يوريو / xy0ro
Scary AustinOkay at this point Tolkien has stopped spinning in his grave and is just laughing his ass off.
Mastodon MigrationSeems like Smaug would be a better name for protecting obscene piles of stolen treasure.
Matthias Rex 🦣@MaryAustinBooks I've heard Tolkein's estate is aggressive about suing over this kind of thing - I don't understand how these people are getting away with copyright infringement.
@Meowthias I hope they can sue. The books are not yet public domain in the US.
@MaryAustinBooks Musk is also using "Palantir" which is from the books.
@Meowthias
I think it's Thiel in that particular case, but none of these fuckwits have understood the books, for sure.
I think it's Thiel in that particular case, but none of these fuckwits have understood the books, for sure.
Eleder@MaryAustinBooks @Meowthias Well, Tolkien's names are owned by Middle Earth enterprises, a private company without any relationship with the Estate (since Tolkien himself sold the books rights during his life).
But it's totally true that their licensing guidelines don't allow these uses without a license, so we must think they have reached an economical agreement 🙁 https://www.middleearth.com/licensing#licensing_guidelines
But it's totally true that their licensing guidelines don't allow these uses without a license, so we must think they have reached an economical agreement 🙁 https://www.middleearth.com/licensing#licensing_guidelines
Edelruth, PBS Passport HolderI had a big "?" about that since I first heard it.
@Edelruth @Meowthias
Yes, at least in the books the Palantiri can be used for good or evil. But it shows that even innocent use of their magical surveillance can still be twisted to evil, with disastrous results. As usual, this warning flew straight over the tech bros' heads with a huge whooshing sound.
Yes, at least in the books the Palantiri can be used for good or evil. But it shows that even innocent use of their magical surveillance can still be twisted to evil, with disastrous results. As usual, this warning flew straight over the tech bros' heads with a huge whooshing sound.
@Edelruth @Meowthias
Ironically, both Sauron and Denethor use the Palantiri and *both* of them get punked. Denethor is trying to defend his people by spying on Sauron, but Sauron establishes a subtle connection with his Palantir to drive Denethor mad. Also, when Pippin looks into a Palantir, Sauron sees him and mistakenly thinks he's the ring bearer. Sauron then attacks Minas Tirith, distracting him from Frodo and Sam, who manage to reach Mt Doom.
I love that Thiel chose the name anyway.
Finitum@MaryAustinBooks Sonos- now there's a name etched in granite that has had nothing go wrong in the recent past. Truly, a blue chip, bedrock reliable name where people can put their trust in a product & the people behind it.
https://gizmodo.com/how-a-bad-app-led-sonos-ceo-to-resign-2000549262
https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/13/24342282/sonos-app-redesign-controversy-full-story
karamazov1879@MaryAustinBooks Oh, well that is too bad.
Sharp Leaves@MaryAustinBooks Sauron this, Palantir that, these awful tech grifters/oligarchs just use Tolkien as their protective nerd colouration (like Musk and his stupid 50's scifi). The real ones know Goatse guy is the original internet Lord of the Rings.
Phosphenes@BoysenberryCider @MaryAustinBooks
Oh main now we wait for a tech company to cluelessly call itself Goatse. 😆
Stefan Prandl@MaryAustinBooks ah yes naming your security company after the guy who famously lost everything due to a single point of failure. Sure, trust the company named after the guy who was well known to deceive his clients. Genius.
bit101@MaryAustinBooks
Now I'm rethinking the name of my new security startup, "Death Star"
Now I'm rethinking the name of my new security startup, "Death Star"
@bit101
The Trump campaign beat you to it!
2something@MaryAustinBooks He's also known for not in any way screwing over rich people who use his devices.
Margret Kuarell