Ron Rezendes 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Crowdfunding Movies Possible Even For Original, Rather Than Derivative Works

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 10 Mar, 2011 @ 02:33pm

    Re: Charlie's Next Move (movie)

    I'd bet against that!

  • On the post: RIAA Not Happy With Rep. Lofgren Calling Out ICE For Web Censorship

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 10 Mar, 2011 @ 12:11pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    When the music industry falsely accuses people of committing a crime without any proof, or evidence to the contrary, and that they should be stopped at all costs, including throwing out the US Constitution, then it is indeed the industry at fault.

    Embrace the reality, quit with the FUD, and take a good hard objective look at your indefensible position. It is lamentable that you can't understand that "due process" is an explicitly mandated feature of our justice system. The governments actions violate this right at every turn and it is only occurring at the request of the industry itself on obviously baseless and outright false accusations.

    We should be holding a perjury trial since the signed (rubber stamped) paperwork indicates the signer(s) believe the document to be truthful under penalty of perjury.


    "*sigh*. Can you explain that to all the people who worked in record stores, or in video stores, and are now unemployed because widespread piracy decimated the music industry's retail trade?"

    Sure! Music is sold mostly in digital format these days and the shiny silver disks, cassettes, and vinyl records are a significantly lower percentage of music formats being consumed. We no longer require a cashier and three guys in the back room to man a store that requires so much overhead and expense. Unfortunately it has been proven that piracy did not cost you your job, it's just that you're in an industry that is 15 years behind the times. Our sincerest apologies that the executives in this industry have not figured it out yet.

  • On the post: Drug Firms Freaking Out Over Expiring Patents

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 10 Mar, 2011 @ 09:12am

    Re: Re: Re:

    "Drug companies are putting hundreds of millions of dollars on the table, and are doing so at risk, in order to make the return on the other side."

    "Do you honestly think anyone would invest the type of money they are investing to make the return levels that would come from competing with generic drug makers who have little research overhead, and similar production costs?"

    Ummm...those millions of dollars are usually mine since much of the funding comes from MY Federal Gov't who gets this money from my taxes.

  • On the post: Librarians And Readers Against DRM [Updated]

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 10 Mar, 2011 @ 08:38am

    Re: Re: Re:

    I'm suggesting you do your own investigation since you seem to be the one questioning their motives!

    What a freetard - always wanting someone else to do your work for you!

  • On the post: Feds Really Do Seem To Think That Linking To Infringing Content Can Be A Jailable Offense

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 09 Mar, 2011 @ 03:32pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Good troll, stay myopic!

  • On the post: Data Says Money Might Buy Happiness, But Happiness Might Not Be What You Want

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 09 Mar, 2011 @ 02:33pm

    Re: All Moot

    The internet makes me happy!

    Dang! Too late - they're already on that with ICE and Homeland Security!

  • On the post: Feds Really Do Seem To Think That Linking To Infringing Content Can Be A Jailable Offense

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 09 Mar, 2011 @ 12:43pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    If that's your idea of "probable cause" you should apply for a job with ICE or Homeland Security - you'll get along great with your boss!

    Of course, I'd rather see you beaten in the street by an angry mob for violating the civil rights of US citizens if you really believe that. It's nothing personal, but it would surely set a great example for others who are as half witted as you appear to be.

  • On the post: Feds Really Do Seem To Think That Linking To Infringing Content Can Be A Jailable Offense

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 09 Mar, 2011 @ 12:39pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    What if it's given to someone with a medical marijuana card?

    What if this person lives in near-constant pain?

    What if you are a doctor?

    Are you actually denying them treatment by NOT giving it to them?

  • On the post: Fox Sends DMCA Takedown To Google To Remove Link To DMCA Takedown Sent By Fox

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 04:14pm

    Re: Re:

    Well how the hell is ICE getting entire sites taken down?

    Who signed that paperwork?

    Why aren't they facing justice?

    84,000 sites seems like quite a pile of perjury.

  • On the post: Massive Research Report On 'Piracy' In Emerging Economies Released; Debunks Entire Foundation Of US Foreign IP Policy

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 03:02pm

    Re: Re:

    You would run smack into the same situation where college athletes "can't" be paid. Some of those athletes make more money in their college athletic career than they will when they end up taking a non-sports job once they graduate.

    The members of Congress and other professional legislators have perfected the art of hiding things from the public, I doubt this would be any different.

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 02:26pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    "If you have some reason to believe that people are deciding to sue simply because they can and they want lawyers to get paid, please explain, but simply saying that it happens or creating a fictional dialogue in which it happens is not very convincing."

    The dialogue is based on personal first-hand experience. While not a word for word transcript, this scenario actually happened right in front of me. When I questioned the motive behind the action being taken I was told, literally, "That's what they get paid to do."

    Despite a no-cost benefit that resulted in some fantastic exposure, the legal team was sent hunting.

    Please don't misunderstand, there is a time and place for legal action but todays litigious society (US) is far from prudent about deciding when to use their legal resources.

    The headline here is: "Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork -- But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?"

    It would be a safe bet to simply answer "Yes, they will."

  • On the post: GAO Suggests It's Time To Ditch Dollar Bills For Coins

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 09:25am

    Re: Vending machines love coins

    There are three US dollar coins already. Older silver dollars, Susan B. Anthony dollar coins and the more recent gold dollar coin that any vending machine in a US Post Office will give you for change when buying stamps/supplies.

    Ditch the paper dollar already, please. While you're at it please have gas prices priced to the whole penny as well. There are absolutely zero good reasons a gallon of gas should be priced with 9/10 of a cent, which I couldn't get change on if I wanted. This has to be the single most ridiculous pricing scheme I have ever seen in my life!

  • On the post: GAO Suggests It's Time To Ditch Dollar Bills For Coins

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 09:18am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Other Mints

    Silver dollar, Susan B Anthony Dollar, Gold dollar coin - and keep the change!

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 08 Mar, 2011 @ 08:28am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Since the scenario seems foreign to you, I'm guessing you've never been in that type of meeting.

    When decisions are made just because there is a legal avenue available, rather than taking a step back and actually evaluating what is going on and how it might even have a positive effect for your company, you end up with perfectly good money going to the legal team which could have gone into actual development, innovation, and/or salaries for the people who actually contribute to the companies bottom line.

    Far too often we see companies take legal action simply because they can and not even consider other ways to resolve a perceived threat or even possibly accept a beneficial circumstance brought about by a third party.

    The mentality of shoot first and ask questions later rarely works to the shooters benefit.

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2011 @ 04:46pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Client MegaCorp: Hey did you see our company (logo/sign/building/etc.) in the hilarious YouTube video that went viral last week?

    Legal Team: Absolutely, and used without permission even!

    Marketing Department: We love it - we couldn't create that much publicity with a budget ten-fold of what we currently have!

    Client MegaCorp: What can we do about that?

    Legal Team: Just say the word and we'll take care of the rest!

    Client MegaCorp: "The word."

    Legal Team: Issue a DMCA takedown notice, someone track that IP address, let's find the culprit and we'll make 'em pay! We'll show them they can't do that to our clients!

    Marketing Department: {two-handed face palm}

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2011 @ 02:58pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Second, even assuming both sides of attorneys get paid, that doesn't make attorney payment "the only possible incentive" for a lawsuit, or even a bad thing.

    This is the point I disagree with at heart. A lawsuit strictly driven by attorney payment is absolutely abuse of the legal system of the worst kind.

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2011 @ 02:16pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    "It's always (or almost always) about a client getting paid."

    You're missing the most obvious of all points here!

    In these lawsuits only one client will (possibly) get paid, but the lawyers on BOTH sides are guaranteed to get paid!

  • On the post: Hackers Claim They Can Unban Banned PS3s While Banning Unmodded PS3s

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2011 @ 12:54pm

    Re: Re: Hacker does not Equal Cheater does not equal Pirate

    "90% (if not more)of console modders and hackers have one thing in mind. Cheating or free games. Dont BS around the bush. Its true and you know it."

    Citation requested.

    Please don't pull numbers out of your ass and expect anyone to believe they are fact. It makes you look ignorant and your finger probably smells like sh!t too! Maybe you are just padding your "body of work" for the next available RIAA or MPAA position available.

  • On the post: Derivative Artwork Inspiring Derivative Artwork — But Will The Lawyers Ruin It?

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2011 @ 12:41pm

    Re:

    We all know it's not about integrity or pride of ownership or protecting the work of artists; it's about a lawyer(s) getting paid. That appears to be the only possible incentive.

    Welcome to the detriment of society in exchange for a court appearance and a big fat payday for the legal team who apparently are the only ones that have figured out that it doesn't matter which side they are on - they will get paid. Like mercenaries who start a war then raise their hand to offer their services for whichever side is willing to pay. You don't have to win - you just have to participate and the money will come regardless of your work or effort.

    The losing attorney should get the "Participant" ribbon in civil suits - that might keep some of the frivolous lawsuits off the docket!

  • On the post: UK Publishers: Fair Use Would Put A 'Chokehold On Innovation'

    Ron Rezendes ( profile ), 04 Mar, 2011 @ 11:41am

    Re: You're not talking the same language!

    FTFY

    You: innovation = creating new things
    Them: innovation = new ways to pay for the old things

    You: growth = more new things
    Them: growth = adding more lawyers to protect the new way others will pay for new and old things

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