Day archives: October 20th, 2014

Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges

Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges. Michael V. Seitzinger, Legislative Attorney; Kathleen Ann Ruane, Legislative Attorney. October 15, 2014. “Two sections of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) require that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) issue regulations to make public the involvement of U.S. companies in conflict minerals and in …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Energy, Financial System, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Securities Law

Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws

CRS – Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws. Charles Doyle, Senior Specialist in American Public Law. October 15, 2014. “The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), 18 U.S.C. 1030, outlaws conduct that victimizes computer systems. It is a cyber security law. It protects federal computers, bank computers, and computers …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, ID Theft, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation

Security – a perpetual war: lessons from nature

Via Cornell University Library – Security – a perpetual war: lessons from nature, Wojciech Mazurczyk, Elżbieta Rzeszutko (Submitted on 17 Oct 2014) “For ages people have sought inspiration in nature. Biomimicry has been the propelling power of such inventions, like Velcro tape or “cat’s eyes” – retroreflective road marking. At the same time, scientists have been developing biologically …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet, Knowledge Management, Privacy

EFF Launches Updated Know Your Rights Guide

“If the police come knocking at your door, the constitution offers you some protection. But the constitution is just a piece of paper—if you don’t know how to assert your rights. And even if you do assert your rights…what happens next? That answer may seem complicated, but protecting yourself is simple if you know your …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Internet, Legal Research, Privacy

New GAO Reports – Changing Crude Oil Markets, Federal Paid Admin Leave, Food Safety

CHANGING CRUDE OIL MARKETS: Allowing Exports Could Reduce Consumer Fuel Prices, and the Size of the Strategic Reserves Should Be Reexamined, GAO-14-807: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2014. FEDERAL PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE: Additional Guidance Needed to Improve OPM Data, GAO-15-79: Published: Oct 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2014. FOOD SAFETY: USDA Needs to Strengthen Its Approach to …

Subjects: Energy, Food and Nutrition, Government Documents, Health Care

How Initiatives to Reduce Fraud in Federal Health Care Programs Affect the Budget

“Observers often cite fraud as an important contributor to high health care spending, particularly in federal programs. This report describes how CBO estimates the budgetary effects of legislative proposals to reduce fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and how those estimates are used in the Congressional budget process. What Is Fraud? For …

Subjects: Congress, Health Care, Legal Research

Lawsuits by Retired NFL Players Cause Jump in Trademark Filings

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse: “The latest available data from the federal courts show that during September 2014 the government reported 705 new trademark lawsuits. This number is up 145 percent over the previous month and up 32.2 percent from a year ago. Most of the increase appears to be due to cases filed by retired …

Subjects: Legal Research, Patent and Trademark

Global Economic Prospects: Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2014

Baffes, John. 2014. Global Economic Prospects: Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2014. World Bank Group, Washington, DC. © World Bank. “Commodity prices are expected to remain weak for the remainder of 2014 and, perhaps through much of 2015. Crude oil has seen one of the sharpest declines, down more than 20 percent to $83/barrel (bbl) on …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

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