EFFector Vol. 21, No. 34 October 3, 2008 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 486th issue: * THIS WEEK, EFF PUBLISHED A REPORT COVERING FIVE YEARS OF THE RIAA'S CAMPAIGN TO SUE MUSIC FANS, calling attention to recent events that demonstrate the RIAA's "education" campaign is meeting stinging skepticism from courts, academics, and state watchdog groups. Even with more than 30,000 Americans targeted for legal action, peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading continues unabated, and alternative methods of sharing files proliferate. After five years of futile, unfair litigation, the RIAA needs to stop suing fans and make P2P work for users and music artists. For the full report: http://www.eff.org/wp/riaa-v-people-years-later : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * Chinese Skype Client Facilitates Spying Information Warfare Monitor published a disturbing report on the Skype client that uses keywords to censor and snitch on users. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/10/chinese-skype-client-hands-confidential-communicat * YouTube Anti-Scientology Takedowns: Good News, Bad News Despite YouTube's proactive protection of users' speech, a wave of abusive takedowns leaves important questions about privacy and the DMCA takedown process. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/youtube-anti-scientology-takedowns-good-news-bad-n-0 * Why MPAA Should Lose Against RealDVD The MPAA didn't waste time in suing RealNetworks for software that allows DVDs to be copied to the user's hard drive, but fatal flaws in the MPAA's legal theory should sink their first salvo. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/10/why-mpaa-should-lose-against-realdvd * EFF Urges Protection of Innovation in Arista v. Lime Wire We've said it before, and we're saying it again -- copyright law should not chill development of emerging technologies. http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/09/26 * Walmart Music Service Plans to Shut Down DRM Support Like MSN Music and Yahoo! Music before it, Walmart needs to do better than abandon paying customers. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/and-walmart-makes-three-another-music-service-plan * New California Law Extends Protections for Free Speech The new law closes a loophole that permitted out-of-state legal threats to pierce anonymity and discourage free speech. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/10/california-governor-signs-new-protections-free-spe * Court Protects Privacy of Satellite Receiver Owners A satellite company wanted the names of everyone who had purchased a particular kind of receiver, but the court agreed with EFF and stopped the intrusion, potentially setting an important consumer privacy precedent in the process. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/court-protects-privacy-satellite-receiver-owners * Book Review: ©ontent by Cory Doctorow Choice quotes highlight the wit and wisdom that Doctorow has brought to issues like DRM, free speech, and copyright. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/10/book-review-content-cory-doctorow : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks ~ Passport Hack Resurrects Elvis A hacker was able to access the personal data on an RFID passport, inserting the identity of Elvis Aaron Presley. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081002-rfid-passport-hack-has-scanners-seeing-visions-of-elvis.html ~ House Limits Constituent Emails A massive influx of public input on the bailout bill has led the House to limit emails in an attempt to prevent websites from crashing. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-limits-constituent-e-mails-to-prevent-crash-2008-09-30.html ~ Schneier Covers Privacy and the Presidential Election On Oct. 6, Privacy Guru Bruce Schneier will discuss privacy and its role in the upcoming election at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., joined by other experts in law and technology. http://eff.org/tiny/717 For more miniLinks: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/10/minilinks-2008-10-03 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * The Boiling Suns Host EFF Fundraiser in SF on Saturday! Tomorrow, local San Francisco rock band The Boiling Suns is hosting a fundraiser for EFF in support of our work to preserve fair voting practices and fighting against illegal wiretapping. The band would like to invite EFF supporters (21+) to Bender's Bar and Grill in San Francisco's Mission District for drinks and blues-based rock and roll. A portion of the $5 admission will be donated to EFF. For more on the Boiling Suns: http://www.myspace.com/theboilingsuns : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : 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/ To unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://action.eff.org/site/CO?i=0SIUcm3MMFTWn8J3tpqjHZVZx1ikkCtp&cid=1041 To change your email address: http://action.eff.org/addresschange Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons. To unsubscribe from all future email, paste the following URL into your browser: http://action.eff.org/site/CO?i=yvrxdBdeGEBiUGJDDi62zx23MNgDYotB&cid=1041
