EFFector Vol. 19, No. 36 September 25, 2006 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 In the 397th Issue of EFFector: * URGENT Action Alert - Last Chance to Stop the Surveillance Bills! * Disney-Owned Label To Sell Full Jesse McCartney Album in MP3 * EFF Seeks Designer/Activist * miniLinks (4): OneWebDay, an Earth Day for the Web * Administrivia For more information on EFF activities & alerts: http://www.eff.org/ Make a donation and become an EFF member today! http://eff.org/support/ Tell a friend about EFF: http://action.eff.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1061 effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a desired change. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * URGENT Action Alert - Last Chance to Stop the Surveillance Bills Before the Election! For the last two months, your phone calls and letters have helped hold back the dangerous surveillance bills in Congress. These bills threaten vigorous judicial oversight of the illegal NSA spying program and let the government off the hook for breaking the law. Without exaggeration, these bills represent the greatest expansion of government surveillance power ever considered by Congress. Now various Senators are trying to rush these bills through at the last minute, prior to Congress' October recess. Even if you have called your Senator about these bills before, it is critical that you do so again now and help stop the illegal surveillance: http://action.eff.org/fisa : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * Disney-Owned Label To Sell Full Jesse McCartney Album in MP3 Two months ago, Sony released the new Jessica Simpson single in MP3 format through Yahoo! Music. This week, Variety (via PaidContent) reports that Disney-owned Hollywood Records will release Jesse McCartney's full album in MP3. It seems that some major record label execs may finally be coming to their senses: "We're trying to be realistic," said Ken Bunt, senior VP of marketing at Hollywood Records. "Jesse's single is already online and we haven't put it out. Piracy happens regardless of what we do. So we're going to see how Jesse's album goes (as an MP3) and then decide on others going forward." Kudos to Yahoo! for making progress on this front, even if this is just a baby step in the right direction by the major record labels. DRM won't stop or even meaningfully slow "Internet piracy." And after years of pushing for improved compatibility with DRM formats, the record labels have witnessed more, not less, balkanization of music services and devices. If the record labels really care about making sure their customers can play music on the devices of their choice, the only solution that plays-for-sure is an unencrypted format like MP3. For this post and related links: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004916.php : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * EFF Seeks Designer/Activist The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco's Mission District, is looking to hire an outgoing individual with an artistic background who wants to lead others and change the world. EFF's activists translate our efforts to protect digital rights into action campaigns that get the public involved. This person would also provide the organization with design help, everywhere from the front page of our website to our t-shirts and membership brochures. The ideal candidate will be able to do illustrations and graphics work to make our web campaigns, print media, and donor gifts look great. Job responsibilities include: * Creating powerful images about key issues for our website * Coordinating and developing graphics for grassroots awareness campaigns that can drive people to our website and to take action * Working with other public interest groups on grassroots campaigns * Editing written materials for the website Required: * Intimate knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator * Experience designing for web and print * Excellent writing skills * Great project management skills * A passion for internet civil liberties issues Not required, but very helpful: * Basic HTML and CSS knowledge * Experience creating flash animations * A healthy relationship with blogging software * Database expertise Environment is fast-paced, work is cutting edge, staff is hardworking yet laid back and friendly. Salary in the mid $30,000s and includes benefits package. This is a new position. To apply, send a cover letter and your resume, in a non- proprietary format, to designer@eff.org. Include links to samples of your work. No phone calls please! : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * miniLinks The week's noteworthy news, compressed. ~ OneWebDay, an Earth Day for the Web Celebrations took place around the world last week, offline and online. http://onewebday.org/ ~ Data Retention Bill Rears its Ugly Head AOL search data debacle fresh in everyone's minds, except for the Attorney General's. http://news.com.com/Gonzales+ISPs+must+keep+records+on+users/2100-1028_3-6117455.html?tag=nefd.pulse ~ Yet Another Sony Rootkit Flaw Found Texas Attorney General makes the discovery. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004917.php ~ House Committee Moves Surveillance Bill Forward But will a similar bill come out of the Senate? http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6117920.html?part=rss&tag=6117920&subj=news : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation 454 Shotwell Street San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA +1 415 436 9333 (voice) +1 415 436 9993 (fax) http://www.eff.org/ Editor: Derek Slater, Activist derek@eff.org Membership & donation queries: membership@eff.org General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: information@eff.org Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of EFF. To reproduce signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express permission. Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be reproduced individually at will. Current and back issues of EFFector are available via the Web at: http://www.eff.org/effector/ This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.
