Basho - Slashdot User

Submission + - Study: Illegal Downloading Among Youth Drops

Submitted by

Aviran

on Tuesday May 22, 2007 @12:03PM

Aviran writes: "The results of a recent nationwide survey released by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) show that illegal downloading of digital copyrighted works by youth (ages 8 to 18) has dropped by 24 percent in the last three years. The survey, first conducted in 2004, indicated that 60 percent of survey participants reported downloading software, music, movies, or games without paying for it; in 2006 the percentage of those who downloaded without paying dropped to 43 percent; and in 2007 the percentage decreased to 36 percent."

Microsoft Will Not Sue Over Linux Patents 291

Posted by Zonk on Tuesday May 22, 2007 @09:01AM from the what's-with-the-saber-rattling-then dept.

San Muel writes "In an official statement, Microsoft has said it has no immediate plans to sue after alleging patent infringements by open-source vendors for the time being. The company goes on to say that, essentially, it could have done that any time in the last three years if it wanted to. So what's the purpose of these bold announcements? '[John McCreesh, OpenOffice.org marketing project lead] added that while Microsoft may not have plans to sue, it could be using the threat of litigation to try to encourage corporate customers to move to those open-source product vendors with whom it had signed licensing agreements, such as Novell. "Microsoft has spent time and money accumulating patents. Maybe it has started using that armory to move corporate customers to open-source software that Microsoft approves of."'"

Microsoft, Sue Me First 349

Posted by kdawson on Monday May 21, 2007 @07:31PM from the no-meee dept.

corigo writes "Supporters of free and open source solutions have thrown down the gauntlet at Microsoft's feet. Christian Einfeldt of Digital Tipping Point says 'Sue Me First,' and he's not alone. More and more people are signing up and challenging Microsoft to put their lawyers where their mouth is. The open source community is far from running scared. Will Microsoft step up to the plate, or are they just continuing a scare campaign with no real ability to leverage the patents they claim open source is infringing?"

Disney Video Used to Explain Copyright 234

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday May 21, 2007 @08:50AM from the insanely-well-done dept.

Recently a pretty amazing video surfaced that used clips from Disney films to explain copyright law. It was created by Eric Faden of Bucknell University and must have taken an insane amount of time to assemble. Now you have to wonder how long before someone gets sued over it. Also here is a corel cache version as well as a link to the original page.

Submission + - Conn. Lawmakers Debate Image Protection

Submitted by Boom on Thursday March 22, 2007 @12:02PM

Boom writes: For actor Paul Newman, a state law is needed to protect people's images and words from being used without their permission in commercials or derogatory ways. For film and media companies, the law would conflict with their First Amendment rights and open up the entertainment industry to a slew of lawsuits.

Submission + - Think of the Childrens' futures!

Submitted by

azuredrake

on Thursday March 22, 2007 @10:49AM

azuredrake writes: ""Perhaps we do the minors of this country harm if First Amendment protections, which they will with age inherit fully, are chipped away in the name of their protection," writes Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr. in a case striking down a 1998 internet porn law. He goes on to say that there are easier ways for parents to protect their children, such as cheap and omnipresent parental access control software, than chipping away at fundamental rights. The whole story is available from the AP at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_hi_te/in ternet_blocking (Sorry for the proprietary link, but I couldn't find it on the AP's own site.)"

Submission + - Judge: Pattis Santangelo Has Right to Day in Court

Submitted by

NewYorkCountryLawyer

on Wednesday March 21, 2007 @08:05PM

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "Judge Colleen McMahon in Elektra v. Santangelo, in White Plains, NY, federal court has rejected the RIAA's attempt to dismiss "without prejudice", ruling instead that she is "entitled to have her legal status resolved one way or the other." (pdf). The judge ordered the RIAA to dismiss with prejudice by April 1st, or be ready to go ahead with a plan for the trial on April 13th. The judge rejected the RIAA's claim that Ms. Santangelo had defrauded the court, ruling that "Nothing in any papers filed by plaintiffs suggests IN THE SLIGHTEST that Mrs. Santangelo has ever perpetrated any fraud on this court." (capitals in the original)."

Slashdot Top Deals