5 ms·

I think this is the best thing that could happen iff a group of lawyers backs up the professors all the way up to the Supreme Court. And of course, they win.

I think this is the best thing that could happen iff a group of lawyers backs up the professors all the way up to the Supreme Court. And of course, they win. I don't think any career politician will ever reverse course on the DMCA. They don't fully understand the implications and they don't want to alienate their campaign donors. Instead, we as a community will have to chip, piece by piece away at the vagrancies of a law which should never have existed in the first place.

jorgem 16y ago
It's unfortunate, though, that a few people's lives (the researchers) will be miserable and stressful for the next few years -- just to protect our right to free speech. The researchers deserve kudos for standing up to the bully, but it won't be a fun experience.
- dantheman 16y ago
  One thing, I might do if I ever make crazy dotcom money is create a fund to help/reward people who make stand like this. Even if all I can do is provide them with a nice vacation every year, or hire an assistant to keep it from significantly impacting their day to day life I think it would be a great help.
  - Joakal 16y ago
    Wouldn't the long-term be better if the fund went towards lobbying for better laws? Curing the symptoms, not the disease as the saying goes.
    - dantheman 16y ago
      Agreed, but there are already funds/organizations that do that. I don't know of any that help the people who put their lives on hold while they go through these massive court cases.
    - reemrevnivek 16y ago
      Lobbying is almost entirely a question of who has the most money. In this case, it's a .com startup vs. Sony. To follow the analogy, we want to build up an immunity to the disease.
  - eru 16y ago
    Or just give money to the UCLA or EFF (or whatever charity is appropriate) to help them fight the legal battle in the first place.
    - jrockway 16y ago
      It's ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union. UCLA is the University of California in LA.
      - eru 16y ago
        Yes. My excuse is that I'm not American.
mukyu 16y ago
What professors? The only one I know of that is involved is Dave Touretzky, who has only posted a copy of the other's work after they were sued. I do not think they have taken any action against him.

jorgem 16y ago

It's unfortunate, though, that a few people's lives (the researchers) will be miserable and stressful for the next few years -- just to protect our right to free speech. The researchers deserve kudos for standing up to the bully, but it won't be a fun experience.

dantheman 16y ago
One thing, I might do if I ever make crazy dotcom money is create a fund to help/reward people who make stand like this. Even if all I can do is provide them with a nice vacation every year, or hire an assistant to keep it from significantly impacting their day to day life I think it would be a great help.
- Joakal 16y ago
  Wouldn't the long-term be better if the fund went towards lobbying for better laws? Curing the symptoms, not the disease as the saying goes.
  - dantheman 16y ago
    Agreed, but there are already funds/organizations that do that. I don't know of any that help the people who put their lives on hold while they go through these massive court cases.
  - reemrevnivek 16y ago
    Lobbying is almost entirely a question of who has the most money. In this case, it's a .com startup vs. Sony. To follow the analogy, we want to build up an immunity to the disease.
- eru 16y ago
  Or just give money to the UCLA or EFF (or whatever charity is appropriate) to help them fight the legal battle in the first place.
  - jrockway 16y ago
    It's ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union. UCLA is the University of California in LA.
    - eru 16y ago
      Yes. My excuse is that I'm not American.

mukyu 16y ago

What professors? The only one I know of that is involved is Dave Touretzky, who has only posted a copy of the other's work after they were sued. I do not think they have taken any action against him.