Remember that Facebook has converted Trumps indefinite suspension to a two-year conditional suspension. If this goes as I expect it will and the courts throw these lawsuits out, and if they require him to pay Facebook's lawyer fees, I have a feeling that one of the conditions of lifting the suspension in two years will be that he has to have paid those lawyer fees.
Sorry, but Mike's intro tempted me to think of the most extreme example of a kneejerk reaction. I guess that this was intended to be humorous was not evident enough. I'm actually guilty of use of contractions to the point of overuse myself.
Didn't have time to read all of the article, or the comments, but I strongly object to the use of "I've" rather than "I have" at the start. This contraction belies a laziness that invalidates all the points you make in the rest of the article.
@Mike, in the "filed under" section under the article, it looks like you have two keywords, "$30" and "000". I think your article submission algorithm got confused about a keyword with a comma in it.
Too bad Techdirt article keywords aren't legally binding.
It seems to me that there could be an algorithm that polls users about ads, news stories, and links to form a consensus of whether the item is true. Then the algorithm could frame the ad based on this rating. Everyone is still able to click on it if they want to, but at least they have been warned. The algorithm could weight the opinions of users based on their past history to reduce the chance of errors due to someone gaming the system or general ignorance.
I guess I didn't get the message about disposible laptops. I have fixed and upgraded multple laptops and smartphones. Obviously a desktop is more designed for maintenance and upgrade, but it is a myth that laptops and especially phones are not openable.
The usuals discussed improved phone hardware capabilities and better phone software as hastening the death of the desktop/laptop. I think they missed another factor. As A.I. advances, the nature of our work will change. Even for creative work, the ability to express your ideas without many of the things that are particularly suited to laptops/desktops will be de-emphasized. When? I hestate to make a prediction, but it will be sooner than most people think.
"In the absence of knowledge of the Streisand Effect, a lawyer's threats when attempting to suppress information on the Internet will approach the policies of Hitler and the Nazis."
You heard it here, folks (unless you didn't; I didn't bother to check).
Kudos to Mike for maintaining a good balance between explaining the subject episodes to those who had not listened to them and giving those who had listened a more in-depth look at the story. Mike's and Alex's comments solidified some impressions that I had while listening to the episodes, but had not yet put together. Good job!
While some may find the "making my family" image obscene, but I'd argue that the image of the "traditional" stick figure family is more obscene, because while "making my family" depicts a single sexual act, the traditional one implies three, no, seven sexual acts since every living creature depicted there is the result of sexual reproduction. Seven sexual acts is getting into porn movie territory.
In this episode, one of the topics covered was the benefits of a consumption-based tax system vs. our current income-based system. Dr. Frank proposed a tax code where consumption is measured by subtracting savings from income. I have heard other proposals for a VAT, which in theory does the same thing. In practice, however, I suspect that the subtraction approach would do more to promote saving since the cost of the tax on an annual basis would be more apparent every tax day, compared to the VAT in which the tax cost in spead through the year. I also imagine the tax avoidance strategies (legal and not-so-legal) would differ between the two. IANAE, so all of this is a layman's speculation.
This is not as tech-focused as most of Techdirt, but it might make a good future episode of the podcast.
One AC has suggested that the winery didn't do a search for the term "butterball", but my guess is that they may have done it deliberately. Going for a boost from someone else's trademark isn't unheard of, and as Tim points out, isn't illegal if there's no opportunity for consumer confusion.
If I were Butterball, I'd seriously consider if there's an opportunity to pair the turkey with the wine and give both brands a boost. A lawsuit just drains everyone's bank account (except the lawyers).
Now, spending a lot of money on a computer means getting a machine which is basically useful for playing shoot-em-up games.
...or doing 3D CAD, animation, video production, music production, bitcoin mining, machine learning, or simulate protein folding for medical research. The fact that many people don't do much with their machines beyond playing games doesn't mean the technology has reached diminishing returns.
I used to be dismissive of gamers until I realized that their pursuit of better frame rates and more realistic rendering had created a market that had outpaced the makers of scientific workstations costing ten times as much.
Perhaps an amendment should be made to this bill that would require a similar notice be posted in the workplaces of all copyright-enabled businesses (you know, like publishers, movie studios, and grocery stores) warning of the penalties associated with filing a false DMCA claim.
Just like the television show Star Trek , "This Week In Techdirt History" is a five year mission. Any longer than that, and it would necessarily be reruns, since everything from 5 to 20 years would (obviously) have already been covered.
No, it just goes recursive after that. I for one am looking forward to "This week in 'This week in Techdirt history' history" posts.
But this is in California...
But this is in California, the land of the proposition. I could see this becoming one.
Methinks Facebook May Revise the Term of Trump's Banishment
Remember that Facebook has converted Trumps indefinite suspension to a two-year conditional suspension. If this goes as I expect it will and the courts throw these lawsuits out, and if they require him to pay Facebook's lawyer fees, I have a feeling that one of the conditions of lifting the suspension in two years will be that he has to have paid those lawyer fees.
Re: Re: Let go of my Knee, Jerk
Sorry, but Mike's intro tempted me to think of the most extreme example of a kneejerk reaction. I guess that this was intended to be humorous was not evident enough. I'm actually guilty of use of contractions to the point of overuse myself.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I don't believe those two statements are mutually exclusive.
Let go of my Knee, Jerk
Didn't have time to read all of the article, or the comments, but I strongly object to the use of "I've" rather than "I have" at the start. This contraction belies a laziness that invalidates all the points you make in the rest of the article.
A minor note
@Mike, in the "filed under" section under the article, it looks like you have two keywords, "$30" and "000". I think your article submission algorithm got confused about a keyword with a comma in it.
Too bad Techdirt article keywords aren't legally binding.
Not Perfect, But...
It seems to me that there could be an algorithm that polls users about ads, news stories, and links to form a consensus of whether the item is true. Then the algorithm could frame the ad based on this rating. Everyone is still able to click on it if they want to, but at least they have been warned. The algorithm could weight the opinions of users based on their past history to reduce the chance of errors due to someone gaming the system or general ignorance.
Re: When it breaks…
I guess I didn't get the message about disposible laptops. I have fixed and upgraded multple laptops and smartphones. Obviously a desktop is more designed for maintenance and upgrade, but it is a myth that laptops and especially phones are not openable.
Obsolescence from another direction.
The usuals discussed improved phone hardware capabilities and better phone software as hastening the death of the desktop/laptop. I think they missed another factor. As A.I. advances, the nature of our work will change. Even for creative work, the ability to express your ideas without many of the things that are particularly suited to laptops/desktops will be de-emphasized. When? I hestate to make a prediction, but it will be sooner than most people think.
mermaldad's mashup
"In the absence of knowledge of the Streisand Effect, a lawyer's threats when attempting to suppress information on the Internet will approach the policies of Hitler and the Nazis."
You heard it here, folks (unless you didn't; I didn't bother to check).
Good balance
Kudos to Mike for maintaining a good balance between explaining the subject episodes to those who had not listened to them and giving those who had listened a more in-depth look at the story. Mike's and Alex's comments solidified some impressions that I had while listening to the episodes, but had not yet put together. Good job!
Deeply offensive and obviously obscene
While some may find the "making my family" image obscene, but I'd argue that the image of the "traditional" stick figure family is more obscene, because while "making my family" depicts a single sexual act, the traditional one implies three, no, seven sexual acts since every living creature depicted there is the result of sexual reproduction. Seven sexual acts is getting into porn movie territory.
Consumption-Based Tax Options
In this episode, one of the topics covered was the benefits of a consumption-based tax system vs. our current income-based system. Dr. Frank proposed a tax code where consumption is measured by subtracting savings from income. I have heard other proposals for a VAT, which in theory does the same thing. In practice, however, I suspect that the subtraction approach would do more to promote saving since the cost of the tax on an annual basis would be more apparent every tax day, compared to the VAT in which the tax cost in spead through the year. I also imagine the tax avoidance strategies (legal and not-so-legal) would differ between the two. IANAE, so all of this is a layman's speculation.
This is not as tech-focused as most of Techdirt, but it might make a good future episode of the podcast.
I'm hoping we won't be able to see anything in a new copyright office boss.
Poor Research or Deliberate Reference?
One AC has suggested that the winery didn't do a search for the term "butterball", but my guess is that they may have done it deliberately. Going for a boost from someone else's trademark isn't unheard of, and as Tim points out, isn't illegal if there's no opportunity for consumer confusion.
If I were Butterball, I'd seriously consider if there's an opportunity to pair the turkey with the wine and give both brands a boost. A lawsuit just drains everyone's bank account (except the lawyers).
Lots and Lots
So to keep Techdirt going, your plan is to sell lots and lots of t-shirts? :-)
Re: Decline and Fall
...or doing 3D CAD, animation, video production, music production, bitcoin mining, machine learning, or simulate protein folding for medical research. The fact that many people don't do much with their machines beyond playing games doesn't mean the technology has reached diminishing returns.
I used to be dismissive of gamers until I realized that their pursuit of better frame rates and more realistic rendering had created a market that had outpaced the makers of scientific workstations costing ten times as much.
Can't buy me
Money can't buy me love, but apparently it can buy me Stephen Harper.
Amendment
Perhaps an amendment should be made to this bill that would require a similar notice be posted in the workplaces of all copyright-enabled businesses (you know, like publishers, movie studios, and grocery stores) warning of the penalties associated with filing a false DMCA claim.
Re: Re: Re:
No, it just goes recursive after that. I for one am looking forward to "This week in 'This week in Techdirt history' history" posts.