A new data memo from the Pew Internet Project notes a decline in the rate of music downloading from its heyday in 2003, but millions of Americans continue to obtain music using filing sharing applications. Many users have been deterred from downloading however by the highly publicized anti-piracy campaign waged by the music industry. Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: April 2004
DMCA and Its Impact on Search Engine Content
Application of the DMCA Safe Harbor Provisions to Search Engines, by Craig W. Walker, Virginia Journal of Law & Technology, Volume 9, Issue 1 – Winter 2004: “The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) established procedures that Internet service providers can implement to gain protection from liability for copyright infringement by their users. Under DMCA “notice… Continue Reading
Gov’t Websites Slow to Comply With Privacy Policies
The E-Government Act of 2002 includes the provision that all federal agency websites must post privacy policies in “standardized machine-readable format.” However, a recent survey indicates that less than 15% of the 137 federal websites are in compliance. Continue Reading
Online Law School: Ready for Prime Time?
The New York Times has an overview of the students, program, and legal community evaluation of Concord Law School, the online program launched in 1998 by Kaplan Educational Centers, that graduated its first class last fall. Continue Reading
Guide to Critical Infrastructure Information
The American University School of Information, in Washington, D.C. hosts this website on Critical Infrastructure Information and Protection, providing links to topical government documents including those from the White House, Executive Agencies, State Legislation, and GAO and CRS Reports. Continue Reading
Record Amount of Gov’t Paperwork During Current Administration
Government Paperwork Burdens Have Increased Substantially under the Bush Administration, United States House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform – Minority Staff Special Investigations Division, April 20, 2004: From the text of the report – President Bush has made reducing the burdens of completing government paperwork a key item in his economic agenda. In speech… Continue Reading
Presidential Candidate’s Remarks on FOI
During last week’s American Society of Newspaper Editors’ conference in Washington, D.C., Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry stated that if elected President he would “hold a full press conference at least once a month,” and that “I believe very deeply in freedom of information.” [Link] Continue Reading
Release of Photos Sparks Debate on FOI and Privacy
“Department of Defense spokesman Bryan Whitman and Dana Milbank of the Washington Post debate the Pentagon’s ban on media coverage of the return of fallen service members that was broken twice this week.” [Link] The gallery of 361 photos, obtained via a FOIA request by the Memoryhole.org and whose posting resulted in this controversy. The… Continue Reading
DOJ Enforcement Actions Against Online Piracy
Attorney General John Ashcroft’s Remarks Regarding Operation Fastlink and Internet Piracy (4-22-04): “Intellectual property enforcement is a priority for the Department of Justice. That is why last month I established the Intellectual Property Task Force. This task force is looking at how the Department can strengthen and improve our efforts to combat theft of intellectual… Continue Reading
EU Ruling on Microsoft
The Commission of the European Communities decision, April 21, 2004, is 302 pages, pdf. Continue Reading
U.S. No Longer Global Leader in Internet Use
A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit says the United States now ranks sixth in E-readiness: “The U.S. ranks sixth on this year’s E-readiness list of 50 developed countries. E-readiness measures a nation’s E-business milieu to determine how open it is to Internet-based opportunities.” (the 2004 e-readiness rankings report, 30 pages, pdf) In last year’s… Continue Reading
Credibility of E-Voting in California in Serious Doubt
Four California counties ban e-voting technology due to security flaws, equipment malfunctions and questions about manufacturer business practices. Legislators Express Doubts About Intergrity of Electronic Voting Machines VerifiedVoting.Org Welcomes Unanimous Vote to Ban Diebold Paperless E-Voting Machines: “VerifiedVoting.org today welcomed the unanimous recommendation by California’s Voting Systems Panel to ban many of Diebold paperless electronic… Continue Reading
