Comments on: Grokster Decision, Gross Over Reaction

By: Om Malik’s Broadband Blog » Larry Lessig is Off Target

Om Malik’s Broadband Blog » Larry Lessig is Off Target — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 22:16:37 +0000

[...] ig tells Business Week Online about the far reaching impact of the MGM vs Grokster ruling. I personally feel that the decision is actually a good thing – it sets a very [...]

By: Tech Beat

Tech Beat — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 18:45:07 +0000

Keeping with the Grokster Theme

How VCs may react post Grokster.

By: One Degree

One Degree — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:59:13 +0000

Links for June 28, 2005

Here are your pre-filtered online marketing links for June 28, 2005...

By: abhijit

abhijit — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:19:31 +0000

Oops Charlie, I forgot about Thoreau altogether! Haven’t read anything besides ‘Walden’ – he’s the original disobedient. I guess I showed my ignorance there! Give me a couple of decades to catch up!

By: Capn Design

Capn Design — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 04:51:46 +0000

Chill Out About Grokster

Yes, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Grokster, but it's not as bad as you think. Many are stoking a fire, claiming that the justices are shooting the messanger, but that's not exactly true. Here's a quote from the Reuters...

By: Charlie Sierra

Charlie Sierra — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 02:25:36 +0000

abhiji,

Dude, you completely misunderstand the "disobedience" reference.

A couple of quick points: 1) Every american familiar with MLK knows that he co-opted Ghandi's non-violence movement.

2) The reference is uniquely American in nature. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with two heavyweights of american history, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and his onetime appentice, Henry David Thoreau.

Please read HDT's essay "Civil Disobedience" (~1850).

The point of the ruling is that there is a line between moral "civil disobedience" and outright criminal objectives.

Nevertheless, Consumers are still in the drivers seat because we can vote where it really counts, the cash register!!!

By: abhijit

abhijit — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 00:59:11 +0000

Very nice article, Om. Especially the phrase ‘Digital Disobediance’! I don’t think many other people besides Indians will get the connection with Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement. Sometimes I wonder how much wisdom of past years we can use in the 21st century. I remember one of his quotes - “What is morally wrong, can never be politically right” That, of course, has to be remembered by both the users as well as record company executives!

By: Charlie Sierra

Charlie Sierra — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 00:58:35 +0000

Bingo!!!

Om, you've nailed it again.

The only other thing I might add is that all the ruling does is to ALLOW a lawsuit. Winning in court is another thing altogether.

Basically all the court did is say you can't abuse the Betamax ruling, BFD. Anything taken to the extreme is troublesome.

The really big question is just how does the RIAA plan to take our houses in the name of the "greater public good". vbg, sorry couldn't resist.