A patent troll firm suing manufacturers AND RETAILERS

Yep. Best Buy and Circuit City are included in the suit for selling violating products.

I really hate the concept of companies that buy patents for the sole purpose of suing people in violation. They have absolutely nothing except attorneys: they don't make things, they don't research new things, they don't invent, they don't contribute, all they do is litigate.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/11/everyone-even-r.html

Darth Vader In Love

Great video, I'm going to have to check out more of this guy's show. Apparently it's a BBC thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NdSL2NUoWk

Some good P2P and RIAA news for a change!

The Canadian government comissioned a study of P2P users and found that they bought more music CDs than the rest of the population. I'm sure the RIAA will be happy to totally ignore it.

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2347/125/


And the University of Oregon has "...filed a motion to quash the RIAA's subpoena for information on student identities in what is believed to be the first such motion made by a university with support from the state Attorney General. The motion (pdf) explains that it is impossible to identify the alleged infringers from the information the RIAA has presented: 'Five of the seventeen John Does accessed the content in question from double occupancy dorm rooms at the University. With regard to these Does, the University is able to identify only the room where the content was accessed and whether or not the computer used was a Macintosh or a PC ... The University cannot determine whether the content in question accessed by one occupant as opposed to another, or whether it was accessed instead by a visitor.' The AG's motion further argues (pdf) that "Plaintiffs' subpoena is unduly burdensome and overbroad. It seeks information that the University does not readily possess. In order to attempt to comply with the subpoena, the University would be forced to undertake an investigation to create discovery for Plaintiffs — an obligation not imposed by Rule 45. As the University is unable to identify the alleged infringers with any accuracy, it cannot comply with its federal obligation to notify students potentially affected by the subpoena."

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/02/1317240

Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku creating a new series for Fox

Fox has already bought seven episodes. The concept is interesting, but I don't see how you could do more than 2-3 seasons of it.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975136.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/02/216218

Terry Pratchett has a stroke?!

Fortunately a minor one and not terribly problematic, but it puts him at greatly increased risk of a serious one. And he has a new book out.

Thanks for the news, Weirdo!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=490576&in_page_id=1774

(no subject)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Amy Matrix (not too bad)

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Vanilla OC3N (it's a cookie that I made but haven't baked any in a long time)

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
D-Wes

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
pass

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Wayne Phoenix (and if that ain't lame, I don't know what is)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Wesdo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, first tool that comes to mind, put “The” at the beginning)
The Blue Screwdriver! Torquing off crime!

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Robert Earl

9. STRIPPER NAME : (favorite candy, the name of your favorite perfume/cologne)
Tootsie Pop Old Spice

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Donald Katherine

11.NAME YOU CHECK INTO A MOTEL UNDER IN THE COMPANY OF A YOUNG WOMAN/MAN THAT YOU ARE NOT MARRIED TO, BUT PLANNING TO HAVE SEX WITH IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE OPPRESSIVE MORALITIES YOU WERE RAISED UNDER. (middle and confirmation name)
Ummm, not Catholic, and I don't think there's a Saint Wayne, but I could be wrong)