New [scribd] links?

2 pointsrandallsquared4 comments

Given the recent arguments about whether scribd are evil for using the DMCA's "online service provider" non-liability clause(s), I find it fascinating that HN is apparently auto-creating mirrors of copyrighted content on scribd. Was this in the works before that thread?

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The automatic [scribd] links have been around for a while - I'm pretty sure I've seen them for the past few weeks at least, maybe much longer. Scribd is a Y Combinator company.

Perhaps, then, I only noticed them for the first time today because of that thread. :)

"HN is apparently auto-creating mirrors of copyrighted content on scribd"

If you look at a '[scribd]' link, you'll see that the scribd url has the original url as a parameter, which suggests that scribd does not make copies of pdfs submitted to HN, but merely acts as an in-browser pdf viewer.

Well, "vacuum" doesn't have the connotation of a viewer or filter, to me. :)

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