This article from OpenP2P.com, by Preston Gralla, offers advice to those who continue to download music files: “But if you do decide to continue sharing files despite the potential legal problems, there are some things you can do to make it unlikely that the RIAA will target you. In this article, we’ll look at ways… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: October 2003
Microsoft and USPS Partner on Postmark App
From the USPS: “Just click the USPS EPM icon in the Microsoft Word toolbar, apply a USPS EPM to your document (contract, letter, agreement), and sign. This gives your document tamper protection against fraud and the ability to verify document authenticity with a click of the USPS EPM signature block.” Free for individual users who… Continue Reading
RIAA Prepares New Round of Lawsuits
In a change of tactics, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has contacted 204 alleged file swappers by letter in an effort to negotiate settlements prior to filing lawsuits. See also this EFF press release which comments on the RIAA “litigation crusade” and provides a link to an EFF video which addresses the file… Continue Reading
Pioneering Free Online eBook Website Marks Publication of 10,000 texts
On October 15, Project Gutenberg marked a milestone in the publication of free ebooks online, with this link to the Magna Carta. The pioneering project has now published 10,000 ebooks since its inception in 1971. [Slashdot] Continue Reading
JetBlue Privacy Issue Now the Focus of Senate Cmte. Inquiry
According to today’s New York Times, Chairman Susan Collins and Ranking Member Joseph Lieberman, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter on October 16 to Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld about the escalating privacy controversy concerning JetBlue Airways’ acknowledgement that the company shared millions of passenger data records with government contractor Torch Concepts, news of… Continue Reading
UK University Hosts Portal to European Law
The European Legal Studies (CELS) of the University of Exeter hosts the European Private Law Homepage, which “provides a starting point for legal research on European private law. It contains original material in the form of a comprehensive overview of all secondary Community law relevant to private law scholars and practitioners.” Continue Reading
FTC Do Not Call Registry Is Alive and Well
From the FTC press release: “Consumers registered with the National Do Not Call list have filed more than 15,000 complaints against telemarketers who continue to call them. The Do Not Call list, which opened to consumer registrations on June 27, 2003, currently contains 53.7 million telephone numbers. Telemarketers began accessing the Registry on September 2,… Continue Reading
Minnesota Cannot Regulate Internet Telephony
Yesterday Judge Michael J. Davis of the United States District Court of Minnesota released a 22 page decision, Vonage Holdings Corporation, Civil No. 03-5287 (MJD/JGL) Plaintiff, v. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, following his October 8 bench ruling. From the Judge’s summary: “Plaintiff Vonage Holdings Corporation (“Vonage“) provides a service that permits voice communications over… Continue Reading
State of Florida Outsources its Web Portal
From the USA Today: “The State Technology Office is privatizing several of its functions, including the MyFlorida Web site and maintenance of the state’s technology systems.” Continue Reading
Virginia Newspaper Provides Blog on Sniper Trial
The Virginia Pilot (Hampton Roads, Virginia) has a blogger (Kerry W. Sipe, News Online Coordinator) providing real-time updates on the trial of John A. Muhammad, one of the two alleged Beltway snipers. TV coverage of the trail has been banned. Continue Reading
Commission Investigating 9/11 to Issue Subpoena
The Congressional Joint Inquiry Commission on 9/11 will issue its first subpoena, “to the Federal Aviation Administration because of serious deficiencies in (that) agency’s production of critical documents.” [Link] Continue Reading
House Subcmte. Approves Database Protection Bill
This afternoon the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Committee on the Judiciary approved the Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act of 2003, (H.R. 3261). See my previous postings on this legislation here and here. The Chair of the Committee, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, stated: “Databases… Continue Reading
