Category Archives: heroes

I have just finished reading the opinion by Judge Wilson dismissing MGM’s suit against Grokster and Streamcast. The opinion is testimony to great lawyering. The key to the decision is the difference between the architecture of Napster and the architecture of Morpheus. To get a judge to understand that completely takes an extraordinary skill. This was not a case I worked on at all, so I am free to say this: EFF deserves a great deal of credit in this case. As Kapor said at its founding, “Architecture is politics.” Now it is also law. Continue reading →

A while ago I reported the wonderfully radical testimony of Jack Valenti against the removal of the FIN-SYN rules. I have not been able to find the testimony online. Here’s a large pdf of a scan of the relevant section from the GPO’s reports. Continue reading →

Today, Les Vadasz will announce his retirement from Intel, effective June 1. We owe this extraordinary man a great deal.

Vadasz was a founding member of Intel in 1968. He has been a founding member of the small but growing (and exceptionally important) group of IT executives who understand the threat to innovation that this current “war” (the copyright war) presents.

Vadasz became famous to the public when he had the temerity to standup to Senator Hollings’ abuse. But his real work has not been in the public’s eye. It has been the person to person campaign that he has been waging in the valley, waking these good folks up to policy questions that they wish would just go away.

They won’t go away. Nor do I expect that Vadasz will. Instead, his work � from helping to build a company like Intel, to helping to remind Democrats and the world of the importance of free speech and consumer rights to innovation and growth � will remain: as a challenge to us, and an example to others.

Mr. Vadasz, thank you. (Path to email link here). Continue reading →

In a second, important defeat for the RIAA, and DMCA-defender types, Johansen was acquitted by a Norwegian court. And as the EFF is nicely publicizing, the principles on which this court in Norway decided the case might be familiar to those who remember our own constitutional tradition. As the chief judge said in reading the verdict, “no one could be convicted of breaking into their own property” and “consumers have rights to legally obtained DVD films ‘even if the films are played in a different way than the makers had foreseen.” The freedom to tinker in Norway is real. So too should it be so here. Continue reading →

This is a great story of a citizen standing up for his rights against petty fascism. Didn’t hurt that he’s an amazing and famous comedian. Don’t try this without being famous. Continue reading →

I’ve been a subscriber to POBOX.COM for many years now. It has solved many email headaches and is a great service that deserves some pro bono praise. So click more for the praise (and obviously, I’ve got no financial connection (except my annual bill) to this great company at all). Continue reading →

So I’ve been telling this story about the birth of Mickey Mouse for some time now. See, e.g., my OSCON speech. The story goes like this: Walt Disney was a great creator in the tradition of great creativity: his creativity was to rip, mix, and burn popular culture. Even Mickey Mouse, who was born as Steamboat Willie (released in 1928), was a rip, mix, and burn take-off on Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill (released in 1928).

But I hadn’t realized just how true that was until I opened my very cool set of Disney “Treasures”�a special DVD release of the early Black and White Mickey Mouse films that Disney is now selling (comes in a cool tin case, with a serial number pressed into the tin). The DVD is a great collection of the early cartoons, with some “bonus” features including the script for Steamboat Willie. Here’s a screen shot of the first page of the script. Notice the direction from Walt: “Orchestra starts playing opening verses of ‘Steamboat Bill.'” Try doing a cartoon take-off of one of Disney, Inc.’s latest films with an opening that copies the music, and see how far your Walt Empire gets. Continue reading →

Time’s choice of three who spoke truth is a welcome bit of wonderful news in this not so great year. How strongly the world yearns for those who have the courage to say what is right�straight, truthful talk. If only those who led understood this yearning. Continue reading →

As many are reporting, Marriott now promises Wi-Fi. No word on price. But I’ve got a word for the idea: Magic. seesupra. Continue reading →

Stanford’s recent stand in favor of knowledge is wonderful. The criticism needs to be matched by strong support. I, for one, a recent transplant to paradise, am proud of my University. Continue reading →