From the BBC:
Internet law professor Michael Geist takes a look at intellectual property protection in the US and finds it somewhat out of step with the rest of the world.
Archive of entries posted on February 2007
U.S. copyright lobby out-of-touch
U.K. government rejects calls for DRM ban
From News.com:
The U.K. government has rejected a call for digital rights management to be banned in the U.K., but has acknowledged that the technology could undermine consumer rights.
Europe’s plan to track phone and Net use
From News.com:
European governments are preparing legislation to require companies to keep detailed data about people’s Internet and phone use that goes beyond what the countries will be required to do under a European Union directive.
In Germany, a proposal from the Ministry of Justice would essentially prohibit using false information to create an e-mail account, making [...]
Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities
New CRS Report – Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities
This report summarizes statutory authorities regarding access by the government, for either foreign intelligence or law enforcement purposes, to information related to telephone calling patterns or practices. Where pertinent, it also discusses statutory prohibitions against accessing or disclosing such information, along [...]
The Waiting Game: FOIA Performance Hits New Lows
From the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government:
Federal agencies appear to have made only modest progress, if any, in meeting President Bush’s directive to improve service to FOIA requesters.
Requests remain heavily backlogged. Requesters still have long wait times for a response from many agencies. And people seeking records and information remain less likely to get [...]
Neutrality On the Net Gets High ‘08 Profile
From the Washington Post:
Hardly a household term, ["net neutrality"] has no overtly partisan or ideological dimensions. Yet it is shaping up as a Democratic issue this year, largely because its most fervid advocates are liberal bloggers and other Internet activists who play a big role in the early stages of choosing a Democratic presidential nominee.
Unlike [...]
Son of DOPA? Social Networking Bill in Illinois May Be Replicated Elsewhere
From Library Journal:
While the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly may not be too receptive to new social networking legislation proposed by freshman Republican Senator Matt Murphy, the bill may be the first in several state attempts to achieve the goals of the federal Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA), which passed the House of Representatives but failed [...]
E-Government and Libraries: Could New Law Be on the Horizon?
From Library Journal:
An embryonic initiative may produce federal funds to help public libraries provide access to e-government. The library role in e-government was highlighted in a breakthrough report last year by researchers at Florida State University’s Information Institute. A follow-up discussion draft report, E-Government and Public Libraries: Current Status, Meeting Report, Findings, and Next Steps, [...]
Electronic Records Archive to debut in September
From Federal Computer Weekly:
The first release of the National Archives and Records Administration’s electronic archiving system will come in September, said NARA’s chief information officer, Martha Morphy.
Development of the Electronic Records Archive, a project that aims to collect and preserve government records in electronic format, could be supported by the Bush administration’s proposed increase in [...]
Congress Eyes Getting More Info Released
From the Guardian:
Congressional Democrats are looking at ways to strengthen open government laws and force the Bush administration to release more documents under the Freedom of Information Act.