Tech Law

OPINION

Europe’s Technology Problem: The EC

European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes is touring the United States this week. Her visit comes during a nasty spat between the commission and Microsoft that could seriously hurt technology businesses and consumers. Microsoft is planning to launch its new operating system, Windows Vista, in...

Last week, HP launched an impressive array of new products -- but few noticed, because the news once again surrounded events that happened when their ex-CEO was still there, screwing up the company. Meanwhile, Gateway finally got a new CEO in J. Edward Coleman, who has a good pedigree as a turnaroun...

Concerns over its lingering dispute with European antitrust regulators may force Microsoft to delay the launch of Windows Vista in Europe. The software giant said unless European Commission regulators give it a clear indication about whether the first new version of its operating system since XP wil...

OPINION

Cable Reform: From California to Congress

Hold on to your hats -- California lawmakers have finally done something even the most jaded critic will appreciate. It's called cable franchise reform, and it will have a positive impact on California and the entire nation. "California has led the way in the evolution of new technology, and with ...

Google has announced that it will comply with a Brazilian court's order to turn over data that could identify users of its social networking site, Orkut, who are suspected of illegal activities such as child pornography. A Brazilian judge hearing the case had threatened to levy a US$23,000 fine for ...

OPINION

Nixing Net Neutrality

This week, a key federal official cautioned against calls for net neutrality, the effort to expand government reach in the Internet marketplace. It's a wise move to keep the Internet free of red tape. So why are lobbyists pushing for new rules? Net neutrality holds that Internet network providers s...

U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor of Detroit has ruled that the Bush Administration's warrantless wiretapping program -- uncovered by a media investigation some eight months ago -- is unconstitutional. Civil libertarians are hailing the decision as a major victory. The suit, brought by the Ameri...

In what appears to be a victory for plaintiffs, a decision was made last week to consolidate seventeen class action lawsuits against telecom providers that are cooperating with the U.S. government's widespread surveillance of its customers. These cases will be moved to the California federal court w...

In yet another sign that the Hollywood studios are getting more comfortable with the idea of digital distribution for films, the DVD Copy Control Association announced changes to the industry's encryption system which will allow some legitimate movie DVD burning. DVD burning capabilities are already...

Rep. Cliff Sterns, R-Fla., has proposed legislation that aims to involve the Federal Trade Commission in the creation of rules governing video game ratings. The "Truth in Video Game Rating Act," or H.R. 5912, would usurp the authority of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, a self-regulatory b...

OPINION

Building a Better Telecom Framework

Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission released a key draft decision that redraws telecom laws in a forward-thinking way. If commissioners can hear above the cawing of activist groups, consumers will benefit greatly. The Uniform Regulatory Framework, an ambitious effort by the CPUC to...

Kazaa, an Australia-based peer-to-peer Web site that managed to elude the legal reach of the music recording industry for many years, has agreed to an out-of-court settlement of US$100 million. Owner Sharman Networks also agreed to prohibit illegal file sharing on the Kazaa network going forward. In...

Napster. The brand name stirs memories of a Digital Rights Management frenzy that had copyright holders up in arms over the once-illegal file-sharing service. Of course, Napster has cleaned up its act and Apple's iTunes Music Store has helped transition digital music downloaders to the right side of...

Microsoft announced it has filed 26 lawsuits against alleged dealers of illegal software. These suits are more than double the number of cases Microsoft has filed on any one day -- in fiscal year 2006 it filed 10 cases at one shot. The suits represent the launch of Microsoft's latest and, it says, ...

Of all the weeks for me to pick to take a vacation, last week was probably the worst. There was so much going on that my "vacation" became busier than a normal work week. Microsoft, for one, was the subject of some positive buzz as news bubbled up around its so-called "iPod killer." On the negative ...

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