Re: Re: About OH's SD...
I think you're right about that, but that only works in their favor IF they don't tick off any of our judges, which it looks like they just did. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Re: Re:
John Steele (of Prenda) loved using that line too, they're in good company.
About OH's SD...
One thing I would like to mention, as a resident of Southern Ohio, I'm not sure that Malibu were wise to target this part of the state. We're a bit more culturally conservative than northern Ohio, and not as inclined to give pornographers the benefit of the doubt. Larry Flynt is just one example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flynt#Legal_battles I wouldn't be too surprised if Malibu run into more resistance as this drags on. I feel bad for anyone innocently targeted, but I'm almost glad, because they may be digging themselves a pretty deep hole if they don't cut and run now by going after the wrong district. I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of our judges actually tries to uncover the truth a la Judge Wright in California.
That's a long way of saying, I expect popcorn sales in Cincinnati to go up exponentially.
Re: Re: Re:
I never made the claim that they have a more -or equally - secure website, just that they actually accept an alternative to paypal (something that eBay used to do, but chose to discontinue).
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I have to disagree on this; coinbase for example have already been cutting off certain services (like gambling) and tracking what their users are spending their Bitcoins on. http://cointelegraph.com/news/113207/coinbase-is-tracking-how-users-spend-their-bitcoins I'm not sure how that really ends up being any better an option than Paypal. My point being when you use those services over volatility concerns, you end up with something just as ripe for abuse as Paypal-like systems, so I still don't see how Bitcoin is any better in that regard.
Re: Re:
My problem with Bitcoin is that the value fluctuates so rapidly, and it's no longer possible to at least break even (in terms of electricity costs) by mining it with an AMD GPU, meaning I have to rely on a broker of some sort (which doesn't strike me as better than a paypal alternative using hard currency). It's better than no option, but one based on a hard currency would still be preferable for me anyway.
Re:
They already are. Here's one example - http://torrentfreak.com/paypal-cuts-off-pirate-bay-vpn-ipredator-freezes-assets-130724/
Meanwhile, VyprVPN can still take paypal. I wonder why... https://houstonlawyer.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/the-giganews-vpn-timekeeping-problem/
Re: Alternatives
The problem with that in Appalachia, is the hills and trees. Satellite reception is spotty at best in the rural areas - the ones that are stuck with POTS/dial up and actually need satellite, ironically.
Re: Re:
I probably should have clarified that my point in that other discussion (in the comments) was about the lack of build out (to regions outside of the few urban centers) that still only have POTS as an option, but I didn't mean to give the impression that it's only Appalachia affected. My argument (which you highlight here with Frontier) is that when you have only one game in town - and no game in the "country" - there is no incentive for buildout. The more rural area to urban, and the less players in the game, the more the problem is exacerbated.
Re:
I don't think anyone disputes that some alternatives exist, but they are not widely accepted, and most sites that accept them aren't used. I have bought some items using eBid via PPPay with no issues - http://us.ebid.net/help_payments.php The issue is that not many items are being listed on eBid compared to eBay.