Good Copy, Bad Copy: superb copyright documentary on the remix wars

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

I just watched Good Copy, Bad Copy, a stunning Danish documentary on remix culture and copyright, available as a free download. The film skips around the world, showing the changing attitudes toward art and culture in Nigeria, Sweden, Brazil, the UK, and the US, answering statements about incentives and creativity by the MPAA and IFPI by showing us real artists (like Danger Mouse and Girl Talk) making wonderful art that, according to the gangsters in the entertainment industry, no one will make without copyright.

The movie has a very light touch, and a lot of humor. This has been a banner year for copyright documentaries, but this is the best looking of the lot, with superb production values. This is a masterclass on the copyright wars crammed into 58 minutes of video -- a must-see. Link

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Nokia's BH-803, BH-602, and BH-604 Bluetooth cans

from Engadget by Thomas Ricker

Nokia just busted out three Bluetooth headsets this morning: the BH-803, BH-604 (pictured), and BH-602. The most interesting of the bunch are the big, "quick to charge" BG-604 stereo cans with AVRCP remote control over your Bluetooth 2.0 equipped audio device. Expect 'em to go global in Q3 for a bit less than €140/$187. The wee 11.3-g, BH-803 and the 11-hour talk (5-hours after a 15-minute charge) BH-602 headsets are priced for less than €160/$214 and €90/$121, respectively.

Gallery: Nokia's BH-803, BH-602, and BH-604 Bluetooth cans

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Late with your car payment? ON TIME system equipped cars won't start

from Blogging Stocks by Tom Barlow

Filed under: Products and services, Competitive strategy

If the American economy tanks, look for car loans to follow the same pattern as house loans, right into the dumpster. However, Sekurus Inc. may have a tool to help subprime car lenders such as AmeriCredit Corp. (NYSE:ACF) fight defaults, help the repo man reclaim the assets, and protect against car theft.

Sekurus' ON TIME system patches a legal wireless-controlled device into the car's electrical system. The consumer is given a wireless control that he must push before he can start the car, which sends a signal to Sekurus. The company verifies that financing is up to date before authorizing the car to start. The customer begins receiving a countdown three days before the vehicle is disabled.

The system also serves as a theft deterrent, since car thieves won't be able to start the car without the wireless remote.

The product is especially useful for sub-prime car loans, a $75 billion market. The company claims that, because lenders can depend on this system to increase pay rates and reclaim vehicles, it will result in more borderline drivers receiving financing that otherwise would not. ON TIME also can be used by new dealers who have problems with cars being stolen off their lots.

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Featured Windows Download: Change folder and file names in bulk with Flash Renamer

from Lifehacker by Kyle Pott

Windows only: Shareware application Flash Renamer renames your files and folders in bulk.

Flash Renamer doesn't just flat-out rename; it can change the case (UPPER and lower) of file names, search and replace strings within file names, rename MP3s based on tags, clear read-only attributes and add counters to files that are related (like photos).

The unregistered version of Flash Renamer is not limited in any way whatsoever - except for the popup at launch reminding you that you haven't registered. A license will set you back $19.99 and buys you free lifetime upgrades and free tech support over email. Flash Renamer is shareware for Windows only. Thanks, Jeremy!

Flash Renamer [rl vision]

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Jingle Awarded Patent For Advertising-Supported 411 Calls

from TechCrunch by Michael Arrington

Jingle Networks, operator of the free directory assistance service that has been emulated by AT&T, Google and others, was awarded a U.S. Patent “for providing telephone directory assistance service in which a telephone user calls to the system and the system will, based on the requested number or type of service, hear a recorded advertisement.” The patent was issued in May and is being announced by the Company today.

If the patent is enforceable, and Jingle has the stomach to try, it will be a significant hurdle for their competitors. The company has raised significant capital (over $60 million), but that is nothing compared to the resources of Google and AT&T. If those companies are serious about this business, it could get ugly in the courtroom.

When we last heard from the company, they claimed to be receiving 17 million monthly calls and had grabbed over 6% of the U.S. market for directory assistance calls.

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