Internetnews.com reports that the Internet Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General sent a letter to House leaders indicating their opposition to the CAN SPAM Act, under consideration by the House and already passed by the Senate. The reasons included “that the amended act has so many loopholes, exceptions and standards of proof that… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: November 2003
FTC Obtains TRO Against Company Using Pop-Up Ad Scam Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission issued a news release today on a temporary restraining order obtained from District Court, Northern District of Maryland against D Squared Solutions, a company that bombarded Windows Messenger service users with pop-up ads, whether or not consumers were on the web. Complaint for Injunctive and Other Equitable Relief Temporary Restraining Order… Continue Reading
Profile of Cyberspace Advocacy Group EPIC and its Work
A Legal Group Formed to Defend Civil Liberties on the Web Gears Up to Fight the USA Patriot Act: This article profiles the attorneys who for over a decade have been on the frontlines of defending civil liberties in cyberspace. David Sobel and Marc Rotenberg are co-founders of EPIC, whose efforts focus on free speech,… Continue Reading
Perils of ID Theft Can Accompany Internet Use
“So-called phisher e-mails, which look like authentic notes from real companies like eBay, Citibank or America Online, are a growing problem for Internet users, who continue to fall for the dupe and give away credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other critical personal data.” [Link] For more information on ID theft, see the following… Continue Reading
Website Restores Access to CRS Reports
The Memory Hole announced that it has added links to over 300 Congressional Research Service Reports (Long Reports, Short Reports, Issue Briefs, Appropriations Reports) that were recently removed from free public web access. These CRS research are only a selection of the total number published, and the editor of The Memory Hole website is actively… Continue Reading
Microsoft Posts Bounty for Hackers
“Microsoft Corp. today announced the creation of the Anti-Virus Reward Program, initially funded with $5 million (U.S.), to help law enforcement agencies identify and bring to justice those who illegally release damaging worms, viruses and other types of malicious code on the Internet. Microsoft will provide the monetary rewards for information resulting in the arrest… Continue Reading
Experts Review the Impact of Technology Revolution on Libraries and Users
The Information Industry Revolution: Implications for Librarians: “With the coming of the Web, change moved at a dramatic pace, as patrons and corporate users began to use online services on their own. Changing user expectations and needs have resulted in new models of library service—use of print and actual visits to the reference desk are… Continue Reading
FTC Mandates Digital Broadcast Flag
From the EFF press release: “Claiming that it is an “anti-piracy mechanism,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today mandated that consumer devices capable of receiving broadcast digital television (DTV) signals must implement content control technologies demanded by the entertainment industry. The “broadcast flag” mandate will go into effect by July 1, 2005.” The FCC’s Report… Continue Reading
USPTO Expands Electronic Filing Services for Trademark Disputes
“The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has expanded the options for electronically filing documents in trademark disputes. Using the Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals (ESTTA) system, parties to a dispute now can file more documents electronically with the TTAB,… Continue Reading
Review of Digital Rights Management
Discussion led by Frederic Haber, General Counsel for the Copyright Clearance Center, on Digital Rights Management. Continue Reading
Amazon Tinkers With Search Inside The Book Service
Amazon’s Search Inside the Book database which allows consumers the chance to search the text of books and print pages (up to 100 in some cases) prior to purchase, ran into controversy with its launch October 23. Today Wired reported that the service will no longer permit users of the service to print pages that… Continue Reading
Microsoft’s New Digital Rights Management System
Microsoft’s new Windows Server 2003 allows users to implement digital rights management applications for Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents as well as Outlook emails. [Link] See my previous posting on this new version here. Microsoft’s press releases is here. See also Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing White Paper, September 12, 2003. Continue Reading
