technology

Turn Your Desk Into a Pharmaceuticals Factory

"The Week's Chris Gayomali frets that '[t]oday's primitive psychedelics and artificial mood-boosters may be just the beginning' once 3D printing transforms chemical engineering. The Customs Minister from the land o' hobbits, Maurice Williamson, worries on Radio New Zealand, 'If people could print off ... sheets of Ecstasy tablets at the party they're at at that time, that just completely takes away our border protection role in its known sense.' Cronin, among others, suggests that controlling the 'chemical ink' is the key to preventing DIY recreational chemistry with 3D printers. But much current research uses bathroom sealant as the ink, and that's not the easiest material to restrict." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTurn Your Desk Into a Pharmaceuticals Factory

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

"Dotcom said his plans were still embryonic but the yet-to-be-named party would launch on January 20, the second anniversary of an armed police raid on his Auckland mansion which resulted in him being charged with online piracy. The Internet mogul revealed few details of his platform beyond saying he wanted to improve New Zealand’s information technology infrastructure, including 'fair Internet pricing and no more data caps'. Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and is free on bail as he fights extradition to the United States, also took a swipe at Prime Minister Key, whom he accuses of bowing to Hollywood pressure by pursuing the case against him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMegaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

Record labels ask UK broadband providers to collect data on illegal downloads

"BT, Virgin Media, BSkyB and TalkTalk are being asked by music and film companies to sign up to a voluntary code for policing illegal downloading. Negotiations have been underway for some months with the BPI, which represents the major labels including Warner, Sony and Universal, and the British Video Association, whose members include the BBC and Hollywood studios. Measures could include throttling internet connections to slow them down, blocking users from particular sites, disconnecting offenders from broadband for a limited period, and ultimately prosecution. In order to implement these measures, broadband companies would need to keep a list of those customers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRecord labels ask UK broadband providers to collect data on illegal downloads

Policing Prosecutors

"A hungry man stealing a loaf of bread from a market to feed his family is treated differently than a con man bilking senior citizens for personal gain. Aaron Swartz knew he was breaking the law when he downloaded those articles. What he did not know, was that if a prosecutor wanted to make his life hell, she could credibly see to it that he was locked up until his mid 50’s. We should make sure that punishments fit crimes, and that when we collectively threaten to remove a human being from society for a generation or two, they actually did something worthy of such a profound punishment." Continue reading →

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America’s new ‘digital public library’ brings millions of documents online

"The Digital Public Library of America site dp.la will launch April 18 with more than two million objects — including digital renderings of photos, books, manuscripts and other items from places such as the Smithsonian Institution, along with museums, libraries and historical institutions around the country. Cohen said DPLA will be 'a lot more comprehensive' than Google books, with 'the full array of materials including music, photography, all kinds of art and manuscripts.' He said the material will be online 'in an open fashion, and not a gated fashion.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerica’s new ‘digital public library’ brings millions of documents online

CEO of Danish CopyrightAlliance: “Control is Freedom!”

"Maria Fredenslund, the CEO of the Danish CopyrightAlliance, in a debate in which she argues for increased control of the Internet in the name of copyright, proclaims that 'control is freedom.' She lauds the 'highly controlled and regulated society we live in' and insists that 'control gives us freedom.' You see, 'Control and regulation creates innovation … and personal liberty.' She criticizes the Internet as being 'undemocratic' because there is not enough 'control' of it. And people say I am exaggerating when I use the term 'fascism' to describe IP." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCEO of Danish CopyrightAlliance: “Control is Freedom!”

AT&T and T-Mobile embroiled in legal fight over the color magenta

"T-Mobile is suing AT&T for trademark infringement. To summarize a 20-page civil action suit: T-Mobile says Aio co-opted the color magenta. 'Out of all of the colors in the universe,' AT&T chose – not purple, not pink – magenta, as Aio’s company color, according to the complaint T-Mobile’s lawyers filed. 'AT&T’s subsidiary’s use of magenta to attract T-Mobile customers is likely to dilute T-Mobile’s famous magenta color trademark, and to create initial confusion as to the source or affiliation of AT&T’s subsidiary’s business,' the complaint continues." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAT&T and T-Mobile embroiled in legal fight over the color magenta

Larry Lessig Threatened With Bogus DMCA Notice; Decides To Fight Back

"As we've discussed, unfortunately, it's been almost impossible to win a 512(f) claim over a bogus DMCA takedown. The entertainment industry has fought hard to make sure that sending totally bogus DMCA notices that censor content are basically unpunishable, unless they can show a willful and intentional decision to ignore fair use and censor the content. Liberation doubled down even after being told that Lessig believed the video was fair use. On top of that, by filing the lawsuit himself, and seeking the declaratory judgment, instead of being sued first, it means that Liberation can't just dismiss the lawsuit (they're now the defendant, not the plaintiff)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLarry Lessig Threatened With Bogus DMCA Notice; Decides To Fight Back

Patent “Trolls” are Bad. Patents are Worse.

"As bad as patent trolls are — according to Kinsella they cost the US economy somewhere around $500 billion — legitimate patent holders, companies like Monsanto and Apple, can be — and often are — worse. Speaking of Apple, imagine a scenario where the company going after Adam Carolla and the rest of the podcasting world wasn’t some tiny dot-com-era relic in Texas, but the multi-billion dollar corporation from Cupertino, Calif. In this hypothetical situation, who would have the money or power to fight against Apple? How could a DIY podcast held together with string and some spit defend against Apple if it held the 'podcasting patent' and wanted money for its license?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPatent “Trolls” are Bad. Patents are Worse.

Cellphone unlocking is the first step toward post-SOPA copyright reform

"Dear Congress, Please remove these items from your DMCA contraband list (both for developing the technology, selling and using the technology): Technology for unlocking and jail-breaking (currently allowed for iPhone, not allowed for iPad); Adaptability technology for the blind to have e-books aloud (currently subject to triennial review by the Librarian of Congress – it’s legal to use the technology but illegal to develop or sell); Technology to back-up our own DVD’s and Blu-Ray discs for personal use (current law makes this illegal and injunctions have even been used to shut down websites discussing this technology). Signed, The people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCellphone unlocking is the first step toward post-SOPA copyright reform