I AM NOW OFFERING LEGAL SERVICES TO EVERYONE INTERESTED. I am not an authorized lawyer, but I am a really cool guy. CONTACT ME.

You don't need to go to jail AND pay thousands of dollars. It's enough if you just pay.

Or maybe it's more about the double standards in legal systems? Do you honestly think the judge would make the same decision in such "more provocative" cases, even if the issue in hand is technically same in all?

I think this is sane. And with a decision like this, we can extend it to cover terrorists, child porn collectors and other criminals. Because IP does not identify more than the bill player and the good cause standard therefore is not met because the actual infringer is not identified.

Wait, what now? You do realize that the "delete" is not deleting the information from Google, it is just deleting what is visible to you (and others who might use your computer)? It is similar to the privacy modes in browser. All the logs of what you do will still be there for servers and advertisers, but it deletes the info from someone who also uses the same computer.

HAHAHA good god I'm dying in laughter. Please kill me now. Mod parent funny +1

Google didn't really "realize" anything. They used XMPP so they could quickly throw together something they needed. Facebook also uses XMPP, do you think they also realized the potential of having open IM networks, or do you think they used that to minimize costs, effort and work needed to create their own protocol and all associated things?

Google has a long history of leveraging (i.e, abusing) open source code for their own benefit. With things like Android they are required to publish their code because they used GPL'd software, which of course benefits others too. However, it is fairly stupid to think they did this to help the world or shit like that, they did it because they have to. Google also abuses lots of open source software which they have built their custom software upon, but because they only host it on their servers they don't have license problems with GPL. May I ask, have you ever seen Google open sourcing their core products - which are built on GPL and FOSS software - like their search engine and advertising platform, YouTube, or anything like that? Of course not, because they don't have to. I am a big supporter of FOSS and open source software and movement, but in my eyes Google's abuse is much larger problem than lets say Microsoft, who at least spends their own resources, money and work to create their software from the beginning, and not abusing those who have contributed their code from their good heart.

IE wasn't really beaten with standards-supporting strategy, it was beaten with heavy marketing.

During Firefox days this was mostly done by fanboys. I'm sure you have seen those fanboys shouting out how great browser Firefox is (was) and even going out on their way to install it on all computers at their schools and other places, usually without permission. The most nerdy ones in my class did it too, and the whole internet was heavily spammed with "get firefox" shit back in 2005 or so.

Now during Chrome days, the marketing is handled by Google on their search engine, YouTube, ads on television and even billboards and newspapers, and by paying computer manufacturers and software authors to bundle it with their products. As most people are clueless this has greatly increased Chromes market share.

IE9 is also actually a really good browser. And, One of the largest research centers on Earth is Microsoft Research, and in my honest opinion they deserve some credit for that. No other company on the planet spends billions on R&D.

This lines well with Bill Gates support for helping the humankind. Did you know that Bill Gates has actually spend more on curing the world than U.S. spends on foreign aid? Since 2007 he has given out $28 BILLION for saving lives and improving actually necessary things.

Even if you hate Microsoft and Bill Gates, you cannot ignore the fact that for once there's a billionaire who has actually used his cash reserves for great good. Compare this to the Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin who use their shady money got from selling your private information for buying 193-foot long yachts and marrying models (Lucinda Southworth), similar to what MPAA/RIAA/record label executives do.

This is quite true for all the complaints about Facebook, too.