By Dave Parrack
Porn studios hate GitHub, Apple accused of abusing developers, Google donates to Charlie Hebdo, try Apple Watch in your browser, PS4 launch delayed in China, and a speedy marriage proposal.
Github Caught Up In Porn Takedowns
Overzealous porn studios are being so aggressive in their anti-piracy efforts that they’re asking Google to remove perfectly legitimate links to collaborative coding repository GitHub. According to TorrentFreak, this collateral damage is occurring based on nothing more than some GitHub projects sharing similar names to porn films.
Acting on behalf of Wicked Pictures, the not-so-subtly-named Takedown Piracy (TDP) sent Google a notice demanding the removal of thousands of links it alleged infringed on its client’s copyrights. Except not all of them did, with GitHub URLs also caught in the net. Companies affected include Yahoo, Facebook, and Netflix.
This suggests copyright holders and the companies working for them are being far too aggressive in issuing takedown requests. Which is what led Google to being hit with more than 345 million of them in 2014.
EFF Accuses Apple Over Developer Terms
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has big issues with Apple’s “outrageous” developer agreement. These are the terms app developers have to agree to before even considering making an app for an Apple product, and according to the digital rights advocate, they’re “bad for developers and users alike.”
The EFF doesn’t appreciate the kill switch, the ban on developers talking about the terms, the ban on jailbreaking, and many other elements outlined in a scathing editorial. The overall conclusion being that the Apple Developer Agreement is “a very one-sided contract, favoring Apple at every turn.”
This has led the EFF to make its new mobile app an Android exclusive, meaning there is now a real-world consequence to Apple’s vice-like grip on the App Store.
Google Donates $300k To Charlie Hebdo
Google is donating $300,000 to Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine which was recently attacked by masked gunmen. The money, made through the Digital Press Fund, is intended to help Charlie Hebdo continue to operate in the wake of the attack.
Google isn’t the only donor helping to ensure the weekly magazine survives. The French government has pledged $1.2 million, The Guardian newspaper has pledged $150,000, and a crowdfunding campaign has raised almost $100,000 at the time of writing.
Pipes Builds Interesting Apple Watch Demo
You can now get an idea of what the Apple Watch will be like to use thanks to a demo built by news app Pipes. The interactive demo allows you to click through to a number of apps without ever leaving the comfort of your Web browser.
It isn’t the most exciting of tech demos around, and the range of things you can do is severely limited. However, it’s better than nothing for all of us who weren’t able to test the real prototypes when Apple revealed the Watch at its glossy press event in September.
Sony Delays PlayStation 4 Launch In China
Sony has delayed the launch of the PlayStation 4 in China just a few days before it was due to go ahead. The PS4 was originally due to launch on Jan. 11, but has now been delayed by “various factors.” There is no word yet on a revised launch date for the Sony console.
There has been a rush to get the new games consoles into China after the authorities lifted its ban on them after 14 years. The Xbox One went on sale in China in September 2013, but protracted negotiations have led to Sony cancelling the launch for the time being.
Gamer Proposes Marriage During Speedrun
And finally, there are countless ways to propose marriage to someone, but this may be the geekiest we have ever seen. This guy proposed to his girlfriend in the middle of a speedrun, which sees hardcore gamers beating video games in record times.
Not only did he have the courage to propose in a very public manner, he did so while raising money for charity. Which means he’s clearly a good egg. Thankfully, she said Yes. Much to the relief of his fellow gamers watching the live stream on Twitch.
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