Author archives

Internet Tax Ban Vote Postponed

The Senate vote on a ban on taxes for Internet services (ISPs, music and entertainment) was postponed due to lack of agreement on the time frame for the extension (either five years, or permanently). States contend that lost revenues from a permanent ban will amount to more than $20 billion per year. Internet Tax Non-discrimination …

Subjects: Congress, E-Commerce, Legislation

Data on Most Cited Legal Periodicals Updated

The Most-Cited Legal Periodicals: U.S. and selected non-U.S. website has been updated, according to John Doyle, Washington & Lee School of Law Library. The searchable database consists of 833 journals. Each journal is assigned topical references, and users may link directly to each specific journal’s homepage. Citations are provided to sources from Westlaw to access …

Subjects: Legal Research

Coalition of Booksellers, Publishers and Librarians Files Brief Challenging Patriot Act

“On November 3, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and free speech groups representing librarians, publishers, writers and others filed a brief [in support of the ACLU’s complaint filed July 30] that strongly supports a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the provision of the USA Patriot Act that gives the FBI virtually unlimited …

Subjects: Free Speech, Libraries, Patriot Act

AG’s Do Not Favor CAN SPAM Act

Internetnews.com reports that the Internet Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General sent a letter to House leaders indicating their opposition to the CAN SPAM Act, under consideration by the House and already passed by the Senate. The reasons included “that the amended act has so many loopholes, exceptions and standards of proof that …

Subjects: Congress, E-Mail, Legislation

FTC Obtains TRO Against Company Using Pop-Up Ad Scam Scheme

The Federal Trade Commission issued a news release today on a temporary restraining order obtained from District Court, Northern District of Maryland against D Squared Solutions, a company that bombarded Windows Messenger service users with pop-up ads, whether or not consumers were on the web. Complaint for Injunctive and Other Equitable Relief Temporary Restraining Order …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Microsoft

Perils of ID Theft Can Accompany Internet Use

“So-called phisher e-mails, which look like authentic notes from real companies like eBay, Citibank or America Online, are a growing problem for Internet users, who continue to fall for the dupe and give away credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other critical personal data.” [Link] For more information on ID theft, see the following …

Subjects: ID Theft

Website Restores Access to CRS Reports

The Memory Hole announced that it has added links to over 300 Congressional Research Service Reports (Long Reports, Short Reports, Issue Briefs, Appropriations Reports) that were recently removed from free public web access. These CRS research are only a selection of the total number published, and the editor of The Memory Hole website is actively …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Microsoft Posts Bounty for Hackers

“Microsoft Corp. today announced the creation of the Anti-Virus Reward Program, initially funded with $5 million (U.S.), to help law enforcement agencies identify and bring to justice those who illegally release damaging worms, viruses and other types of malicious code on the Internet. Microsoft will provide the monetary rewards for information resulting in the arrest …

Subjects: Internet, Microsoft, PC Security

FTC Mandates Digital Broadcast Flag

From the EFF press release: “Claiming that it is an “anti-piracy mechanism,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today mandated that consumer devices capable of receiving broadcast digital television (DTV) signals must implement content control technologies demanded by the entertainment industry. The “broadcast flag” mandate will go into effect by July 1, 2005.” The FCC’s Report …

Subjects: Copyright, Internet