FoTW Readers aren't taking our use of the "Freetard" jibe lying down. The term was coined by Dan Lyons - (aka, Fake Steve Jobs (http://fakesteve.blogspot.com) - 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 (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/12/iplayer_linux_stream_download_hack/) 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 (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/01/12/how_to_write_a_flame/).

Famous Flames

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/23/zookz_pause/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/29/riaa_vs_howell_collapses/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/27/web20_and_copyright/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/28/nokia_comes_with_hoover/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/18/npd_music_survey/

• The LSE's Freetard fiasco (21 March 2008)

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/21/lse_music_debate/

• Apple 'mulls all-you-can-eat music plan' (19 March 2008)

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/19/apple_itunes_unlimited/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/31/fotw/

• 'You're a f**king moron' (13 July 2007)

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/13/fotw/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/22/fotw/

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• You are f**king negative arsehole!!! (12 January 2007)

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/12/iphone_flame/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/fotw/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/25/fotw/

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  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/24/fotw_wikipedia_primal_scream/

• 'You're nothing but a payroll' (30 December 2005)

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