   April 2005 ArchiveApril 28, 2005Kids Like Cattle? Deploying RFID in America
Scientific American with an editorial on the disturbing prospect of RFIDs for people-tracking.
Breaking the Stupidity Pact
Prof. James Boyle with a splendidly clear column on the evidence-free zone in which we create intellectual property policy.
Bridging the Other Digital Divide
Michael Geist on the recent WIPO meetings and the differing ways IP policy affects developed and developing nations.
When the Crypto Walls Fall
The Jericho Forum, a European security consortium, is pushing for the repeal
of remaining laws forbidding the use of encryption. Its members include
Shell, Boeing, and Cable & Wireless.
The Anniversary of the Commons
The Free Culture movement, the international student movement that "defends
the digital commons," turned a year old on April 23rd. Here's where you can join a local chapter, or start your own.
Dmitry Karma?
Nikon encrypts part of its cameras' lossless raw output format. The encryption
is pretty simple (it was cracked within a few days by Linux developer Dave
Coffin), but it has Adobe developers breaking a sweat about violating the DMCA
if they reverse-engineer it for Photoshop.
While We're on the Subject of Karma
Whereas Verizon stood up for its customers' privacy rights, rival Comcast turned over a customer's name to the RIAA -- without court authorization. Now the customer is suing.
What's Broadcast in the Las Vegas Metro Area, Stays in the Las Vegas Metro Area
IBM and Fox are cooperating on a modified "local" broadcast flag that will let devices that read or receive TV content use digital broadcasts to identify themselves as part of a home broadcast market.
Is That a Cell Phone In Your Pocket, Or...
The cell phone industry is gearing up to introduce its own content ratings, apparently to head off FCC rumblings that it may extend its indecency jihad to your phone.
April 27, 2005Head of Patent Office Pushes for Reform
More examiners, first-to-file grants, and post-grant review of patents were some of the reforms listed by Jon Dudas in recent Senate testimony.
Border Security, Light on the Chips
Congress is revisiting whether many other countries should be required either to use RFID chips in their passports or get visas before traveling to the US.
Celera Gives it Away
The human genome, that is. The private company has abandoned its attempts to sell subscriptions to human DNA data and will instead place the info in the public domain.
Bahrain - Washing the Internet
The country has issued a policy that appears to require any website dealing with Bahrain to register with the Ministry of Information. Students and reporters have launched a protest.
Company Settles GPL Suit by Opening Code
Fortinet, a security company, has settled a suit brought by the founder of GPL-Violations.org by agreeing to open much of its code. This is the latest in a string of victories for the GPL watchdog website.
More Apple Dissection
This time it's the LA Times' Michael Hitzik with a clear, trenchant examination of Apple's unfortunate fight against free speech.
President Signs Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
The new law allows companies like ClearPlay to make user-empowering DVD player/editors while increasing criminal copyright penalties. We break it down here.
Trademark Dilution Act Passes House
Now it's in the Senate, and you can help us fight it by sending a letter to your Senators now!
The Return of miniLinks
I'm back in the saddle after a week at WIPO and a stolen laptop. Here comes more of what's happening online in byte-sized pieces of HTML.
April 07, 2005Kaleidescape Coverage at LA Times
This piece looks at the high-end DVD jukebox maker's fight with the content cabal.
Aussies Join Brits in BitTorrent TV
Impatient Australian TV fans are increasingly turning to filesharing when publishers stagger release dates for popular shows.
Gonzalez Willing to Talk PATRIOT Act Fixes
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez recently told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he is open to talking about modifications to the USA PATRIOT Act.
US Blogger Scuttles Canadian Gag Order
The Canadian government has ordered news outlets to keep quiet about details in a high-profile political scandal, but a Minneapolis blogger is ignoring the publication ban.
Victory for Consumers in DMCA Case
The Supreme Court has refused to hear Chamberlain v. Skylink, letting stand the appellate court decision that barred Chamberlain from using the DMCA to stifle competition.
German Publisher Fined for Linking
Heise Zeitschriften Verlag has been fined 500,000 Euros for publishing a story with links to a site that provided DVD-ripping software.
Renter Got a Fast Car
A Connecticut court has ruled that GPS tracking devices in rental cars cannot be used to track and fine speeding renters.
Congress Blasts Apple for Failing to Keep it Real
Legislators recently held hearings on whether digital music formats need more regulation in light of the incompatibility wars between Apple and Real Networks.
Data-Mining Booster to Head Privacy Board
Paul Rosenzweig, a vocal proponent of the maligned & abandoned Total Information Awareness project, has been appointed to head the Department of Homeland Security's privacy board.
PATRIOT Act: 108 Sneek-N-Peeks
In hearings on the USA PATRIOT Act's sunset provisions, the Bush Administration disclosed that the Act's controversial "sneek-n-peek" searches - done without ever notifying the subject - have been conducted 108 times.
USA Today on Apple v. Free Press
Nice editorial for those just getting acquainted with the case.
Touring Tor
NewsForge has a nice overview of how to use Tor to anonymize your web browsing.
Usury 101: $500 Coursepacks at Harvard
The cost of copyright clearances is forcing the price of some Harvard coursepacks - non-textbook material for a single course - to nearly $500.
Take this Job and Blog It
Law.com on blogging from the workplace.
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