CBS Signs Licensing Deal With ‘Peanuts’ People To Duck Legal Issues From Colbert’s Last Show | Techdirt Techdirt is off for the holiday! We'll be back with our regular posts this weekend. https://www.techdirt.com/ • • Sign In (https://www.techdirt.com/my-account/) • Register (https://www.techdirt.com/register/) • Preferences (https://www.techdirt.com/preferences/) Techdirt - [x] • TechDirt (https://www.techdirt.com/) • GreenHouse (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/greenhouse/) • Free Speech (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/freespeech/) • Error 402 (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/webmonetization/) • Ctrl-Alt-Speech (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/ctrlaltspeech/) • Deals (https://deals.techdirt.com/) • Jobs (https://jobs.techdirt.com/) • Support Techdirt (https://www.techdirt.com/support/) https://www.techdirt.com/blog/podcast/ Congress Just Rushed Through A Disastrous Copyright Office Overhaul (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/congress-just-rushed-through-a-disastrous-copyright-office-overhaul/) CBS Signs Licensing Deal With ‘Peanuts’ People To Duck Legal Issues From Colbert’s Last Show (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/) CBS Signs Licensing Deal With ‘Peanuts’ People To Duck Legal Issues From Colbert’s Last Show https://www.techdirt.com/?s&topic=copyright Copyright (https://www.techdirt.com/?s&topic=copyright) from the lucy-pulling-away-the-copyright-football dept Thu, Jun 18th 2026 07:39pm - Timothy Geigner (https://www.techdirt.com/user/ronalddumsfeld/) I can’t say I know for sure that Stephen Colbert (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/stephen-colbert/) is a Techdirt reader, but I very much believe he is. His interests align somewhat with ours, he often comments on some of the same topics we do, and, it turns out, he decided to troll his previous employer during his last show in a very Techdirt-ian manner. After CBS decided to sacrifice Colbert at the altar of American fascism, the wind down of The Late Show culminated in a final broadcast weeks ago. During that broadcast, Colbert was covering a story about Lee Mendelson Film Productions, which owns the music catalogue for the Charlie Brown franchise, suing several targets for use of its copyrighted music. As he did so, the show band began playing the Charlie Brown theme song. Colbert mused afterwards sarcastically that he hoped that wouldn’t cost CBS any money. Video 3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieBbMpGavr4) Well played, if only to highlight the absurdity that such a short performance of an iconic song like that could actually result in threats, lawsuits, or demands for payment. But many speculated that the show had already gotten the rights to play the music before it aired, or that Lee Mendelson Film Productions wouldn’t actually do anything about it all to avoid inserting itself into the public spat between Colbert, CBS, and our current government. Wrong. The company did apparently reach out to CBS, which eventually had to enter into a licensing agreement (https://www.billboard.com/pro/cbs-deal-avoid-legal-trouble-stephen-colbert-peanuts-song/) to avoid any legal issues. The agreement will see CBS take a license for “Linus and Lucy,” the unofficial Peanuts theme that Colbert’s band played on the air during the show. The proceeds from the deal will be donated to the charity World Central Kitchen, run by Chef José Andrés. “LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” the group’s chairmanJason Mendelsonsaid. A spokeswoman for CBS confirmed the agreement but declined to comment. On the one hand, I guess it’s nice to see some of CBS’ money go to a good organization like World Central Kitchen. But I do indeed wonder if similar arrangements were struck with the other four entities against which LMFP filed lawsuits. I somehow doubt it. I would guess instead that such treatment was reserved for CBS, in order to make this story more lighthearted and warming. It’s not, this is stupid, and none of this is as it should be. Colbert shouldn’t have been forced out of his job by a combination of a thin-skinned gibbon and a compliant CBS. It’s insanity that copyright law is in a place where such a diminutive use of a famous song could result in the requirement of a licensing arrangement, never mind actual potential lawsuits. And if it’s so necessary to protect copyright in this instance that lawsuits need to be filed against multiple parties, it should be important enough that any licensing fees and/or damages obtained shouldn’t just be given away to charities. But as a final poke in CBS’ eye, this was a good one. Filed Under: charlie brown (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/charlie-brown/), copyright (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/copyright/), licensing (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/licensing/), stephen colbert (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/stephen-colbert/) Companies: cbs (https://www.techdirt.com/company/cbs/), lmfp (https://www.techdirt.com/company/lmfp/), paramount (https://www.techdirt.com/company/paramount/), world central kitchen (https://www.techdirt.com/company/world-central-kitchen/) https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F18%2Fcbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show%2F&title=CBS%20Signs%20Licensing%20Deal%20With%20%26%238216%3BPeanuts%26%238217%3B%20People%20To%20Duck%20Legal%20Issues%20From%20Colbert%26%238217%3Bs%20Last%20Showhttps://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F18%2Fcbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show%2F&text=CBS%20Signs%20Licensing%20Deal%20With%20%26%238216%3BPeanuts%26%238217%3B%20People%20To%20Duck%20Legal%20Issues%20From%20Colbert%26%238217%3Bs%20Last%20Show&via=Techdirthttps://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F18%2Fcbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show%2F&t=CBS%20Signs%20Licensing%20Deal%20With%20%26%238216%3BPeanuts%26%238217%3B%20People%20To%20Duck%20Legal%20Issues%20From%20Colbert%26%238217%3Bs%20Last%20Showhttps://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&ro=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F18%2Fcbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show%2F&title=CBS%20Signs%20Licensing%20Deal%20With%20%26%238216%3BPeanuts%26%238217%3B%20People%20To%20Duck%20Legal%20Issues%20From%20Colbert%26%238217%3Bs%20Last%20Show 6 Comments (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comments)Leave a Comment (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comments) If you liked this post, you may also be interested in... • Congress Just Rushed Through A Disastrous Copyright Office Overhaul (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/congress-just-rushed-through-a-disastrous-copyright-office-overhaul/) • California’s AB 412 Still Demands AI Developers Do The Impossible (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/10/californias-ab-412-still-demands-ai-developers-do-the-impossible/) • Stop Killing Games Gets Its First American Legislative Effort Out Of Committee in California (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/28/stop-killing-games-gets-its-first-american-legislative-effort-out-of-committee-in-california/) • France's Terrible Copyright Law, Hadopi, Is Not Quite Dead (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/22/frances-terrible-copyright-law-hadopi-is-not-quite-dead/) • Valve Blocks Indie Dev Game For Including IP From The Same Indie Dev In Game (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/13/valve-blocks-indie-dev-game-for-including-ip-from-the-same-indie-dev-in-game/) Click to toggle (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/)https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/ Rate this comment as insightful Rate this comment as funny You have rated this comment as insightful You have rated this comment as funny Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam You have flagged this comment The first word has already been claimed The last word has already been claimed Comments on “CBS Signs Licensing Deal With ‘Peanuts’ People To Duck Legal Issues From Colbert’s Last Show” Subscribe: RSS (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/comments/feed/)Leave a comment (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#respond) • Filter comments in by Time • Filter comments as Threaded • Filter only comments rated Insightful • Filter only comments rated funny LOL • Filter only comments that are Unread 6 Comments This comment is new since your last visit. MrWilson(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/mrwilson/)says: June 18, 2026 at 7:42 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5409411) Live by the copyright, shell out for the copyright. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5409411#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5409411)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5409411) This comment is new since your last visit. Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 8:32 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5409528) It’s insanity that copyright law is in a place where such a diminutive use of a famous song could result in the requirement of a licensing arrangement Given that Colbert’s band played it—meaning they were using a composition but not a recording copyrighted by others—why wouldn’t the network have just used a compulsory license, such as through a performance-rights organization? I mean, what is CBS but a bunch of lawyers who should be on top of this shit? Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5409528#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5409528)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5409528) This comment is new since your last visit. Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 9:18 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5409584) I’ll be honest. That we haven’t resorted to firing squads for downloading music yet actually surprises me. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5409584#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5409584)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5409584) This comment is new since your last visit. Pixelation says: June 18, 2026 at 9:58 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5409653) I just wonder who will bring us, “Hormuz News You Can Use”? After the latest Hormuz News, Trump needs booze! $300 billion to Iran for those tankers to Cruz. Well Donny, you Snuz you Luz. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5409653#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5409653)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5409653) This comment is new since your last visit. pixelpusher220(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/pixelpusher220/)says: June 19, 2026 at 10:28 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5411064) It's the arraingment specifically, did CBS talk to Peanuts and say “sue us, we’ll make a heartwarming story out of it”? It’s not any crazier than the current state of copyright. CBS approves/bleeps jokes, are we to assume they blindly don’t review the music? Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5411064#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5411064)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5411064) This comment is new since your last visit. That One Guy(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/thatoneguy/)says: June 19, 2026 at 10:29 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#comment-5411065) CBS: 'We don't do 'news' any more' Given what happened to Disney over the, as it turns out short-lived sacking of Jimmy Kimmel I expect that paying out over a short bit of music will be the least of CBS’ financial pains in the coming months after sacking Colbert and killing The Late Show to appease the regime… Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/?replytocom=5411065#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5411065)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5411065) Close • says: https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/# Add Your Comment Cancel reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/#respond) Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked * Have a Techdirt Account? 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Δ Congress Just Rushed Through A Disastrous Copyright Office Overhaul (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/congress-just-rushed-through-a-disastrous-copyright-office-overhaul/) CBS Signs Licensing Deal With ‘Peanuts’ People To Duck Legal Issues From Colbert’s Last Show (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/cbs-signs-licensing-deal-with-peanuts-people-to-duck-legal-issues-from-colberts-last-show/) Follow Techdirt https://bsky.app/profile/techdirt.comhttps://www.facebook.com/techdirthttps://www.techdirt.com/feed/https://www.techdirt.com/podcast.xml Techdirt Daily Newsletter Subscribe to Our Newsletter Please leave this field empty ****Get all our posts****in your inbox with the Techdirt Daily Newsletter! We don’t spam. Read our privacy policy (https://www.techdirt.com/privacy/) for more info. 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Doctorow would agree with my usage of that term, though) • John Roddy:They already started rolling it back • Leah Abram:Wait, what? BlueSky disenshittified themselves? • John Roddy:They seemed to be genuinely shocked by the backlash. • I don't understand how • Leah Abram:So Trumpy rolled back his $1.8B IRS scam and BlueSky walked back their enshittifying changes? • Am I feeling…pride? • [[gifv]https://klipy.com/gifs/what-nani-1](https://klipy.com/gifs/what-nani-1) • John Roddy:Mamdani suspended bedtimes • candescence:Must've been a well-intentioned change that the staff really did not think through • But they really should stop with these sudden changes without community input • John Roddy:That's what gets me. BlueSky is one of the very few startups that genuinely took moderation and trust& safety serious from day one • How did they walk into such an obvious backlash like this? • aabsurdity:There were reports that one of the people affected was given a 22 day timer, shown on posts. Because your entire post history dissolves into chastity after 22 days somehow, I guess? • Bluesky moderation has stepped on a few rakes, but this really scared the whole artist community, given all the NSFW and SFW creators whose lives and livelihoods were decimated by PayPal in recent months. • https://bsky.app/profile/safety....https://bsky.app/profile/safety.bsky.app/post/3mnb7cza5yc2g (https://bsky.app/profile/safety.bsky.app/post/3mnb7cza5yc2g) I really could do without the idea that the concept of humans having bodies is inherently harmful to people until they turn 18. • Generations of kids have been taught how to deal with being on fire, but nobody wants to have a talk with their kids about other people because it's icky. • benv0727:Today, I joined @IJM to call for the Senate to immediately hold a vote on my STOP CSAM Act—which advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Children need protections from predators on the internet, and this bill is an essential first step. There is no more time for delay. • https://x.com/i/status/206185715...https://x.com/i/status/2061857154957468115 (https://x.com/i/status/2061857154957468115) • aabsurdity:If you're quoting someone, it's generally accepted that you will use quote marks to indicate this. • BentFranklin:Microsoft CEO: We’re moving from OS and apps to agents instead • https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/m...https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/microsoft-ceo-were-moving-from-os-and-apps-to-agents-instead/ (https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/microsoft-ceo-were-moving-from-os-and-apps-to-agents-instead/) • . • Mike Masnick:at some point i'm going to write something about this, but an agentic-first computing paradigm really would fuck up all the efforts to age gate the internet... so I get why people don't like it for the AI of it all, but there are some interesting side effects • John Roddy:I know it usually misses the point to investigate how it would break once it's been established that the break is inevitable. But hey, that's still fascinating to weirdos like me. • Also, Matt Taibbi is appealing his defamation loss to the 2nd Circus. • Get in, losers. We're going losing! • candescence:https://bsky.app/profile/yashara...https://bsky.app/profile/yasharali.bsky.social/post/3mndxlp273d2g (https://bsky.app/profile/yasharali.bsky.social/post/3mndxlp273d2g) • https://bsky.app/profile/justinb...https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3mndxll2mvk2l (https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3mndxll2mvk2l) • Nick Bilton is a thin-skinned stooge. • Mike Masnick:meanwhile... [[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jxNeV5L1Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jxNeV5L1Q) • aabsurdity:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3...https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3fS5NyKzygU (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3fS5NyKzygU) • Seems to be a decent summary. • Leah Abram:I concur. • imatool13:@Mike Masnick with the prolifieration of Agents is MCP (mixed with skills) protocol above platform? Seems a whole lot of companies open themselves up to AI Agents more than just integrations, curious your thoughts. • BentFranklin:I didn't think we were ever going to get the Musk versus Zuckerberg slapfight we were promised, but now that we will have a cage right there, it would be wasteful not to use it at least a few more times before dismantling it. • aabsurdity:Especially now that Trump wants to keep it forever as a commemoration of his bestest and happiest birthday, like the Eiffel Tower. • intelati:What the [[article]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/03/trump-ufc-arena-white-house-claw-permanent/90387950007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/03/trump-ufc-arena-white-house-claw-permanent/90387950007/) I hate this timeline • aabsurdity:It's amazing how Trump does not, and never has, and never will, have any class whatsoever. He genuinely cannot see the difference between the engineering marvel of the Eiffel Tower, and a commonplace (though still a significant technical achievement in its way) lighting scaffold. They're both made of metal. • BentFranklin:How long until his ballroom guests mosey over after dinner to watch gladiators fight to the death with Trump having the final say with or ? • aabsurdity:I can't imagine he'd be interested. He'd have to be able to care if people other than himself are alive or dead. • intelati:Not this bout. The next one is a 50/50 shot. And increasing therein • BentFranklin:You know how mobsters will make you do a crime before they can trust you? So they will always have something on you? I think about that whenever someone says "I was just Epstein's lawyer," or broker, or anything significant. • John Roddy:I someone describe the BAM article as "climbing Mount Masnick" • And my brain immediately did the movie trailer guy voice for "from the makers of Driving Ms Daisy" • Leah Abram:Maybe it’s because of where I live but when I see “BAM” I think “Brooklyn Academy of Music” • aabsurdity:[[link]https://fxbsky.app/profile/presidentkelly.blacksky.app/post/3mnkf25iyjs2s](https://fxbsky.app/profile/presidentkelly.blacksky.app/post/3mnkf25iyjs2s)[[article]https://fxbsky.app/profile/yeti-detective.bsky.social/post/3mnkhrida222h](https://fxbsky.app/profile/yeti-detective.bsky.social/post/3mnkhrida222h) AI hiring screeners apparently retaining their rejection score for applicants across multiple different jobs, at all the companies they service, for nearly a year. So, get rejected for one job, basically you're unhireable by any company that also uses that tool, for any position, for the next 330 days. That's... Pretty dang bad if true... • BentFranklin:The Smart TV in Your Living Room Is a Node in the AI Scraping Economy • [[article]https://blog.includesecurity.com/2026/06/the-smart-tv-in-your-livingroom-is-a-node-in-the-aiscraping-economy/](https://blog.includesecurity.com/2026/06/the-smart-tv-in-your-livingroom-is-a-node-in-the-aiscraping-economy/) • Leah Abram:This is why Dumb TVs are a smart option! • I want a TV dumber than Pete Hegseth! • tomacamot:Or simply don't connect your TV to the Internet • candescence:Scott Pelley is now free to shit on his former bosses and tell the world how much of a propaganda rag CBS is becoming: https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=...https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=DZq7rY81Ur9IcKUt (https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=DZq7rY81Ur9IcKUt) • Quotes include "Bari Weiss Emailed my Boss and asked 'Can you make the protestors look more violent?'" and "Can you describe Renee Good as 'driving at the officer'?" • This is why you don't fire people who know where the bodies are buried. • aabsurdity:Someone said something today that I genuinely hadn't considered, which was the idea that this isn't an anti-journalism conservative deliberately torching a journalistic institution because the money they're spending doesn't mean anything any more, or that the death of CBS is simply advantageous, and instead that this is a project someone believes in and thinks it's going to work. And I have to admit that I didn't even see that as a possibility, but now that I have, that might make it worse. • Mike Masnick:Oh, they absolutely believe it's going to work. The Bari Weisses of the world believe fully that their view of the world has a silent majority behind them who were just waiting to have what The Free Press was delivering to the world... • aabsurdity:Genuinely baffling. • intelati:https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawa...https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawalla.bsky.social/post/3mnrigweehc2t (https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawalla.bsky.social/post/3mnrigweehc2t) • candescence:It looks like Microsoft and Sony's gaming divisions have almost entirely reverted back to exclusivity • Leah Abram:The golden age is over. This is like when Comedy Specials went from DRM-free video files to being included with streaming services • candescence:Sony's pulling back from single-player PC releases is a bit more questionable since low sales there are kinda self-inflicted due to late but overpriced releases, but the Xbox division has a new boss and it seems she's decided that multiplatform releases simply aren't working and are hurting the brand • timothygeigner:Trust me, the exclusivity thing is on my radar. I definitely have things to say about it. • Though why Microsoft won't just admit that they lost the console wars is beyond me. • John Roddy:My favorite was the clarification that the new Gears of War would be exclusive to Xbox. • And PC. • The ol' Ubisoft-style definition of exclusive. • aabsurdity:As a PC gamer... • BentFranklin:Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers • [[article]https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/](https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/) • aabsurdity:> First I came for the Communists > And I laughed > Because I was not a Communist > Then I came for the Socialists > And I laughed > Because I was not a Socialist > Then I came for the trade unionists > And I laughed > Because I was not a trade unionist > Then I came for the Jews > And I laughed > Because I was not a Jew > Then they came for me > “If he would do that to me, he would do that to anybody,” I said > “There’s never going to be good enough for him, other than 100 percent, you know, slavish adherence to whatever he wants.“ • BentFranklin:Extinction-level capitalism a citizen’s thoughts on AI risk • [[article]https://matthewbutterick.com/extinction-level-capitalism.html](https://matthewbutterick.com/extinction-level-capitalism.html) • bode000:yeah they definitely want it to work. I see that "they want to destroy it" claim all the time. They don't want to really destroy it, they want to repurpose it for propaganda. Like Twitter. Or Newsweek. Or the Baltimore Sun. All bought by right wingers to seed bullshit in the electorate. And they want it to make money. The problem for them is they aren't competent. • John Roddy:The people taking over might be nepo babies, but they're not stupid. They see exactly what damage is being done to these once-successful brands. • aabsurdity:A while ago I heard the phrase "ownership is not a skill"... • It comes in handy for so many things... • John Roddy:That isn't a side effect. It's not even the goal. Just a bonus. • bode000:I think they want to leverage the credibility of existing brands to convert them into propaganda and confuse the electorate with bullshit. I also think they're ok if the patient dies on the table during that procedure. • not to say that sometimes they don't just want to kill an outlet outright, like gawker • John Roddy:Even then, Gawker was already dying when thiel got involved. • bode000:the only thing that could save us (in a country without any useful media reform policies or a working opposition party) is these folks have no idea what they're doing. • John Roddy:I think that highlights how much this has escalated since then • bode000:it's just wild now. I'm seeing people actually interested in conversations about media consolidation now. • everybody's eyes used to glaze over when I brought it up • John Roddy:And then one of those people explains how the fairness doctrine would've prevented this, and that's why I went on the rampage, your honor. • bode000:I see that exchange 50 times a day (you know the fairness doctrine only covered broadcast and was neither well crafted nor enforced, right?) • Leah Abram:Far too many liberals think the fairness doctrine is a panacea. • bode000:and Republicans spent 40 years whining about it only to engage in far, far worse. great stuff! • John Roddy:And today's existential horror is titled "Europe attempts to integrate American tech policy, but ends up only grabbing the Fifth Circuit Court instead" • Mike Masnick:and a week after the EU laid out its plan for building a local internet. and the cjeu jumps in with "lol, good luck" • BentFranklin:If people really want the Iran war to end, maybe stop rubbing Trump's failure in his face. It's schadenfreudtastic as all hell and really all most of us can do, but note that the Iranians seem to have stopped taunting him. • Also it's really nice to see Netanyahu on the outside for once. Maybe this war will get some regime change after all. And maybe Bibi can drag down Lindsay Graham with him. • timothygeigner:I'm very excited to find out Friday just how much Trump capitulated in whatever this "deal" is. The fact that they won't release the text until after signing is, well, quite transparent. • John Roddy:"Iran agrees to purchase Ninja Theory and Compulsion Studios" • timothygeigner:And to never vaccinate against anything ever again. All my worlds colliding at once. • John Roddy:The US agrees to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. • Leah Abram:My new BlueSky handle is ironcurtain.northsky.social • Mike Masnick:The Northsky folks are great • Leah Abram:Thank you, Mr. Masnick! Become an Insider! 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