Firefox is Not Stealing

August 19, 2007 Blogs & Blogging, misanthropy 5

Via qwghlm, a rich piece of effrontery:

Software that blocks all advertisement is an infringement of the rights of web site owners and developers. Numerous web sites exist in order to provide quality content in exchange for displaying ads. Accessing the content while blocking the ads, therefore would be no less than stealing.

No, it is not stealing. Website owners do not have a right to force people to view their advertisements. Whether or not to view ads when browsing sites is the viewer’s decision and the viewer’s alone. This site has Google Ads – if you choose to block them, then I won’t seek to prevent you. This is much the same as the fuckwit (name long since forgotten) who claimed that fast forwarding through adverts on recorded television programmes was stealing.

The world, it seems, is full of arseholes. All this makes me do is ensure that I put more effort into blocking their advertisements.

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Footnote: On checking out the firefox is blocked site, I notice that it has exceeded its bandwidth. How did that happen, I wonder?

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Update: As Peter points out in the comments, this site does, indeed, mention the television recording analogy:

“[Commercial-skipping] amounted to creating an unauthorized derivative work, namely a commercial-free copy that would reduce the copyright owner’s income from his original program, since “free” television programs are financed by the purchase of commercials by advertisers.”

The fuckwit being Judge Posner… It’s bollocks, utter, utter bollocks. I will not, absolutely not, sit and watch recorded advertisements. Come to that, I’ll find something to do other than watch live ones, too. What I usually do is record everything so that I can view when it suits me. Then, of course, I fast forward through the ads.

If this user is using Adblock to screen out annoying advertisements, he is creating an unauthorized derivative work analogous to skipping television commercials. By the letter of copyright law, this practice would most likely be seen as an infringing use.

So sue me, you greedy bastards.

 
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5 Comments

  2. The fastforwarding through commercials is not forgotten – it is even quoted at the bottom of the firefoxisblocked page as an analogy to using firefox.

  3. Peter, it’s working again, then. That had to be one of the daftest accusations of stealing I’ve ever come across. As Chris points out in the linked post; what do they want to do; strap us down to our chairs?

  4. So if I hire a DVD, and fast forward through the adverts for future films, to the main feature. I am breaking the law…. well they can kiss my ass!!

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