Time Warner Cable Threatens Pirates With Account Termination

Derangel said:
I love how people like to paint the past as if it was this magical perfect place. I remember when a handful of games each year got demos. You know what else I remember? Having to BUY magazines in order to play those demos because the internet was barely a thing. I also remember having to buy those same magazines in order to get patches for games. The time between a ton of demos being easily available for everyone online and the time where demos stopped was less than ten years. Even then, it wasn't every single game like people seem to remember it being. With Steam and Origin having good refund policies these days it's not really as important to have demos. It's not hard to play the first 30-45mins of a game to find out if you'll like how it plays, looks, performs, etc and go from there. If a game isn't worth buying at any price I don't see how it's worth playing either.
Click to expand...

You just refuted your own suggestion. If you can easily get a refund from Steam/Origin, then how's that any different than downloading a game? No sales given.
 
DrLobotomy said:
Classism, eliteism, or separationism. I picked racism. I guess I could have picked one of the others for the same effect. But that just didn't seem as [H]ard.
Click to expand...

It's none of the above. It's paying for something that people made and released at a specific price. Not wanting to pay that price does not give you the right to be selfish and acquire it anyway.
 
Streiw said:
You just refuted your own suggestion. If you can easily get a refund from Steam/Origin, then how's that any different than downloading a game? No sales given.
Click to expand...

And you just proved you are only pirating because you can can. Purely selfish motivations, no grand meaning or valid excuse behind it. The goal post just keeps being pushed back. The excuse was that there are no demos anymore. Steam and Origin provided a viable workaround for that problem. So the goal post moves further back to continue the bullshit justification.
 
lcpiper said:
That what?

just because ISPs are not required to turn over user information to outfits like Rightscorp does not absolve them of the legal requirements to comply with the DMCA and cut off repeat copyright infringers.
Click to expand...

You're really twisting things up. Before BMG vs Cox, ISPs thought they had to release client info. After their appeal, it was ruled that they don't have to release client info, ie. ip address does not equal valid identification. End of story.

The judgement was reaffirmed because Cox was enabling piracy by enabling the repeat offenders, and playing tag with DMCA takedowns. Cox handled shit wrong obviously. However, now that the ruling that ISPs don't have to release client info, none of what you spout matters lol.
 
Derangel said:
And you just proved you are only pirating because you can can. Purely selfish motivations, no grand meaning or valid excuse behind it. The goal post just keeps being pushed back. The excuse was that there are no demos anymore. Steam and Origin provided a viable workaround for that problem. So the goal post moves further back to continue the bullshit justification.
Click to expand...

I don't need to justify anything to you, really. I spend money on games that warrant a purchase. I'd rather download a game, try it, and then buy it if I like it -- rather than buy a game, hate it, and have the refund possibly denied. (See Sony's response to NMS refunds)
 
DrLobotomy said:
It isn't piracy until you re-sell it. Don't really care what some group of people have decided is in my best interest.

Pretending a certain order of bits means more than another order of bits is bit-based racism and it is wrong.
Click to expand...

You should read this more carefully.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.
Click to expand...

That being said, fair use is fair use. But copyright infringement is what it is, and monetary gain doesn't play into it.
 
Streiw said:
I don't need to justify anything to you, really. I spend money on games that warrant a purchase. I'd rather download a game, try it, and then buy it if I like it -- rather than buy a game, hate it, and have the refund possibly denied. (See Sony's response to NMS refunds)
Click to expand...

Over the past decade I've regretted maybe five games I've bought. That accounts for several hundred games in that time. I simply don't understand that excuse from people. If you know yourself well enough and watch a game off and on you will almost never buy something you don't like. Every time I play a game, whether I like it or not, I ask myself "why?" and use that information to inform future purchases. I've done this for the past 14-15 years. By now I have an incredibly clear understanding of my own tastes and am rarely surprised by my reaction to a game. The rare times where I'm not sure how I'll feel about a game I'll simply wait and see how it turns out, looking at other people's reactions and watching videos.
 
thesmokingman said:
You're really twisting things up. Before BMG vs Cox, ISPs thought they had to release client info. After their appeal, it was ruled that they don't have to release client info, ie. ip address does not equal valid identification. End of story.

The judgement was reaffirmed because Cox was enabling piracy by enabling the repeat offenders, and playing tag with DMCA takedowns. Cox handled shit wrong obviously. However, now that the ruling that ISPs don't have to release client info, none of what you spout matters lol.
Click to expand...

I must apologize in one way. I can't get to that blog site you linked, it's blocked by the government here. But it still has no bearing on what I have stated even if you feel it's become immaterial or a moot point.

And is it really what I am "spouting" or is it what I quoted and linked from other spouters?


>/Spout enable/

Do you really think that the companies like RightsCorp are now neutered and no longer able to require the ISPs to divulge customer data for infringes? It only means the information will have to be subpoenaed in court. Companies have been sueing each other for a long time now and they have been forced to give up information before and they will have to do so in the future. It's true that this is going to make it more ddifficult for RightsCorp to play their bullshit and they will have to do it the hard way from now on. But at the same time, any ISP that ignores what has come out of the courts lately will be taking big chances.

>/Spout disable/
 
Derangel said:
Over the past decade I've regretted maybe five games I've bought. That accounts for several hundred games in that time. I simply don't understand that excuse from people. If you know yourself well enough and watch a game off and on you will almost never buy something you don't like. Every time I play a game, whether I like it or not, I ask myself "why?" and use that information to inform future purchases. I've done this for the past 14-15 years. By now I have an incredibly clear understanding of my own tastes and am rarely surprised by my reaction to a game. The rare times where I'm not sure how I'll feel about a game I'll simply wait and see how it turns out, looking at other people's reactions and watching videos.
Click to expand...

You see, you're assuming that when I download a game and dislike it, that I continue to play it; You're wrong. If I dislike a game that I download, I uninstall it just as quickly as it took to download it. Am I a misnomer in the title of 'pirate'? Sure. But I understand the amount of time and resources that people put into software development. I will, without a doubt, buy a game that I like if I played it via piracy first. Again, I'm not looking for you to edify my purchasing decision. I just hate how people try to make everything good vs evil when it comes to downloading something. Case in point: I downloaded some Game of Thrones episodes before and received DMCA notices via my ISP. The kicker? I'm a HBO subscriber.
 
Greedy control freaks just trying to have the rules always go their way.

And then people follow like sheep. Moo.
 
Shotglass01 said:
Well then I stand corrected. Thanks for the fact check.



Yea, but movie or music does require physical things to create. My issue is the copy. Once the information can be copied then the model changes. Yep, aware of the law is the way the law is. But, they're trying to keep it back in 1990. They're stifling innovation, censoring speech, and generally making it a massive pain for paying customers. They're impacting, negatively, other bushiness (ISP's, Google). Nobody asks Cox to go monitor Circle-K to make sure nothing is stolen from the shelves.
Click to expand...

I do see where you are going and this case with the women and the video of her kid is classic. Universal was wrong and she won that first case. Now she is suing them back and I agree with her, they should have known that it was fair use and frankly a bullshit move on their part and they should pay all her costs and some more just for being ass hats. But the other shoe is on the other foot as well and people need to stop pirating content and that includes downloading torrents of pirated content and there is no excuse for it.
 
That's the point you and I differ on. When we've got something as destructive and awesome as the internet created, business models should (and need) to change. It's already happening ever so, so, slowly. I find it fascinating that I can go see a movie for $10+ bucks then turn around and be charged another 10+ to 20+ bucks for a DVD or Bluray of the same movie. All that has changed is the media in which I watch it. Modern day fail. If I can produce a receipt of my movie ticket, I should be charged 1 buck for a DVD and 2 bucks for a Bluray on release.
 
Streiw said:
You see, you're assuming that when I download a game and dislike it, that I continue to play it; You're wrong. If I dislike a game that I download, I uninstall it just as quickly as it took to download it. Am I a misnomer in the title of 'pirate'? Sure. But I understand the amount of time and resources that people put into software development. I will, without a doubt, buy a game that I like if I played it via piracy first. Again, I'm not looking for you to edify my purchasing decision. I just hate how people try to make everything good vs evil when it comes to downloading something. Case in point: I downloaded some Game of Thrones episodes before and received DMCA notices via my ISP. The kicker? I'm a HBO subscriber.
Click to expand...

I'm not making a good vs evil judgement, at least not intentionally. I'd never say someone is a bad person because they pirate a game or whatever. I don't even think it's wrong in every situation.
 
azuza001 said:
Works for me. Haven't pirated a movie or game from the net in years, the older I get the less time I have to Hassel with that kind of crap. Just easier to be legit with steam.
Click to expand...

All depends on your knowledge and connection speed.

I don't torrent much these days but I bet you I can download that torrent before you are even done typing in your credit card info into steam.

Its really only a hassle for novice users, for me if I do its to try before I buy.

Its the only way to protect yourself from lemons, I don't get my money back if your game blows goats, you get to keep my money while I'm stuck with disappointment.
 
Last edited:
Makaveli@BETA said:
All depends on your knowledge and connection speed.

I don't torrent much these days but I bet you I can download that torrent before you are even done typing in your credit card info into steam.

It really only a Hassel for novice users.

And for me if I do its to try before I buy.

Its the only way to protect yourself from lemons, i don't get my money back if your game blow goats, you get to keep my money while I'm stuck with disappointment.
Click to expand...
I can and do understand that. The days of the demo that actually meant anything has passed. But since my net connection blows I have ended up relying on steam sales and such months after a game comes out. By then if it does suck I am already fully aware. It's sad too, there are many games I would buy but for the large net download. So I wait, get it on Steam or gog when it's cheap, maybe a humble bundle, and then download it at work on my laptop to transfer to my pc once done. It takes weeks to get a huge game but it works. And it gives me time to actually finish a game lol
 
Derangel said:
Over the past decade I've regretted maybe five games I've bought. That accounts for several hundred games in that time. I simply don't understand that excuse from people. If you know yourself well enough and watch a game off and on you will almost never buy something you don't like. Every time I play a game, whether I like it or not, I ask myself "why?" and use that information to inform future purchases. I've done this for the past 14-15 years. By now I have an incredibly clear understanding of my own tastes and am rarely surprised by my reaction to a game. The rare times where I'm not sure how I'll feel about a game I'll simply wait and see how it turns out, looking at other people's reactions and watching videos.
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat. I don't understand how people can repeatedly purchase "lemons" or bad games. At what point do you stop being a dumb ass with your purchases? Like you I can think of maybe 4 games I regret buying. Like you I have just used that experience to make better choices. It isn't that hard to wait if you aren't 100% sure about a game and read up about it some and watch some lets plays or whatever after the game comes out. Like you said all you have to do is understand your taste, with that you can look at information out there and know if you would like that game or not. Although part of it is also not trying to look for every minor glitch or issue to bitch about it either. I think a lot of people just go into everything wanting to hate it or wanting to be pissed off and try their hardest to validate their pissiness. If a game crashes on me every time I close out of it. yeah, that is annoying, but not the end of the world. If the game has a texture tear every few hours of game play or a NPC in the game glitches out a tad bit in a way that isn't game effecting once not that big of a deal.
 
Shotglass01 said:
That's the point you and I differ on. When we've got something as destructive and awesome as the internet created, business models should (and need) to change. It's already happening ever so, so, slowly. I find it fascinating that I can go see a movie for $10+ bucks then turn around and be charged another 10+ to 20+ bucks for a DVD or Bluray of the same movie. All that has changed is the media in which I watch it. Modern day fail. If I can produce a receipt of my movie ticket, I should be charged 1 buck for a DVD and 2 bucks for a Bluray on release.
Click to expand...

Meh, I can see maybe a 10% - 20% discount but when it comes to the theater the argument is you're paying half that price for the experience. arguably they could say you're not paying for the movie at all.... only the experience. the theater already paid for those movies in full. but that isn't a bad idea what you've said.
 
Shotglass01 said:
That's the point you and I differ on. When we've got something as destructive and awesome as the internet created, business models should (and need) to change. It's already happening ever so, so, slowly. I find it fascinating that I can go see a movie for $10+ bucks then turn around and be charged another 10+ to 20+ bucks for a DVD or Bluray of the same movie. All that has changed is the media in which I watch it. Modern day fail. If I can produce a receipt of my movie ticket, I should be charged 1 buck for a DVD and 2 bucks for a Bluray on release.
Click to expand...


If you reverse that does it still wash out?

You buy the BluRay for $25 from Best Buy and then walk to the theater and show them your receipt should the theater have to allow you to come in and watch the movie on their big screen for nothing? The theater isn't really out anything unless of course it's packed and a paying customer can't sit in the seat your in.

The Theater is not Best Buy and the reverse is just as true. Each has their own business model and they are not linked to each other even though they compete to some degree. I pay for Amazon Prime and they have so many movies, should I be able to go fill my shopping card with disks for almost nothing?

I don't think it can work the way you suggest.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miah
like this
No, I wouldn't think so. You're going to the theater for the experience, it costs big bucks and manpower to create theater structure, and it costs payroll to run said structure. You may even go crazy and spend big bucks to eat or drink something at the theater. But, it costs almost nothing, nowadays, to create a Blu or DVD. I think the Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc, is a better business model. It's a pay per library not a pay per view. That's where movies and TV shows really need to move. They need to do it sooner. Instead, they want to bitch and moan about pirates. And let's move the discussion ahead. Cutting off internet access wins. Say, full on, 150 million people are cut off because of their piracy ways. How the hell does that work? It's just a wrong model altogether.
 
Shotglass01 said:
No, I wouldn't think so. You're going to the theater for the experience, it costs big bucks and manpower to create theater structure, and it costs payroll to run said structure. You may even go crazy and spend big bucks to eat or drink something at the theater. But, it costs almost nothing, nowadays, to create a Blu or DVD. I think the Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc, is a better business model. It's a pay per library not a pay per view. That's where movies and TV shows really need to move. They need to do it sooner. Instead, they want to bitch and moan about pirates. And let's move the discussion ahead. Cutting off internet access wins. Say, full on, 150 million people are cut off because of their piracy ways. How the hell does that work? It's just a wrong model altogether.
Click to expand...

But back in like 1975 or so HBO was really new. In many ways it was the new model. Pay a subscription and get all kinds of new movies without stupid tape drives. But it didn't get rid of the theaters. I don't remember if anyone was predicting the end of the theaters then, but I would be surprised if they were. I was only 15 at that time but I do remember that for a kid from the country, visiting my dad's friend's house and seeing his HBO on Cable TV was an event. I saw Monty Python's Holy Grail and DeathRace 2000 that day. I didn't know such movies existed.

The problem I have is that I am not sold on the idea that any of these distribution models are broken. I do think Theaters are in trouble as a model. And cable subscriptions are not far behind. I am pretty happy overall with internet subscription models like HBO Live and Netflix or even individual movie orders through Youtube.

I think I would be much bigger on my own NAS and digitally stored content at home if I weren't too lazy to set it all up and convert/rip the disks, which I find is a truly wasteful use of my time. I don't even want to download a torrent, I just want to click the link and watch my show ...... with my snacks and my beer.

I don't even want the wife at home.

Anyone want to kick the tires, She's till got some good years left.
 
Wyodiver said:
Is she good at anything?
Click to expand...

Yes, She earned a Gold Medal in the last Winter Olympics in the Couples' Honey-Do list competition.

But she's really hard on the ears. If she isn't yelling into them then she's tugging on'em.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top