copyrights at The Observer's Log

Posts Tagged ‘copyrights’

Copyrights are the new Colonialism

16 Jan 2010

The late 16th Century was the dawn of the British Empire. England had triumphed on the seas, and had set its eyes on colonising the New World (before its enemies did). Patents were issued, companies were founded, and flotillas of ships dispatched to every corner — known and unknown — of the planet in the name of Queen/King and country. Colonies were born out of determination, slavery, and blood extracted from those too weak to defend themselves from British will.

In time, a phrase was born: The sun never sets on the British Empire. Great Britain’s influence extended far beyond its native shores, its power unquestionable. A few thrived under the colonial system, but the majority — the people living under colonial rule — were marginalised as being little more than the ignorant masses; significant numbers suffered horribly.

It’s really no wonder that the Empire collapsed under its own weight.

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Music industry’s future: Creators and Performers

25 Apr 2009

The music industry is falling apart. Not in the way your under-maintained 1991 economy car with rust spots is leaving a breadcrumb trail of broken parts, but in the way your high school clique drifted apart as everyone got older and started looking for new direction. This is the order of things, both natural and man-made — everything trends towards its own destruction.

Sadly, the music industry hasn’t quite figured this out yet. They’ve been fighting blindly to retain the status quo, and failing miserably. RIAA take note: suing your core audience for using your content, thus alienating them and their sphere of influence from future purchases is not good business acumen. Where did you get your MBAs, from Sally Struthers’ International Correspondance School?

It’s high time you accepted that you are no longer in control of your own future. Your audience is.

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Canada, you can blame Calgary

14 Oct 2008

Sigh.

Well, thanks to the residents of Calgary Centre-North, Canada is now stuck with Jim Prentice again. And I’m just too darned tired to rant. Wasted effort at this point.

But I reserve my right to call “I told ya so!” when the lawsuits start.

Just say “no” to Prentice!

14 Oct 2008

Okay Calgary, here’s your last reminder. It’s the big day. Make sure the Conservatives get the message: don’t ram bad laws on Canadians and expect that they won’t notice or remember.

Don’t re-elect Prentice.

Or I’ll be forced to rant. Seriously.

Calgary: Vote “no” for Prentice!

13 Oct 2008

Hi folks, it’s your friendly (but still pissed-off) Ex-Pat reminding you that with tomorrow’s federal election, you can send the message to Ottawa that poor legislation that places handcuffs on all Canadians will not be tolerated.

Please do not reelect Jim Prentice. This man does not deserve your support. Voting for him will allow the same mistakes to happen again.

Calgary, throw Jim Prentice out of office!

22 Sep 2008

Dear Calgary, my former home, I have a reminder and a request for you.

First, please remember that Jim Prentice, one of several MPs up for re-election in Calgary, will be running again in the October election.

Second, remember that Mr. Prentice is wholly responsible for Bill C-61 — that vile pile of ass-kissing lobbyist-driven legislation that will destroy any sense of fair use of media we’ve purchased. Might not affect you yet, but if you thought the RIAA trials south of the border were nonsense…

This is a man who clearly does not understand technology, the people of Canada, or even his portfolio. This is not a man who should be responsible for the Industry portfolio, who does not represent his constituents, and should not be allowed to make more mistakes.

Please do not vote for Jim Prentice. Please.

Dear Canada: I’m going to break the law

21 Sep 2008

Well, it would appear that short of an Act of God (or, heaven forbid, some actual common sense runs through Parliament), Bill C-61 will forever handcuff Canadians and prevent long-term technological evolution. It’s one of the worst-written pieces of legislation to hit Canadians in years, as it does not take real-world habits into account at all (short of the negative views, of course), and penalises everyone for something most of them haven’t done.

I’m going to get the Government in on a little secret. I’m breaking it. I refuse to let your ridiculous industry ass-kissing paperwork prevent me from moving with the evolutionary tide. I’m breaking the law and doing what I think is right.

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An open letter to Jim Prentice

12 Jun 2008

Dear “Honourable” Jim Prentice,

Allow me to express my sincerest feelings when I say you are responsible for fucking over the Canadian people. This bill you are introducing this morning — likely as I write this very post — is not for the benefit of the Canadian people.

Not one bit.

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