The Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on “Peer-to-Peer Piracy On University Campuses,” February 26, 2003. The following documents and testimony are available via their website: the Witness List, Statement of Chairman Lamar Smith, testimony of Molly Broad (President of the University of North Carolina), testimony of Hilary Rosen… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: February 2003
eBay and Customer Privacy
Last week, Israel’s Haaretz Daily published an article, Big Brother is watching you – and documenting, detailing statements made by eBay’s Director of Law Enforcement and Compliance, Joseph E. Sullivan, at the CyberCrime 2003 conference. Mr. Sullivan’s presentation, “eBay: Working with Law Enforcement,” was made behind closed-doors, but according to the article, was recorded. Sullivan… Continue Reading
The Future for PDAs Is on the Web
A new report from the Internet Access Devices Service, Multimedia and Wireless Functionality: Changing the Way Consumers Perceive PDAs ($$$), summarized in this press release, indicates that the market for multi-functional handheld devices that include web access will continue to grow over the course of the next several years, outpacing the demand for PCs. Continue Reading
Bill of Rights for Cell Phone Users
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced “a cell phone user bill of rights…. aimed at improving wireless service and making competition an ingrained part of the wireless industry. Schumer’s bill would mandate number portability between companies; create a box with contract and service information on solicitations and contracts, and authorize the FCC to monitor cell phone… Continue Reading
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Report
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released a report yesterday, highly critical of the FBI, that identified serious problems impacting the FISA process: FBI Oversight in the 107th Congress by the Senate Judiciary Committee: FISA Implementation Failures – An Interim Report. Senators Release Committee Report on FISA Implementation Failures and… Continue Reading
Lawyers and Their Blogs
The March 2003 issue of the ABA Journal features an article, Lawyers Who ‘Blawg’. Subtitled, “Attorneys Are Finding Fans (and Some Fame) Posting Legal Commentary on the Net,” the article spotlights Howard Bashmans How Appealing, Goldstein and Howe’s SCOTUS Blog, Denise Howell’s Bag and Baggage, and Martin Schwimmer’s Trademark Blog. Continue Reading
Website on Disability Research
The U.S. Department of Education launched a new resource it is sponsoring to facilitate efforts involving disabilities and rehabilitation services via technology applications and other programs. The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) website provides links to a range of services, and will coordinate government-wide activities that support the goals of the President’s 2001 New… Continue Reading
Overture Purchases Web Unit from Fast Search
Overture Services, Inc. has made its second major Internet search engine acquisition in one week’s time. On February 18, the company announced the purchase of AltaVista for $140 million in cash and stock. On February 25 came the announcement of the acquisition of the FAST Web Search(TM) algorithmic search, AlltheWeb.com(TM), and FAST PartnerSite(TM) paid inclusion… Continue Reading
Website on New Words and Phrases
Check out Word Spy, a resource that provides definitions of new words and phrases, as well as ones already in use that have taken on new meanings. What makes the site especially interesting is that it includes ‘example citations’ for each entry that illustrate the use of the word or phrase in context (with a… Continue Reading
Advocacy Group Opposes Airline Passenger Database
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency created post 9/11, is accepting comments on its proposed plan to create a new data mining program, the Aviation Security-Screening Records database. EPIC submitted comments to TSA stating that the system “would infringe on the Constitutional right of association and travel.” Continue Reading
Commentary on the Patriot Act II
Washington Times columnist Nat Hentoff delivers a pointed commentary on the “sequel to the Patriot Act…. an assault on the Bill of Rights drafted without consultation with Congress.” Continue Reading
Protecting Children on the Web
From FindLaw’s Writ: If the Supreme Court Holds That Public Libraries Cannot Require Software Filters, Are There Other Ways to Protect Children on the Web? Oral arguments in this case are scheduled to begin on March 5. Also, see the American Library Association CIPA web site. Continue Reading
