Intellectual Poverty

Activists and family blame suicide of Aaron Swartz on overzealous prosecution

"Two years before the MIT incident, the FBI launched an investigation after Swartz released a trove of US federal court documents online that are usually only accessible at a fee through the government’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records, or PACER. In 2008, that fee was eight cents per page. In less than three weeks, he managed to download more than 18 million pages with an estimated value of $1.5 million to his home in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Swartz had pleaded not guilty to charges of computer fraud, wire fraud and other crimes carrying a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and a $1 million fine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingActivists and family blame suicide of Aaron Swartz on overzealous prosecution

Hacker, Activist Aaron Swartz Commits Suicide

"Aaron Swartz was facing a potential sentence of dozens of years in prison for allegedly trying to make MIT academic journal articles public. Swartz was dedicated to sharing data and information online. He worked tirelessly to develop and popularize standards for free and open information sharing. Swartz co-founded Demand Progress, which launched the primary campaign against Internet censorship bills (SOPA/PIPA). His work on Reddit enabled millions to share information and news socially (Swartz sold Infogami to Reddit)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHacker, Activist Aaron Swartz Commits Suicide

H.R. 193 would force farmers to pay a fee on saved seeds and register them

"H.R. 193 would change things for farmers who purchase patented seeds and then grow those seeds. After the harvest, many farmers save the seeds that they can, seeds produced from the product they already paid for. H.R. 193 would force those farmers who save their seeds to register those seeds with the Secretary of Agriculture. After they register those seeds, the farmers would then have to pay fees set aside by the Secretary of Agriculture for keeping the seeds, 'and for other purposes'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingH.R. 193 would force farmers to pay a fee on saved seeds and register them

Case Against Kim Dotcom Copyright Infringement Continues to Weaken

"This is the man US and Hollywood officials decided to make an example of. Interestingly, they were victims of the same persona that Dotcom has used successfully throughout his career. A man who so thoroughly advertised his affection for fast cars, large yachts, beautiful women and military video games was someone who surely could not be taken seriously. It was inconceivable to these intelligence agents and military men that someone as obviously undisciplined as Kim Dotcom would pose a 'hard target.' Surely he would fold immediately on feeling the boot upon his neck. And this misjudgment was only one of a series." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCase Against Kim Dotcom Copyright Infringement Continues to Weaken

Five big tech stories to watch for in 2013

"We were dazzled by an array of smartphones. We were fascinated and then disappointed by Facebook's initial public offering. And we held our breaths as we awaited the verdict in the Apple v. Samsung trial. But all that's so 2012. Let's talk 2013. Will we still be paying attention to patents, smartphones, and IPOs? The answer is 'yes, yes, and yes,' but not in the way you might imagine. The great thing about writing about the high-tech industry is its constant march forward. New companies get built on the bones of old companies, and new faces emerge while others fade. It's what keeps us going and sitting on those hard, wooden courtroom benches." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFive big tech stories to watch for in 2013

RIAA Celebrates 15 Year Jail Sentence For Movie and Music Pirate

"The RIAA has welcomed a mind-boggling jail sentence handed to a man who sold pirated movies and music. The 37-year-old man pleaded guilty to six felony counts of selling counterfeit media after he sold five movies and one music CD to an undercover investigator without the permission of copyright holders. As a result he will go to jail in Mississippi for 15 years to be followed by three years of supervised release." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRIAA Celebrates 15 Year Jail Sentence For Movie and Music Pirate

Apple pays Swiss rail $21million over clock dispute

"US tech giant Apple has dished out 20 million Swiss francs ($21 million, 17 million euros) to compensate Swiss national rail operator SBB for using its famous clock without permission, a Swiss daily reported Saturday. The company agreed in October to pay the lump sum so it could continue using SBB’s Swiss-designed station clock face on its iPads and iPhones, the Tages-Anzeiger daily reported on its website, quoting several unnamed sources." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingApple pays Swiss rail $21million over clock dispute

Kim Dotcom vows free Internet for all of New Zealand

"Eccentric Internet millionaire Kim Dotcom vowed this week to fund free Internet access for all of New Zealand once he gets his new website off the ground. Dotcom is currently embroiled in an extradition fight against the U.S., which accused him of running the largest criminal copyright infringement operation in history and seized his business, Megaupload, in January. Dotcom says new site, Me.ga, will function similarly, but with enhanced encryption and distributed hosting, ensuring that users 'hold the keys' to their own files. Dotcom’s involvement with the plan could prompt U.S. regulators to resist the installation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKim Dotcom vows free Internet for all of New Zealand

Internet pirates get 2 years in U.S. prison over bootleg new releases

"Two members of an Internet piracy group were sentenced to prison Friday on charges stemming from unauthorized online distribution of first-run films, officials said. The Justice Department said a Virginia court sentenced Willie Lambert, 57, of Pennsylvania, to 30 months in prison and Sean Lovelady, 28, of California to 23 months. Lambert was ordered to pay $449,514 in restitution and Lovelady $7,500. Lambert and Lovelady were indicted along with two other defendants in April for their roles in the IMAGiNE Group, a ring that sought to copy and release to the Internet copies of movies only showing in theaters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInternet pirates get 2 years in U.S. prison over bootleg new releases