FoTW Readers aren't taking our use of the "Freetard" jibe lying down. The term was coined by Dan Lyons - (aka, Fake Steve Jobs - as a catch-all for F/OSS users. But it seems so much more apt for free content militants, who nobly refuse to pay creators for music, TV and film - as a point of principle.

They're fighting back with an insult of their own. It sprang to life in the Comments for Chris Williams' story about the user agent string "hack" that allows you to watch Beeb material without DRM.

Take it away.

From: David Simpson Subject: Freetard ? more like advert programmed PAYTARDS!

The term Freetard makes me laugh, are you amazingly smart because you pay full wack for stuff that can be downloaded for free ? WOW YOU ARE REALLY SMART I WISH I WAS LIKE YOU.........................

Maybe you can do research and work out ways to pay money for all free services so that you can become a money wasting PAYTARD, keep listening to the entertainment-industry-blood-suckers who program you with advertising I'm sure they love spending your money, I know i would you TARD !

Marvellous stuff.

Yes, we're guilty of being PAYTARDS. Being the gullible fools that we are, we're now off to the pub to pay "full wack" for a pint of beer. Which just proves that we're brainwashed pawns of the brewing industry.

Freetards are welcome to join us: the nice barman may let you sup from the drip tray. Peace. ®

Bootnote

Flame of the Week (FoTW) is a Reg tradition going back many years, where we honour the most insulting and libellous email we've received this week. Freetard of the Week (FoTW) is not a regular feature. We hope. Advice on how to write a FoTW can be found here.

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