Uncategorized
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by website Genius to revive its lawsuit accusing Alphabet’s Google of misusing its transcripts of song lyrics in search engine results without a license.
The justices turned away an appeal by Genius of a lower court’s decision blocking its breach-of-contract claims against Google. Genius had argued that a win for Google could allow big tech companies to steal content without repercussions from websites such as Reddit, eBay and Wikipedia that aggregate user-created information.
Genius, formerly known as Rap Genius, maintains a vast database of song lyrics. It sued Google in New York state court in 2019, accusing it of copying and posting its lyrics transcripts at the top of search results without permission, diverting web traffic that should have gone to the Genius site.
Genius does not hold copyrights in the lyrics, which usually belong to the artists or publishers. But it accused Google of violating its terms of service by stealing and reposting its work.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the company appreciated the Supreme Court’s decision.
“We license lyrics on Google Search from third parties, and we do not crawl or scrape websites to source lyrics,” Castaneda added.
Josh Rosenkranz, a lawyer for Genius, said he and the company were disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to take the case. Rosenkranz said the lower court’s decision “allows companies like Google to swallow up their competitors by misappropriating their content without any repercussions.”
The Genius lawsuit stated that one of the first Google posts it suspected as copying involved the lyrics for the song “Panda” by the rapper Desiigner.
“I got broads in Atlanta,” part of the song’s lyrics read. “Twistin’ dope, lean, and the Fanta. Credit cards and the scammers. Hittin’ off licks in the bando.”
Genius also cited songs by rapper Kendrick Lamar and pop singers Selena Gomez and Alessia Cara that it allegedly caught Google copying through the use of watermarks.
It said in its petition for Supreme Court review that it included a distinctive pattern of curly and straight apostrophes in transcriptions for some new songs that spelled out “RED HANDED” in Morse code.
“Sure enough, Genius caught Google with its hand in the cookie jar: The ‘RED HANDED’ message soon began to appear in the lyrics in Google‘s information boxes,” Genius told the justices.
The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 upheld a ruling that the Genius breach-of-contract claims were based on copyright concerns and could be pursued only in a copyright lawsuit.
Google told the high court that it holds licenses to the lyrics and argued that Genius wants to “ignore the true copyright owners and invent new rights through a purported contract.”
President Joe Biden’s administration recommended in May that the justices turn down the appeal.
Conventions, anime and other nerd conventions, are some of the most fun events I have ever experienced. With more than a decade’s worth of con-going experience under my belt, I can tell you that both of my home conventions, Otakon and Katsucon, have given me some of the biggest joys in my short 30 years of living on this earth. Nerds can be the absolute worst, but more times than not, coming together to celebrate similar interests has made my heart feel fuller than any Tom Hanks movie ever could. Thousands of con-goers venture into whatever venue to cosplay, debate, compete, and spend an offensively large amount of money in the Artist’s Alley. However, the wise man always plans ahead for debauchery. In this case, convention circuits need to be thoughtfully planned out in order to avoid being in the red the next time you receive a credit card statement.
Before we get to the actual, physical convention, you need to plan. A lot of nerds make the mistake of under-preparing which can lead to a boatload of problems including dehydration, getting into debt, having to sleep on the floor of a gross hotel room, and being stranded at a derelict bus stop. We’ve all heard rooming horror stories, from trashed hotel rooms to 20 people to a twin bed, so let’s break down how we can AVOID that.
How do you prepare for a convention weekend? These can vary between three-day weekends, one-day affairs, to occupying your entire work week. What you begin with, however, is to be honest with yourself.
- Does this convention take practical priority in your life?
- Can you financially afford it?
- Will this con weekend cause undue stress that will impact you negatively?
You have to be able to reflect on previous experiences coupled with what is currently going on in your life to determine if even going at all is the mature decision. Because as we all know, nerds have great impulse control and are able to thoughtfully and artfully dissect their thought processes before making any rash decisions. j/k
The Badge
Each convention requires a registration for a weekend or day pass. This badge typically comes with a unique ID code. Most conventions only sell badges for the full weekend. The badge is typically a non-refundable, non-transferable pass to the convention. If you lose the physical copy, you might have to purchase a brand new one. Depending on the convention, you may be able to skate by without buying another badge by the grace and mercy of the convention staff.
Some conventions allow you to buy one-day only passes. Badges can be purchased online before the event, and in some cases, are given “Early Bird” treatment with a percentage off. Depending on your schedule, it might make financial and emotional sense to go for one-day only passes. No need to worry about shelter and long-term dining options when you go this route.
There is also the infamous method of “Lobby Conning” into a convention. What this typically means that if a convention is hosted in a large hotel or convention center, you can hang out in the larger spaces, hallways, atriums, etc without a badge, because you’re not trying to access the more exclusive content. Be aware that this method is controversial, with many thinking this is a way of stealing from the convention. Use your own discernment.
Unofficial schedule of most conventions:
Thursday
Day 0 (typically used to pick-up badges)
Friday
Day 1 (technically the first day)
Saturday
Day 2 (arguably the biggest and busiest day for any weekend convention)
Sunday
Day 3 (typically the closing ceremonies finish off the convention weekend in the mid-afternoon)
Badges allow you access into panels, the Dealer’s Room, the Artist’s Alley, autograph lines, masquerades, fashion shows, raves, etc, so you MUST have it on you at all times. Some conventions may issue you another one in the event you lose it, but other cons may make you purchase a new membership/badge or charge you a fee if you lose your initial one, so be mindful. I also caution folks from sharing badges. This is a sure-fire way to increase your chances of catching a ban from the convention in its entirety.
Otakon
Katsucon
Dragoncon
Comic-Con International: San Diego
Shelter
Whether you’re crashing at a friend’s place, booking an Airbnb, or checking into a hotel, shelter is probably the biggest thing you need to figure out pre-convention. This is your home base: where you’ll sleep, shower, eat, keep your hauls safe, props and costumes, costume changes, etc. You should have a place to stay for the entirety of the convention mapped out and booked at least 3-6 months before the actual convention.
Popular conventions, like Magfest, hold lotteries for hotel rooms because of how quickly these blocks get booked. Don’t be the fool who waited and planned last minute, because you’ll end up budgeting for Ubers in addition to a hotel that’s 15-30 minutes away from the actual convention.
Remember to clean up after yourselves. It’s a HUGE dick move to leave an intentionally gross room behind. We’re not talking about leaving a bar of soap behind; I’m talking about grey body paint in the bathroom (IYKYK), trash on the floor, and unmentionables being left behind. Behave like mature adults. Clean up after yourselves, recycle, and take out huge piles of trash. Don’t forget to tip custodial staff.
Transportation
This one varies heavily. Are you traveling internationally? Is your shelter located off the main convention circuit/hotel place? You need to budget bus tickets, train tickets, plane tickets (round-trip), time on shuttles, gas/Lyft/Uber money, etc. If you’re planning on pulling a clown car move (tight squeeze in a small vehicle), you’ll need to consider dividing up labor and giving the appropriate amount of gas money to your fellow friends. All of this requires constant communication and making sure you don’t screw over your pals. Like with everything else in the article, DO NOT WAIT LAST MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION. It may seem a bit more clear-cut initially, but it can get tricky figuring out costs, especially if you have to use ride-shares while at the actual convention.
If you are traveling overseas, make sure you have an up-to-date passport, copies of said passport, itinerary, and a whole separate budget on spending cash in another country. There are also “travel hacks” to look into, such as global fast pass and airport clubs. These are meant to make the whole traveling experience more tolerable. Remember to rethink choices on cosplay props and overall wardrobe; there are horror stories about props being broken or going missing when being checked in for a flight. For me, it sounds like a huge nightmare figuring out how to travel internationally in general, so math-ing the math on cosplay accessories would do me in. Bon voyage to fellow nerds for those who journey across and beyond for their hobbies!
Miscellaneous Costs
Cosplay Lineups: This means anything to do with creating/buying/putting together cosplays, which any seasoned cosplayer can tell you, can get EXPENSIVE.
Photographer(s)
I wanted to get the perspective of a West Coast convention attendee. My experiences are shaped exclusively by the East Coast. Cosplayer Rhadmus graciously lent me some insight:
Oona: How long have you been attending west coast conventions? Which ones are your staples? What are some of the average costs for one or two of these conventions? Ballpark numbers?
Rhadamus: “I’ve attended cons on the West Coast for about 6 years, starting in 2014 or so–skipping 2 years or so since I haven’t gone to one since the pandemic started. GaymerX and KrakenCon have been two of my regular ones, since they’re very close by. These are usually cheaper for me, since I can usually get by on just the weekend pass cost of $60-$70. Neither have happened in a while though. I’ll also occasionally go to Fanime or Crunchyroll Expo. When I get a hotel, I’ll probably spend around $600-$800 for the Fri-Sun stay, plus the weekend pass cost.”
Concise and Condensed “What to Anticipate” List for Conventions:
- CROWDS. DragonCon has an average of about 80,000+ people and SDCC has about 130,000+ in attendance according to Kantor (2021).
- LOTS OF COSPLAYERS
- ARTIST’S ALLEY & DEALER’S ROOM GOODIES GALORE
- UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE, FAMILIES/PARENTS WITH KIDS
- MORE SHIT TO DO THAN YOU HAVE TIME FOR
- LONG LINES
- DEHYDRATION
- FAMOUS VOICE ACTORS, YOUTUBERS, TWITCH STREAMERS, ETC.
- A BLEEDING WALLET
Conclusion
Don’t be an idiot. Plan ahead. Godspeed, nerds.
References
Kantor, Jonathan H. “The Best Geek Conventions All Nerds MUST Attend.” Ranker, Ranker, 30 Sept. 2021, https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nerd-conventions/jonathan-kantor.
Cover image via The New York Times
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!
The post How to Prepare for Your Next Convention appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Netflix’s The Witcher is a sprawling land of monsters, magic, mayhem, and political machinations. With so much going on it’s a lot to keep track of. But like a charming bard, we’re here to help get you ready for the show’s third year. (No, sorry, not in song form.) Here’s everything you need to remember about The Witcher season two, along with a few other things to know.
Before you start, though, make sure you read Everything You Need To Remember From Season One. Players and events from the show’s first year are guaranteed to have major implications during its third.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS AND EVENTS
Geralt
Geralt brought Ciri to Kaer Morhen, the witchers’ home and training grounds, to keep her safe. When he realized more deadly monsters had suddenly appeared on the Continent he set out to learn why. Together with the mage Istredd, Geralt discovered Ciri had opened doors to other worlds when she destroyed a monolith with her deadly scream in season one.
(The Blood Origin prequel mini-series explained where those ancient, powerful monoliths came from. You can read about that and all the other major connections between the two shows here.)
Geralt nearly executed Yennefer because she betrayed him and Ciri. Yennefer was going to hand Ciri over to a demon witch (the Deathless Mother) in exchange for getting her powers back. He didn’t forgive Yennefer, but ultimately left Kaer Morhen with her and Ciri to go into hiding.
Yennefer
After unleashing her “chaos” (an ocean of fire) to win the Battle of Sodden Hill, a presumed dead Yennefer lost her magic. She was also initially a prisoner of Nilfgaard before being taken by elves. When she returned to Aretuza, though, the Brotherhood branded her a spy instead of a hero. To prove her loyalty she was ordered to behead the captured Nilfgaard general, Cahir. Instead she ran off with him in front of an audience of Northern kings.
Yennefer, herself part elf, redeemed herself in season two’s finale. She was willing to sacrifice herself to save the possessed Ciri from the killer witch. Yennefer then ended the season with her powers back.
Ciri, Princess of Cintra
In addition to possessing magical abilities, Ciri also has Elder blood. Her blood is different from others who also have elvish ancestors. It can grow life, but a single drop can also be very dangerous. It’s also possible it can be used to create more witchers, which Ciri herself began training to become. (Witcher mutagen hasn’t been made since Geralt was a kid, as explored in the animated prequel movie Nightmare of the Wolf.)
Some believe Ciri is the prophesied Child of Elder Blood who will save all elves. Others fear she will bring about the end of the world.
Jaskier
“The Sandpiper” was helping smuggle elves to freedom when he encountered Yennefer and Cahir on the run. He aided them, only to then need Yen to save him from the fire-wielding mage Rience. Jaskier also reunited with his old friend Geralt, who broke Jaskier out of prison. He’s one of the few people the White Wolf trusts to help keep Ciri safe.
Jaskier still sings on occasion, too.
Cahir
After making his way back to Nilfgaard, Cahir once again worked with the mage Fringilla to try and expand the White Flame’s stead. But despite his loyal service, Cahir was imprisoned along with Fringilla after the Emperor caught them lying.
Fringilla
The captured Fringilla forged an alliance with the elves’ new leader, Francesca, after the two were lured in by the Deathless Mother’s promises. Fringilla offered a home and safety for all elves in exchange for their army.
Emperor Emhyr
The mysterious White Flame, the Emperor of Nilfgaard desperately seeking Ciri and hoping to conquer the entire Continent, finally revealed himself. He is Ciri’s father “Duny,” long thought dead. He was the porcupine knight Geralt saved decades earlier, which prompted Geralt to claim the Law of Surprise that ended up being Ciri.
Emhyr knew Cahir and Francesca lied to him about ordering the death of Francesca’s baby because he was the one who had it killed.
Francesca
The new elven leader found her people refuge in the Nilfgaard-controlled Xin’trea (aka Cintra, Ciri’s home). That’s also where the sorceress gave birth to the first elf child in generations, just as the Deathless Mother promised. But tragedy struck after Francesca said her soldiers would not fight Nilfgaard’s war for them. Her and Filavandrel (the former elf leader) found their baby murdered. They blamed the Northern kingdom of Redania, returned their people to the woods, and swore vengeance.
Francesca learned from the elf-friendly mage Istredd about the prophecy of Ciri, which is why she’s so desperate to find the powerful princess. She believes Ciri is the ultimate weapon to help elves defeat humans.
Tissaia
Yennefer’s mentor tortured Cahir during his imprisonment at Aretuza. During season two Tissaia also took leadership over the Brotherhood of Sorcerers along with her lover, the militaristic mage Vilgefortz.
Tissaia also alerted the Northern kingdoms about Ciri and Geralt, putting a target on the Princess they all thought dead.
Vilgefortz
Tissaia convinced Yennefer, the real hero of Sodden Hill, to let Vilgefortz take credit for the victory for political reasons. That helped him take control of the Brotherhood along with Tissaia. He also believes Ciri has the ability to end all war forever.
Triss
After surviving severe wounds at Sodden Hill, Triss answered Geralt’s call to come to Kaer Morhen and train Ciri in magic. (He did not answer her call to spend the night together, though.) Triss left the keep in fear after reading Ciri’s mind and almost dying during Ciri’s attack while in a trance.
Triss returned to Aretuza and informed Tissaia that Ciri has the power to either destroy the entire world or save it, but grew angry when Tissaia shared that news with Vilgefortz.
Istredd
Yennefer’s former lover remains committed to studying monoliths. He also worked to help elves leave Cintra.
Stregobor
He lost his seat of power on the Brotherhood along with his closest ally Artorius, but the untrustworthy Istredd remains a powerful and dangerous force among sorcerers.
Philippa
The mage of Redania can shape-shift into an owl and works intimately with the kingdom’s chief spy Dijkstra.
Dijkstra
The closest advisor to the unimpressive but ambitious King Vizimir II of the northern kingdom Redania alerted the Brotherhood about Francesca’s baby. He also wants to find Ciri so she can marry Vizimir. He could then claim Cintra and lead the Continent’s most powerful kingdom.
Dijkstra also ordered Phillipa to find “the Bard” so Jaskier could pay back his “benefactor,” as Dijkstra was the one funding Jaskier’s efforts to save elves.
Dara
The elf who once helped Ciri escape Nilfgaard’s clutches worked as a spy in Redania for Dijkstra. He confessed to Francesca after her baby’s murder and she accepted Dara into her service.
Rience
The deadly, fire-wielding mage who’d been a prisoner of Queen Calanthe of Cintra was freed by the sorceress Lydia. She tasked him with locating Ciri for her unknown boss. He didn’t manage to take the Princess, but he did steal a vial of witcher mutagen containing Ciri’s dangerous blood from Kaer Morhen.
Lydia
The mage badly disfigured her own face while examining the vial she got from Rience. She now speaks through telepathy. Lydia is still trying to make her mysterious employer happy by getting Ciri.
The Wild Hunt
Some believe the Wild Hunt will usher in the end of days. Ciri then encountered the ghastly group of mystical black riders on the home world of the Deathless Mother. (The witch also rejoined the group once she left Yennefer’s body.) The Wild Hunt called out to Ciri, “the starry-eyed Daughter of Chaos” to take her place with them before Ciri portaled her, Geralt, and Yennefer back to the Continent.
Blood Origin revealed the Wild Hunt consists of soldiers from the Continent abandoned on that desolate world.
Now that you know everything you need to from season two, you can get ready for season three. Here’s what you need to do that. Once you’re all caught up we’ll see on the Continent. We won’t be the ones singing.
The Witcher Readies For All-Out War In Tense Season 3 Trailer
Everything We Know About The Witcher Season 3
The Witcher Shares Epic Season 3 Trailer, Images, And Release Date
The Witcher Showrunner Explains Why Series Will Continue Without Henry Cavill
The post Everything You Need to Remember About THE WITCHER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.
In the age of streaming, Netflix has largely remained steadfast in two things: no ads and full season drops. But the time has come for Netflix to make some serious changes. In a Q1 shareholder letter, the streaming platform acknowledged it lost subscribers for the first time in a decade. It lost 200,000 in Q1 and is on track to lose up to two million by the end of Q2. But in the company’s Q1 2022 Earnings Interview, which is on YouTube, executives announced the subscription shake-up. Netflix is officially adding an ad-supported tier, and it has now arrived. And most shocking of all, it seems like the addition of the ad tier has had a positive impact on Netflix’s subscriptions. In fact, Netflix’s ad-tier has finally made some gains. But consumer take note, it seems like Netflix is moving to widen the gulf in price between its ad-free and ad-supported offerings.
Check out the “Subscription Plan” heading for the full details on what’s happening.
Jump to: Timeline // Features // Cost // Subscription Plans // Password Sharing
Netflix’s Ad-Supported Plan Gets Early Arrival
This is a stark change of pace, considering co-founder and co-CEO Reed Hastings—a long holdout on ad-support plans—indicated the new subscription would arrive in a year or two. During Netflix’s Earnings Interview in April 2022, Hastings admitted the company needed to embrace ads in one way or another in order to make money.
Hastings said:
One way to increase the price spread is advertising on low-end plans and to have lower prices with advertising. Those who have followed Netflix know that I’ve been against the complexity of advertising and a big fan of the simplicity of subscription. But as much as I’m a fan of that, I’m a bigger fan of consumer choice. Allowing consumers who would like to have a lower price and are advertising-tolerant get what they want makes a lot of sense. So, that’s something we’re looking at now, we’re trying to figure out over the next year or two. Think of us as quite open to offering even lower prices with advertising as a consumer choice.
And now, the ad-supported tier, called Netflix Basic, has rolled out, as of November 3, 2022. Netflix’s new ad tier debuted in eight countries. According to The Hollywood Reporter, in the first quarter since the addition of the ad-tier, Netflix saw its subscribers increase by 7.66 million users. And most recently, it was reported by Bloomberg that Netflix’s ad-tier had reached one million subscribers. And these subscribers are not users who have downgraded their accounts, but lapsed or new Netflix users. In addition, according to Gizmodo, Netflix’s ad-tier sign-ups rose from 9% to 19% in January. This means it has more subscribers than Netflix’s Basic option.
It looks like the ad-tier, and Netflix’s other cost-impact solutions, such as exploratory paid account sharing, are here to stay.
What Does Netflix’s Ad-Tier Include?
In an October press conference, Netflix confirmed a small number of shows and movies aren’t available on Basic with Ads. Netflix is working on addressing that. As far as other limitations for Basic subscribers: the maximum video quality will be 720p / HD, and subscribers will not be able to download content.
According to reports from Deadline and Variety, some notable TV shows and movies are not available on Netflix’s ad tier. Among other pieces of content, House of Cards, Arrested Development, Peaky Blinders, New Girl, Gray’s Anatomy, The Crown, Cobra Kai, How to Get Away with Murder, The Magicians, 28 Days, and Skyfall cannot be watched on Netflix Basic with Ads.
What Does Netflix’s Ad-Tier Cost?
The same press conference shared the cost of the ad-supported tier: for the US, it’s $6.99/month. Anyone signing up for Basic with Ads will have to consume four to five ads per hour. They’ll last anywhere from 15-30 seconds. This is not terribly different than a service like Hulu. However, Netflix hinted the price may go up after launch.
Netflix’s Current Subscription Plans
Currently, Netflix’s subscription model offers three different rates: basic, standard, and premium. Here’s how the tiers break down and how they might evolve:
Basic
Currently, the cheapest model, the basic subscription, costs $9.99 per month. Subscribers can only watch content on one device—TV, computer, phone, or tablet—at a time. Netflix calls its video quality “good” with 480p resolution.
However, Netflix subscribers should be aware that in Canada, the “Basic” ad-free plan is no longer available. Netflix has confirmed the option to subscribe to the Basic tier, as mentioned, the cheapest ad-free offering, is no longer available for new subscribers. However, this change will not affect those already subscribed to the Basic Netflix ad-free tier. Existing subscribers will be able to hang on to the lower-priced ad-free tier.
A page from Netflix support shares, “The Basic plan is no longer available for new or rejoining members. If you are currently on the Basic plan, you can remain on this plan until you change plans or cancel your account.” This change means subscribers must either select a more expensive ad-free plan or choose the ad-supported option instead. In effect, Netflix has increased the difference in cost between the ad-supported and ad-free plans. It’s unclear if this change will soon arrive in the United States as well, but it certainly seems indicative.
Standard
The middle price point, standard costs $15.49 per month. As the middle child the video quality is better than in the basic plan, with 1080p resolution. (But it pales in comparison to the premium plan.) Plus, subscribers can watch content on two devices—TV, computer, phone, or tablet—at a time.
Premium
Currently, Netflix’s top subscription package, this tier costs $19.99 per month. And with a 4K and HDR resolution, it features the best video quality the streaming platform offers. And with its heftier price, more people can watch at once. Subscribers can watch content on four devices—TV, computer, phone, or tablet—at a time.
Basic with Ads
The streamer notes that its existing tiers will remain ad-free, and an ad-supported tier will act as a complement to these options. Basic with Ads is $6.99/month. Basic with ads can also now be accessed through an Apple TV.
How Netflix’s Password Sharing Crackdown Factors in
Talk of an ad-supported tier comes as Netflix continues to test a plan to crack down on password sharing in Costa Rica, Peru, and Chile. The streaming service is rolling out ways to cut off sharing passwords between households. In doing so, Netflix is testing ways to offload extra users accessing an account in a home they don’t live in. According to The New York Times, this crackdown strategy will go into effect globally around the same time the new subscription tier launches.
In the Earnings Interview, Peters made it quite clear that this strategy will eventually go global in the next year or so. It certainly would make sense to have an even cheaper model design underway as Netflix looks to finally offload the person using their neighbor’s sister’s ex-boyfriend’s account. And by adding another model–one hopefully in a shiny, feasible price range—the streaming platform could retain users but actually, bring in the revenue. Still, there’s a lot for the platform to work out in the meantime. But as long as Netflix’s ads aren’t overwhelmingly loud, people may just accept them and an ad-supported tier.
Originally published on April 20, 2022.
The post Netflix Canada Widens Gulf Between Ad-Supported and Ad-Free Tier Prices appeared first on Nerdist.