-------- Forwarded Message -------- > From: EFFector list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: EFFector list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: EFFector 20.34: Back to School for Reading, Writing, and RIAA > Lawsuits? > Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:55:22 -0500 (CDT) > > EFFector Vol. 20, No. 34 August 29, 2007 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation > ISSN 1062-9424 > > In the 438th Issue of EFFector: > > * Back to School for Reading, Writing, and RIAA Lawsuits? > * EFF Challenges Bogus Patent on Internet Subdomains > * EFF Documents Shed Light on FBI Electronic Surveillance > Technology > * Spy Chief Admits Telcos Collaborated With NSA Spying > * Check Out the 7th Annual "Future of Music Policy Summit" > in Washington, DC! > * miniLinks (12): The Freedom to Read Online in Jeopardy > * Administrivia > > For more information on EFF activities & alerts: > http://www.eff.org/ > > Make a donation and become an EFF member today! > http://eff.org/support/ > > Tell a friend about EFF: > http://action.eff.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1061 > > effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a desired > change. > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * Back to School for Reading, Writing, and RIAA Lawsuits? > > EFF Releases Comprehensive Report on Recording Industry's > Litigation Campaign > > San Francisco - As college students across the country head > back to class this fall, they need to worry about more than > keeping up on their schoolwork. The Recording Industry of > America (RIAA) continues to target college campuses for > hundreds of new lawsuits each month. Meanwhile, under > pressure from the recording industry, universities are > instituting draconian punishments for students suspected of > sharing music files. At the same time, the RIAA continues > to sue file sharers off campus, with a total tally now > exceeding 20,000. > > In a report released this week, "RIAA v. The People: Four > Years Later," the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) > provides the only comprehensive look at the four-year > litigation campaign waged by the RIAA against music fans. > The report traces the RIAA campaign from its beginnings in > 2003 against a handful of students at Princeton, Rensselaer > Polytechnic, and Michigan Tech to the current spate of > "pre-litigation settlement" letters being sent to > universities nationwide. > > "Despite the RIAA's legal campaign, file sharing is more > popular than ever," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Fred von > Lohmann. "History will treat this as a shameful chapter in > the history of the music industry, when record companies > singled out random music fans for disproportionate > penalties. Artists must be compensated, but these lawsuits > aren't putting money into any creator's pocket." > > The crackdown on Internet file sharing has already driven > music fans to technologies that are harder to monitor -- > for example, burning and exchanging CDs among friends and > sharing on members-only "darknets." EFF calls on > universities to help artists get paid for their creative > work while protecting their students from costly legal > problems. Universities should insist on a blanket license > for their students, collecting a reasonable regular payment > -- for example, $5 a month -- in exchange for the right to > keep sharing music with their classmates. > > "This is about money, not morality," said von Lohmann. > "With a blanket licensing solution, the RIAA can call off > the lawyers and the lobbyists, and universities can get > back to education instead of copyright enforcement." > > For the full report "RIAA v. The People: Four Years > Later": > http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/riaa-v-thepeople.php > > For more on the litigation campaign: > http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/?f=riaa-v-thepeople.html > > Read the FAQ for students faced with "pre-litigation > letters": > http://www.eff.org/IP/P2P/RIAA_v_ThePeople/college_faq.php > > For this release: > http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2007_08.php#005414 > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * EFF Challenges Bogus Patent on Internet Subdomains > > Illegitimate Patent Used to Threaten Website Hosting > Companies > > San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is > challenging a bogus patent on Internet subdomains that has > been used to threaten small businesses and innovators. > > Ideaflood, a self-proclaimed "intellectual property holding > company," used this illegitimate patent to demand payment > from website hosting companies that offer virtual, > personalized subdomains -- like "action.eff.org" for the > parent domain "eff.org." But in a reexamination request > filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office > (PTO) last Wednesday, EFF and Rick Mc Leod of Klarquist > Sparkman, LLP, show that the method Ideaflood claims to > have invented was well known before the patent was issued. > In fact, website developers were having public discussions > about how to create these virtual subdomains on an Apache > developer mailing list for more than a year before > Ideaflood made its patent claim. > > "This illustrates how an open-source project can establish > a public record of technology development and thwart > invalid patents," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Jason > Schultz. "The public discussions on the Apache and other > mailing lists have shown that Ideaflood's patent claims > were without merit and that the patent should be revoked > before it causes any more damage to innovation on the > Internet." > > The companies that Ideaflood threatened include > Freehomepage.com, T35 Hosting, and LiveJournal, a social > networking site where each of its three million users have > their own subdomain. The patent has since been reassigned > to a company called Hoshiko, LLC. > > "Our patent system is intended to encourage innovation, not > damage it by encroaching on the public domain," said Rick > Mc Leod, who drafted EFF's petition. "Unfortunately, in > recent years the PTO has been deluged with applications, > making it difficult to determine whether many patents > should be issued or rejected. When a 'bad' patent targets > something as ephemeral as the Internet, it can be even more > difficult to get that patent invalidated. Fortunately, a > diligent, prior art searcher sent us a key reference." > > The challenge to the Ideaflood patent is part of EFF's > Patent Busting Project, which combats the chilling effects > that bad patents have on public and consumer interests. So > far, the project has killed one bogus patent and requested > the reexamination of two others. > > For the full reexamination request: > http://www.eff.org/patent/wanted/ideaflood/reexam/ReqReexam_746.pdf > > For more on EFF's Patent Busting Project: > http://www.eff.org/patent > > For this release: > http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2007_08.php#005412 > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * EFF Documents Shed Light on FBI Electronic Surveillance > Technology > > The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has obtained > documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) > that reveal the inner workings of the FBI's Digital > Collection System Network (DCSNet), a software suite that > allows the Bureau to conduct surveillance on a wide variety > of digital devices. > > As Ryan Singel writes in his extensive report for Wired > News: > > "Many of the details of the system and its full > capabilities were redacted from the documents acquired by > the Electronic Frontier Foundation, but they show that > DCSNet includes at least three collection components, each > running on Windows-based computers. > > "The $10 million DCS-3000 client, also known as Red Hook, > handles pen-registers and trap-and-traces, a type of > surveillance that collects signaling information -- > primarily the numbers dialed from a telephone -- but no > communications content. (Pen registers record outgoing > calls; trap-and-traces record incoming calls.) > > "DCS-6000, known as Digital Storm, captures and collects > the content of phone calls and text messages for full > wiretap orders. > > "A third, classified system, called DCS-5000, is used for > wiretaps targeting spies or terrorists." > > EFF obtained these documents through a FOIA lawsuit filed > against the FBI last year. A federal judge has ordered the > Bureau to turn over new documents every month, so check > back often the learn more about DCSNet. > > See the documents on EFF's FOIA litigation: > http://www.eff.org/flag/07656JDB/ > > For more on EFF's FLAG Project: > http://www.eff.org/flag/ > > Read Ryan Singel's Wired Threat Level report, "FBI's > Wiretap Network Revealed And Request for Reader Document > Analysis": > http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/08/fbis-wiretap-ne.html > > For the complete post and related links: > http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005415.php > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * Spy Chief Admits Telcos Collaborated With NSA Spying > > In a lengthy and revealing interview, the Director of > National Intelligence Mike McConnell admitted that > telecommunications companies collaborated with the NSA's > massive domestic spying. > > Of course, it's long been an open secret that the > government is engaging in dragnet surveillance of millions > of ordinary Americans and has backdoor access to > telecommunications providers' networks and records > databases. The overwhelming evidence includes statements > from fully briefed members of Congress, whistleblower > evidence from a former AT&T employee, and numerous > newspaper reports. Alongside our lawsuit against AT&T, > numerous other lawsuits have been brought against various > carriers, including Verizon and MCI. > > Yet the government has tried to sweep away these > allegations as mere speculation and has desperately tried > to stop lawsuits against the carriers by claiming that > "whether any particular company (or type of company) is > assisting the Government" is a "state secret." > > Now McConnell has conceded the truth: "[U]nder the > president's program, the terrorist surveillance program, > the private sector had assisted us. Because if you're going > to get access you've got to have a partner and they were > being sued." > > As EFF has argued in our case against AT&T, the courts are > well equipped to protect state secrets while determining > whether the spying is illegal, and the evidence already on > the record is sufficient to move forward with the case, but > McConnell's statement should absolutely settle the > question. > > Read the transcripts from McConnell interview here: > http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_6685679 > > For more on EFF's case against AT&T: > http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att > > See EFF's page on the NSA's Warrantless Domestic > Surveillance: > http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/NSA/ > > For EFF Activist Derek Slater's entire analysis and related > links: > http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005413.php > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * Check Out the 7th Annual "Future of Music Policy Summit" > in Washington, DC! > > The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a national nonprofit > that works on the issues at the intersection of music, law, > technology and policy. For the past six years, FMC has > organized an annual Policy Summit that brings an > unprecedented mix of 500 musicians, artists, attorneys and > policymakers together for discussions about issues that are > emerging as the promotion and distribution of music moves > to a global, digital platform. > > This year, FMC is back in Washington, DC, to host the 7th > annual "Future of Music Policy Summit" from September 17- > 18, 2007. Over the course of two days, panels will cover > such topics as: > > * Copyright and licensing issues > * Network neutrality and broadband policy > * FCC's "rules of engagement" on payola > * Sample clearance licensing process > * The explosion of niche market genres > * Wireless/music portability > * The challenges of cultural preservation > * Technologies that are bringing artists and fans closer > together > ...and more. > > The Summit will also include a special conversation with > Marybeth Peters, Register, US Copyright Office, and > keynotes by leading members of Congress. > > For general event information: > http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit07/ > > To see all confirmed panelists: > http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit07/panelists.cfm > > To see the summit schedule: > http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit07/matrix.cfm > > Online registration is open; the regular 2-day registration > rate is $199 per person. Discounted rates are also > available for students: > https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit07/regform.cfm > > Scholarships are available for working musicians. There are > only a few left, so click here to apply! > http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit07/scholarshipinfo.cfm > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * miniLinks > The week's noteworthy news, compressed. > > ~ The Freedom to Read Online in Jeopardy > EFF joins in amicus appeal of United States v. Forrester ruling. > http://blog.aclu.org/index.php?/archives/264-The-Freedom-to-Read-Online.html > > ~ iPhone Freed From AT&T > Your hardware delivered - back into your control. > http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070824-iphone-set-free-from-att-with-first-full-software-unlock.html > > ~Is Your Boss Spying on You? > Reader's Digest introduces the Big Brother workplace. > http://www.rd.com/content/is-your-boss-spying-on-you/ > > ~ California Judge Decides Perl's "Artistic License" Is a Contract > Free software advocates (in this case) would prefer copyright law. > http://lwn.net/Articles/246695/ > > ~ Geeks <3 Human Rights > Tim Lee ponder's the techie love of civil liberties. > http://www.techliberation.com/archives/042710.php > > ~ WordPress Hosted Sites Blocked in Turkey > A single defamation site brings down thousands of blogs. > http://www.citmedialaw.org/wordpress-blocked-turkey > > ~ Walmart Offers DRM-free Music Downloads > Support for restricting your fair use rights continues to crumble. > http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/08/21/watch-your-back-apple.aspx > > ~ The Law According to Godwin > EFF's first lawyer, and now Wikimedia general counsel, is profiled. > http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/technology/20link.html > > ~ Microsoft Declares Genuine Customers Pirates > Redmond's remote validation of Windows users fails. > http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136451-c,companynews/article.html > > ~ Is Comcast Breaking BitTorrent? > The company denies it, but customers are seeing strange reset packets kill > their seeds. > http://torrentfreak.com/comcast-wrongfully-denies-interfering-with-bittorrent/ > > ~ Opening up the Law > Tim Wu and Carl Malamad work to open up case law and the Federal Register. > http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/23/opening-up-the-ameri.html > > ~ RMS Speaks at Stanford > The creator of the General Public License speaks on GPL3 on September 10th. > http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/node/5512 > > : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : > > * Administrivia > > EFFector is published by: > > The Electronic Frontier Foundation > 454 Shotwell Street > San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA > +1 415 436 9333 (voice) > +1 415 436 9993 (fax) > http://www.eff.org/ > > Editor: > Julie Lindner, Education Outreach Coordinator > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Membership & donation queries: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is > encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily represent > the views of EFF. To reproduce signed articles > individually, please contact the authors for their express > permission. > Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be > reproduced individually at will. > > Current and back issues of EFFector are available via the > Web at: > http://www.eff.org/effector/
> > This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons. > -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
