3 ms·
> you are foolish to assert that they are infringing based on on a few select quotes I only included a few quotes for reference. My argument is based on my stu
by pdkl95 9y ago
> you are foolish to assert that they are infringing based on on a few select quotes
I only included a few quotes for reference. My argument is based on my study of copyright law over the last ~25 years.
> browser caches part of a web page to disk
Obviously not a derivative work as the HTML file is not changed. Also, this is a fair use that doesn't publish additional copies (and thus doesn't impact the market for the original work).
> a user runs an script to change the layout of a page
First Sale doctrine states that the publisher's rights do not extend to how someone uses their (legitimately acquired) copy.
> there is no clear precedent for either
The only part that is at all unclear are the few cases that ruled on the temporary, ephemeral copies that a computer makes during normal use. These cases all resulted in different rulings, but the most recent of which (which may only have limited precedent) came to what should be the obvious conclusion that technically necessary temporary copies were a fair use.
None of this, however, is relevant to Comcast making new derivative works based other people's HTML files without a license and providing a copy of those derivative works to their customers. Providing unauthorized edited copies to 3rd parties has never been argued to be a fair use. ]
- nkurz 9y agoProviding unauthorized edited copies to 3rd parties has never been argued to be a fair use. Well, it's definitely been argued, although you are right that eventually the court decided that it was not fair use to distribute "family friendly" version of movies. Perhaps counterintuitively, despite ruling strongly against CleanFlicks, the judge ruled that the because the changes were based only on redaction, the edited version was not to be considered a derivative work! https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2006/07/10/cleanflicks-ruled-infringer/ https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2006/07/10/cleanflicks-ruled-i... The Family Movie Act of 2005 further codified this right to redact, using the argument that if the edited version was only used for a "private home viewing", it did not violate the right of distribution: https://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat061704.html https://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat061704.html. None of this, however, is relevant to Comcast making new derivative works based other people's HTML files without a license and providing a copy of those derivative works to their customers. Would a similar argument as to single viewer experience work in Comcast's case? I don't know, but in the absence of settled case law, I wouldn't bet against Comcast's lawyers getting a court to give the answer they want. But maybe I can make it an easier question: Based on what they've done so far, what are the chances that Comcast will be sued for copyright infringement and lose? I don't have a lot of money to bet, but I think the chances are low that successful lawsuit against Comcast will be brought for what they've done. Do you think otherwise?