Archive for August 2004
Wiretapping Internet Calls
"The FBI wants to force Verizon Communications to make sure that its broadband-over-fiber service can be easily wiretapped by police and spy agencies.
"In a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission last month, the FBI said that Verizon’s Fios service must be required to abide by a 1994 law that levied complex and expensive eavesdropping requirements on traditional phone companies. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Justice Department joined the request.
"The request made to the FCC marks the latest skirmish in the war over what wiretap rules should apply to the Internet and who will pay for the costs of buying equipment to provide police and spy agencies with backdoors for secret surveillance."
Declan McCullagh. FBI Wants to Eavesdrop on Fiber Links. News.com. August 3, 2004.
See also Cynthia L. Webb. FCC Serves Up a Ruling Smorgasbord. WashingtonPost.com. August 5, 2004.
(Editor�s Note: The Post allows free access to their stories on the Web for 14 days before sending the stories to the paper�s fee-based Archives.)
Kerry’s Tech & IP Agenda
"The Democratic National Convention is over, some $65 million has been spent on a week-long party in Boston, and what do we now know about John Kerry?
"The Massachusetts senator barely mentioned technology in his convention speech, except to marvel at ever-shrinking microchips and implore everyone to visit JohnKerry.com. That’s not much to work with.
"A careful review of Kerry’s history in the Senate shows that his record on technology is mixed. The Massachusetts Democrat frequently sought to levy intrusive new restrictions on technology businesses that could harm the U.S. economy. He was no friend of privacy and sided with Hollywood over Silicon Valley in the copyright wars."
Declan McCullagh. John Kerry’s Real Tech Agenda. News.com. Aug. 2, 2004.
Kerry’s Tech & IP Agenda
"The Democratic National Convention is over, some $65 million has been spent on a week-long party in Boston, and what do we now know about John Kerry?
"The Massachusetts senator barely mentioned technology in his convention speech, except to marvel at ever-shrinking microchips and implore everyone to visit JohnKerry.com. That’s not much to work with.
"A careful review of Kerry’s history in the Senate shows that his record on technology is mixed. The Massachusetts Democrat frequently sought to levy intrusive new restrictions on technology businesses that could harm the U.S. economy. He was no friend of privacy and sided with Hollywood over Silicon Valley in the copyright wars."
Declan McCullagh. John Kerry’s Real Tech Agenda. News.com. Aug. 2, 2004.
Software Company Forced Out of Existence Due to DMCA
"A maker of software that enabled users to copy DVDs and computer games folded Tuesday under the mounting weight of lawsuits by deep-pocketed movie studios and video game producers.
"321 Studios Inc. quietly announced ‘it has ceased business operations including, but not limited to, the sale, support and promotion of our products.’
"The company said that despite its ‘best efforts to remain in business,’ unfavorable court rulings by three federal courts this year assured its demise."
Jim Suhr. DVD-Copying Software Company Folds. WashingtonPost.com. August 4, 2004.
See also Katie Dean. 321 Studios Shuts Its Doors. Wired News. August 3, 2004.
Update: Jim Hu. MPAA Wins Settlement in DVD Copy Case. News.com. Aug. 10, 2004. ("The Motion Picture Association of America has settled a copyright infringement suit against 321 Studios for an undisclosed financial amount.")
(Editor�s Note: The Post allows free access to their stories on the Web for 14 days before sending the stories to the paper�s fee-based Archives.)
Lessig Encourages Freedom to Imagine
"You can pay $25 for Lawrence Lessig’s new book. Or you can download it for free. What’s the catch? None, according to Lessig, a law professor who specializes in intellectual property and is the author of Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity.
"A memo Lessig wrote to his publisher convinced Penguin Books that releasing Free Culture online actually would increase sales of hardcover copies. Which may be true: there have been more than 180,000 downloads – and Penguin is on its third printing."
Stanford Magazine. Give It Away and They’ll Buy It. July/August 2004.
College Libraries Using RFID Tags
"Some college libraries have replaced the bar codes on their books with high-tech tags that can silently transmit information, a change that might escape the notice of most patrons. But privacy advocates hope you take a closer look.
"The new tags use radio-frequency identification, or RFID. They have made the news recently as a tool to make retail stores more efficient at inventory control and theft prevention — and also as a potential source of snooping. Recently, libraries have starting adopting the tags as well.
"With their encased microchips, RFID tags can transmit information to devices designed to pick up the signals and interpret them. Some privacy advocates worry that a day will come when a library book’s tag could broadcast information about a patron to anyone nearby with a tag-reading device — stalkers, snoops, corporate marketers, or G-men."
Scott Carlson. Talking Tags. The Chronicle of Higher Education. August 6, 2004.
See also Electronic Frontier Foundation. ACTION ALERT: A Chance to Keep RFIDs Out of San Francisco Public Libraries.
Editor’s note: See also SNTReport.com’s prior story on library’s RFID usage.
Can Public Records Be Restricted by Copyright?
"’These truths we hold self-evident�’" Thomas Jefferson in writing the words of the Declaration of Independence down on paper created an ‘original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression.’ Could he have claimed copyright in it?
"The Continental Congress made a few amendments to Jefferson’s draft. In making amendments and thus creating a derivative work, would they have infringed on his copyright? Could Jefferson or the Congress have demanded royalties from the newspapers and broadside publishers printing the Declaration?
"That’s absurd, you may say. ‘The Declaration of Independence is a public record. Public records can’t be copyrighted.’ Governmental bodies, however, are claiming copyright in public records.
"A Virginia legislative committee created this year by House Joint Resolution 6 will be studying issues about electronic public records, including copyright. A subcommittee of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Council is now examining issues about Geographic Information Systems, including copyright."
Becky Dale. Can The Government Copyright Public Records? Virginia Laywers Weekly. July 26, 2004.
COPYCENSE 