[Fwd: Joke (I hope)]

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Joke (I hope)
Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 16:36:36 -0400
From: Richard Fidler <rfidler@xxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Marxism list <marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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
Adivsor'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.

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