Spamtrap 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (56) comment rss

  • On the post: How Do You Enforce An EULA On Malware?

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 30 Apr, 2008 @ 05:55am

    Enforcing EULA

    Let me get this straight. We violate the EULA and these cretins will show up in court? Makes tracking down these turkeys a whole lot easier. (followed by, "You have the right to remain silent...")

  • On the post: Cities Caught Illegally Tampering With Traffic Lights To Increase Revenue Of Red Light Cameras

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 16 Apr, 2008 @ 07:18am

    Lawsuit!

    If the cities are tampering with the lights, it would be relatively easy to time the light and ascertain if it was to federal spec. If not, the city could be sued for the ticket. Small Claims Court would work. City finances would soon die the "death of a 1,00 cuts" if enough people tried this avenue. Any good lawyer would love this if an accident was involved.

  • On the post: It's Time To Play The Game: What's Comcast Blocking Now?

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2008 @ 09:30am

    Comcast stupid?

    Comcast provides a complimentery copy of McAfee software for their subscribers. When I attempted to load the software onto a friend's machine, Comcast blocked McAfee from downloading the remainder of the software. I had to power down the modem & restart it so the McAfee installer could download 60 mb of software.

  • On the post: Patents, Copyrights And Trademarks, Oh My!

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 28 Feb, 2008 @ 01:51pm

    Intellectual Property

    I wonder if the proponents of "intellectual property" have considered the possibility of "intellectual property taxes"? After all these people claim their intellectual property has value whether they publish, produce or perform the particular work or not. If it has value, it can be taxed. Failure to pay taxes could result in the work being seized for the public domain.

  • On the post: On The Constitutional Reasons Behind Copyright And Patents

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 22 Feb, 2008 @ 07:21am

    Intellectual Property

    If "Intellectual Property" is so valuable why aren't copyright/patent holders paying more to defend their "valuable" property. I foresee an intellectual property tax. This is "fair" We pay property taxes. Why not an intellectual property tax.

  • On the post: As Expected, BitTorrent Providers Planning To Route Around Comcast Barrier

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 18 Feb, 2008 @ 06:11am

    Comcast Throttling Software Provided by Comcast

    Comcast provides complimentary McAfee anti virus software. One jumps through a few hoops but then downloads an installer programs which logs into McAfee Central and downloads the rest of the software.

    Recently, I attempted to install the software only to have Comcast interrupt the subsequent 50+ megabyte download. I finally had to resort to reinitializing the IP by powering down the computer & modem then downloading the software.

  • On the post: More Courts Saying That Customs Officers Can Look Through Your Laptop

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 08 Jan, 2008 @ 04:48am

    I find it mystifying why anyone would travel with a laptop containing personal/financial/potentially illegal information. Store this stuff on a flash drive and simply "forget" you have it with you.

  • On the post: Senators Ask Justice Department To Become Hollywood's Private Enforcement Agency

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2007 @ 10:03am

    This could backfire

    This could easily backfire on the music industry where in many cases, the industry just started distributing music files with no actual distribution agreement and often without actual ownership of distribution rights.

  • On the post: Who Really Owns Promotional CDs?

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 10 Aug, 2007 @ 06:02am

    If the music publisher is merely licensing the music to me on the CD, don't they have some responsibility to replace the physical CD for a nominal fee ($1) if it becomes unplayable?

  • On the post: Will The RIAA Sue USB Drive Makers Next?

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 01 Jun, 2007 @ 09:43am

    RIAA lawsuits

    RIAA lawsuits are not going away any time soon because they're profitable. For every individual who fights this nonsense,dozens pay the extortion.

  • On the post: Arguing For Infinite Copyright… Using Copied Ideas And A Near Total Misunderstanding Of Property

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 22 May, 2007 @ 03:33am

    Taxing Intellectual Property

    One thing that proponents of ‘intellectual property’ have not considered. If this is property as they claim, then it has a value and, more importantly, it can be taxed.

    I’d vote for extending copyrights indefinitely with the proviso that the copyright holder pays an annual ‘intellectual property’ tax after 10 years of tax abatement. The initial tax needn’t be onerous and a progressively increasing schedule would gently encourage copyright holders to give their work to the public domain when it’s no longer profitable. The new law might even grant a small tax deduction for turning over a copyrighted work into public domain.

    Copyright holders like Disney will go for this because they can keep their copyrights for as long as they are profitable and they wish to pay the ‘intellectual property’ tax.

    Congress will love this because it generates tax revenue.

    We, the people, will love this because failure to pay the ‘intellectual property’ tax results in the work becoming public domain. I expect a flood of public domain when the tax abatement period ends.

  • On the post: Microsoft's Claims About Linux Patent Infringement Are Old News And Old FUD

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 14 May, 2007 @ 12:44pm

    Re: Trademarking color

    So, if I trademark the color puce, Detsche Telekom AG can't touch me?

  • On the post: Google Sued For Infringing On Just Granted 'Enhanced Hyperlink' Patent

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 23 Apr, 2007 @ 01:11pm

    Re:

    Well, I can tell you it's not possible to patent the wheel. Some guy from New Zealand did that. Hmm. Maybe fire?

  • On the post: HP Board Spying Not Just Limited To HP Board Members

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 08 Sep, 2006 @ 07:37am

    Another spy method revealed

    OK. Now that we know how they did it, I'll buy a $40 prepaid cell phone before calling in my anonymous tip. Find that turkeys!

  • On the post: Latest Threat To The Music Industry: CDs

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2006 @ 08:40am

    The Fine Print

    The reason that Big Media is so upset is buried in the fine print. A good example is that if you bought a Sony CD last year, you agreed in the shrinkwrap license to erase all copies if you sold, lost, or gave away the original CD. A curious provision was that you agreed to erase the copies if you declared bankruptcy even though you might still retain ownership of the CD.

  • On the post: Yes, You're So Much Better Off When Fewer People Read Your Paper

    Spamtrap ( profile ), 24 Jul, 2006 @ 01:50pm

    This needs an award

    Such a decision requires an award similar to the Darwin award. Perhaps the Homer (as in Simpson) award; A 'Going Out of Business' sign with gold lettering?