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************************************************************ garth@computeruser.com wrote on 9/12/2001 ************************************************************ ************************************************************ C O M P U T E R U S E R . C O M N E W S L E T T E R 10 December 2001 Visit our Home Page: http://www.ComputerUser.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Whither intellectual property? By James Mathewson Most current debates in the tech sector center on intellectual property (IP): How do we rewrite existing analog laws for the digital world? There are several high-profile examples. At what point is it legitimate to wield a patent for software or business practices? How do recording companies protect themselves from piracy while honoring constitutional fair-use provisions? Even the very definition of piracy in a number of arenas is in a state of flux. Perhaps the most prominent place for these debates to be settled is in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), which issues patents and protects copyrights in a way that is supposed to hold up in court. The office came under intense scrutiny in the Clinton administration for being tough on consumers while playing nice to business. The office supported the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which is a full-frontal assault to fair use in digital recordings. And it granted patents for the most vague and general business practices, which enabled companies like Walker Digital to become overnight monopolies. I'm sorry to say that James Rogan--the Bush Administration's appointee to head the PTO--will not change the office's stance on these issues. A story on our site last week underscores Rogan's strong background, which should enable him to be the most competent person in that position in several years. He has served on every major committee related to IP issues in the House, and he has co-sponsored several bills related to IP in the tech sector. But my own research shows that his positions on patent and trademark issues as a member of the House of Representatives suggest that it will be business as usual at the PTO for some time to come. First, his campaign contributors included Sony, Time Warner, Warner Brothers, Disney, Universal Studios, and the Motion Picture Association of America, which all have strong interests in maintaining the DMCA. In fact, it was his support of the law that garnered him the contributions. Second, he repeatedly opposed patent reform legislation that would have required more specifics in business methods patents than simply "name your price," or "one-click ordering." I'm hopeful that as the overseer of this vital office, Rogan will use the day-to-day experience he gets to change his opinions on these matters. There is an old saying in business circles: "What's good for consumers is good for business." Well, vague business methods patents are bad for consumers, limiting their choices significantly. And fair use is good for consumers, increasing their ability to share information. Though he may think he's protecting business interests with his positions on IP, by stomping on consumer's rights to choose and share, he is ultimately stamping out business opportunities. -- James Mathewson is editor of ComputerUser magazine and ComputerUser.com. Related Links: James Rogan news story: http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6074.html Send your thoughts to <newsletter-feedback@computeruser.com> ---------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ----------------------- Sponsored by: DIRECTV Sick and tired of waiting for your Internet to download? With DIRECTV DSL(TM) High-Speed Internet Service you can experience the thrill of surfing the Web, downloading MP3s and photos, and playing interactive games - all at speeds up to 50 times faster than dial-up*. Sign up now and SAVE!! You’ll get your first three months for $19.99 per month! After that its just $49.99 a month. Activation fee waived! No additional monthly cost for equipment†! Limited time offer. Visit http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6075.html or call 866-332-7568 for details. ************************************************************ NEW ARTICLES ON COMPUTERUSER.COM ************************************************************ 1. The next publishing frontier http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6076.html Designing for e-books can be tricky if you're not prepared. -------------------- 2. There are challenges http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6077.html Future computing challenges will make present computers seem as clunky as an old mainframe. -------------------- 3. Keeping it Real http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6078.html RealNetworks prepares to fend off Microsoft. -------------------- 4. Mac OS X comes to fruition with 10.1 http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6079.html Now that the bugs have been worked out, most will want to rush out and upgrade. ************************************************************ NEWS OF THE WEEK ************************************************************ BadTrans has AOL written all over it http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6080.html -------------------- Sega Dreamcast game infected with Kriz virus http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6081.html -------------------- Arbitration firm quits domain-dispute business http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6082.html -------------------- Internet pedophile warning campaign launches in U.K. http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6083.html -------------------- Afilias deletes .info domain names after glitch http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6084.html -------------------- Netizens crowd online in tribute to George Harrison http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6085.html -------------------- Goner worm causing problems for Outlook, ICQ users http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6086.html -------------------- Hard-coded into e-mail hell by BadTrans http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6087.html -------------------- Nintendo sells 600,000 Game Cubes in the U.S. http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6088.html -------------------- Hewlett-Packard investors boost offering to $1 billion http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6089.html -------------------- Microsoft, White House mum on security advisor post http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6090.html -------------------- Computer security advisory site suffers attack http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6091.html -------------------- New tool defuses attacks on Microsoft Outlook http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6092.html -------------------- Wireless, TV to register 10% of online sales by 2005 - study http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6093.html -------------------- Addressing giant VeriSign launches online brand protection http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6094.html -------------------- ExciteAtHome sets death date http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6095.html -------------------- Federal government picks new encryption standard http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6096.html -------------------- Amazon snags Egghead.com Web address http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6097.html -------------------- California Gov. Davis halts personal data sales to Rootsweb.com http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6098.html -------------------- Davis decries commercial abuse of birth, death Data http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6099.html -------------------- EC lightens spam ban, cookie limit proposals http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6100.html -------------------- Compensation for IT workers stabilizing - study http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6101.html ************************************************************ SELF SERVING ANNOUNCEMENTS ************************************************************ ComputerUser.com Forums Posted 12-05-01 by Anonymous: "I want to upgrade my pc's AGP video card. I have an old Pentium II 266MHZ. I would like to upgrade to a 32mb video graphics card, perhaps an ATI. Would you recommend to use the Xpert 128 or the Xpert 2000 Pro? Since my pc is slow, will it be able to handle one of these? Do you have any recomendation that will work on my PC?" Do you have an answer to this question? Click below! http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6102.html The ComputerUser forum is a place to both look for and receive help with your computer problems. If you have a computer problem or like to help solve them, then we want your participation! http://www.computeruser.com/newsletter/6103.html If you are interested in moderating a forum, e-mail the ComputerUser webmaster at webmaster@computeruser.com. ************************************************************ ComputerUser.Com http://www.computeruser.com ************************************************************ To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list send an email to listserv@computeruser.com with unsubscribe newsletter in the BODY of the message. The Subject line may be left blank. For security reasons you will then receive a message asking you to confirm your actions by replying with ok in the body of your second email. ************************************************************ For information on how to advertise in this newsletter please contact the Online Advertising Manager at online.advertising@computeruser.com ************************************************************ _____________________________________________________________ Global Virtual Desktop Get your free Desktop at http://www.now.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp _______________________________________________ Nettime-bold mailing list Nettime-bold@nettime.org http://amsterdam.nettime.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nettime-bold