Techdirt#Other work

File:Mike Masnick (7997226136) (cropped).jpg

The website was founded in 1997 by Mike Masnick. It was originally based on the weblog software Slash. Techdirt's content is based on reader submissions as well as the editorial staff's picks. The website makes use of MySQL, Apache, and PHP, and is hosted at ActionWeb.{{cite web|title=About Techdirt|url=https://www.techdirt.com/about.php|publisher=Techdirt|access-date=December 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204194312/http://www.techdirt.com/about.php|archive-date=2011-12-04|url-status=live}} Techdirt is managed by Floor 64, a company located in Redwood City, California, US.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techdirt.com/about.php|title=About Techdirt.|website=techdirt.com|access-date=2019-11-07}} As of 2009, Techdirt had eight full-time employees.{{Cite web |last=Sandoval |first=Greg |date=September 14, 2009 |title=Dirt cheap: Techdirt bets on 'free' business models |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/dirt-cheap-techdirt-bets-on-free-business-models/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=CNET |language=en}}

There is a guest editor section in Techdirt, called "Favorite Techdirt Posts of the Week", where several high-profile personalities of politics and culture contributed articles over the years; for instance Marietje Schaake, Member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands,{{cite web|last=Schaake|first=Marietje|title=European Parliament Member Marietje Schaake's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120518/14001518975/european-parliament-member-marietje-schaakes-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|publisher=techdirt|access-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203034812/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120518/14001518975/european-parliament-member-marietje-schaakes-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|archive-date=2013-02-03|url-status=live}} Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon{{cite web|last=Wyden|first=Ron|title=Senator Ron Wyden's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120127/17433217576/senator-ron-wydens-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|publisher=techdirt|access-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501005222/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120127/17433217576/senator-ron-wydens-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|archive-date=2013-05-01|url-status=live}} or author Glyn Moody.{{cite web|last=Moody|first=Glyn|title=Glyn Moody's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week|url=https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110422/12175514003/glyn-moodys-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|publisher=techdirt|access-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119035257/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110422/12175514003/glyn-moodys-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml|archive-date=2013-01-19|url-status=live}}

The popular term the "Streisand effect" was coined on Techdirt by founder Mike Masnick in January 2005.{{cite web|url=http://techdirt.com/articles/20060713/0332234.shtml|title=Is Leveraging the Streisand Effect Illegal?|publisher=techdirt.com|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=2017-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103173753/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060713/0332234.shtml|archive-date=2017-01-03|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87809195|title=The Streisand Effect' Snags Effort to Hide Documents|publisher=National Public Radio|work=All Things Considered|date=February 29, 2008|author=Robert Siegel|quote=The episode is the latest example of a phenomenon known as the "Streisand Effect." Robert Siegel talks with Mike Masnick, CEO of Techdirt Inc., who coined the term.|access-date=2018-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306072519/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87809195|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Masnick |first=Mike |date=2005-01-05 |title=Since When Is It Illegal To Just Mention A Trademark Online? |url=https://www.techdirt.com/2005/01/05/since-when-is-it-illegal-to-just-mention-a-trademark-online/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Techdirt |language=en-US |quote=How long is it going to take before lawyers realize that the simple act of trying to repress something they don't like online is likely to make it so that [...] is now seen by many more people? Let's call it the Streisand Effect.}}

In 2003, Forbes Magazine selected Techdirt as one of the "Best Tech Blogs".[https://www.forbes.com/2003/03/14/cx_ah_0314blog.html "Best Tech Blogs"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103095515/http://www.forbes.com/2003/03/14/cx_ah_0314blog.html |date=2017-01-03 }}. on Forbes by Arik Hesseldahl (3/14/2003). In 2006 Bloomberg Businessweek praised Techdirt for its "sharp, pithy analysis of current tech issues".{{cite news |last=Hof |first=Rob |title=The Dirt on Techdirt's New Blogger Community |url=http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/10/the_dirt_on_techdirts_new_blogger_community.html |access-date=December 13, 2011 |newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=October 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416130858/http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/10/the_dirt_on_techdirts_new_blogger_community.html |archive-date=2011-04-16 |url-status=dead }} In 2007, Techdirt was nominated for the Webby Award in the section "Web Blog – Business".[http://webbyawards.com/winners/2007/web/general-website/blog-business/techdirt/ techdirt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165942/http://webbyawards.com/winners/2007/web/general-website/blog-business/techdirt/ |date=2017-01-03 }} on webbyawards.com (2007) Techdirt has been named among the favorite blogs of PC Magazine in 2008.{{cite web |last1=Heater |first1=Brian |last2=Griffith |first2=Eric |title=Our Favorite Blogs |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2337388,00.asp |publisher=PC Magazine |access-date=December 13, 2011 |date=December 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530182543/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2337388,00.asp |archive-date=2012-05-30 |url-status=live }} In 2015, Techdirt allowed readers to remove web ads.{{Cite web |last=Bilton |first=Ricardo |date=2015-10-02 |title='Why fight it?': One tech publication is letting readers remove ads |url=https://digiday.com/media/fight-one-tech-publication-letting-readers-remove-ads/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Digiday |language=en-US}}

In 2009, English singer Lily Allen created a blog critical of music piracy in which she plagiarized an entire post from Techdirt.{{cite news|last=Masnick|first=Mike|title=Lily Allen: Copying Isn't Alright... Unless It's Done By Lily Allen|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090921/0527456270.shtml|access-date=December 13, 2011|newspaper=Techdirt|date=September 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209161236/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090921/0527456270.shtml|archive-date=2011-12-09|url-status=live}} Following an exchange with Techdirt, debating hypocrisy in the musician's handling of copyright infringement, Allen shut down her blog.{{cite news |last=Chivers |first=Tom |title=Lily Allen drops fight against filesharing after Techdirt spat |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6226690/Lily-Allen-drops-fight-against-filesharing-after-Techdirt-spat.html |access-date=December 13, 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=September 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112201541/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6226690/Lily-Allen-drops-fight-against-filesharing-after-Techdirt-spat.html |archive-date=2012-01-12 |url-status=live }}

Marvin Ammori, a lawyer who advocates on network neutrality and Internet freedom, praised Techdirt in the 2011 Stop Online Piracy Act controversy, saying: "I'm not sure anyone did more to educate the public about SOPA than Techdirt."[https://medium.com/thoughts-on-journalism/how-this-blogger-became-one-of-the-most-influential-voices-in-tech-policy-a80c0c495839#.gf8d56kha How this blogger became one of the most influential voices in tech policy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103094128/https://medium.com/thoughts-on-journalism/how-this-blogger-became-one-of-the-most-influential-voices-in-tech-policy-a80c0c495839#.gf8d56kha |date=2017-01-03 }} on medium.com by Simon Owens (Jan 21, 2016)

In 2017, American entrepreneur Shiva Ayyadurai filed suit against Techdirt for defamation in response to a series of articles critical of Ayyadurai's claims to have invented email as a teenager in 1978, an assertion which has been dismissed by several experts.{{cite news |title=Man who says he invented e-mail sues Techdirt for disputing claim |publisher=Ars Technica |date=6 January 2017 |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/man-who-says-he-invented-e-mail-sues-techdirt-for-disputing-claim/ |first=David |last=Kravets |access-date=2017-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628014340/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/man-who-says-he-invented-e-mail-sues-techdirt-for-disputing-claim/ |archive-date=2017-06-28 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/defamation-lawsuit-brought-self-proclaimed-email-inventor-settles-n1007196|title=Defamation lawsuit brought by self-proclaimed email 'inventor' settles|last1=Farivar|first1=Cyrus|date=May 17, 2019|work=NBC News|access-date=November 7, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529140115/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/defamation-lawsuit-brought-self-proclaimed-email-inventor-settles-n1007196|archive-date=May 29, 2019}} Techdirt announced its intention to fight the suit, describing it as a "First Amendment fight for its life".{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Joe |date=2017-01-11 |title=Popular tech blog sued by self-proclaimed “inventor of e-mail” hits back |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/popular-tech-blog-sued-by-self-proclaimed-inventor-of-e-mail-hits-back/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} Masnick filed for the suit to be dismissed under California's anti-SLAPP statute.{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Joe |date=2017-02-18 |title=Techdirt lawyers ask judge to throw out suit over “Inventor of E-mail” |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/techdirt-lawyers-ask-judge-to-throw-out-defamation-suit-over-inventor-of-e-mail/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |date=2017-03-20 |title=Techdirt’s Mike Masnick Squares Off Against Charles Harder in SLAPP Fight |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/techdirts-mike-masnick-squares-charles-harder-slapp-fight-987284/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} A federal judge dismissed the defamation claims on September 6, 2017.{{cite news |title=Techdirt prevails in libel lawsuit over e-mail invention claims |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/09/judge-dismisses-libel-lawsuit-filed-by-self-proclaimed-e-mail-inventor/ |publisher=Ars Technica |first=Cyrus |last=Farivar |date=6 September 2017 |access-date=2017-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906201803/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/09/judge-dismisses-libel-lawsuit-filed-by-self-proclaimed-e-mail-inventor/ |archive-date=2017-09-06 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Cullins |first=Ashley |date=2017-09-06 |title=Techdirt’s Mike Masnick Defeats $15M Libel Lawsuit From Self-Proclaimed Inventor of Email |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/techdirts-mike-masnick-defeats-15m-libel-lawsuit-proclaimed-inventor-email-1036070/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In June 2018, attorneys for Ayyadurai appealed the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/06/inventor-of-email-appeals-ruling-that-tossed-his-libel-suit-against-techdirt/|title="Inventor of email" appeals ruling that tossed his libel suit against Techdirt|last=Farivar|first=Cyrus|date=June 30, 2018|work=Ars Technica|access-date=2018-07-16|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717012852/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/06/inventor-of-email-appeals-ruling-that-tossed-his-libel-suit-against-techdirt/|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}} The two parties settled out-of-court in May 2019 with no money changing hands, and Techdirt's articles remaining online with an added link to a rebuttal on Ayyadurai's website.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/joint-press-statement-on-behalf-of-dr-shiva-ayyadurai-and-techdirt-michael-masnick-and-leigh-beadon-300849406.html|title=Joint Press Statement On Behalf Of Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai And Techdirt, Michael Masnick, And Leigh Beadon|last=Harder LLP|date=May 14, 2019|website=PR Newswire|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07}}

During the lawsuit, Techdirt accepted funding from multiple sources to expand its reporting on free speech topics, including from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Automattic, the Charles Koch Foundation, Union Square Ventures, and Craig Newmark.{{Cite web |last=Farivar |first=Cyrus |date=2017-08-09 |title=Facing libel lawsuit, Techdirt takes large donations to broaden coverage |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/08/techdirt-accepts-250000-to-expand-journalism-on-free-speech-issues/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}

In 2012, Techdirt published a report on the state of the entertainment industry, arguing that despite the rise of online file sharing, the music industry and broader entertainment industry were still able to make significant money.{{Cite news |last=Moltke |first=Henrik |date=February 23, 2012 |title=Mike Masnick: 'The sky is rising' for the entertainment industry |url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-sky-is-rising/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}

In 2018, Techdirt and Diegetic Games ran a Kickstarter campaign to publish a version of a CIA training card game that had been released to the public after a FOIA request.{{Cite web |last=Gaynor |first=Michael |date=2018-04-24 |title=These People Are Selling the CIA's Internal Board Game to the Public |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/cia-board-game-techdirt-kickstarter/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Liao |first=Shannon |date=2018-05-21 |title=The CIA made a Magic: The Gathering-style card game for training agents, and we played it |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/21/17374054/cia-collect-it-all-declassified-training-tabletop-card-game |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

Masnick and Techdirt run a think tank called Copia, which has received funding from companies such as Google and Yelp.{{Cite news |first=Kashmir |last=Hill |date=2023-07-29 |title=An Internet Veteran's Guide to Not Being Scared of Technology |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/29/technology/mike-masnick-techdirt-internet-future.html |access-date=2023-08-03}} Through this effort, Masnick has worked on multiple policy-focused video games, including Moderator Mayhem, a game focused on content moderation,

{{cite news

| last = Pegoraro

| first = Rob

| date = May 15, 2023

| title = Think You Can Be a Content Moderator? Test Your Skills With This Game

| url = https://www.pcmag.com/news/think-you-can-be-a-content-moderator-test-your-skills-with-this-game

| work = PCMag

| access-date = 2023-07-05

}}

and a followup titled Trust & Safety Tycoon.{{cite news

| last = Sinclair

| first = Brendan

| date = Oct 27, 2023

| title = Why is Trust and Safety so hard? {{!}} This Week in Business

| url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/why-is-trust-and-safety-so-hard-this-week-in-business

| work = GamesIndustry.biz

| access-date = 2023-11-02

}}{{Cite news |last=Lima-Strong |first=Cristiano |date=2023-10-17 |title=Think you could make a safer social media site? This game lets you try |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/17/think-you-could-make-safer-social-media-site-this-game-lets-you-try/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

The site has organized an annual game jam, wherein developers are tasked with developing games that are derivative works of works that had entered the public domain in the United States upon the beginning of the year.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title=Welcome to the Public Domain in 2025 |url=https://blog.archive.org/2025/01/01/welcome-to-the-public-domain-in-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Internet Archive |language=en-US}}

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