Archive for September, 2005

A Brief Introduction

Tuesday, September 20th, 2005

My name is Jason, and I occupy the chair next to Bill's in our lovely office (with a couch). I kept sending Bill links I thought he would find interesting, so he invited me to post on his blog. I said no because I am busy and wary about taking ...

Christian band: Here’s how to hack our CD

Tuesday, September 20th, 2005

So the bassist from the Christian band Switchfoot is apparently giving instructions on how to disable the technological protection measures (TPM), aka digital "rights" management (DRM), on the band's new CD. It's not the band that decided to lock down their art in a way that keeps many people from ...

Crave privacy? Zap that paparazzi’s digicam

Monday, September 19th, 2005

Another interesting art on CNet News.

China still = piracy

Monday, September 19th, 2005

As explained here on CNet News, China is still awash in pirated movies despite WIPO and promises from high-level politicos. This is an example of trying to export our own cultural expectations onto the Chinese: There are cultural issues as well. Many Chinese see strict intellectual property-rights enforcement as a zero-sum game ...

The end of the wired internet?

Monday, September 19th, 2005

Could this be the beginning of the end (or at least the end of the beginning) for wire-dependent internet communication? If the lobbying efforts by Comcast and Verizon in Pennsylvania are any indicator, I somehow doubt that the incumbents will let their position go so easily.

RIAA pushes to strip you of recording rights

Thursday, September 15th, 2005

The RIAA is pushing to roll back your right to record music at home. As part of the switch to digital radio broadcasting, they're pushing to mandate that devices capable of recording digital radio feature a host of crippling features. As reported here by the EFF, the RIAA is hoping to ...

Boucher calls for mandatory music licensing

Wednesday, September 14th, 2005

In light of the continued success of illegal P2P networks, Rep. Rick Boucher has called for technology-neutral licensing. This would will allow legal downloading services to offer all recorded music and pay legally-defined royalties rather than haggling with record companies and therefore missing out on lots of songs. It's hard enough ...

Garrison Keillor: IP Bully?

Tuesday, September 13th, 2005

As explained here on P2P.net, Garrison Keillor, the comedian host of the NPR variety show "A Prarie Home Companion," has issued a cease-and-decist letter demanding the end to a parody of the phrase. A t-shirt vendor, selling shirts that say "A Prarie Ho Companion," has publicized the letter in its ...

Profoundly dumb, insensitive Katrina quotes

Monday, September 12th, 2005

About.com has compiled a list of the top 25 dumbest Katrina quotes. Most are from politicians, but a few are from the press. See, e.g., # 10, by the normally top-notch Wolf Blitzer. Props again to J Tocci for the link. (Notice the pattern here?) This is what happens when something tears ...

FEMA nixes evacuee radio station

Friday, September 9th, 2005

Even though the FCC gave a low-power FM license to Houston volunteers, FEMA will not allow those volunteers to set up a radio station from the Astrodome. See the Village Voice story here. Props to Ken for this one.