From the July 24, 2003 Oversight hearing on “Patent Quality Improvement”, this recently released Final Serial #38, 39 pages in pdf, includes the opening statements, testimony and prepared witness statements. Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: September 2003
Patent Issued for Controlling Access to Internet Sites
A new patent, 6,606,659, “System and Method for Controlling Access to Internet Sites,” has been granted to Websense Inc., as reported via this press release, which indicates that the technology involved “allows organizations to optimize their employees’ use of the Internet via administrative options that enable control over what Web sites may be accessed, at… Continue Reading
In-Depth Review of Patriot Act’s Impact on Privacy
From the Free Expression Policy Project (FEPP), this revised commentary by Nancy Kranich, FEPP Senior Research Fellow: The Impact of the USA PATRIOT Act: An Update. Continue Reading
Commentary on Patriot Act
2 Years Later | Civil Liberties Patriot Gains (& Losses) “The U.S.A. Patriot Act, the largest expansion of government search and surveillance powers in U.S. history, passed Congress without much dissent soon after the September 11 attacks. Let’s just say people had other things on their minds than the small print of a 300-page bill… Continue Reading
New Report on Implementing EU Copyright Directive
From the independent group, the Foundation for Information Policy Research, this new guide, published September 8, Implementing the EU Copyright Directive, (128 pages, pdf). See this link for a table of contents to download specific sections in html, which include the following: Background; Problems in the United States; Immediate public policy objectives; Wider public policy… Continue Reading
Online Forum Today With ACLU Director on CAPPS II
The Washington Post published an edited version of the transcript from an online forum on CAPPS II and civil liberties, held today with Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Program. Continue Reading
TSA Delays Release of 9/11 Records
From the Memory Hole’s Publisher and editor, Russ Kick, a copy of the TSA reply in response to his FOIA request for information related to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Continue Reading
Managing Electronic Evidence
From the September 2003 issue of ABA Law Practice Today, Electronic Discovery: The Top 10 Challenges and Solutions. Continue Reading
FTC Report to Congress on Federal Telemarketing Laws
Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress, Pursuant to the Do Not Call Implementation Act, on Regulatory Coordination in Federal Telemarketing Laws (September 2003). [Link] Text of the Commission Report Appendix A: The Federal Trade Commission’s Amended Telemarketing Sales Rule and Statement of Basis and Purpose Appendix B: The Federal Communications Commission’s Amended Telephone Consumer Protection… Continue Reading
Are E-Books Still Viable, or is Amazon Preparing an Alternative?
BarnesandNoble.com is no longer selling e-books, according to this posting on their website. However, a New York Times article by David D. Kirkpatrick, discusses the mid-September launch by Amazon.com of “a searchable online archive with the texts of tens of thousands of books of nonfiction, according to several publishing executives involved.” This program is called… Continue Reading
Conflicts Between State and Federal Privacy Laws
From MSN Money, two articles that address the conflicts inherent in current and proposed state and federal privacy legislation focused on the distribution of personal financial data. Congress ready to undo state privacy laws. See H.R. 2622, to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The top 10 states for protecting privacy Continue Reading
Hearing on Music Downloading Addresses Scope of DMCA
Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate on “P****graphy, Technology, and Process: Problems and Solutions on Peer-to-Peer Networks.” September 9, 2003. [this site provides links to all available testimony] In particular, see the testimony of William Barr, Exec. VP and General Counsel, Verizon Communications(who served as Attorney General of the United States… Continue Reading
