CONTEST: Today on People’s Court…Now You Can Be Judge, Jury & Executioner Too

Don't you just love starting the New Year on someone's wrong side?

Well, that's whats happened to yours truly in the case of "Really? So I'm A Hacker Now?".

I offer the following case details for your review:

Case: The (samsung) Code of Metro PCS blog vs. Yahoo!
Facts:
1. Somebody needs help with putting their ringtones on their memory card and posts a question on Yahoo Answers! Here's the question:

Metro PCS Samsung Code, Memory Card Ringtones?

I have just bought the Samsung Code for Metro PCS and I have a 1gb 'storage card' or memory card inside the phone. I want to set up custom ringtones for the caller ID's, the ringtones I want to use are on the memory card. Is it possible to use the ringtones I have saved on my memory card as caller ID's, if so, how do I do it because all of my approaches seem to be not working. Thank you

Find the post in its original form at the following link:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091230133254AALkGCb
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2. Your's truly arrives on the scene trying to play the knight and shining armor and posts the following answer (my response is verbatim and hasn't been edited to protect the innocent):

Yes, it's possible and all you have to do is create what I call a mirror directory---here is how you do it:

1. Create a "My Documents" directory on your SD card.
2. Create a "My Ringtones" sub-directory on the My Documents directory you just created.
3. Move all ringtones to the My Documents/My Ringtones folder on your SD card.
4. Press your left soft key to select Start ---> Settings ---> Sounds ---> Ring Tone to find and select the ringtones on your SD card.

Feel free to visit my blog that is dedicated to sharing tricks, tips and hacks for the Samsung Code.
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Verdict: Guilty, Punishable By Death (of my Yahoo! Account).

Here is the exact response recieved from Yahoo! on this matter:

Hello Scott

You have posted content to Yahoo! Answers in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. As a result, your content has been deleted. Community Guidelines help to keep Yahoo! Answers a safe and useful community, so we appreciate your consideration of its rules.

Question: Metro PCS Samsung Code, Memory Card Ringtones?

Question Details: I have just bought the Samsung Code for Metro PCS and I have a 1gb 'storage card' or memory card inside the phone. I want to set up custom ringtones for the caller ID's, the ringtones I want to use are on the memory card. Is it possible to use the ringtones I have saved on my memory card as caller ID's, if so, how do I do it because all of my approaches seem to be not working. Thank you

Deleted Answer: Yes, it's possible and all you have to do is create what I call a mirror directory---here is how you do it: 1. Create a "My Documents" directory on your SD card. 2. Create a "My Ringtones" sub-directory on the My Documents directory you just created. 3. Move all ringtones to the My Documents/My Ringtones folder on your SD card. 4. Press your left soft key to select Start ---> Settings ---> Sounds ---> Ring Tone to find and select the ringtones on your SD card. Feel free to visit my blog that is dedicated to sharing tricks, tips and hacks for the Samsung Code.

Violation Reason: Hacking

In Yahoo! Answers you may not attempt to acquire or share information that may be used to obtain unauthorized access or 'hack' online accounts, websites, email, or computer systems, including proprietary software.
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My Defense: I don't have the budget to lawyer up and assemble a "Dream Team" legal defense, so I offer the following to Yahoo and the court of public opinion:

- I don't work for Metro PCS or Samsung (I'm just a guy that loves his Samsung Code and enjoys helping others with theirs).
- I don't profit directly or indirectly from writing this blog (this is an important piece of evidence in matters where "self promotion" can be argued)
- I don't think I'm a...scratch that, I know I'm not a hacker (I don't and can't write code, read code, decipher code, etc. I don't know bar codes, genetic code or morse code, the only "code" I know is the Samsung Code).
- I didn't offer "hacking" advice in my response.

So confident in my conviction that I'm innocent, I am going send the following response to "jury" at Yahoo!:

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm writing to discuss the concerns resulting from my recent post (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091230133254AALkGCb ) and would like to speak to you about the concerns with the following violation:

Violation Reason: Hacking

Although I did use the word "hack" in my post (I chose the word "hack" not in the literal sense, but as an attention grabber), the advice being offered is in no way illegal and or an infringement on any one's/any entity's intellectual property rights, copyrights and or trademark rights.

The advice offered was instruction on how to move a ringtone from the Samsung Code's flash memory (on-board memory) to a SD/memory card (expandable memory).

With all due respect, that's why SD/memory cards are sold (to allow mobile phone owners to expand their mobile memory and to optimize the performance of their smartphone) and teaching someone how to use their SD/memory card in my humble opinion, shouldn't be construed as "hacking" advice.

I ask you to refer to the following reference link (http://thecodeofmetropcs.blogspot.com/2009/12/mtip-want-to-free-up-memory-by-putting.html) and ask you to reconsider your position on my post and account status.

With this said, I do admit fault for the poor choice of words and for the following statement:

Feel free to visit my blog that is dedicated to sharing tricks, tips and hacks for the Samsung Code.

Although ignorance is no defense, it is the truth---I wasn't aware of the guidelines on promotion and for my non-compliance in this regard, I truly apologize and assure you that it won't happen again.

I suggest the following resolution:

1. Repost my answer and remove the last sentence (Feel free to visit my blog that is dedicated to sharing tricks, tips and hacks for the Samsung Code) from my response.
2. Include the following reference link in my answer (http://thecodeofmetropcs.blogspot.com/2009/12/mtip-want-to-free-up-memory-by-putting.html)
3. Restore my account status/privileges.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing back from someone on this matter.

Respectfully,
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Now that you have reviewed the case, let's get ready for the "Should We Send Yours Truly To The Yahoo! Electric Chair" Contest were some lucky reader with the Best Answer will win a $10 Metro PCS Feature Card $20 Metro PCS Feature Card.

To enter to win this contest, simply:

- Post a reply to this article with the following (you might want to be a follower of this blog when you enter, otherwise, save the confirmation email so I can validate which "anonymous" poster has the Best Answer):

* What you think Yahoo's final verdict (guilty or innocent) will be after I send the above message.
* Whether you agree or disagree with Yahoo's final decision.
* Why you agree or disagree with Yahoo's final decision.

- The Best Answer will be awarded to some lucky responder who:

* Posts a reply to this article in the section provided below (any replies that are attached to any other articles other then this one will not be considered).
* Answers the final verdict question correctly (will Yahoo find me guilty or innocent after they get the message I have written above).
* Provides the most thoughtful, detailed and articulate answer (I don't care if you agree or disagree with me).
* Has retweeted my Twitter message announcing this article the most (see the link below to retweet my Twitter message):

http://twitter.com/SamsungCode/statuses/7301873602

- All responses must be received on or before January 31, 2010 to be considered.
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I have to go now, Death Row is calling me---Don't forget to write me, I hear it gets lonely in Yahoo! prison...