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Monthly Archives: October 2002

Attack on Open Source Software

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Rep. Adam Smith is a strong advocate for tech giant Microsoft, one of his principal campaign contributors. Post 9/11 however, there has been a growing movement in Congress to use open source software such as Linux for cybersecurity related agency applications. Rep. Smith is quoted in this article as stating that such software is “problematic… Continue Reading

.org Registry Agreement

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ICANN has published the text of their agreement for administration of the .org Top Level Domain by The Internet Society (ISOC). According to internet.com, the ISOC claimed they established a separate entity, the Public Interest Registry (PIR), to “carry out the registry functions.” A FAQ on the PIR is available here. Continue Reading

Internet Censorship in China

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Senator Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.), Rep. Christopher Cox (R., Calif.), and Rep. Tom Lantos (D., Calif.) authored this commentary on China’s censorship of their citizen’s access to the Internet. Cox and Lantos, co-sponsors of the Global Internet Freedom bill, want to focus attention on how China is blocking access to a wide range of content… Continue Reading

P2P Piracy Prevention Act In Trouble

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The highly controversial P2P hacking bill, H.R.5211, introduced by Rep. Howard Berman, will apparently be subject to major revisions according to this ZDNet article. The bill would have allowed copyright holders access to the PCs of individuals suspected of software piracy. For additional background, see Rep. Berman’s press release on the bill from July 25,… Continue Reading

Champion of Data Privacy in the UK

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Formerly the UK Information Commissioner, Elizabeth France is now the “UK’s first telecommunications ombudsman.” She will be a forceful advocate on behalf of individual’s whose personal data has been disseminated without their knowledge or permission. Some background on the role of the ombudsman is here. Continue Reading

Google Removes Sites From Germany and France Search Results

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This BBC commentary by Bill Thompson reviews the much discussed actions of search engine giant Google who has exluded content from their German and French search results. Content that is no longer available originates in what be called hate sites that are actually banned in these countries. See this excellent report, Localized Google search result… Continue Reading

File Trading Warning From RIAA

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A joint “outreach letter” from the associations representing the motion picture, music and songwriters groups was sent to the Presidents/CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies. Similar to the “polite” warning sent to college and university presidents (see my previous posting at //www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/000292.html), this letter warns that there is extensive music and video piracy in the corporate… Continue Reading

US and EU Counterpoints on Copyright

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See this informative Financial Times article for a perspectives on US and EU copyright laws provided by Prof. Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School, Thomas Hazlett, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, law professor Richard A. Epstein, University of Chicago, Edward Welbourne, and Frank Walker, chief executive of the Newspaper Licensing Agency… Continue Reading