sysadmn 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Two Famous Journalism Institutions Shame Themselves By Not Standing Up For Basic Fair Use

    sysadmn ( profile ), 11 Feb, 2013 @ 06:31am

    Re:

    It's not necessarily a failure on the part of the lawyers.

    It's possible the legal advice they got was, "No, she has no basis for this threat. If you don't take it down, here's what it will cost to prove it."

  • On the post: Class Action Against Apple & AT&T Over iPhone Moves Forward

    sysadmn ( profile ), 12 Jul, 2010 @ 07:07am

    Not the place

    If the restriction needs to be demolished, it should be done by Congress, or the Executive branch (FCC, maybe FTC), not the judiciary. It's not a huge privilege to have this restriction unless either the carrier or the phone producer have a monopoly. You have alternatives, if you don't like the terms, don't sign the contract. IMHO, the abusive part of the practice was carriers not unlocking phones once you'd met the contract terms, but I think that has been changed.

  • On the post: The Economist Warns That Newspapers Putting Up Paywalls May Create Newspaper 'Pirates'

    sysadmn ( profile ), 04 May, 2010 @ 07:51am

    but...

    Much of the value in the Economist is not the news. It's well-written articles that place facts in context, and explain why it matters, and what it will mean.

    And that value can be copyright protected, and can be easily copied (legally via fair use, or illegally).

  • On the post: The Economist Warns That Newspapers Putting Up Paywalls May Create Newspaper 'Pirates'

    sysadmn ( profile ), 04 May, 2010 @ 07:48am

    Re: Sell the news. Let people make their own copies.

    I think newspapers serve two other important functions. They give people a convenient place to find news, and they filter the information deluge. I think the second is more important; good editors / journalists find good stories; good editors / journalists explain why a fact matters.

    Unfortunately for print media, there is no reason these functions cannot be just as effective in cyberspace.
    Fortunately for editors / journalists, there is no reason these functions cannot be just as effective in cyberspace.

  • On the post: The Economist Warns That Newspapers Putting Up Paywalls May Create Newspaper 'Pirates'

    sysadmn ( profile ), 04 May, 2010 @ 07:42am

    Grey Lady Down

    Much as I love the Economist, it feels like they've got the Wall Street Journal attitude. "We're so important, people will pay to read us online." If any media outlets could make that claim, The Economist, NYT, and WSJ could. But I don't think anyone can. People who already read them appreciate the archive / access, but others don't know what they are missing, or get their information from another source. Moreover, all the potential readers coming from external links are lost once the paywall kicks in.

  • On the post: ADM Says Video Mocking Them Is Copyright Infringement; Abuses Copyright Law To Stifle Free Speech

    sysadmn ( profile ), 05 Feb, 2010 @ 06:47am

    Re: Re: Double Edge Sword

    I do not claim that this instance is a 4th amendment violation. I was responding to the "how copyright law can possibly survive a First Amendment challenge" point. The existence of fair use is not necessary to survive the challenge. The other amendments are not subordinate to the First.

    I would argue that the Copyright Clause is the source of the fair use doctrine: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." I think it also strengthens the claim that not having any copyright at all is a "taking".

    I seriously doubt that the ruling could survive a challenge, since parody is a clearly recognized fair use. If they're using a substantial portion of the video, perhaps that might tip the scales in the plaintiff's favor.

  • On the post: ADM Says Video Mocking Them Is Copyright Infringement; Abuses Copyright Law To Stifle Free Speech

    sysadmn ( profile ), 05 Feb, 2010 @ 05:13am

    Double Edge Sword

    The Bill of Rights also guarantees "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures". Should the government be allowed to routinely seize something for public use just because the item is intangible? Arguably the lack of copyright would lead to just that.

  • On the post: US Olympic Committee Sues Organization Trying To Build Sports Museum

    sysadmn ( profile ), 29 Jan, 2010 @ 04:57am

    May be clever, not stupid

    USOC might be more clever than stupid. If they sue an organization that can't afford to defend itself, they get a slam-dunk win. No, they won't be able to collect anything, but they've established a legal precedent. That precedent could not only expand their "protection" of the Olympic marks, but also their "right" to treble damages. The next organization they rattle sabers at has an uphill battle.

  • On the post: Andy Warhol Estate Accused Of Defacing Authentic Warhol Artwork To Limit The Market

    sysadmn ( profile ), 27 Jan, 2010 @ 06:19am

    The article also notes that "the board's stamp of approval is necessary for anyone in the world to sell a Warhol work," but that's the part that confuses me. Why?
    From the article, it doesn't sound as if the board can block a sale. It's just that the work sells for much less if not authenticated.
    The average price of a Warhol work at auction was $442,000 in 2006, according to the complaint. Shaer says the works "routinely fetch even more astronomical sums," noting that the 1963 "Green Car Crash," a single Warhol silkscreen, sold for $71.7 million. ... Because Shaer declined the board's invitation, she says her piece has an effective market value of "zero."

  • On the post: Whaddya Know… Popular Mechanics Connects With Young Fans With T-Shirts And A Contest

    sysadmn ( profile ), 20 Jan, 2010 @ 04:06am

    PM gets it

    Popular Mechanics posts a series of how-tos on popular website Instructables. (http://www.instructables.com/member/Popular+Mechanics/) I don't know about the rest of Hearst media, but PM at least is trying new ways of connecting to their (potential) audience.

  • On the post: Dear CNN: Patents Are Not A Proxy For Innovation

    sysadmn ( profile ), 15 Dec, 2009 @ 05:31am

    American Innovation?

    So if the Fortune 10 company I work for files for a US patent for R&D work done in Germany and India, it is demonstrating American innovation?

    We make about half of our revenues outside the US; we spend about half of our R&D budget outside the US; most of our patents are filed worldwide... It might be easier for CNN to tell the "USA vs the world" story, but in each of our businesses, the truth is it is "us vs the other 3-4 companies who are really good at this also."

    And patents as an innovation indicator? Patents are for innovations you're willing to disclose. A lot of the real innovation is protected as a trade secret - business processes, manufacturing methods, even financing models.

  • On the post: Police Allowed To Hang Onto Seized Computers For Anti-Piracy Group, Despite No Gov't Prosecution

    sysadmn ( profile ), 13 Nov, 2009 @ 08:49am

    Fair is Fair

    So if the alleged Pirates want to countersue, and claim that the "private, industry-backed anti-piracy group FACT" engaged in criminal conduct (perhaps by making fraudulent claims to the police in the course of the "assistance"), can they get the police to seize FACT's computers?

    It seems only fair, and there is a delightful irony in using the same tactics in reply. Perhaps Surfthechannel could use the BSA's tactics and offer a cash reward to former FACT employees to report illegal conduct ;-)


    Dark Helmet - we Americans have a much more obscene variant of the law that allows the police to seize property alleged to be associated with criminal activity and sell it, keeping the proceeds. No criminal charges are filed, and the 'target' of the seizure is the property, not the owner, sidestepping many constitutional protections.
    http://www.isil.org/resources/lit/looting-of-america.html
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_forfeiture

  • On the post: Another Broadband Tech Exec Says There's No Bandwidth Crunch

    sysadmn ( profile ), 29 Oct, 2008 @ 05:20am

    Naturally...

    Politicians get re-elected fro solving 'problems'. No problem? No problem! Just create one.

  • On the post: Ohio Sues Diebold/Premiere Over Lost E-Voting Votes

    sysadmn ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2008 @ 10:35am

    Ohio Company

    The lovely part of this potential smackdown is that Diebold is headquartered in Ohio.

  • On the post: Why Should Newspapers Agree To MLB's Rules On How They Can Report On Baseball Online?

    sysadmn ( profile ), 10 Apr, 2008 @ 07:53am

    Let MLB take the heat.

    If I ran a newspaper's online archive, all pictures, video, and audio content that was removed would be replaced by a 404 page that said, "This content removed at the request of Major League Baseball. Please contact Mr. XYZ (xyz@mlb.com, (555) 555-1234) or your local team's publicity director with your comments and concerns.", followed by a table of the names, emails, and phone numbers for each club's PR flack.

    If I were feeling cheeky, I'd include a link to Coralcdn's (http://www.coralcdn.org/ cached version of the page.

  • On the post: Judge Says That Making Available Is Infringement… RIAA Pounces Immediately

    sysadmn ( profile ), 29 Aug, 2007 @ 05:12am

    Re: Re: Don't be silly.

    Nasty Old Geezer -
    Gasp! It's worse than we feared. My library even has a device for making copies! They charge money to use it, so obviously they're making a profit from making copyrighted material available! Call the P(ublishing)IAA!

  • On the post: Who Really Owns Promotional CDs?

    sysadmn ( profile ), 10 Aug, 2007 @ 03:59am

    No, they're claiming a CD they gave a radio station or reviewer for free still belongs to them.Given that the radio stations often hand them out, it's not clear to me why they try to enforce it against the final seller and not the station.

  • On the post: Who Cares If Pamela Jones Is Real Or Not, As Long As Her Information Is Accurate?

    sysadmn ( profile ), 15 Feb, 2007 @ 05:09pm

    Abuse by Lawsuit

    The point isn't to prove PJ is a front. SCO may float that, but it's doubtful they really believe it. More likely, they hope to deposition her into bankruptcy. And if she gets pro bono support, well, there's always something embarassing to drag out of any witness. Let her serve as a warning to the next blogger with an opinion we don't like.

  • On the post: New Top NBC Exec Didn't Get The Memo On YouTube's Usefulness

    sysadmn ( profile ), 08 Feb, 2007 @ 05:17am

    No wonder

    Um, read the article. The first part says he claims YouTube should do a better job of blocking copyrighted material, and the second says YouTube is believed to be in talks to pay for copyrighted material. Connect the dots. He's not necessarily saying giving content away is bad, but it sure looks like he wants better control over it, or is posturing for a better monetary deal. He can't extract more money from YouTube for content if YouTube drags their heels in preventing fans from uploading it for free.

  • On the post: New Senate Bills 'Protect The Children' At Plenty Of Others' Expense

    sysadmn ( profile ), 07 Feb, 2007 @ 12:25pm

    Database?

    Maintain a database of child porn images? What sort of a pervert would take that job? Um... never mind.

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