EFFector Vol. 21, No. 16 May 7, 2008 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 469th issue: * THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, along with its counsel EFF and the ACLU, successfully challenged a national security letter issued to the Archive's digital library. The NSL, which had unconstitutionally gagged the Archive for months, was withdrawn, and we are now able to bring this story to the public for the first time. This settlement -- and the extensive dialogue about the case -- are critical supplements to widespread reports of NSL abuse. http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/05/06 * ACTION ALERT: A NEW FISA BILL is being drafted behind closed doors. Although all may appear quiet in the House as it publicly focuses on other major legislation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has been negotiating with Senator Rockefeller -- the architect of the terrible Senate bill that would fully immunize lawbreaking telecoms -- on a possible FISA "compromise". Once a deal is struck, it could come to the House floor with little warning. So, please contact your Representatives now and remind them that we're watching -- and that they must not provide immunity for lawbreaking telecoms. http://stopthespying.org/ * ACTION ALERT: AN OUTRAGEOUS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL directs federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from anyone they arrest. This new proposal threatens to swell the government's DNA database with the sensitive genetic information of innocent people -- Americans involved in peaceful political protests, for example. The public comment period will end on Monday, May 19, so now's time to speak out against this proposal that turns the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" on its head! http://www.eff.org/action/protectdna : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : From Deeplinks * MSN Music Debacle Highlights EULA Dangers Like DRM, click-through license agreements can fiddle with your rights as a user and a consumer. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/msn-music-debacle-highlights-eula-dangers * Do You Own Your Software? WoW Glider Case Not Just About Getting to Level 70. Glider users may irritate some World of Warcraft players, but Blizzard is simply wrong in its attempt to call them copyright infringers. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/do-you-own-your-software-wow-glider-case-not-just- * Patent Reform Act Stalls in the Senate Disagreement among Senate Judiciary Committee members halts progress on patent reform legislation. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/patent-reform-act-stalls-senate : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks The week's noteworthy news, compressed. ~ Wiretaps Increase by 20% The US government's statistics for 2007 show that (legal) wiretap requests have increased. (Illegal wiretaps are not included in the government's statistics.) http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080504-government-wiretapsthe-ones-we-know-aboutup-20-for-2007.html ~ Patent Court Appointees Under Question A law professor claims to have discovered a flaw in the appointment of patent judges -- the appointments may be unconstitutional, calling into question thousands of patent rulings. (log-in may be required) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/washington/06bar.html ~ Security Gaps When ISPs Hire Third Parties The use of third parties to intercept web traffic and direct users to advertising can open major security holes. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/7109e033b5e429834fd4c7f324e45cf4.htm : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * Come Hear EFF Speakers at the SanFran MusicTech Summit on May 8: http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/08/eff-speakers-sanfran-musictech-summit * On May 9, join EFF and others in SF for a discussion with Jonathan Zittrain about his new book, The Future of the Internet--and How to Stop It. (RSVP required): http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/09/i-future-internet-and-how-stop-it-i-w-jonathan-zit * New and renewing EFF members get an $8 gift card for Magnatune music downloads: https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_magnatune : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/about Editor: Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist richard@eff.org Membership & donation queries: membership@eff.org General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: information@eff.org Back issues of EFFector are available at: http://www.eff.org/effector/
