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[FYI] (Fwd) <nettime> More utter genius from futurefeedforward




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Date sent:      	Fri, 29 Mar 2002 17:25:58 -0500
Send reply to:  	Law & Policy of Computer Communications
             	<CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
From:           	"R. A. Hettinga" <rah@SHIPWRIGHT.COM>
Subject:        	<nettime> More utter genius from futurefeedforward
To:             	CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

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Status:  U
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 12:10:01 -0600
Subject: <nettime> More utter genius from futurefeedforward
From: Bruce Sterling <bruces@well.com>
To: Announcer <nettime-l@bbs.thing.net>
Sender: nettime-l-request@bbs.thing.net
Reply-To: Bruce Sterling <bruces@well.com>


February 8, 2011


New MS Word Feature Checks Files for Copyright Infringement


REDMOND--A bundle of feature updates and add-ons released Monday to
subscribers of Microsoft's popular word-processor service Word
includes a new digital rights management, or "DRM", feature designed
to facilitate the use of copyrighted material in documents written
using the service.

"We're very excited about the new [copyright advisor] tool," explains
Microsoft VP of Circumstantial Features Edmund Raunch. "For hundreds
of years there's been a lot of legal uncertainty surrounding the
writing process.  How would you know, for example, if what you were
writing was infringing somebody else's copyright unless you knew
everything that had already been written.  Well, we've tackled that
uncertainty and just blown it away."

Known informally as "the Mouse," the feature involves a
context-appropriate pop-up avatar in the likeness of Disney's famous
cartoon character.  "Disney actually approached us concerning a
branding alliance on the feature," explains Raunch.  "They're very
dedicated to the whole copyright and rights management issue and
wanted to be actively involved in the development of the Advisor."

The advisor works in much the same way as conventional spell-checking
and grammar-checking features, monitoring documents on-the-fly as they
are created and flagging any potential problems for the user.  Once a
potentially infringing passage is identified, the Advisor materializes
and offers a number of options, including suggested, non-infringing
re-phrasings, and an option to pursue automated negotiation for a
licensing micro-payment to cover the use of the copyrighted material.

The advisor identifies potential infringement by checking documents
against those stored in a centralized registry database maintained by
the company.  The registry also functions as a clearinghouse for
licensing transactions involving registered materials.  "We're very
happy to offer registration in the Advisor's database free of charge
to content creators," notes Raunch.  "We recover our costs by taking a
small slice of each of the licensing transactions."

During a feature demonstration, the advisor proved adept at
identifying direct copying, noting almost instantly that "Call me
Ishmael" was taken from Moby Dick, a book once, but no longer, in the
public domain.  In a cheerful voice, Mickey suggested alternatives,
including "My name is Ishmael" and "Call me Ichabod," and also offered
to license the phrase for 8 cents in fewer than 50 copies of the
document.

More impressive was the advisor's ability to identify potential
"derivative uses," including creation of sequels and so-called "fan
fiction."  With fewer tell-tale details than the words "Kirk,"
"logic," and "pointy ears," Mickey was able to suggest that we seek
license from Paramount for creation of a work derivative of its Star
Trek franchise.

The feature is not without its critics, many of whom emphasize the
Advisor's power to delete unlicensed language it deems to infringe
another's copyright.  "This is putting too much power in the hands of
Microsoft," notes Information Without Borders director Janet Pullet.
"The advisor enforces their view of copyright law, and that may be
much more limiting of traditional fair use rights than even current
law is."

Responding to critics, Microsoft's Raunch pointed to the company's
obligations under recent extensions to the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act:  "I'm not a lawyer, but from what I understand, word
processors are considered 'circumvention' devices because you can type
in any document you want and just save and copy it.  Because of that,
we're obligated, by law, to enforce copyright to the extent
technically feasible, and that's just what the Advisor does."


******************************************
CHECK IT OUT: FFF SITE REDESIGNED!
Dave has wasted countless hours amusing
himself by making the site more cluttered
and harder to use than ever.  Take a peek:
http://futurefeedforward.com
******************************************



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--
-----------------
R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@ibuc.com>
The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44
Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA

The IBUC Symposium on Geodesic Capital
April 3-4, 2002, The Downtown Harvard Club, Boston
<mailto: rah@ibuc.com> for details...

"... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity,
[predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to
experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'


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