US and EU Counterpoints on Copyright

See this informative Financial Times article for a perspectives on US and EU copyright laws provided by Prof. Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School, Thomas Hazlett, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, law professor Richard A. Epstein, University of Chicago, Edward Welbourne, and Frank Walker, chief executive of the Newspaper Licensing Agency …

Subjects: Copyright

iWon.com Removes Spyware Software

Iwon.com has responded swiftly to a 10/22/2002 report by TechTV.com documenting iWon’s use of a malicious spyware program users were encouraged to downloaded as part of a promotional effort to win money. Not only was the use of this software in violation of iWon’s own stated privacy policy, it has proved to be almost impossible …

Subjects: Internet, Privacy

Consequences of "Trusted Computing"

The trusted computing model is advocated by an alliance of technology heavyweights – Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft, and involves issues such as privacy, digital rights management, and the marginalization of open source software. The implementation of increasingly complex proprietary encryption programs automatically installed on PCs via software applications and required upgrades has resulted …

Subjects: Internet, Privacy

Free Software May Carry Along Spyware

There are hidden consequences to downloading freeware programs from web sites. The cost of free software is often an agreement to be subjected to a constant barrage of pop-up ads. However, there is a higher price that may be involved – spyware programs that often tag along in download process. Once activated, spyware programs can …

Subjects: Internet, Privacy

E-Mail and Internet Use Policies

The ABA has published a new book focused on protecting companies from claims associated with employee use of e-mail and the Web. The book is titled Employee Use of the Internet and E-Mail: A Model Corporate Policy With Commentary on Its Use in the U.S. and Other Countries. See the press release here.

Subjects: E-Mail, Internet, Privacy

ADA and Websites

The text of the order granting motion to dismiss from the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, in Access Now Inc., v. Southwest Airlines is available in PDF here. Judge Patricia Seitz determined that Title III (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accomodation in Commercial Facilitites) of the American’s With Disabilities Act …

Subjects: Internet

Who is Eric Eldred?

This Chronicle of Higher Education article profiles this shy man whose love of the great books and his fight to make them freely available on the web has resulted in a national focus on the Supreme Court case that bears his name.

Subjects: Copyright, Courts