EFFector Vol. 22, No. 04 February 13, 2009 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 499th issue: * EFF CALLS ON THE FTC TO MITIGATE DAMAGE CAUSED BY DRM. In public comments submitted earlier this week, EFF explained how DRM, backed by the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), impedes innovation and thwarts consumers' rights to make full use of their digital music, movies, software, and videogames. EFF urged the commission to study DRM's effect on competition in the marketplace, investigate whether the effects of DRM are fully disclosed to consumers, and promote a set of "Best Practices" that, if followed, would help alleviate the burdens of DRM for consumers. EFF's comments were filed in conjunction with the FTC's Town Hall on DRM, set for March 25 in Seattle. The Town Hall is free and open to the public. For the full press release: http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2009/02/09 For more on the FTC Town Hall on DRM: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/12/drm.shtm * SHARK AND THE PRCA HAVE SETTLED THEIR COPYRIGHT BATTLE over YouTube videos, protecting the advocates' right to publicize their critiques of animal treatment at rodeos and creating a new model for handling takedown notices. EFF represented the group Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), a non-profit organization that videotapes and photographs rodeos in order to expose animal abuse, injuries, and deaths. SHARK posted dozens of these critical videos to YouTube throughout 2006 and 2007. When the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) falsely claimed that 13 of the videos infringed PRCA copyrights, YouTube disabled SHARK's entire account. In a settlement announced yesterday, PRCA agreed that any future copyright claims will be first sent to SHARK's video contact and then reviewed by the PRCA's general counsel for legal merit before any legal notices are sent to YouTube or another video service. This settlement is part of EFF's No Downtime for Free Speech Campaign, which works to protect online expression in the face of baseless copyright claims. For the full press release: http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2009/02/12 For more on the No Downtime for Free Speech Campaign: http://www.eff.org/issues/ip-and-free-speech : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * Judge Seeks Briefing on Telecom Immunity Chief Judge Vaughn Walker asked for further briefing on a key constitutional question in the litigations brought against telecommunications carriers for their involvement in the NSA's warrantless wiretapping. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/judge-seeks-further-briefing-constitutionality-tel * Advisers Ask Government to Fix REAL ID, Border Searches A committee of privacy advisers has recommended that the government add vital privacy protections to two high profile and controversial homeland security efforts. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/privacy-advisers-tell-government-improve-real * RFID PASScards Easily Cloned A video released by Chris Paget shows just how easy it is to clone RFID tags with this relatively simple technology. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/rfid-passports-scanned-car * Court Orders County to Release Geographic Mapping Data A California appeals court issued a good decision in a case raising unusual open government, homeland security, and copyright questions. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/california-court-orders-county-release-geographic- * EFF to New Administration: Make Open Government a Reality EFF has taken several actions that are likely to provide early glimpses into the Obama Administration's approach to open government issues. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/eff-obama-administration-time-make-open-government * Stimulus Roundup Many have sought to make additions to the bill that raise serious concerns for privacy and free speech online. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/stimulus-roundup * Do Authors Want to Sue You for Reading to Your Kids? The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Authors Guild is up in arms over a feature of the new Amazon Kindle 2 that reads e-books aloud using a text-to-speech algorithm. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/does-authors-guild-want-sue-you-reading-aloud-your : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks ~ An Influx of Big Content Lawyers at DoJ: Cause for Concern? Julian Sanchez takes a look at the IP backgrounds of Obama appointees to the Department of Justice. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/influx-of-big-content-lawyers-at-doj-cause-for-concern.ars ~ Judge to UMG: No, You Cannot Sue Veoh's Investors The judge in Universal Music Group's case against Veoh ruled that UMG could not include Veoh's investors as part of the copyright infringement lawsuit. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/04/judge-tells-umg-no-you-cannot-sue-veohs-investors-for-copyright-infringement/ ~ Warner Music Group Removes Warner Music Group Videos Warner recording artist Emiliana Torrini had her videos removed from YouTube -- by Warner. http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/08/warner-music-group-a.html For more miniLinks: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/minilinks-2009-02-12 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * Come See EFF at SCaLE and eTech! The 7th Annual Southern California Linux Expo will be February 20-22, 2009, at the Los Angeles Airport Westin Hotel. EFF will have a booth on the expo floor, which is open on the 21st and 22nd. Stop by to say hello, and update your membership! EFF will also be at the O'Reilly Emerging Technologies Conference in San Diego, California. Please visit our booth and grab some EFF swag during exhibit hours. We look forward to seeing you! For more information on SCaLE: http://scale7x.socallinuxexpo.org/ For more information on eTech: http://en.oreilly.com/et2009/public/content/home * Got Any Airline Miles to Spare? Wanna make a contribution to EFF that doesn't take any money out of your pocket? Consider donating airline tickets! EFF is trying to cut down on our travel expenses, and we're looking for people with lots of miles who would be willing to make reservations for EFF staffers with their miles. For more information, or to make a contribution, contact development@eff.org. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/about Editor: Sara Bassett, Membership Services Assistant sara@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/
