Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Health Care reform

« on: July 21, 2009, 08:44:30 am »

Speaking of the Swiss, as well as some other countries, here is something that should possibly be considered in this Health Care reform:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/01/health/main4640667.shtml?tag=lowerContent;homeSectionBlock202

Government controlled drug centers where users can get a high quality daily dose of smack, without the crime that goes along with finding that same dose elsewhere. 

It could certainly lower drug-related crime and dirty needles as well as taking some power away from drug lords.  Hell, along with some other rehabilitation/therapy, it may even get a few users to make something of themselves, if they can focus on something other than their next hit.  With all those potential benefits, I would willingly give my tax dollars away.  Rather than waste it away on some never-ending "war on drugs".

17

General Discussion / Re: Star Trek

« on: May 15, 2009, 02:22:51 pm »

Yes, it was Voyager. It was called "Species 326(or some random number). They were central for one of the story arcs and their role in fighting the borg, etc. They could have done a lot more with them...

It was TNG.  http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Two-dimensional_lifeform

I haven't seen all of Voyager, but I believe the species you are thinking of came from a universe where space was a fluid rather than a vacuum...or something like that.  But I don't believe they were 2-D

18

General Discussion / Re: Star Trek

« on: May 14, 2009, 09:44:17 am »

...She looked pretty much human except for ...

Isn't that every Star Trek alien?

Um, not every alien in Star Trek is humanoid...Maybe all of the Federation is (idk Federation History or anything)...but I even recall an alien encounter that was 2-dimensional (I think it was a Voyager ep...might've been TNG though, I forget).

It was TNG.  The ship was trapped in the 2D creature and it was heading to one of those deadly, starship-crushing phenomena.

Any comments on Voyager, from anyone?  We are just starting the series and after finishing TNG and then DS9, none to sure that it could top either of those series.

19

Site Updates / Re: C&D: Director's Response

« on: May 14, 2009, 09:37:18 am »

One of the problems is that copyright, as of right now, is the only avenue.  It has a 'monopoly' on intellectual property and as with all monopolies, it is bad for the people.  I just had a philosophy course on Business Ethics (I would have surely used your post for the final exam, without permission no doubt, Daniel) and one of the topics near the end was IP.  There was a fellow who suggested an alternative to copyright, called the "artistic freedom voucher".  While the mechanics of the "AFV" may or may not be sound, the idea of an alternative solution to copyright is appealing.  It doesn't replace copyright but coexists with it.  The AFV would technically be funded by the government for those that apply for the program.  Artists who register give up copyright 'protection' in exchange for support from the program.  People indicate on their tax return who they would like to support (kind of like donations but not quite).  For the people who do not indicate any persons, their support would go to a general fund that would be dispersed evenly to all of those in the currently registered in the AFV program.  People can then freely create derivative works and other stuff that copyright limits.

I probably didn't do the article justice so I attached it for anyone interested.  ( hopefully not copyright infringement )  Not to keen on his wherever he got his numebrs from but...

Like I said, I'm not sure on the merits or mechanics of this AFV thing but I can agree that, most certainly, an alternative to copyright should be introduced.

20

Site Updates / Re: C&D: Director's Response

« on: May 13, 2009, 12:58:44 pm »

In 2003 that was revised to no longer apply to obsolete technology.

Alright lets look at that revision then...

"Computer programs and video games distributed in formats that have become obsolete and that require the original media or hardware as a condition of access, when circumvention is accomplished for the purpose of preservation or archival reproduction of published digital works by a library or archive."

So I still think TF is not safe, unless you were looking at something else.

21

Site Updates / Re: C&D: Directors' Response

« on: May 13, 2009, 08:35:24 am »

I am 99% sure that's total BS, I don't think CT has copyright protection.

Sec. 1201. Circumvention of copyright protection systems

    ``(a) Violations Regarding Circumvention of Technological
Measures.--

  (1)

    ``(A) No person shall circumvent a technological measure that
effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.  The
prohibition contained in the preceding sentence shall take effect at
the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of
this chapter.  <<NOTE: enacted October 28, 1998.>>

TF helps circumvents the technological measures that control access to the raw data of CT.  I'd say that TF is not all that safe and it is 99% non-BS.

22

General Discussion / Re: Star Trek

« on: May 12, 2009, 03:12:07 pm »

That DS9 episode wasn't very good, imo.  Just finished up the series in its entirety a few days ago.  So far DS9 > the rest.

As for this new movie, I don't plan on seeing it.  looks like another action movie...not what ST is about.   The trailers made me laugh and put me off completely, as well as most every review out there saying it is "amazing", when its just another blah action movie.

23

Site Updates / Re: Cease & Desist Letter

« on: May 12, 2009, 03:07:07 pm »

The address, phone number and fax are all located on google.  As well as the DCMA and copyright law.  But the comparison has already been mentioned numerous times.

24

Site Updates / Re: C&D: Directors' Response

« on: May 12, 2009, 03:05:41 pm »

Either way SE will be fine or better, but the CE team will get nothing other then a warm feeling in there gut because "they did the right thing and fought". As long as there is a risk of failure and no real reward for success why do it? 

There is not enough "Fighting for what is right" in these times.  It only seems to be for "real rewards" as you put it, aka financial gain.

25

Site Updates / Re: C&D: Directors' Response

« on: May 12, 2009, 02:23:15 pm »

Well there is a point though.  If you were to release a plain ol patch it would be similar to torrent files.  The actual .tor file is nothing and meaningless unless used with an appropriate program.

   (legal)       (possibly illegal)                (legal)
.tor file ---> actual file downloaded ---> via Bittorrent

   (legal?)             (possibly illegal)             (legal)
patch file ----> Chrono Trigger ROM ----> ZSNES

26

Site Updates / Re: Cease & Desist Letter

« on: May 12, 2009, 01:44:42 pm »

I don't believe they would apply, but then again I am not a copyright lawyer.

"S 506. Criminal Offenses.  (two sections after the fines and penalties)

Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed —
(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain; (no financial gain involved)

(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000; or  (since this is not competing with CT:DS sales, I would say N/A)

(C) by the distribution of a work being prepared for commercial distribution, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial distribution.
(commercial distribution?  no)"

Though you might be responsible for SE's costs and attorney's fees, at the courts descretion. (section 505)

27

Site Updates / Re: Cease & Desist Letter

« on: May 12, 2009, 01:25:52 pm »

if there wasn't a possible $150k involved, I might agree. but no. theres money.

While I could be wrong, it sounded like that was per instance (once for each property infringed upon). Legalese is never clear, but that letter was particularly so, it seemed. As such, it could be $450K, once for CT, once for CC, and once for RD. Or it could be more, if individual components are protected.

I believe it is 150k per each hack that is considered "one work", not each property.  So Prophet's Guile could be considered one and Crimson Echoes could be considered another or they could be both considered "one work", as in they are both hacks of CT, so they could be considered one work (compiliation) of hacking CT.

Everyone is focused on the maximum 150k, but the probability of that occurring is not very high.  The court decides the fine which in this case is between $750 and 150k, since it is considered willful.  If it was not mentioned that it was a willfull breach of copyright, the fine would have been between $200 and 30k.  A case could have easily been made that it was an unwillingly breached, considering SE's lack of action regarding Prophet's Guile.  

150k is a scare tactic.  This hack will not cost SE 150k.  Or it might indirectly if people are pissed enough not to buy SE products after this debacle.
The hack is based on the SNES version, not the DS one.  If people want the new content or a portable version of CT, they will get the DS version.  If people already have that or just want a new CT game...they can only go to one place since SE is seemingly not doing anything with the IP.  I suppose it is understandable if they have a new Chrono game in the pipes, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  CT:CE would have only bolstered suppost for the series, possibly even boosting CT:DS sales with desire to relive the original + new content.  Instead they chose aim and fire at their own feet.

28

Site Updates / Re: Cease & Desist Letter

« on: May 11, 2009, 03:27:05 pm »

Did you at least call the number on the bottom to verify its authenticity?   The letter shown is quite different than the previous C&D for CT:R.  Not to mention that the letter is supposedly written by the Square-Enix legal department when, at least from searching C&D letters on the net as well as working for a big company, much litigation is dealt with an 3rd party legal counsel.  Even doing a reverse look up on the phone number provided shows that the "manager of legal affairs" is not located at the address on the C&D letter.

29

Site Updates / Re: Vote for Chrono Trigger

« on: April 24, 2009, 08:33:51 am »

My prediction: Cross will lose to all 3 competitors.

30

General Discussion / Re: The @#@#$ cyber space frustration thread!

« on: April 24, 2009, 08:23:41 am »

my thread got removed.
I don't know Y.

I feel a compulsion to merge these into the big Frustration Thread, which is all-encompassing in its frustrating awesomeness.

all-encompassing = all frustrations...social, computer or otherwise