[ale] [OT] Info on DRM, Law And Technology of DRM conference links

[aaron]

I was doing a google on an issue with some DRM overtones and came
across a page I thought was worth sharing with the group:

http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/fair_use_copy_prevention/index.php

The site seems to have a focus on DRM issues and includes downloadable audio / 
pixeo of a presentation on the evils of "Black Box" technology and electronic 
voting from the "Law and Technology of DRM Conference" of March 2003.

Seeing this reminded me that I also attended a lecture on DRM issues at Ga 
Tech last month and have been meaning to pass on some information about the 
Public Knowledge group, new non-profit organization that is providing 
information and lobbying in support of civil liberties, public domain and 
Fair Use (in complement to groups like the EFF and EFGA):

http://www.publicknowledge.org/

This D.C. based non profit group is headed by Gigi Sohn, the person I heard 
speak at GaTech [thanks Geoffrey for posting the notice]. The organization 
seems very fair minded about balancing the needs for sensible copyrights with 
the essential free speech, public domain and fair use protections that insure 
a productive and open exchange of ideas for the advancement of knowledge, 
technology and civilization. An article covering some of what she talked 
about at GaTech, along with more on the status and sponsorship of the Public 
Knowledge organization is here:

http://news.com.com/2010-1071-943785.html?tag=fd_nc_1

Not surprisingly, most of the current news surrounding the Washington lobbying 
and  legislative efforts of Public Knowledge is not good. In private 
conversation, Ms. Sohn confirmed that the presently installed regime prizes 
the DMCA, is supporting all of its provisions vehemently, and is involved in 
efforts to expand the criminalization of public media usage with its own 
partisan legislation for undermining our constitution and civil liberties.

However, there have been many successful efforts to thwart the constant media 
conglomerate campaigns that are attempting to install state by state versions 
of DMCA style legislation (: the Diabolically Malicious Corrupt-your-rights  
Act :) . A perfect case in point is how the EFGA group, Electronic Frontiers 
Georgia, called enough attention to the corporape fraud of recent Georgia DRM 
legislation to keep it from being blindly rubber stamped into law.

http://www.efga.org

Relentless is an accurate assessment of all these corporape conglomerate DRM 
and DMCA legislative campaigns, so standing up for the protection of our fair 
use and civil liberties is more critical than it has ever been. I hope these 
links help keep you informed and involved.

peace
aaron