The source code for the Microsoft Reader e-book as been hacked and posted online by UK programmer Dan Jackson. The program is aptly named Convert Lit (for the .lit format), and removes Microsoft copy protections from files, thus allowing them to be read on competitiors’ devices. Here is a link to the EU Copyright Commission… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Digital Rights
EFF IP Attorney Interview
Via Slashdot, here is a link to an interview on digital IP issues with Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Senior IP Attorney Fred Von Lohmann, conducted by TechFocus. Topics covered include Kazaa, DVRs, the impact of the DMCA and the need for legislative reform of the act, and balancing fair use with the rights of authors. Continue Reading
Teen Found Not Guilty in DVD Case
On January 7, teenager Jon Lech Johansen was acquitted by a Norweigan criminal court of charges related to creating a utility (DeCSS) that descrambled the code for DVD players, and publishing it on the Web. For other articles on this decision, see CNN, The Register, BBC, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Continue Reading
Boucher First to Intro Tech Bill in 108th Congress
Rep. Boucher of Virginia was the first to introduce a tech-related bill in the 108th Congress. The bill, called the Digital Media Consumers’ Rights Act (H.R. 107), is a twin to H.R. 5544, which he introduced on October 3, 2002. See my previous posting for a section-by-section description of H.R. 5544. H.R. 107 amends sections… Continue Reading
File Swapping Kazaa's Nimble, Global Enterprise
Kazaa, the immensely popular P2P file swapping software that claims to have 163 million users worldwide, remains one-step ahead of law suits for infringement. The company’s catch me if you can business operations model is purposefully convoluted and complex, stretching across three continents, according to this interesting BizReport article. Continue Reading
DMCA Remains in Spotlight in 2003
According to the Boston Globe, the DMCA will be the focus of increasing controversy and lobbying by industry and consumer advocates in 2003. The Business Software Alliance, one of the act’s powerful backers, is fighting any expansion of consumer rights concerning the use of music and movie industry products, including legislation introduced by Rep. Boucher.… Continue Reading
ISP Dispute and the DMCA
Wired details a DMCA dispute that is pitting ISP Verio against veteran thing.net communications from New York, a hybrid non-profit (serving the arts community) and for-profit telecom service. Thing.net hosted a site that lampooned Dow Chemical, using the company’s trademark, resulting in the termination of their service by Verio. Continue Reading
Creative Commons Launches Online Copyright Licenses
Creative Commons, the non-profit organization whose focus is providing workable alternatives to current copyright laws for the digital world, has created a new public domain copyright license for web content. See their press release here, and read about how the licensing process works from the perspective of an early adopter, pioneering attorney/blogger Denise Howell. Continue Reading
ElcomSoft eBook Case Documents
Cryptome.org purchased copies of court documents from the USA v. Elcom ebook copyright case and has made them available at no fee here. A jury found the Russian software company not guilty on December 16, 2002. See also this News.com article for more details about the decision, as well as the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF)… Continue Reading
Comments Filed with FCC on Copyright Protection
The non-profit Center for Democrary & Technology is involved in keeping discussions of digital copyright issues front and center. The organization filed comments with the FCC concerning the escalating controvery over proposed copy protection systems for digital TV broadcasts for coypyright holders. They support the position that there must be a balance of the discretionary… Continue Reading
Sony Becomes Key Player in Digital Rights Management Arena
This Information Week article reports on the huge advantage recently gained by Sony Corp. in the arena of digital rights management (DRM). Their strong position was established as a result of a licensing agreement with ContentGuard Inc., owner of a significant portfolio of DRM patented technologies. Continue Reading
DVD Copying Controversy Escalates
321 Studios has chosen to play David to Motion Picture Association of America’s Goliath in the legal arena. This small company has released a software application for $99.99 that allows purchasers to easily make copies of DVD movies to blank DVDs. The MPA contends that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 prevents 321 Studios… Continue Reading
