4 ms·

Totally agree, the length of copyright protection is absurd. Doesn't mean we should use HN to pirate stuff though.

icebraining 11y ago
Yes, yes we should. When HN even has a feature made to bypass paywalls, it's absurd to then subscribe to a strict legalistic position which provides no benefit to anyone.
- monochromatic 11y ago
  HN has a feature for bypassing paywalls? Well, it could at least be argued (I don't know how persuasively) that that isn't copyright infringement. This pretty clearly is.
  - ethbro 11y ago
    Isn't this more or less what the DMCA safe harbor was actually intended for? If a website that is not primarily engaged in massive copyright violation posts a link to a questionably copywritten work, then the onus is on the rights holder to notify. It would seem like cases where the rights holder is unknown or has lost interest in the work (aka ophaned works) should be tailor made for this. HN has safe harbor, the rights holder has the possibility of protecting their work if they choose, and the public has access to a work that would otherwise be buried in a strictly pre-legally cleared system.
    - monochromatic 11y ago
      I'm not suggesting that HN should get sued over this, so the safe harbor seems irrelevant. I'm saying that we shouldn't post things like this.
  - stickfigure 11y ago
    Then consider this a form of civil disobedience.
mikeash 11y ago
For all we know, the copyright holders gave the people at sciencemadness.org permission to distribute this PDF freely.
- monochromatic 11y ago
  That's a little convenient.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    It's true, though, right? Where does our responsibility lie in determining whether something is legitimate or not? There are cases where it's obvious, and cases where it's not. What's the limit of due diligence for a casual reader?
    - monochromatic 11y ago
      There's no reason whatsoever to think it's legitimate. Whatever the limit of due diligence might be, this isn't even close.
      - mikeash 11y ago
        It's available and it hasn't been taken down, that's some indication it might be legitimate. I agree that it's unlikely. But it's possible, and certainly much more ambiguous than grabbing a torrent off some ad-laden site for a TV show you can buy on iTunes.

Yes, yes we should. When HN even has a feature made to bypass paywalls, it's absurd to then subscribe to a strict legalistic position which provides no benefit to anyone.

monochromatic 11y ago
HN has a feature for bypassing paywalls? Well, it could at least be argued (I don't know how persuasively) that that isn't copyright infringement. This pretty clearly is.
- ethbro 11y ago
  Isn't this more or less what the DMCA safe harbor was actually intended for? If a website that is not primarily engaged in massive copyright violation posts a link to a questionably copywritten work, then the onus is on the rights holder to notify. It would seem like cases where the rights holder is unknown or has lost interest in the work (aka ophaned works) should be tailor made for this. HN has safe harbor, the rights holder has the possibility of protecting their work if they choose, and the public has access to a work that would otherwise be buried in a strictly pre-legally cleared system.
  - monochromatic 11y ago
    I'm not suggesting that HN should get sued over this, so the safe harbor seems irrelevant. I'm saying that we shouldn't post things like this.
- stickfigure 11y ago
  Then consider this a form of civil disobedience.

mikeash 11y ago

For all we know, the copyright holders gave the people at sciencemadness.org permission to distribute this PDF freely.

monochromatic 11y ago
That's a little convenient.
- mikeash 11y ago
  It's true, though, right? Where does our responsibility lie in determining whether something is legitimate or not? There are cases where it's obvious, and cases where it's not. What's the limit of due diligence for a casual reader?
  - monochromatic 11y ago
    There's no reason whatsoever to think it's legitimate. Whatever the limit of due diligence might be, this isn't even close.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      It's available and it hasn't been taken down, that's some indication it might be legitimate. I agree that it's unlikely. But it's possible, and certainly much more ambiguous than grabbing a torrent off some ad-laden site for a TV show you can buy on iTunes.