Legal Issues Raised Over Wiretapping Internet Calls

The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) transfers communications over the Internet rather than through the PSTN (public switched telephone network). According to this AP story, the FBI is seeking regulatory action that includes VoIP communications so as to facilitate surveillance asociated with criminal activities and terrorism. Technology to transfer voice communications via the Internet was …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Internet, Privacy

GPO Access Relaunches Portal

From a press release by GPO today:” GPO Access has been re-launched with a new URL and enhanced look and feel. As of today, April 4, 2003, you will be able to access the new GPO Access homepage at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov. This re-launch was accomplished as a result of feedback from users, through surveys, usability studies, …

Subjects: Government Documents, Legal Research

More on RIAA Lawsuits Against Students for File Sharing

As a follow-up to my posting yesterday on the lawsuits against four college students filed by the RIAA, this article provides further details. The RIAA is seeking $150,000 for each of the music files allegedly copied by the named students. Officials from Princeton and the Michigan Technological University registered their displeasure with the charges as …

Subjects: Copyright

ABATechShow Presentation on Blogs

Rick Klau attended the April 3 ABATechShow presentation on blogs by Tom Mighell and me, and provided live commentary via his weblog. His postings, in reverse chronological order, appear here, here, here, here, and here. Thanks Rick!

Subjects: Blogs

RIAA Sues Four Students for Piracy

The RIAA today announced lawsuits against four students who run local area networks on university campuses used to “illegally distribute millions of copyrighted songs.” According to this Reuters report, two of the students attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one is at Princeton University and the other at Michigan Technological University.

Subjects: Copyright

California Supreme Court Reviews E-Mail Case

On April 2, the California Supreme Court heard oral argument in the appeal of Intel v Hamidi. Hamidi is a former Intel employee who after his termination, on six separate occasions, used the company’s internal e-mail address listing to send messages to 30,000 employees. See also these related articles: Intel e-mail issue divides court and …

Subjects: E-Mail, Free Speech

States Pass Exemptions to Freedom of Information Laws

The USA Today reported that 22 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that restrict public access to information that relates to homeland security. The exemptions to state freedom of information laws includes maps, evacuation and emergency plans, transportation services and infrastructure. According to the article, “Taken together, the measures passed in the …

Subjects: Freedom of Information

Thomson to Acquire Elite

From the press release today: The Thomson Corporation and Elite Information Group, Inc., a leading provider of integrated practice and financial management applications for legal and professional services markets, today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Thomson will acquire Elite. See also this Star Tribune article for more details.

Subjects: Internet

Details from MA Super DMCA

Via A Copyfighter’s Musings, a report on what transpired during the public hearing held April 3 on Massachusetts House Bill 2743; MA Super DMCA Hearing Report. See my previous posting on proposed legislation to extend the DMCA here. From Freedom to Tinker, MPAA Revises Model Super-DMCA Legislation that links to “revised version of its model …

Subjects: Copyright, Internet