Re: Paying for bandwidth

From: Jim Reardon <jim_at_amusive.com>
Date: Tue 30 Apr 2002 12:21:50 -0600

At 03:04 PM 4/29/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>There is also the "spyware" that is being attached to
>software. Some of them actually monitor websites you visit and if it
>finds a keyword, triggers advertising. The worst ones don't warn you
>that they are being installed. It is those types of ad campains that
>might...MIGHT.... bring lawsuits.

I didn't mention in my first post, and shortly after it regretted, that
what I meant only applied to legit marketers. Scumware, spyware, spam,
predatory popups and the such could, even without metered bandwidth, be
subject to lawsuits (and I do hope they are, they only hurt the business of
legit marketers beyond the obvious abuses).

>I have a question... Where do the rights of the advertiser end and mine
>begin. You insinuated that my running ad-blocking software was theft,
>is it not the same thing as my turning off the sound during TV Comertials?

This is a debate that will never end, so without going into too much depth
on my side (and hopefully not drawing the whole list into a blocking ads
debate), I feel that software which modifies a page so that ads do not
display are modifying a copyright work. I'm not a lawyer, I don't know how
the law works in this respect, but the ads that people block are what pays
for the content -- by blocking them you are not paying your way. The only
thing ad blockers will do is destroy free content, and it's already
happening. (Note I'm not saying they're the only thing, certainly the ad
industry is having problems as well).

I also wondered that if a site offers ad-free service at a fee, does
blocking ads and, in essence, getting this paid service free, constitute
stealing? This is a bit different than someone just ignoring ads, it's
stealing a paid service.

As for the television comparison, I don't feel it's very valid as they are
completely different mediums. Even still, though, you can't "erase" the
ads -- you can block the sound, but they are still there. Some technology
is trying to completely remove television ads -- there is an upcoming
lawsuit against SonicBlue. Their ReplayTV unit can detect the tell-tale
increase in sound accompanying a commercial break and will automatically
remove commercials from taped programs. It will be an interesting case.

--
  Jim Reardon <jim_at_amusive.com>
  what do you want for free? http://www.freecenter.com/
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Received on Tue Apr 30 2002 - 13:21:50 CDT