Standing Up To The Man

 Wendy Seltzer, a Brooklyn Law School professor by day and Electronic Frontier Foundation staff attorney by night has an interesting skirmish going with the NFL over a video clip she posted to her blog. The clip is of the NFL’s copyright message aired during the Super Bowl. Take-down notices, counter-notifications and the details of the DMCA are at play here.

Wii Love It

Looks who’s on top of the video game market for the month of February. Nintendo’s Wii console outsold all the others. Poor Sony and the mega-flop PS3 was in third place trailing the Xbox360. I have only played the Wii and it really is as fun as people say. I had a blast and it was a heck of a workout too.

Microsoft Says Pirate Us

In a rare moment of clarity, Microsoft business group president Jeff Rakes says he would rather people pirate software from Microsoft if they’re going to pirate at all.

“We understand that in the long run the fundamental asset is the installed base of people who are using our products,” Raikes said. “What you hope to do over time is convert them to licensing the software.”

You usually don’t find this kind of advanced thinking at Microsoft so it’s nice to see someone up there has their head on straight. Windows Genuine Advantage still sucks though.

New Internet Video Content From Michael Eisner

I love this. Former Disney head Michael Eisner has formed a new online video studio, Vuguru and will release a new online video series, Prom Queen on April 2nd. The series will be 80 episodes of 90 seconds each. The studio is also working on several other video projects for the future.

I have gotten sick of what’s on traditional media, including what’s available on tv, I welcome any new players creating fresh content for the net. Another great new online video series you should check out is Stranger Things. While Hollywood and the entertainment industry in general spend most of their time figuring out how not to get “ripped off” by the public, these new creative entrepreneurs are going to pass them right by.

Mitch Joel Explains Twitter

In fairness to Twitter and before I disparage it anymore, I signed up and am trying it out. It’s strange and interesting at Twitter Logothe same time. People talk about it being addictive and while I don’t feel that kind of pull myself, I can see aspects of what they’re talkng about. Mitch Joel recently wrote a fantastic post on Twitter. His title is the best description of what Twitter is that I have found.

Twitter Is To Blogging What Post-It Notes Are To Notebooks

If you want a good perspective on Twitter, it’s a must read. Mitch is a good read anyway.

Apple Gets Google Juice

New reports that Google and Apple will be working closer together in the coming years. Nobody knows what that exactly means yet, but probably good things for both companies. Interesting in the light of new rumors about a Google Phone. What with the future of Palm very much in doubt, someone needs to rise up and challenge Windows Mobile. It would be very cool to see a seamless mobile experience for Google Apps on a cell phone.

Wither Palm

It is sad to see the decline of Palm. They were once the hottest thing going, miles ahead of Microsoft, Apple and everyone else. What hapened? In the past few years they have been unable to innovate. Unable to update their signature Palm OS. How could you have that big a lead and through it all away? It’s not that Windows Mobile is such a fantastic mobile OS. But Microsoft has been greatly helped by some terrific hardware to run the OS. Now it looks as if Palm is loking for a buyer, but who? Nokia, Motorolla, and RIM have all staked out strong positions in the market and there doesn’t seem to be much strategic advantage to aquiring Palm. The hardware is big and bulky and the Palm OS is old and rickety. Maybe like an old horse somebody should take it out back and shoot it.

Twitter Ideas From CC Chapman

So there I was all ready to write a post about how I don’t get Twitter when I read a brilliant post by CC Chapman about practical uses for Twitter. I don’t buy all of them, but it’s a great train of thought. Some of CC’s ideas:

Politics and Celebrities : Interesting maybe, but I really don’t need to know where and what John Edwards or Tom Cruise is doing on a daily basis. I’m not much of a celebrity type though and I admit there are probably lots of people who would really get off on that. I very much doubt celebrities would be willing to participate, however. Politicians, on the other hand, would once they figure out all the attention they could gain.

Storytelling and Erotica : Storytelling is a vey intriging idea. As for erotica, well, sex sells, everywhere and in any form.

News and Sports : Seems like an obvious one, but how is it better than Google/Yahoo alerts?

Here are some more ideas I thought up myself after thinking about it.

Jokes : It would be cool to get random jokes sent during the day

Games : I can imagine some interesting games. Trivia or otherwise. Maybe an interactive game where you have 20min to get to a website and put in your answer. Maybe the first correct answer get a prize. Or a scavenger hunt game. Go take a picture of yourself in front of a 7-11, a government building, a school. Upload your pics to Flickr. Another game idea: Guess where I am. you get clues throughout the day as to where this person is and you enter your answers into a website or email them back.

I still dont completely get Twitter but CC, you’ve opened my eyes a litle. Thanks.

Do Advertisers Make Good TV Writers?

File this under bad ideas. Destined to fail. ABC will produce a TV series based on the caveman last seen in the Geico insurance company commercials.

“Cavemen” will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Too many ad men and marketing wonks in the same room, enamoured by the smell of their own poop. I don’t know how else to explain it. The series is written by Joe Lawson who is the advertising copywriter behind the caveman ads. I would rather see a late night talk show hosted by the Geico Gecko.

RIAA On “Fair Use” Act DMCA

As usual, the RIAA has its own opinion of the Fair Use Act modification of the DMCA. As expected, they don’t like it. So says the RIAA:

The DMCA has enabled consumers to enjoy creative works through popular new technologies

Yes, the good folks at the RIAA are making a better digital life for all of us. Thanks God for the RIAA and thank God for DRM!