08.23.2012]blodic.us

TechDirt|blodic.us

Germany's Spies Have NSA Envy: Currently Working To Build Their Own Comprehensive Snooping System

One unfortunate knock-on effect of the revelations about the extent of NSA information gathering seems to be that the spies in other countries are starting to feel under-informed by comparison.

Microsoft Capitulates, Removes Online DRM From Xbox One

So, remember when the Xbox One release confused the hell out of everyone and then Microsoft confirmed a bunch of hated, needless restrictions on used games and internet connection requirements? Then there was that whole thing at E3 where the crux of Sony's presentation was, "Hey, at least we're not

Supreme Court Says Patent Abuse Can Violate Antitrust Laws

We've been writing about the crazy world of pay for delay agreements by big pharmaceutical companies for years now. The short version of it is that big pharmaceutical companies pay off small generic pharma companies to prevent them from offering generic drugs.

DailyDirt: Air Hockey Robots

There is a decreasing number of games that humans can play against computers and still win. Most of us would lose at chess. If Ken Jennings can't win Jeopardy! against a computer, the rest of us likely have limited chances. People probably shouldn't play poker with real money against AI.

More Details Emerge As States' Attorneys General Seek To Hold Back Innovation On The Internet

We already wrote about how various states' attorneys general (AGs) are seeking to get Congress to give them an exception to Section 230 of the CDA, which would let them pin liability on internet companies for the actions of their users. Now, more details are coming out, as reported in TechHive.

LeaseWeb Deletes Megaupload's Servers Without Warning, Destroying Key Evidence

Last year, we found it absolutely bizarre that the DOJ would seize all of Megaupload's servers, and then, just weeks later, tell its hosting partners that they could wipe those servers clean.

New Orleans Cops Caught Filling Their Pockets With Red Light Camera Cash

Red light cameras have proven popular in certain communities (mainly the "law enforcement community"). They're a rather painless way to generate cash, both for the city itself and for the private contractors chosen to install and maintain the system.

FBI Admits To Using Drones To Spy On Americans

Most people in the US still associate government use of drones with far away places. But they might want to start paying more attention to what's happening over their own heads. The FBI has now admitted that it uses drones for surveillance purposes domestically.

Hollywood's New Talking Point: Gatekeepers Are Awesome

We've argued for years, that there are different kinds of middlemen involved in making markets. Some are efficient, leading to better reach, easier access, and more convenient transactions, while some are inefficient, blocking access, keeping prices inflated, and generally limiting a market.

The Next Time Someone Says Twitter Is Killing Deep Thinking With Short Quick Messages, Show Them This

It seems like we keep hearing people insist that the internet, and things like Twitter and Google, are making us dumber because we're no longer really delving into anything with any depth, but rather just finding and spreading short snippets of text.