The website was founded in 1997 byMike Masnick. It was originally based on theweblog softwareSlash. Techdirt's content is based on reader submissions as well as the editorial staff's picks. The website makes use ofMySQL,Apache, andPHP, and is hosted at ActionWeb.[2] Techdirt is managed by Floor 64, a company located inRedwood City, California, US.[3] As of 2009, Techdirt had eight full-time employees.[4]
The popular term the "Streisand effect" - attempting to downplay an issue instead gives it more exposure - was coined on Techdirt by founder Mike Masnick in January 2005.[8][9][10]
In 2003,Forbes Magazine selected Techdirt as one of the "Best Tech Blogs".[11] In 2006Bloomberg Businessweek praised Techdirt for its "sharp, pithy analysis of current tech issues".[12] In 2007, Techdirt was nominated for theWebby Award in the section "Web Blog – Business".[13] Techdirt has been named among the favorite blogs ofPC Magazine in 2008.[14] In 2015, Techdirt allowed readers to removeweb ads.[15]
In 2009, English singerLily Allen created a blog critical ofmusic piracy in which sheplagiarized an entire post from Techdirt.[16] Following an exchange with Techdirt, debating hypocrisy in the musician's handling ofcopyright infringement, Allen shut down her blog.[17]
Marvin Ammori, a lawyer who advocates onnetwork neutrality andInternet freedom, praised Techdirt in the 2011Stop Online Piracy Act controversy, saying: "I'm not sure anyone did more to educate the public about SOPA than Techdirt."[18] A study analyzing coverage of the SOPA-PIPA debates from 2010 to 2012 described Techdirt as "the single most important professional media site over the entire period, overshadowing the more established media."[19]
In 2017, American entrepreneurShiva Ayyadurai filed suit against Techdirt for defamation in response to a series of articles critical of Ayyadurai's claims to have inventedemail as a teenager in 1978, an assertion which has been dismissed by several experts.[20][21] Techdirt announced its intention to fight the suit, describing it as a "First Amendment fight for its life".[22] Masnick filed for the suit to be dismissed under California'santi-SLAPP statute.[23][24] A federal judge dismissed the defamation claims on September 6, 2017.[25][26] In June 2018, attorneys for Ayyadurai appealed the ruling to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[27] 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.[21][28]
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.[30]
In 2018, Techdirt and Diegetic Games ran aKickstarter campaign to publish a version of aCIA training card game that had been released to the public after aFOIA request.[31][32]
Masnick and Techdirt run athink tank called Copia, which has received funding from companies such asGoogle andYelp.[33] Through this effort, Masnick has worked on multiple policy-focused video games, includingModerator Mayhem, a game focused oncontent moderation,[34] and a followup titledTrust & Safety Tycoon.[35][36]
The site has organized an annualgame jam, wherein developers are tasked with developing games that are derivative works of works that had entered thepublic domain in the United States upon the beginning of the year.[37]
^Matt Asay (18 Feb 2013)."John Lennon's lesson for public-domain innovation – IP protection hurting, not helping, US and UK".The Register.Archived from the original on 2016-11-30. Retrieved2017-01-02.TechDirt highlights research showing that extending copyrights increases prices and limits dissemination of knowledge, while also pointing out that people who believe patents cause innovation are simply confusing correlation with causation. If anything, patents inhibit innovation.
^Masnick, Mike (2005-01-05)."Since When Is It Illegal To Just Mention A Trademark Online?".Techdirt. Retrieved2024-04-09.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.
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