INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Perspective: Hollywood Raising a Victory Flag
INTERNET
Online Activism - A Lot More Than Just Petitions
Canada's Canarie: Building Community Models for Broadband
ANTITRUST
Massachusetts to Appeal Microsoft Antitrust Settlement
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
PERSPECTIVE: HOLLYWOOD RAISING A VICTORY FLAG
[COMMENTARY] The FCC is considering a proposal requiring digital television
manufacturers to install copyright protection technology into their TV sets.
Specifically, the sets would have to recognize broadcast "flags," which
broadcasters would use to identify content that may not be copied. Declan
McCullagh of CNET News calls the plan "worrisome," adding that it contains
several flaws in its reasoning that could do more harm than good in the long
run. McCullagh urges readers to file comments with the FCC electronically.
[SOURCE: CNET News, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
(http://news.com.com/2010-1069-975580.html?tag=fd_nc_1)
INTERNET
CANADA'S CANARIE: BUILDING COMMUNITY MODELS FOR BROADBAND
As the US continues to lag behind other developed nations in the deployment
of broadband technologies and services, the Center for Digital Democracy
suggests that perhaps American policymakers should look to other models. The
Canadian federal government funds in part a non-profit corporation, Canarie,
Inc., that promotes high-speed Internet applications and infrastructure
build-out in a manner that serves the public interest. Unlike the US,
Canarie moves beyond the consumer-based demand model of deployment, opting
instead for an approach focusing on community ownership.
[SOURCE: Center for Digital Democracy]
(http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/Canarie.html)
ONLINE ACTIVISM - A LOT MORE THAN JUST PETITIONS
The Internet has lead to fundamental changes in the way that advocacy groups
organize. More than just the appearance of online petitions, the Internet
enables groups to mobilize far more quickly than ever before. It has also
made it easier for individuals to find and become active in organizations.
Author Howard Rheingold notes that wireless technologies, particularly cell
phones and text messaging, have helped to coordinate "massive, highly
effective" protests across international boundaries simultaneously.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002-11-29-online-activism_x.htm)
ANTITRUST
MASSACHUSETTS TO APPEAL MICROSOFT ANTITRUST SETTLEMENT
In the face of seven states' acceptance of the Microsoft anti-trust
settlement, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts asked a US appeals court on
Friday to consider tougher sanctions against the software giant.
Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, one of Microsoft's most outspoken
critics, called the settlement "a loop-hole filled deal," adding that
"[t]here was nothing in the deal with [the Department of Justice] that will
change Microsoft's business practices in any substantial way." U.S. District
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly rebuffed arguments that tougher sanctions were
essential to restore competition in the computer industry, noting that some
of the states' proposed sanctions would benefit the Microsoft's rivals. The
other states and the District of Columbia will focus on ensuring Microsoft's
adherence to the deal.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002-11-29-microsoft-case-appeal-two_x.ht
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