[Sigifp-l] Information Policy Post 12/5

[TAMaxwell at aol.com]

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY



Student’s Research Threatened Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

<http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2002/11/21/news/6433.shtml>

A senior’s research could be under threat because the (DMCA) prohibits the 

circumvention of copy-protection technologies.



Is The Patent Office Overwhelmed?

<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992178>
A 5-year-old boy gets a patent for a method of swinging on a swing.

Arguments Heard Over File-Swapping
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2534969.stm>
A judge in Los Angeles will hear arguments in the copyright infringement 
case against music file-swapping services that include Kazaa and Grokster.
For Background see also: 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2514153.stm

Tribe Sues Massachusetts Man Over Website Name
<http://digitalmass.boston.com/news/2002/11/29/foxwoods.html>
At issue is the site www.Foxwood.com, which the tribe says has no connection 
to its Foxwoods Resort Casino and is causing confusion. The tribe has a Web 
site at www.Foxwoods.com. The tribe claims that Raymond Redican is using the 
Web sites to attract people who misspell Foxwoods.

Callaway Sued - Accused of Stealing Putter Idea.
<http://www.sportingnews.com/golf/articles/20021202/442904.html>
Callaway Golf has been sued by a golf professional and his business partner, 
who accuse the company of stealing the idea for what has become known as a 
two-ball putter.

SECURITY

Bush Signs Homeland Security Bill.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-975305.html>

In case you haven’t already read the latest on the Homeland Security Bill, 

here’s another take – including details of last minute additions.



PRIVACY



Spam King Lives Large Off Others' E-mail Troubles.

<http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20021122.htm>

In spite of the recent lawsuit against Alan Ralsky by Verizon Internet 

Services Ralsky’s operation, said to be the largest bulk emailing operation 

in the world, is still in business.



Missouri Attorney General Plans to Make Spam Illegal.

<
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/3DA2D7BFF012BA9086256C7

E006CDB67?OpenDocument&Headline=Plan+would+make+'spam'+illegal>
The anti-spam law would ban unsolicited electronic mail for the purpose of 
encouraging the purchase, rental or investment in property, goods or 
services in a similar way to the existing No-Call List for telemarketing.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION / ACCESS

Public Access to FTC Hurt by Spam Lists.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-975473.html>
Email to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission bounced back because the agency 
subscribes to a blacklisting service designed to limit the amount of spam 
making its way into the agency's in-boxes.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The Criminalization of Artistic Expression In Cincinnati.
<http://www.freeexpression.org/newswire/1202_2002.htm>
A group of local and national free expression and art advocacy 
organizations, the US Section of the International Association of Art 
Critics, and a number of prominent artists and art critics issued a 
statement protesting the criminal prosecution and sentencing of photographer 
Thomas Condon for taking photographs in the Hamilton County morgue.

INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Multilingualism in Cyberspace.
<
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/observatory/in_focus/300402_multilingualism.sht

ml>
English might be the dominant language right now but UNESCO provides 
arguments for and against multilingualism in cyberspace.
See also: <http://www.unesco.org/webworld/mul_recom/>

Finland Proposes Data Retention as Executives Are Arrested for Data Misuse.
<http://www.effi.org/pressrelease-2002-11-25.html>
Electronic Frontier Finland - EFFI demands that the Finnish government 
changes its position regarding the compulsory data retention in 
telecommunications.

Thailand to Introduce Digital ID Cards in April '03.
<http://boingboing.net/2002_11_01_archive.html#85714070>
The Thai government will introduce the country's first digital ID card that 
includes a chip storing personal data by next April. Plans include issuing 
the smart card to newborns and students, and widespread implementation is 
scheduled within 3-5 years.
See also: <http://www.bangkokpost.com/201102_Database/20Nov2002_data83.html>

Online News Stories, Mobile Messages, and Hyper-links Considered Subversive 
in Hong Kong.
<http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=39170>

Hong Kong’s IT and telecommunications legislator Sin Chung-kai has said that 

the planned new security law will hold back the development of the 

territory’s technology industries.



Who Owns A Fact?

<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/25/1038173686219.html>
The debate over the copyright protection of databases is currently in the 
Australian High Court.

Complied by Dylan Thomarie


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