Public Interest Registry to Manage Dot-Org

“Public Interest Registry (PIR) is a not-for-profit corporation created to manage the .ORG registry. PIR looks forward to serving the .ORG community by providing superior technology; new services designed for noncommercial registrants; and responsive, responsible stewardship. PIR has established its new .ORG Advisory Council. The council will focus on .ORG policy, outreach, and service issues.”

Subjects: Domain Names, Internet

Supreme Court Backs Net Filters For Libraries

In a 6 to 3 decision (56 pages, pdf) released today in United States v. American Library Association (02-361), the Supreme Court ruled that the Children’s Internet Protection Act does not violate the First Amendment, and Congress can thereby require the use of Internet filters by public libraries receiving federal funds. See also: My related …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Libraries, Privacy

New Legislation on Criminalizing P2P File Transfer of Copyrighted Works

H.R. 2517 (introduced June 19 by Rep. Lamar Smith), the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003, to enhance criminal enforcement of the copyright laws, educate the public about the application of copyright law to the Internet, and clarify the authority to seize unauthorized copyrighted works. In the bill language is the following statement: Trafficking …

Subjects: Copyright, Cybercrime, E-Commerce, Privacy

NASD Guidelines for Instant Messages

According to this National Association of Securities Dealer’s June 18 press release: “NASD today advised member firms about the use of “instant messaging” by employees, saying firms must ensure the instant messaging is being retained for at least three years and the communication does not violate NASD rules governing sales literature and correspondence.” “The Notice …

Subjects: E-Mail, Securities Law

Gov’t Report on IT Workforce

From the Department of Commerce Technology Administration: Examining Information Technology Education and Training Landscape in 21st Century, a report mandated by the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act of 2000. The 225-page report (pdf) provides an extensive exploration of employer demand for information technology (IT) workers, the IT education and training landscape, and the …

Subjects: Internet

LC’s Digital Archiving and Preservation Program

National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program: An Interview with Laura Campbell, Associate Librarian for Strategic Initiatives Library of Congress. From the ariticle editors: “In January Congress approved the Library of Congress’s Plan for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), which will enable the Library to launch the initial phase of building …

Subjects: Copyright, Freedom of Information, Intellectual Property, Libraries

RIAA Issues Cease and Desist Orders

According to The Register, “the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has sent “cease and desist” letters to four people it alleges were illegally offering hundreds of copyrighted songs over the Internet. The names were handed over by Verizon, which until now has refused to reveal the identity of its punters accused of pirating music, …

Subjects: Copyright

Oversight for TSA’s CAPPS II Program

As a follow-up to my June 16 posting see this press release from Congressman Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN), who “succeeded in requiring stricter scrutiny of the Transportation Security Administration’s proposed computerized airline passenger screening program known as CAPPS2, during full committee markup of the FY2004 House Homeland Security Appropriations bill.” More from the press release …

Subjects: Privacy

More on Sen. Hatch, Piracy and Destroying PCs

Orrin Hatch: Software Pirate? This story has some legs. According to the Wired article: The senator’s site makes extensive use of a JavaScript menu system developed by Milonic Solutions, a software company based in the United Kingdom. The copyright-protected code has not been licensed for use on Hatch’s website. Statement by Milonic Solutions. An antipiracy …

Subjects: Copyright, Cybercrime

New Blog on Election 2004 Political Parties

WatchBlog, “2004 U.S. Election News and Opinion, is a multiple-editor weblog broken up into three major political affiliations, each with its own blog: the Democrats, the Republicans and the Third Party (covering everything outside the two major parties).” Each party is represented by a column on the site’s main page where readers may review the …

Subjects: Blogs