Techdirt was founded in 1997 by Mike Masnick, who is also the founder of Floor64. The idea behind Techdirt came from Masnick's desire to create a platform that would analyze and offer insight into news stories about changes in government policy, technology, and legal issues that affect companies' ability to innovate and grow. What started as a personal blog eventually grew into a group blogging effort. Today, Techdirt is still owned and operated by Floor64, with Mike Masnick continuing to serve as the Editor-in-Chief. Based in Redwood City, California, Techdirt covers a wide range of topics including technology, innovation, intellectual property, civil liberties, and consumer rights. The website provides in-depth reporting and analysis on issues such as copyright, patents, privacy, free speech, and the impact of technological innovation on society. Techdirt has become known for its critical analysis of government policies and corporate practices that affect technology and innovation. **One interesting fact**: Despite being a relatively small publication, Techdirt has had a significant impact on tech policy discussions. The popular term "Streisand Effect," which refers to the phenomenon where attempts to suppress information lead to increased publicity, was coined by Techdirt founder Mike Masnick in 2005.