Music Industry Backlash Against Sony Rootkit 400
Foobar of Borg writes "The Associated Press describes how backlash from Sony's Rootkit CDs is causing problems for the music industry. The problem is two-fold: (1) the inherent technological problem of trying to prevent anyone from copying anything and (2) letting lawyers make technical decisions when (from the article) 'Lawyers don't have any better understanding of technology than a cow does algebra.'" More from the article: "'I think they've set back audio CD protection by years,' said Richard M. Smith, an Internet privacy and security consultant. 'Nobody will want to pull a Sony now.' Phil Leigh, analyst for Inside Digital Media, said the debacle shows just how reluctant the labels are to change their business model to reflect the distribution powers -- good and bad -- of the Internet. He believes that rather than adopting technological methods to try to stop unauthorized copying of music, record companies need to do more to remove the incentive for piracy."
Wait a minute (Score:4, Funny)
Remove incentive? (Score:5, Funny)
Like say, making shit music that no-one would want to pirate? Ugh, too late
If the RIAA ran other industries.... (Score:5, Funny)
We'd be paying $1500.00 for a coast to coast airline ticket.
There'd be no interstate trucking industry. All freight would go by rail and canal.All television would be black and white. There'd be no VCR's (let alone PVR's!).
All radio would be AM.Telephones would all be dial. Long distance calls would be $2.50/minute.
We'd all still be using slide rules.There would be no foreign cars in the U.S.
There would be no sources of alternative energy (wiond, solar, etc.) whatsoever.And on and on. The RIAA wants to maintain the status quo at any cost. They have had ten years to adapt and have resisted at every turn. They all likely believe in Landrew (save us, save us, Landrew!).
They are pathetic.This rootkit will be remembered... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD (Score:5, Funny)
That's why I like to avoid absolute statements and generalizations: all it takes is one case to refute, even though the statement may be accurate for the majority and there may only be one or two cases that can refute it. It's like what they say about congressmen: the dishonest 534 make the rest look bad.
Still, wouldn't it be cool to discover that one supersmart cow? And kill it? And eat it and learn algebra? Mmmmmmm!
US Patent no. 62265781337 (Score:5, Funny)
Dir sirs,
The suggested apparatus is a sentient, grass-eating organism ("Cow"), that has or will be taught complex mathematical operations ("Algebra"), with or without the aid of various computational devices.
I intend to patent this "invention" and then go on and "licence" it to all cattle grows in the planet, which will have to pay or face my formidable legal team. In fact, I have already hired an "Intellectual property" law firm, who has assured me that I am loosing $5.6B every day - literally being stolen out of my pocket, and the plates of my children, by greedy farmers who will not respect the foundations of our economy.
Moreover, said lawyers have promised me that the USPTO and the courts will share their (my) view that every cow grazing grass is in fact performing complex calculations, probably for some foreign power like Iraq, or worse, Europe.
All the best,
Edgar Bronfman.
Re:If the RIAA ran other industries.... (Score:5, Funny)
Real men use the abacus to do math.
Slide-Rule using pansy.
Uniquely Slashdot Humor (Score:3, Funny)
Cows with Guns (Score:2, Funny)
Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD (Score:3, Funny)
It could do math by tapping out the answer with its hoof.
Unfortunately, it doesn't do math anymore.
Its only got three legs you see.
Cause, you know , you don't eat a cow like that all at once.
Re:US Patent no. 62265781337 (Score:1, Funny)
- The cow;
- Algebra;
- Mathematics;
- 1;
- 0;
- Grass;
- Inventions;
- Iraq;
- Children;
- Greedy farmers.
My lawyer will be contacting you presently.
Re:Wait a minute (Score:3, Funny)
Re:If the RIAA ran other industries.... (Score:3, Funny)
I think its Landru (Score:3, Funny)
"The crew of the Enterprise land on a new planet. Their first reactions are of wariness. As Mr Spock says: 'Odd. The expression on that man's face. Mindlessness. Vacant contentment'. Everyone in the society is happy: they all smile, and their standard greeting is 'joy to you'. This disturbs the heroes: in a society where everyone is this happy, something must be wrong. They intervene.
"They discover that the planet is ruled by a supposedly benign deity named 'Landrew', whose representatives - the faceless, dark-robed 'lawmen' - ensure that everyone behaves happily, repeating such catchphrases as 'Happy communing'. 'Joy be with you, peace and contentment'. 'Peace and tranquility', 'Peace and harmony'. In the course of the story, McCoy is brainwashed. He begins to speak in the same terms: 'Happiness to all of us. Blessed be Landrew'. The society is peaceful, everyone is happy - or, at least, everyone thinks that they are happy. What is wrong with this?
"Firstly, according to the logic of the program, it is false consciousness. People only think that they are happy because they have been brainwashed by a computer which is running their society... Mr Spock reminds Captain Kirk: 'Captain - our prime directive is non-interference' The Captain responds - 'That refers to living, growing cultures. Do you think this one is?'.
"...as Mr Spock puts it: 'This is a soulless society. They have no spirit, no spark. All is indeed peace and tranquility - the tranquility of the machine'. As Kirk puts the argument to the computer who runs the system: 'The [society] is dying. You are destroying it. What have you done to do justice to the full potential of every individual in the body?
"...Return of the Archons ends with the crew back on board the Enterprise. Kirk asks the resident sociologist how things are going now they have destroyed the perfect society. The sociologist responds excitedly - 'Already today we've had three marital disputes and a stand up fight'. Kirk is delighted - the society is once again as it should be."
Stolen from here: http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/CSAA/newsletter01-1.ht
Better write up here: http://www.wizardrealm.com/Galadriel/landru.htm [wizardrealm.com]
"You can stop wearing those robes now.
And if I were you, I'd start looking
for another job."
-- [ Kirk to monk-robed figures after he blows
up Landru's computerized successor.]
Kirm was such a man's man.
He goes to alien planets,
sleeps with their women,
changes their society,
then makes smart-ass comments as he's leaving.
You think you have problems! (Score:5, Funny)
Man, that's nothing... I remember when that Kid Rock CD instructed my hard drive to score some weed and a couple of hookers! Try explaining that to your wife!
Re:What would be good... (Score:2, Funny)
1. boring
2. a waste of time
Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What would be good... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD (Score:2, Funny)
Look!! Common Ground! Maybe lawyers & engineers can work together afterall?
Re:Wait a minute (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I do not think it means what you think it means (Score:2, Funny)
No it isn't.