From the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Unintended Consequences: Five Years under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Digital Rights
New Bill on Digital Rights Management
On September 16, Sen. Sam Brownback introduced the Consumers, Schools, and Libraries Digital Rights Management Act of 2003. From his press release: “This legislation responds directly to ongoing litigation between the Recording Industry Association of America and Internet service providers Verizon and SBC Communications. This litigation has opened wide all identifying information an ISP maintains… Continue Reading
Software Consumer Bill of Rights
Cem Kaner, Professor, Department of Computer Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, posted on his blog the text of ten suggested principles that comprise a “Software Customer Bill of Rights” which he authored in an effort to “restore integrity and trust — and consumer confidence, consumer excitement, and sales – in this stalled marketplace.” Continue Reading
Libraries and Fair Use
From Library Journal (reg. req’d): Fair Use Under Fire – ALA’s copyright expert gives her take on the challenges digital rights management presents for end users – and librarians: “In the digital realm, DRM technologies are changing the ways in which information is accessed and experienced, and they are undermining fair use. If content providers’… Continue Reading
Preserving Digital Documents
Storing e-text for centuries describes the LOCKSS (for “lots of copies keep stuff safe”) project for permanent publishing on the Web, which is the brainchild of Stanford University librarian Vicky Reich and researcher David Rosenthal. From the LOCKSS website: “LOCKSS creates low-cost, persistent digital “caches” of authoritative versions of http-delivered content. The LOCKSS software enables… Continue Reading
New PCs To Include Digital Rights Monitoring Controls
A Safer System for Home PC’s Feels Like Jail to Some Critics. “As PC makers prepare a new generation of desktop computers with built-in hardware controls to protect data and digital entertainment from illegal copying, the industry is also promising to keep information safe from tampering and help users avoid troublemakers in cyberspace.” For related… Continue Reading
A Review of Internet Copyright Issues
From today’s Washington Post, Overview: Short History of Copyright in the Digital Age, Internet Sparks a Copyright Fire. From the battles between the entertainment industry, “fair use rights” advocates, consumers and copyright holders, this article touches on the complex, high-stake issues, legislative initiatives and key players making news in this arena. Continue Reading
Copyright, File Sharing and Piracy
From PBS OnlineNewsHour: Is downloading copyrighted music tantamount to stealing? Lawrence Lessig, an expert on Internet law from Stanford University’s Law School, and Matt Oppenheim, Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America, answer your questions about the debate over digital copyrights. Continue Reading
New Technology Speeds Up Net Downloads
See this recent paper authored by 12 CalTech scientists, Fast TCP: From Theory to Experiments, which details their work, demonstrated through a number of controlled and public experiments, that allows users to download text, images and video from the Internet at “6,000 times the capacity of the ordinary broadband links.” definition of TCP Continue Reading
Piracy and Free Speech Issues In California Case
DVD-CCA v. Bunner, on appeal before the California Supreme Court, involves the posting of free software for the DeCSS code (to decrypt DVDs) by Andrew Bunner on his website. Prior to the beginning of this case in 2000, the DeCSS code had been published widely on sites around the world. According to SFGate.com, “California Attorney… Continue Reading
Digital Rights Management: For Better Or For Worse?
Mark Stamp provides a thorough, enlightening commentary on DRM, examining applications, value and the associated controversy on the topic as it impacts commercial and consumer users in the areas of privacy and copyright. Continue Reading
Multiple Lawsuits on DVD Copying Software
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston, Northern District of California, in a hearing of 321 Studios v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (C-02-1955.e), is reported to be substantially persuaded in favor of copyright holders as she considers whether it is fair use for consumers to continue to purchase and use a $50 (after rebate) DVD duplication software application… Continue Reading
