Deutsche Bank AG (DB)

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  • commenter
    GeorgeR
    Jul 03 02:55 PM
    My Website
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    Ding dong ... the witch is dead!

    ... or at least she is starting to melt!

    Wow ... I would say this is very good news to the entire copyright industry. While potentially inconvenient to YouTube viewers, and understanding the importance of privacy protection in the complex world of the Internet these days, this decision by the judge in the Viacom v. Google/YouTube case may be the best thing that has happened to the copyright industries in this country, and to our overall economy, in practically a decade.

    I have been following this case, and others like it, now for several years. I, for one, am sick and tired of the Google's of the world blaming their own customers for all of the infringing activity that occurs day in and day out over the Google sponsored networks. Who do you think gains the most financially from these obvious infringements - Google or the poor smuck in Louisville who does not have a clue what is right or wrong, let alone what is infringing and what is not?

    In fact, if it is true that an individual typically adapts his or her production and viewing habits from what they see and are taught by the larger media, entertainment, Fortune 500, and technology companies in this country ("if this weren't legal, certainly mighty Google wouldn't encourage it as they do or run AdSense ads on the infringing sites, and Exxon/Mobile wouldn't be placing ads on the sites that are displaying the "shared" works, either").

    It is an unfortunate reality today that many of the copyright defense lawyers, and their clients out to make the big bucks regardless of the rules, have made a mockery of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the DMCA), which was signed into law in 1998 by President Clinton. Like the music industry has learned in the school of hard knocks (aka "the real world"), it is virtually impossible today to hold the middlemen in these unlawful distribution channels and networks accountable. So, what do the copyright companies have to do to protect their valuable property? Go directly after the often innocent "end users" who are often sucked into this game, more often unknowingly than not. It is shameful.

    Perhaps this New York court decision will help to turn those tides.

    Google enables widespread copyright infringement activity like no other company on this planet. Google subsidizes entire networks of infringers through it Adwords and AdSense marketing and advertising programs. Google facilitates willful copyright infringement. Google enables widespread copyright infringement. Day in and day out. Google causes enormous damages to legitimate copyright holders every second of every single day. Google has been doing this for years. They earn a substantial portion of their overall revenue and profits by sponsoring illegal activities over the Internet. And their operations outside the U.S. are far more egregious than the infringement activity we see referenced in this Viacom case, which is largely within our borders.

    I, for one, have had enough. Baseless, if not ludicrous excuses and piracy defense strategies, implemented by what used to be some of the finest copyright law firms in this country, - "fair use", "safe harbor", "no harm", "unclean hands", "de minimus damage", "copyright misuse", "DMCA safeguards", "willful blindness", "laches", and on and on - haven't we seen it all?

    What do they all mean in Google's true vernacular? How about this. "We are big. We are powerful. We can do anything we damn well please. Quit complaining, copyright owners, or we'll cut you off from all the online revenues streams, as well". Better yet, "... if you don't conform, we'll simply run some of this stuff from our operations in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (those BRICS have plenty of money), and let them beam it all back here to the states."

    Aren't you tired of watching Google hide behind the skirt-tails of their customers. "They were the ones who loaded the illegal videos onto our system, not us." Or , better yet, "how were we to know that Bart Simpson wasn't already in the 'Public Domain'?"

    Is Google alone in this? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, and others are moving as fast as they can to mimic and duplicate Google's cash cow system, whether the law is violated or not. Cash is the king. And copyrights from the creative industries are not the only victims. Haven't you seen lately, similar claims (and penalties) levied against these giant Internet companies for their advertising efforts to support, or even subsidize in many cases, the distribution of harmful pharmaceutical drugs and counterfeits over the Internet, sponsor illegal gambling and pornography web sites, and many others too numerous to mention. Billions and billions and billions of dollars every single month.

    "What do you expect us to do, your honor. Try out every single drug our customers illegally deliver just because we provide the advertising revenues for them to survive?"

    This activity not only helps to destroy our economy, it breaks down the moral fiber of our society. What makes you think this young generation that has grown up witnessing these wide scale unlawful activities delivered to them (usually "free of charge") via the Internet, will be able to draw a distinction between the virtual world and the physical world where STEALING in concerned as they get older and have to put food on a table full of their own babies and elderly parents? The jury is still out on that one.

    I applaud the nerve, and the intelligence, of the judge up there in New York who presides over this case between Google and Viacom. Maybe your recent ruling will cause all of these Internet parasites to wake up and see the error of their ways before it is too late for all of us.

    As a pleasant footnote to copyright holders. Do you think the judge would have allowed the complete user logs of YouTube to be released in this case if the outcome of this case was not leaning in Viacom's direction? I certainly do not. This may, indeed, be one of the most important weeks in the history of protecting the original works of copyright owners in this country ... one of the few absolute rights that was guaranteed to all of us in our Constitution over 200 years ago.

    Congratulations New York. Congratulations copyright holders. It must feel good to know you have some judges up that way who have your best interests at heart in enforcing our critically important (and "endangered"... copyright laws and maintaining the delicate balance between managing and policing unbridled growth (i.e. "growth at ANY cost") over the Internet and maintaining our vital and long standing ethical, moral, and legal business practices going forward, while looking out for your best interests.

    ... which old witch ... the wicked witch!

    George P. Riddick, III
    Chairman/CEO
    Imageline, Inc.

    griddick@imageline2.co...     Reply
  • commenter
    helsi
    Jul 03 09:45 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    interesting remarks..coal? steel? potash? Helsi Reply
  • commenter
    Tom B
    Jul 02 12:49 PM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    "The Bush administation will have a legacy of turning back nuclear proliferation in Libya, with AQ Khan,"

    Where's Khan now? Wasn't he on house arrest and then inexplicably released instead of executed?     Reply
  • commenter
    RightinSanFr
    ancisco
    Jul 02 12:13 PM
    My Website
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    This Israel / Iran situation is the most dangerous of the past several years. In addition to the Reuters article:
    - The Olmert government has major problems, has recently received little complaint for taking out a nuclear site in Syria,and may need to have elections by the end of the year;
    - The Bush administation will have a legacy of turning back nuclear proliferation in Libya, with AQ Khan, and apparently in North Korea, not to mention the elimination of a threat in Iraq. Only Iran remains.
    - Despite Obama's "tell them whatever they want to hear" speech to AIPAC, the Israelis are very concerned about his commitment to meet with Ahmedinejad without preconditions.
    A dangerous soup indeed.     Reply
  • commenter
    Tom B
    Jul 02 09:13 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    "Sources say Microsoft (MSFT) has talked with both Time Warner (TWX) and News Corp. (NWS) about joining it in a deal that would see Microsoft buy Yahoo's (YHOO) search business, while one of them would combine forces with what remained of Yahoo."

    This works for me, as a Yahoo CUSTOMER. Yahoo search-- who cares? I DID care about MSFT acquiring Yahoo Mail and Flickr, because those services would certainly suffer under the direction of Ballmer and his nitwits (witness how MSFT destroyed HoTMaiL).

    "But lawyers said that the kind of legal requests being issued by the Justice Department in this case - "civil investigative demands" - are not routine."

    It will be routine; there are no credible antitrust issues here. MSFT bribed a few buddies in Washington, no doubt, to raise a ruckus, the the current, corrupt administration gets its walking papers on 1/20/09.

    "Massive downsizing at Starbucks." What took so long? Downscale Dunkin Donuts makes better coffee, at half the price. Starbucks has always brewed way too dark.

    "Blockbuster (BBI) officially withdrew its offer to buy Circuit City Stores (CC)" Tying to "loser" companies together is rarely a recipe for success. Time Warner/AOL. MSFT/Yahoo, had it gone through.

    "Ford said June sales were limited due to tight supplies of small cars."
    Gee, they could have planned for this, say, 15 years ago when I took my first trip to Europe and was amazed by all the really cool FUEL EFFICIENT cars you could buy. In the States, you had little choice then but monstrous SUV's. I had a Corolla then-- and excellent car-- but not as efficient as many of the models I saw in Europe.

    "Senior Pentagon officials say there is an increasing likelihood Israel will attack Iran,". Perhaps you differ in this, Eli, but I'd rather have you guys do it than us.

     Reply
  • commenter
    atauber
    Jul 02 09:06 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    trucker please close the bathroom it....................... Reply
  • commenter
    User 178663
    Jul 02 09:06 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    You are ignorant. Reply
  • commenter
    Iowa515
    Jul 02 02:22 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    It appears that there are many great investment opportunities in today's collapsing world. Unfortunately, the best shots are all on the short side, and short is difficult to handle. When the earthquake shakes the casino, and the ceiling is falling, it's hard to pick the winning numbers on the roulette table, as the whole table may soon be gone. Reply
  • commenter
    SA Editor
    Eli Hoffmann
    Jul 02 12:12 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    User 218405: Maybe you mean your comment on this post:

    seekingalpha.com/artic...     Reply
  • commenter
    User 218405
    Jul 01 05:59 PM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    What happened to my comment? Reply
  • commenter
    RightinSanFr
    ancisco
    Jul 01 12:20 PM
    My Website
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    There is good news and bad in the Russia-BP mess. For the Europeans who are becoming increasingly dependent upon Russian energy sources, there should be no illusions about how important brute power is in the relationship. And for global investors, it serves as a reminder that the US, with its tradition of laws, is a haven for capital. Reply
  • commenter
    notsosmart
    Jul 01 12:03 PM
    My Website
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    unless you have money to lose i hink investing in russia or china is very risky. china is a dictatorship(SEE THE CHANGES AFTER THE OLYMPICS) & RUSSIA is a phony democracy. Reply
  • commenter
    pickaroonwyo
    Jul 01 11:21 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    Any suggestions for good information on escalating Israel-US/Iran conflicts? Reply
  • commenter
    User 151634
    Jul 01 09:36 AM
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    I would sooner put all my money on a single number at a roulette table than invest in Russia. I don't feel one bit sorry for BP and I own 1000 shares...lol This just shows why BP is lagging all the other oil companies. Poor judgement. And no I can't sell the shares because the dividend is yielding me over 10% based on my cost.
     Reply
  • commenter
    francis
    schutte
    Jul 01 09:20 AM
    My Website
    Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
    I liked the note about the BP staff not seeing their visa renewed. Such a situation is typical Russian...we have a lot more after WWII when the Iron Curtain was closed. I would not even think of investing a dime in this country. Reply

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