Last 50 comments.Comments RSS

1. Andromeda on Ungluing Copyright
Hey, you found our company! I expect the friend who pointed you toward it was a mutual friend, in fact. Thanks for spreading the word. (Although in a legal-blog context I feel obligated to point out we're not buying the copyright; copyrights remain where they are. We're crowdfunding a licensing fee.) ›››
May 18, 2012 8:24 AM

2. Alan Wexelblat on How The Harvard Book Store is Reinventing Retail Bookselling
H'ok it's true that the store didn't go under. It just seemed that way, along with so many of the other stores in that area closing. My bad, sorry. ›››
May 15, 2012 11:58 AM

3. Carole Horne on How The Harvard Book Store is Reinventing Retail Bookselling
" When the biggest of the lot went under it seemed like confirmation that nothing could compete with Amazon and other online offerings. But lo, Harvard Book Store is back...." Harvard Book Store actually never went under, if that's what you're refering to. The store's been in continuous operation since 1932, and was sold to Jeff in 2008 by Frank Kramer, the son of the founder. Thanks for bringing up the Forbes story, and the great job Jeff's done since he took over. ›››
May 15, 2012 6:04 AM

4. Sheogorath on Cartel Trumpet "Crush 'em!" Strategy, Revise History, Still Miss Point
I have to laugh at the fancy statistics and created my own similar one in response: 100% of UK citizens that were asked said they were led by the Labour party in September 2009, but when followed up on a year later, had changed their response to 'the coalition'. ›››
May 5, 2012 4:59 AM

5. Alan Wexelblat on This is the Future of Music
Luis it's a valid question - I'll address it in today's blog post. ›››
May 1, 2012 2:59 PM

6. Alan Wexelblat on B&N/Microsoft to Compete With Apple & Amazon
True that. I should've mentioned them. So this adds another platform to the mix, but it's still a minor niche play. This merger ought to be about a lot more. ›››
May 1, 2012 2:47 PM

7. Crosbie Fitch on This is the Future of Music
Luis, without copyright, undiscovered artists are going to have to start small and give away initial works as loss leaders (self-promotion). As their fan base (hopefully) builds so economies of scale EVENTUALLY make it worthwhile offering to do an exchange with them, e.g. 100 fans commission a work at $10 each (out of a larger audience) - then they share it with their friends for free and then the audience builds, and so on. Each time the commission grows (if the artist is good). But, yes, cult ›››
May 1, 2012 10:04 AM

8. Luis Cruz on This is the Future of Music
Crosbie Fitch, thank you for the link; while my assumption on how she cultivated her crowd was incorrect, my original question still remains on how effective crowd sourced funding is if you have not already cultivated a crowd? I see this more as validation that Amanda Palmer is now "successful" rather than being trail blazing. She's put in the work and has had her art connect with enough people to get this result. Paint me as too much of a pessimist to see this as a model non-established artists ›››
May 1, 2012 8:31 AM

9. Crosbie Fitch on This is the Future of Music
Luis Cruz, check out Mike Masnick's response to your 'pertinent question': http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20120430/11150918717/no-record-label-amanda-palmer-raises-over-100k-just-six-hours-kickstarter.shtml#c1118 ›››
May 1, 2012 3:58 AM

10. Luis Cruz on This is the Future of Music
Here's the pertinent question; how well would this Kickstarter have done if she hadn't already acquired a world-wide fan base via her record contract? I've seen Kevin Smith espouse the same philosophy; avoid the corps and go it alone. But if you don't already have a crowd like they do, how effective can crowd sourcing be? ›››
April 30, 2012 6:51 PM

11. ckd on B&N/Microsoft to Compete With Apple & Amazon
There are already Nook apps for iOS and Android: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nook-by-barnes-noble/id373582546?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bn.ereader&hl=en ›››
April 30, 2012 5:00 PM

12. Rebecca on Anyone Have An Opinion on Createspace?
I was going to use createspace until reading these comments. I went through the whole process and have the book ready for me to accept and publish with createspace right now, but after what was said here I think I will look for something else. I have searched for other publishing companies and POD ones, but can't seem to find any that won't charge for having a book printed. The ones I've seen are like $500 and up to have a book published with them. I don't have that kind of money to put into it ›››
April 29, 2012 2:35 PM

13. on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
Should; Can; and almost certainly Won't. ›››
April 26, 2012 4:13 AM

14. Alan Wexelblat on This Could Be Huge - Tor Dumps DRM
Michael: from what I read it's just the set of Tom Doherty imprints, which are owned by Macmillan. I haven't seen anything about this being carried to their other lines (though I wouldn't be surprised if it did). ›››
April 25, 2012 3:02 PM

15. Crosbie Fitch on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, ›››
April 24, 2012 4:56 PM

16. Michael on This Could Be Huge - Tor Dumps DRM
It's not just TOR/Forge, it's all of Macmillan. ›››
April 24, 2012 3:38 PM

17. john e miller on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
What Article I Section 8 of the 1787 US constitution *does* say is that Congress shall have the power -- 8: 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; So the 'abolishment' of copyright would require a constitutional amendment saying that Congress does not in fact have such right as above which would not seem to be a high priority on the National agenda... ... Hyp ›››
April 24, 2012 3:57 AM

18. Crosbie Fitch on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
Androgynous Cowherd, a "clear reading" of the US Constitution will reveal to you that the copyright act of 1790 is not mentioned (nor is The Statute of Anne of 1709), nor is its purpose, which is declared in the 1790 copyright act to be "the encouragement of learning". It is pure hypnotism that people believe the US Constitution says anything about copyright (the right to copy, annulled in the majority, to be left, by exclusion, in the hands of a few - copyright holders). It is deep programmin ›››
April 21, 2012 2:45 PM

19. Androgynous Cowherd on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
Its sole official purpose, as stated in the Constitution, indubitably is to benefit the public. Of course, others do have other purposes for it, and some of those peoples' other purposes for it are at odds with the official purpose, but those latter people are misusing it, more or less by definition. ›››
April 21, 2012 4:52 AM

20. Androgynous Cowherd on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
A clear reading of the Constitution plainly establishes that the purpose of copyright is to promote the progress of science and the useful arts. Enriching authors with a temporary monopoly is the means to that end. The Register of Copyrights is, indeed, putting the cart before the horse by claiming that that means is the end. As for the inevitable abolition of copyright law by the public, given the proliferation of file-sharing tools and sites I'd say it's already well under way. ›››
April 21, 2012 4:46 AM

21. on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
... and you are spending your time exploring and explaining what should come *after* Abolition of Copyright? ›››
April 20, 2012 11:55 AM

22. Crosbie Fitch on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
John E Miller, you can now add extradition to the list (qv Richard O'Dwyer). Enforcement will ratchet up until something snaps... Meanwhile, as you say, "on planet Earth", some of us are exploring and explaining what must fill the vacuum left by copyright's abolition, both in terms of law and the means by which artists exchange their art for the money of their fans - when there are no publishing corporations to purchase and exploit state granted monopolies arising. Are you impatient? ›››
April 19, 2012 3:40 PM

23. john e miller on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
Quote M. Crosbie Fitch: http://www.ip-watch.org/2010/11/26/study-of-public-domain-copyright-at-wipo-offers-recommendations/ Once upon a time, before a wicked Queen made a dreadful bargain, people were free to sing each other’s songs. And three centuries later, bankruptcy or jail awaits the delinquent youth who dare offend those privileged with the suspension of their cultural liberty. Copyright to John Lennon’s work may well be a matter now out of Yoko’s hands. Either government aboli ›››
April 19, 2012 5:48 AM

24. Marie on Anyone Have An Opinion on Createspace?
I have been with LS for the past three years. Comparing the book and shipping prices between LS and CS, CS is much lower. The one thing I'm noticing with LS is that their distributors are selling my books at quite a low price. In fact, I found out--from an LS employee, that they can get my books at 35% off. I'm positive some of these employees are selling my books--"New," and real cheap, on the Amazon site (you know those "Ma/Pa stores"). Some sell them so cheap, that they only sell them to ›››
April 18, 2012 11:01 PM

25. Alan Wexelblat on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
Oh ouch. Very well, point taken. I promise to try and keep to more substantive matters. ›››
April 18, 2012 1:00 PM

26. Crosbie Fitch on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
Mike Masnick is a copyright agnostic at the best of times, but he does seem to take as his core precept copyright's petty pretext of being enacted for the benefit of the people - the encouragement of their learning (in both Statute of Anne 1709 and US Copyright Act 1790). That legislators would be obliged to insert a philanthropic pretext when granting a privilege entirely in state & corporate interests seems to elude him. What also eludes many people is that the so called Progress Clause of th ›››
April 17, 2012 1:30 PM

27. Miriw on Mike Masnick: No. Wrong. Stop That.
This continuing series of posts is incredibly petty. I must have missed the lines in Eldred and Golan that definitively established that the purpose of the progress clause was something other than a utilitarian bargain. My understanding was that those opinions are strongly in favor of leaving the balance struck by that bargain in Congress' hands, not reading it out of the Constitution altogether as you seem to suggest. Accordingly, these posts seem a little over the top. Not that Masnick's aren ›››
April 17, 2012 12:51 PM

28. Alan Wexelblat on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
@A.C. Thanks. I still think he's wrong. If I get a break in my supposed-to-be-busy week I'll write a response. ›››
April 16, 2012 1:02 PM

29. Androgynous Cowherd on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120407/00171418416/yes-copyrights-sole-purpose-is-to-benefit-public.shtml ›››
April 15, 2012 7:11 AM

30. Androgynous Cowherd on Mayo, Confusion, and What is Patentable
I do: abolish patent law in its entirety. It's all bathwater and no baby in there. ›››
April 15, 2012 7:07 AM

31. Alan Wexelblat on Thinking About the E-Book Lawsuit and What Is To Come
I generally agree with you, but I don't think the purchase decision is going to be based on those factors. It's like saying Beta had higher quality than VHS - true, but not something people thought about when laying down their $$. People are going to think "Well, I have this pad. I can get an app to read books on it, or I can spend another $99 on another device." That's a no-brainer decision. ›››
April 13, 2012 8:05 PM

32. Eric on Thinking About the E-Book Lawsuit and What Is To Come
Dedicated eBook readers are e-Ink devices. Tablets are not. Tablets are all but useless for long form reading - their battery life doesn't cut it, they're useless outside, and they hurt your eyes if you stare at them for the same durations a heavy reader stares at a book. eBook readers don't thrive because the iPad is too expensive. They thrive because they're good for reading books, and the iPad isn't and never will be as long as it features an LCD screen. ›››
April 13, 2012 3:10 PM

33. Alan Wexelblat on Mayo, Confusion, and What is Patentable
Joel I love your story but sadly there's no way I can see for people in the PTO (or, really, anyone else) to bring pressure on the Supreme Court. The entire series of patent-related decisions they've issued in the past couple decades has only sowed more confusion and I don't see how to bring sanity back to the process. ›››
April 11, 2012 7:41 PM

34. joel hanes on Mayo, Confusion, and What is Patentable
You should adopt the course of malicous compliance. Can't distinguish on the basis of the Court's decision ? Denied. Long ago I was a draftee in a Field Artillery batalion. One day arrived a new Division Artillery commander, a strac little full bird colonel -- and one of his first Orders was that within his command, enlisted men encountering officers would not only salute, but would sing out with a cheery "On target, sir!", to which the officer was required to salute and respond with a hea ›››
April 11, 2012 1:48 AM

35. john e miller on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
Dr. AW -- The discussion in which I am directly involved regards via WIPO giving copyright exemption to persons who are blind or with other reading disabilities. The argument there, also, is that such persons would not be likely purchasers of a book. However, once you say that a large component of the world's population is eligible for free renditions of a copyrighted work, a 'balance' of rights is created whereby there may be far more free copies in circulation by virtue of exception to copyri ›››
April 8, 2012 2:38 PM

36. Alan Wexelblat on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
@Anonymous: I'm aware of the Constitutional language; as I said, it's the basis on which Breyer's opinion rests. That said, Breyer uses this language to promote what ought to be a functional value calculus. Masnick, by contrast, seems to think that the language automatically means that copyright isn't there to make money for creators. "Promote the useful progress..." doesn't say for whom. Thus, nebulous. @John: the studies I've seen on freeloaders generally are too simplistic and don't analyze ›››
April 8, 2012 7:14 AM

37. john e miller on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
One of Mr. Masnick's recurring claims is that IP Rights holders do not lose revenue through unauthorized reproduction & distribution as those persons on the receiving end were not ever likely purchasers of the materials. He may be right that many or most of the unauthorized downloaders are never potential customers; then again, it is unlikely that there are none who would fit that category. ›››
April 7, 2012 8:26 PM

38. Androgynous Cowherd on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
Masnick's major point seems to be that he thinks the purpose of copyright is to promote some nebulous social value. Actually, Masnick's major point is that according to the Constitution of the United States of America, the purpose of copyright is to promote the progress of science and the useful arts. If "the progress of science and the useful arts" is "some nebulous social value", then I suppose you are correct, but Masnick is then in distinguished company -- the others being names like Washin ›››
April 7, 2012 3:52 PM

39. Mattie Quillens on Watchmen Judgment Posted
I needed to write you this little note just to give many thanks once again for the superb tips you've contributed on this website. This is pretty open-handed with people like you to deliver easily exactly what numerous people would've distributed as an e-book in order to make some profit on their own, even more so seeing that you might have tried it in the event you wanted. These secrets additionally served like the fantastic way to be certain that someone else have a similar interest just like ›››
April 6, 2012 8:03 PM

40. john e miller on Copyright Official Fails, Techdirt Foams
Well, I am not going to comment one way or another on copyright law or Ms. Pallante's copyright agenda. I personally have been called a 'statist' for wanting to work with or maybe stretch the limits of copyright exception as it exists today. Changing the law itself I will leave to others. I used to subscribe to the TechDirt email summary but cancelled after counting that a TechDirt daily brief may contain up to 6 mentions of the word 'insane' -- shorthand I guess for those who disagree with Mr ›››
April 6, 2012 4:52 PM

41. Scott on AC/DC Snubs iTunes, Makes Life Difficult for Fans
Acdc was the first album i had as a kid...fan all my life...i own an iphone with ac/dc packed in it that these dickheads could have made money on and didn't....screw them and thier bs.hey angus...kiss my ass!you haven't made a good song since the razors edge album you old washed up loser!all hail the black label society! ›››
April 5, 2012 10:00 PM

42. Bank CardUSA on Cartel Gets Big Money to Fill In Big Hole
Your website came up in my research and Im motivated by what you have penned on this issue. I am presently widening my enquiry and thus cannot contribute further, nonetheless, I have bookmarked your internet site and will be returning to keep up with any succeeding updates. Just Now love it and thanks for tolerating my input. ›››
March 23, 2012 3:34 AM

43. Chuck on The Cartel Is the Law Now
The MPAA and RIAA are not LAW ENFORCEMENT, they have no RIGHT to do this, also the ISP's may be liable if they do this. I would like to see everyone send a letter to their ISP, threating to Sue them for Invasion of Privacy without a Court Order, and violating your Constitutional Rights. Also Send a Letter or Call your Congress Man and Complain. Tell him if he allows this you will vote him out of Office. Also Contact everyone you know and tell them to do the same. Make your stand every ›››
March 20, 2012 1:28 AM

44. Chuck on The Next Generation Joins The Copyright Wars
Persecution Via Copyright A Point of View Once upon a time a man with his girlfriend, was having lunch with his Best Friend and his girlfriend. After they Ordered in the Public Restaurant, he remembered that he had left his wallet in his car. He stood up and explained to his friends, and then he said "I'll Be Back" At a nearby table a member of the MPAA over heard his remark in public, within a few minuets police arrived. They arrested the man for COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, and took him t ›››
March 18, 2012 3:23 PM

45. Alan Wexelblat on Yahoo! Sues Facebook, Bloggers Hyperventilate Massively
Not sure who you're addressing. I thought the blog entry was reasonably clear about not commenting on the quality of the patents Yahoo is asserting. I haven't read them yet so have no opinion on whether they're good and defensible or not. Obviously Yahoo thinks they're good. The point of my post was that Yahoo is behaving exactly like Apple or any of a hundred other big tech companies and it's beyond me why big-name bloggers are all up in arms about it. ›››
March 17, 2012 7:08 AM

46. vh on Yahoo! Sues Facebook, Bloggers Hyperventilate Massively
Dude wake up to the current century. Most of the so-called patents that Yahoo claims to have are bogus, because the bozos at the US patent office are also lving the previous centruries like you. You really belive that Yahoo invented Social Networking?? LOL ›››
March 15, 2012 12:25 PM

47. Pat Dovenmuehler on First-Sale Doctrine Under Fire
Loving the information on this website , you have done outstanding job on the posts . ›››
March 12, 2012 8:28 PM

48. Tammy on What is "KDP Select" and Does It Matter?
I have owned a Kindle for over a year now, and I've been getting into reading a lot of books/stories from amateur artists. Most are under a dollar and are hit or miss. I agree that some of these authors are selling themselves short. The short memoir written by a US soldier, "The Princess of Kosovo", really touched my heart. The author has his story on there for 99 cents (he will earn only 33 cents for each sale)...and he has locked himself into Prime. Maybe he wasn't thinking and wanted to get a ›››
March 11, 2012 10:52 AM

49. San Diego Workers Compensation Attorney on Copyright Owners Contributing to the Destruction of Their Own Property
The recordings are eighty years old...that's practically antique in the film industry. ›››
March 9, 2012 2:48 PM

50. DrWex on Who Decides What Books You Can Buy?
Amy thanks for the pointer. I'll read up on the KDP thing and try to put it into a blog post next week. ›››
March 2, 2012 4:02 PM