EFFector Vol. 22, No. 23 August 14, 2009 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 515th issue: * EFF ISSUED A REPORT ON LOCATIONAL PRIVACY LAST WEEK, explaining how your location information is collected by various popular electronic devices and services. In the report, we also argue for concrete technological solutions that would allow you to enjoy these systems' benefits without sacrificing privacy in your everyday life. http://www.eff.org/wp/locational-privacy * CALLING ALL CANADIANS! Last month, the Canadian government launched public consultations on the future of copyright. But powerful Canadian entertainment industry lobbyists are demanding stronger copyrights and harsher penalties, including three strikes-style bans for suspected file-sharing. Now is the time to show your support for balanced copyright laws. Take action at copyright expert Michal Geist's "Speak Out on Copyright" website. Submit your comments online before September 13, 2009. http://www.speakoutoncopyright.ca/copyright-take-action : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * EFF Defends Wikipedian's Right to the Public Domain Does something have to be in the public domain in every country on the planet before it can be posted to the Internet anywhere? That's the question raised by the legal threats issued by the National Portrait Gallery of London against a Wikipedian. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/07/eff-defends-wikipedi * The Kindle Lawsuit: Protecting Readers From Future Abuses The class action lawsuit over the deletions of 1984 could lead to a settlement or court order -- this post presents some of the results EFF would like to see. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/kindle-lawsuit-protecting-readers-future-abuses * NPR on Google Books, Privacy and the Future of the Book Learn about the privacy threat in the Google Books settlement, and hear an author's perspective on why readers should be concerned. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/npr-story-google-books * Snatching Rights on the Playa Have you read the terms and conditions accompanying your Burning Man ticket? You may be surprised to learn what rights the Burning Man Organization wants to claim on your creative works. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/snatching-rights-playa * Judge Rules Against RealDVD Yet another DVD ripper -- licensed from the DVD Copy Control Association, no less -- loses in court. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/judge-rules-against-realdvd * The UK's Surveillance Society The latest statistics show a staggering number of demands for communications data in the UK, showing a need for judicial oversight, lest misuse run rampant. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/uks-half-million-intercepts * Recommendations for Federal Web Privacy Policy As the federal government reviews its policies on cookies and other technologies, EFF continues to urge specific protections: limit the use of any data collected, eliminate this data as soon as possible, and seek third-party oversight. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/recommendations-federal-web-privacy-policy * U.S. Trade Advisory Committee Needs Tech Users' Input Congress should give American technology users more say in international trade agreements that have broad ramifications for digital freedom. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/08/u-s-trade-advisory-committees-need-public-interest : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks ~ The Onion: Google's New Opt-Out Privacy Protections Good news -- the Onion reports on a new "opt out" program for those who don't want the search giant compiling vast amounts of their personal data. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/google_opt_out_feature_lets_users ~ Wired: You Deleted your Cookies? Think Again. UC Berkeley researchers found many websites making use of Adobe Flash cookies to "re-spawn" traditional cookies that the user had manually deleted. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/you-deleted-your-cookies-think-again/ ~ A Musician's View of File Sharing Responding to a mother's inquiry, pianist and web designer David J. Hahn presents a nuanced view of file sharing and what it means for an artists' career. http://www.musicianwages.com/the-working-musician/to-a-mother-concerned-about-music-piracy-david-j-hahn : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * Second Life Community Convention Party by Oddfellow Studios! Boston's Oddfellow Studios is bringing their improvised psychedelic multimedia show to San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel on Friday, August 14, with three Goa/trance DJs spinning tunes from 8pm until after midnight as part of the Second Life Community Convention. The graphics will trip you out, and the tunes will spin you up -- but for those who want to geek out, there will be a chance to peek "behind the curtain" at the graphics production of on-the-fly improvisation from four computers producing graphical jazz using Second Life. All ticket proceeds benefit the nonprofit The Future United and the Second Life Community Convention. Cash bar. For ticket information and more: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4223707 For more about the show: http://oddfellowstudios.com/media.html * Help EFF Go to Ohio LinuxFest! EFF is looking for donations of airline tickets and hotel points for Ohio LinuxFest in Columbus, as well as other conferences and speaking engagements. If you have enough airline miles for a free ticket and would like to send an EFF staffer to a conference, let us know, and we will help you with the process of making the reservation. Please note that at this time we are unable to combine miles from multiple individuals. We are also looking for hotel rewards points to help reduce our overall travel costs. As a thanks for your donation, we can offer a free membership and a mention in EFFector (if you'd like). Please contact aaron@eff.org if you can help! * Help the EFF Technologists! EFF is doing some research on the Amazon Kindle e-book reader. If you can donate a Kindle 2 or a Kindle DX to EFF, please contact kindle@eff.org. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/about To support EFF: http://links.eff.org/emaildonate Editor: Richard Esguerra, 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/
