The popular sports network ESPN is negotiating with at least one wireless carrier to exempt its traffic from data caps. That's according to The Wall Street Journal, which broke the news on Thursday. However, "no such arrangement is imminent, and ESPN isn't sure if the economics will work out," the Journal said. The network neutrality advocates at Public Knowledge wasted no time denouncing the rumored arrangement. "Imposing data caps on consumers … [Read more...]
Blind advocates: Hollywood lobbying threatens deal for accessible books
Mai 10, 2013 By
Melissa For the last several years, negotiators at the World Intellectual Property Organization have been working on a copyright treaty that would make it easier for blind people to get accessible versions of books, like well-annotated audio books or large-print editions. But aggressive lobbying by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Association of American Publishers (AAP), and other US copyright interests … [Read more...]
New Zealand government closes door on software patents
Mai 9, 2013 By
The ruling party in New Zealand has decided to drop a controversial plan to expand patenting of software in the island nation. The move was hailed by IT professionals and open Internet advocates. Earlier versions of the government's proposed overhaul to New Zealand's patent laws seemed to open the door to patents on software by only excluding patents that covered "a computer program as such." The opposition Labour Party warned that the words "as … [Read more...]
Prenda: Georgia court should ignore Wright ruling because of gay marriage
Mai 9, 2013 By
Judge Otis Wright's bombshell order earlier this week doesn't only raise the possibility that Prenda's senior figures will wind up in orange jumpsuits some day. It also further complicates ongoing litigation elsewhere. The porn trolling firm's opponents across the country are rushing to alert their local judges of Judge Wright's order in hopes of inviting similar scrutiny of Prenda's legal tactics. One district where a defendant has asked to … [Read more...]
Members of Congress finally introduce serious DMCA reform
Mai 9, 2013 By
topcat_angel The Library of Congress sparked a firestorm late last year when it issued new rules that made it effectively illegal to unlock a cell phone to switch to a new wireless carrier. An online petition on the issue attracted more than 100,000 signatures and prompted a White House statement criticizing the new rule. Members of Congress sprang into action, introducing at least three bills to deal with the issue. But copyright … [Read more...]
Weeks after shutdown, Bitcoin exchange customers still wait for refunds
Mai 6, 2013 By
Michael Daines More than two weeks after the Bitcoin exchange Bitfloor closed its virtual doors, many customers are still waiting to get their money back. One tally of 78 Bitfloor users on reddit found that Bitfloor owed them $267,000. The number might be much higher once all users are accounted for. In an e-mailed statement, Bitfloor's legal counsel blamed the delay on a dispute with the firm's bank. And Bitfloor said it has enough … [Read more...]
