The benefits of mutual distrust
by DAVID SOHN
CNet News.com, publication date: 25 August 2005
"The court threaded the needle by saying the song-swapping services could be liable if they actively encouraged their users to violate copyright laws--but not simply for making the technology. In effect, the court sent the message that the law should be used to punish bad behavior, not to single out technology."
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Europe vs. Google
Europe vs. Google
by HILMAR SCHMUNDT
Salon, publication date: 25 August 2005
"The work in the University of Göttingen library's digitization center is moving along at a steady clip. The project's nine full-time employees have already digitized more than 4 million pages from periodicals and thousands of volumes of books and transferred the data to the center's server, from which it can be downloaded in a matter of seconds through any computer connected to the system.
But while it may at first sound like a lot, library director Elmar Mittler is far from satisfied. 'It's enough to drive you to despair,' he says, speaking so quietly that one has to lean forward to understand him. But then he slaps his hand against the table and adds: 'It's hard to believe how Germany has wasted its opportunities with digitization. Others are moving ahead, while we write reports.'"
by HILMAR SCHMUNDT
Salon, publication date: 25 August 2005
"The work in the University of Göttingen library's digitization center is moving along at a steady clip. The project's nine full-time employees have already digitized more than 4 million pages from periodicals and thousands of volumes of books and transferred the data to the center's server, from which it can be downloaded in a matter of seconds through any computer connected to the system.
But while it may at first sound like a lot, library director Elmar Mittler is far from satisfied. 'It's enough to drive you to despair,' he says, speaking so quietly that one has to lean forward to understand him. But then he slaps his hand against the table and adds: 'It's hard to believe how Germany has wasted its opportunities with digitization. Others are moving ahead, while we write reports.'"
W3C objects to U.S. Copyright Office's browser plan
W3C objects to U.S. Copyright Office's browser plan
by LINDA ROSENCRANCE and PAUL KRILL
ComputerWorld, publication date: 24 August 2005
"'From a practical perspective, the single-vendor restriction will deny preregistration benefits entirely to broad classes of creators of covered copyrighted works,' the W3C officials said.
The W3C also stressed that the Web 'was born and achieved widespread use only because of a commitment to open, vendor-neutral standards.'"
by LINDA ROSENCRANCE and PAUL KRILL
ComputerWorld, publication date: 24 August 2005
"'From a practical perspective, the single-vendor restriction will deny preregistration benefits entirely to broad classes of creators of covered copyrighted works,' the W3C officials said.
The W3C also stressed that the Web 'was born and achieved widespread use only because of a commitment to open, vendor-neutral standards.'"
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Toshiba's Nishida Sees Sony DVD Talks At Impasse
Toshiba's Nishida Sees Sony DVD Talks At Impasse
by CHRIS NOON
Forbes, publication date: 24 August 2005
"Certainly not good for the businesses--should each decide to pursue their own disks, disk players and separate content, the costs could run to billions. As for the consumer, one analyst reckoned baffled shoppers most likely stick to 'normal' DVDs until a single format is established. "
by CHRIS NOON
Forbes, publication date: 24 August 2005
"Certainly not good for the businesses--should each decide to pursue their own disks, disk players and separate content, the costs could run to billions. As for the consumer, one analyst reckoned baffled shoppers most likely stick to 'normal' DVDs until a single format is established. "
Monday, August 22, 2005
How label-backed P2P was born
How label-backed P2P was born
by JOHN BORLAND
CNet News.com, publication date:22 August 2005
"Their relationship led to the creation of Mashboxx, a new kind of peer-to-peer company that's expected to go live in mid-September. Mashboxx is one of several avowedly law-abiding, peer-to-peer companies trying to thrive in the wake of June's landmark Supreme Court decision that found Grokster potentially liable for copyright infringement."
by JOHN BORLAND
CNet News.com, publication date:22 August 2005
"Their relationship led to the creation of Mashboxx, a new kind of peer-to-peer company that's expected to go live in mid-September. Mashboxx is one of several avowedly law-abiding, peer-to-peer companies trying to thrive in the wake of June's landmark Supreme Court decision that found Grokster potentially liable for copyright infringement."
Sun launches open-source digital rights plan
Sun launches open-source digital rights plan
by STEPHEN SHANKLAND
CNet News.com, publication date: 21 August 2005
Dream's components include software for letting different DRM systems interoperate based on credentials held by individuals, not by particular devices; server software for delivering streaming video; and Java software for managing video streams.
by STEPHEN SHANKLAND
CNet News.com, publication date: 21 August 2005
Dream's components include software for letting different DRM systems interoperate based on credentials held by individuals, not by particular devices; server software for delivering streaming video; and Java software for managing video streams.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
Copyright reform lends itself to libraries
Copyright reform lends itself to libraries
ZDNet UK Comment, publication date: 15 August 2005
"Copyright is not an absolute right; it is a triangular deal between state, commerce and individual."
ZDNet UK Comment, publication date: 15 August 2005
"Copyright is not an absolute right; it is a triangular deal between state, commerce and individual."
Friday, August 12, 2005
Orphan Works
Orphan Workswarning: this is a direct link to a PDF file
by WALT CRAWFORD
Cites & Insights, Vol 5, No 10, September 2005
"I say “distinct” because 18 comments (if I count right) are identical to an astonishing 126-page illustrators’ screed, http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/comments/OW0660-Holland-Turner.pdf, which in its first four pages denounces Creative Commons, asserts that the whole “orphaned works” concept is part of a movement to “subvert existing copyright protection for other work,” and claims that commercial stockhouses would declare huge quantities of materials “orphan” simply to save money. "
by WALT CRAWFORD
Cites & Insights, Vol 5, No 10, September 2005
"I say “distinct” because 18 comments (if I count right) are identical to an astonishing 126-page illustrators’ screed, http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/comments/OW0660-Holland-Turner.pdf, which in its first four pages denounces Creative Commons, asserts that the whole “orphaned works” concept is part of a movement to “subvert existing copyright protection for other work,” and claims that commercial stockhouses would declare huge quantities of materials “orphan” simply to save money. "
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Britney to Rent, Lease or Buy
Britney to Rent, Lease or Buy
by DAVID POGUE
New York Times, publication date: 07 August 2005
"One intriguing alternative is the subscription plan allowing unlimited downloads that is currently offered by Napster, Yahoo and Rhapsody.
...
Unfortunately, there's enough fine print to fill a phone book. The biggest footnote is that if you ever stop paying the fee, you're left with nothing but memories; all the music self-destructs. You're not buying songs under this plan - you're just renting them. (A famous Napster ad claims that filling an iPod, at $1 a song, would cost you $10,000. But you could just as truthfully say that, under Napster's plan, listening to one favorite song for 20 years would cost you $3,600.)"
by DAVID POGUE
New York Times, publication date: 07 August 2005
"One intriguing alternative is the subscription plan allowing unlimited downloads that is currently offered by Napster, Yahoo and Rhapsody.
...
Unfortunately, there's enough fine print to fill a phone book. The biggest footnote is that if you ever stop paying the fee, you're left with nothing but memories; all the music self-destructs. You're not buying songs under this plan - you're just renting them. (A famous Napster ad claims that filling an iPod, at $1 a song, would cost you $10,000. But you could just as truthfully say that, under Napster's plan, listening to one favorite song for 20 years would cost you $3,600.)"
US Copyright Office Considering MSIE-only Service
US Copyright Office Considering MSIE-only Service
Technocrat.net posting, publication date: 09 August 2005
"The US Copyright Office is considering requiring MSIE for pre-registration to the exclusion of other browsers. It has posted a notice asking as to whether persons filing the electronic-only preregistration form will experience difficulties if it is necessary to use MSIE in order to pre-register a work. "
Technocrat.net posting, publication date: 09 August 2005
"The US Copyright Office is considering requiring MSIE for pre-registration to the exclusion of other browsers. It has posted a notice asking as to whether persons filing the electronic-only preregistration form will experience difficulties if it is necessary to use MSIE in order to pre-register a work. "
Irish pioneer pilloried for file-swap software
Irish pioneer pilloried for file-swap software
by ADRIAN RUSSELL
The Sunday Times, publication date: 07 August 2005
"AN Irish software designer has been attacked by security experts for developing a programme that will allow internet users to share files anonymously."
by ADRIAN RUSSELL
The Sunday Times, publication date: 07 August 2005
"AN Irish software designer has been attacked by security experts for developing a programme that will allow internet users to share files anonymously."
Camcording Warez Dealer Bagged by Feds
Camcording Warez Dealer Bagged by Feds
by ROY MARK
Internet News, publication date: 04 August 2005
"Curtis Salisbury, 19, of St. Charles, Mo., was charged in a five-count indictment claiming he used a camcorder in movie theaters to copy recent theatrical releases. He then uploaded the copies to a computer network for distribution"
by ROY MARK
Internet News, publication date: 04 August 2005
"Curtis Salisbury, 19, of St. Charles, Mo., was charged in a five-count indictment claiming he used a camcorder in movie theaters to copy recent theatrical releases. He then uploaded the copies to a computer network for distribution"
Monday, August 08, 2005
Don't own your textbooks, rent them!
Don't own your textbooks, rent them!
by JESSAMYN WEST
Librarian.net, publication date: 07 August 2005
'Princeton University is experimenting with textbooks that have Digital Rights Management embedded in them. They have a lot of nerve calling a textbook that expires in five months "universal". '
by JESSAMYN WEST
Librarian.net, publication date: 07 August 2005
'Princeton University is experimenting with textbooks that have Digital Rights Management embedded in them. They have a lot of nerve calling a textbook that expires in five months "universal". '
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