Copyright

Would the U.S. Extradite U.K. Blogger for Linking to Works in the Public Domain in Other Countries?

Stevie Converse — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:41:17 -0500

Full article: TechDirt
Mike Masnick
Richard O'Dwyer is the computer science student facing criminal copyright infringement charges for linking to infringed works in the public domain in other countries. His case is creating a truly chilling effect on speech around the globe, as reporters are second-guessing their right to report on these completely legal versions of the work.

Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA

Stevie Converse — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:37:17 -0500

Full article: TechDirt
Mike Masnick
With Poland putting ACTA ratification on hold, and Slovenia apparently regretting its signature, now we've got Romania's prime minister, Emil Boc, admitting that he doesn't understand why the country signed ACTA.

Whatever Happened to that 'Six Strikes' P2P Notice System?

Stevie Converse — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:31:56 -0500

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
Whatever happened to the "six strikes" system that was to help civilize the American Internet? The short answer is it's coming soon. Will it matter? It's hard to say.

A New Question of Internet Freedom

Stevie Converse — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:46:27 -0500

Full article: New York Times
David Jolly
European activists who participated in American Internet protests last month learned that there was political power to be harnessed on the Web. Now they are putting that knowledge to use in an effort to defeat new global rules for intellectual property.

Supreme Court Says Congress May Re-Copyright Public Domain Works

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:59:22 -0500

Full article: Wired
David Kravets
Congress may take books, musical compositions and other works out of the public domain, where they can be freely used and adapted, and grant them copyright status again, the Supreme Court ruled. In a 6-2 ruling, the court said that, just because material enters the public domain, it is not "territory that works may never exit."

Media Minutes: January 13, 2012

Candace Clement — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:34:09 -0500

TV news programs are ignoring controversial legislation that could end the Internet as we know it. And residents of California’s eastern Coachella Valley finally have reporters they can rely on to produce hard-hitting investigative media: youth journalists.

Al Gore Comes Out Against SOPA/PIPA

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:23:34 -0500

Full article: TechDirt
Mike Masnick
Al Gore has come out strongly against SOPA and PIPA, angrily denouncing the bill and its supporters. In a video, Gore doesn't focus only on "foreign" sites as supporters of these bills would like everyone to do; he points out that these bills put new requirements on many domestic Internet companies.

How the U.S. Pressured Spain to Adopt Unpopular Web-Blocking Law

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:14:23 -0500

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
Though a deeply divided Congress is currently considering Internet website censorship legislation, the United States has no such official policy. Nor does the United States have a government-backed "three strikes" or "graduated response" system of escalating warnings to particular users accused of downloading music and movies from file-sharing networks. Yet here was the ultimatum that the U.S. Embassy in Madrid gave the Spanish government in February 2008: adopt such measures or we will punish you.

Is Grover Norquist Breaking Up With SOPA?

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:45:59 -0500

Full article: CNet
Declan McCullagh
Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary committee, proudly announced last month that Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform had endorsed his controversial Stop Online Piracy Act. In the last few weeks, though, the famously combative conservative group, a longtime ally of copyright holders, has become noticeably less enthusiastic about the Hollywood-backed copyright bill.

Manager's Amendment of SOPA Doesn't Fix What's Ailing This Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:16:02 -0500

Full article: Public Knowledge
Sherwin Siy
Monday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee released its planned manager's amendment to SOPA, claiming that it eliminated significant concerns with the bill. While it does fix some of the current version's outrageous proposals, it leaves some of the most dangerous provisions largely intact.