Germany Bans the Xbox 360

[Max_imus]

Well, tough luck for Microsoft I suppose.

And the best part, I'm from Mannheim. Go Mannheim, our courts are the best!

 

[hawkeye52]

These kinds of news always remind me of this quote:

"If the real world could be patented like software, expect to be sued every time you place one foot in front of the other to propel yourself forwards."

Oh, this thread is gonna have so many nazi jokes, isn't it? *sigh*

I can say I did nazi this coming.

Anne Frankly, I won't stand for it.

Really Reiching for puns, aren't we?

These Nazi jokes are making me Fuhrerious.

I don't know about you but I'm Goebbeling them up

Can we stop it with the Nazi puns, please; they're offensive and take me out of Mein Kampfort zone.

Why don't you read this then.

 

[Risingblade]

There needs to be more FPS on the 360 where we kill Germans. Note I said Germans and not Nazis

Excuse me? As someone being German and living in Germany I'd really like to hear you explaining your point.

That not all Germans are Nazis and we need more games where they do not play that stereotype. Do you have a problem with that?

 

[hopeneverdies]

"We are pleased that the Mannheim Court found that Microsoft products infringe Motorola Mobility's intellectual property,"

And then he laughed maniacally like a supervillain.

 

[Fbuh]

While ordering them to destroy existing stock is harsh, it shouldn't come as a surprise. It's not like the Xbox would be the first thing cooked in a Deutsch oven.

You, sir, are terrible beyond human understanding. And because of that...I have to congratulate you.

OT: I'm not really surprised this happened, as Microsoft is an American company (I'm American, so I know first hand of our dick baggery), but I doubt that they won't be able to distribute 360s in Germany forever.

 

[Something Amyss]

Mmmm. Very true, your last paragraph. It's a difficult issue, one that must balance the rights of a creator with the rights of the public. Moreover, it makes me wonder just what those rights should be--if any. Hard stuff.

It's hard to say. I like the patent model that only protects it as an item is still novel (one of the reasons you can use a patent), but for copyrighted works, I think it should be somewhat longer. In the UK, the Beatles are starting to become public domain, and that seems fair. Though the publishers and the like are trying to fight it and change the laws so they're more like ours.

Copyright should not be transferable in perpetuity, like we have now. I think (though I admit this might be a touch pipe-dream-ish) that eliminating the ability to transfer copyright would probably clean up a lot of the mess we have with games, music and books. One of the big problems with games right now is that publishers (big ones anyway) demand the rights to your intellectual property, which means you can't take it with you. This is a huge problem for game developers, and also limits the money they themselves can get instead of the publisher. But as long as it's allowed, it's going to happen. It's sorta like your boss asking for your facebook password. You can say no, but you're probably screwed. This case, though, it's your work itself in question.

The music industry at least used to do this with the master tapes, trademarks (look at Prince), and sometimes even the works themselves. This is why I brought them up. And publishers sometimes want the rights to your work in literature, as well.

I think a solid ownership would clear up a lot of problems with games, as publishers could no longer demand the rights to your idea just to go through with it, then fire you or put you on other projects. It wouldn't solve everything, but it would offer a stronger bargaining position to the artists and possibly break some of the corporate trends.

I've wandered off the topic of patents, mind, but it's something worth bringing up.

 

[aprildog18]

For using codecs? srsly? Microsoft, Motorola? Look at yourselves.

You both look like this:
data:image/jpeg;base64,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

[small]After looking at the URL of the "genious" meme image, I will now collect my prize for using the biggest URL every entered for a single object on these forums. I would like to thank my family and friends, the community here on teh forums and the employees of teh magazine for making this a reality. Just, wow - and thank you all.[/small]

Spoiler: Back OT:

[small](much better!)[/small]

It's codecs, for goodness sake. Why'd you go use another company's, Microsoft, instead of your own and Motorola; are you REALLY going to follow that up? You're blockading the distribution of an incredibly popular tech corporations products, you'll just make an enemy of the people by doing that - and aren't you about to be bought by Google. WTF is wrong with these people?

It looks like that "URL" actually codes for pixels or something like that. Paste half the URL into the address bar and see what you get.

OT: Isn't there a place where you can get a patent on something for X amount of years before anyone else can use it for free?

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Sometimes ya have to think wouldn't it be easier for Bill Gates just to buy Motorola?

And, just because I don't think anyone's been so crass to mention him in a thread about Germany, here's my favourite Hitler sketch:

 

[Darren716]

Oh, this thread is gonna have so many nazi jokes, isn't it? *sigh*

I can say I did nazi this coming.

Anne Frankly, I won't stand for it.

Damn it you ninja'd me for the Anne Frankley. Oh well I THINK THIS THREAD WILL BE heilarious that it will become reichdiculous

 

[Comando96]

I'm no fan of the Xbox360... or Microsoft for that matter but, THIS COPYRIGHT SHIT NEEDS TO END NOW...

This is getting fucking absurd... I mean... holy fuck... Free Market Economics... what the fuck happened to that. Stand back, get out of the way and let people do. Don't allow them to establish themselves, so that any different forms of competition can compete with them if they so chose... WHAT THE FUCK HAS GONE WRONG????????

...Just... Copyright needs revolutionizing... it should give some protection, but NEVER should someones product be banned for infringing copyright, merely pay royalties... just... what the fuck... this is crazy... It's so insane I've lost the ability to think properly...

 

[thedarkfreak]

It looks like that "URL" actually codes for pixels or something like that. Paste half the URL into the address bar and see what you get.

OT: Isn't there a place where you can get a patent on something for X amount of years before anyone else can use it for free?

That's because it does. All it is is a jpeg thrown into base64 encoding and then told to be shown by the browser.

 

[likalaruku]

I have a German Xbox 360, and in the case of a recall they will have a harder time getting it off me then they would have retaking Berlin from the Russians.

Here's to Motorola's 2012 sales tanking in Germany.