INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
A Win for Intellectual Property (NYT)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
M.I.T. Professor Reconsiders Children's Online Lives (NYT)
House Committee Holds Hearing On Election Night Coverage (House)
BROADBAND
OpenTV Looks to Cable, ADSL (NYT)
FCC
FCC To Hold Policy And Procedures Review At February Agenda Meeting
(FCC)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
A WIN FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Issue: Intellectual Property
[Editorial] In a decision that is seen as a major victory for the music
record industry, and all creators of original material, the federal Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has upheld a trial court's preliminary
injunction against Napster's online exchange of copyrighted music. Napster
unsuccessfully argued that its members engage in a fair use of copyrighted
material. While the Internet is a revolutionary medium, that is no reason to
allow it to become a duty- free zone where people can plunder the
intellectual property of others without paying for it. That would ultimately
stifle, rather than encourage, creativity. Reconciling long-established law
to new technologies is never easy, but the recognition of an author's
ownership in an original creative work is one of our legal system's core
principles. It took more than six months for the court to uphold the
injunction. The injunction had been stayed in the meantime, allowing
Napster's millions of loyal users to download an estimated three billion
songs last month alone.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A30), AUTHOR: Editorial]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/14/opinion/14WED2.html)
(requires registration)
See Also:
FIGHTING FREE MUSIC, EUROPEANS TAKE AIM AT PERSONAL COMPUTERS
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: Edmund L. Andrews]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/technology/14DISK.html)
(requires registration)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
M.I.T. PROFESSOR RECONSIDERS CHILDREN'S ONLINE LIVES
Issue: Media & Society
Sherry Turkle, a professor of Science, Technology and Society at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology believes that computers have ushered
in "a fundamental reconsideration of human identity." But unlike the
academics who criticize the fractured, non-linear experience of Internet
life, Turkle finds the fluidity of online identity to be healthy. She argues
that "parents need to recognize that otherwise, these kids would be alone.
Online communities provide ample, new and exciting spaces for adolescents to
explore identity, be happy or sad, get mad, act out -- all in a relatively
consequence-free environment." In addition, Turkle suggests that the "dark
side" of the Internet can provide opportunities to for parents to discuss
necessary but difficult issues - such as sexuality and prejudice - with
their children.
[SOURCE: New York Times (Online), AUTHOR: Margaret Goldsborough]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/technology/14EDUCATION.html)
(requires registration)
HOUSE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE
Issue: Political Discourse
The House Commerce Committee will be holding a hearing entitled "Election
Night 2000 Coverage by the Networks," today, February 14, at 11am. The
hearing will be audio broadcasted live on the Internet.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://www.house.gov/commerce/hearings/full02142001.htm)
BROADBAND
OPENTV LOOKS TO CABLE, ADSL
Issue: Broadband
OpenTV, market-leading maker of software for interactive television, said it
expected to announce new contracts soon with cable networks and upgrade its
software for satellite clients to handle high-speed Internet service. OpenTV
said on Tuesday that there are currently 13.9 million set-top boxes running
its software worldwide, the vast majority of which are on satellite
networks. Some analysts agree that OpenTV's clear lead in the market will
enable it to persuade clients to upgrade to more complex and expensive
software. However, OpenTV's detractors say the company will be outmaneuvered
by its competitors as satellite networks switch to high-speed DSL. But
OpenTV President James Ackerman said his company would have no problem
integrating its software with DSL modems. "We are working on a two-way
solution for a customer using DSL."
[SOURCE: New York Times (Online), AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-opentv-dc.html)
FCC
FCC TO HOLD POLICY AND PROCEDURES REVIEW
Issue: FCC
Powell said eight FCC bureau and office chiefs will report on their internal
management procedures and current regulatory issues, to be followed by
questions and dialogue with the Commissioners. He said this broad policy and
procedures discussion will be in lieu of the Commission taking up individual
agenda items at the February meeting
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Powell/Statements/2001/stmkp107.html)
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