Feed Which Videos Are Protected? Lawmakers Get a Lesson (nytimes.com)
Members of Congress are learning the complexities of copyright law in the wide world of blogging and video clips.
Feed Design on Diagonal Path in Pursuit of a Faster Chip (nytimes.com)
A maker of software tools has made it possible to route lines diagonally for semiconductor chips, which will add to the speed, efficiency and performance of a generation of smaller chips.
Submission + - Chinese Cyber Attacks on DOD Networks
Anonymous Coward writes: "As seen in: SANS NewsBites Vol. 9 Num. 14
The Naval Network Warfare Command says Chinese hackers are relentlessly
targeting Defense Department networks with cyber attacks. The "volume,
proficiency and sophistication" of the attacks supports the theory that
the attacks are government supported. The "motives [of the attacks
emanating from China] ... include technology theft, intelligence
gathering, exfiltration, research on DOD operations and the creation of
dormant presences in DOD network for future action."
http://www.fcw.com/article97658-02-13-07-Web&print Layout"
Submission + - Prototype Rollable eInk Display for sale
An anonymous reader writes: Two years ago Philips unveiled a prototype functional electronic-document reader called the Readius. According to Cnet, Polymer Vision, which spun out from Philips in 2006, has come up with a commercial version of the Readius that will be available later this year. The commercial version is similar to the prototype but features some differences like a solid back so that it's more durable and it can display 16 shades of grey rather than just 4.
From the article: "You can roll the 127mm (diagonally) E Ink display into a compact form factor that measures 56mm wide, 100mm tall and 21mm deep, so it will fit into a jacket pocket. The Readius can display 16 shades of grey and it has 4GB of on-board memory, so you can store all your books, emails and PDFs on it. It also features USB, as well as GPRS/EDGE and DVB-H connectivity, meaning you can download data wirelessly, too."
Submission + - Scientists Expose Weak DNA in HIV
Ace905 writes: "The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced Thursday that they had discovered a very promising, "weak spot" in the HIV Virus. The HIV virus, a progenitor to full blown "Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome" or AIDS has eluded all attempts at a vaccine since it was discovered sometime in the 1970's. The major problem with developing a vaccine initially was isolating the virus. Conventional viruses are often defeated with existing drugs, or after being tested against new compounds. HIV has been unique, and staggering in it's ability to resist all attempts at treatment by mutating its' own genetic code. HIV is able to resist, with great effectiveness, any drug or combination drug-therapy that is used against it.
So far, our best efforts have been slowing down progression of the disease — but the number of people infected every year is rising and victims are estimated at 1.4 Million in North American alone, last year. Discovering a chain of vulnerable DNA on the HIV virus gives researchers a very exact target that can not resist damage."
So far, our best efforts have been slowing down progression of the disease — but the number of people infected every year is rising and victims are estimated at 1.4 Million in North American alone, last year. Discovering a chain of vulnerable DNA on the HIV virus gives researchers a very exact target that can not resist damage."
Submission + - Keith Urban sues Keith Urban over domain name
FrnkMit writes: "I knew it had to happen sooner or later. Keith Urban the singer sues Keith Urban the painter. Yes, just because one is more famous than the other, and has more expensive lawyers, the singer is suing for the use of keithurban.com, claiming the painter is using his web site "in a manner likely to deceive the public into believing that the website has a connection to Plaintiff that does not exist." The article fails to mention whether the singer is also suing the painter for being born with the same name as him."
Submission + - The Zune's final insult
Ed over in Accounting writes: http://macenstein.com/default/archives/524
It seems Microsoft (and more specifically, the Zune division) have teamed up with Artist Direct for a Zune promotion which offers 35 free downloadable MP3 tracks (no registration required). The free tracks include artists such as Weird Al, Tom Waits, Tegan and Sara, The Postmarks, Spoon, Postal Service, Barenaked Ladies and more. What's more, you do not need a Zune to play the tracks, they will work just fine on any MP3 player, especially the iPod.
Why the iPod in particular? Well, it seems that these free MP3's (which are being given away to specifically promote the Zune) are in fact encoded using iTunes 6
Submission + - Big Win for Innocent Defendant in RIAA Case
EatingSteak writes: "The EFF Reports that a woman from Oklahoma got a big win today in the RIAA's case against her in 2004. FTA:
"The decision today is one of the first in the country to award attorneys fees to a defendant in an RIAA case over music sharing on the Internet."
"In his ruling, Judge West found that the RIAA had asserted an untested and marginal theory that veered toward "frivolous and unreasonable" by suing Foster for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement when the only evidence against her was her name on the household Internet account. Much like the judge in Elektra v. Santangelo, West expressed skepticism that "an Internet-illiterate parent, who does not know Kazaa from a kazoo" could be held liable for children in her home downloading music illegally unless the parent had knowledge of the conduct or had giver her permission to do so."
This case was thrown out in July, but Foster's lawyer fees were finally awarded formally to her. Could this be a godo precedent for future cases that (1) IP Address != Infringing Person, and (2) RIAA getting slammed for attorney's fees in the future?"
"The decision today is one of the first in the country to award attorneys fees to a defendant in an RIAA case over music sharing on the Internet."
"In his ruling, Judge West found that the RIAA had asserted an untested and marginal theory that veered toward "frivolous and unreasonable" by suing Foster for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement when the only evidence against her was her name on the household Internet account. Much like the judge in Elektra v. Santangelo, West expressed skepticism that "an Internet-illiterate parent, who does not know Kazaa from a kazoo" could be held liable for children in her home downloading music illegally unless the parent had knowledge of the conduct or had giver her permission to do so."
This case was thrown out in July, but Foster's lawyer fees were finally awarded formally to her. Could this be a godo precedent for future cases that (1) IP Address != Infringing Person, and (2) RIAA getting slammed for attorney's fees in the future?"
Submission + - Nintendo Sue's For Using "Mario" In Title
Ryan Mzik writes: "A forum post linking to a Nintendo Mario Bros parody video, Robot Chicken: Grand Theft Mario, has been flagged by Nintendo trademark lawyers for using "Mario" in the code of the page. From source, "We are writing to ask you to stop using the Nintendo properties in the hidden text/visible text/meta tags and/or title and/or
links of the above-referenced sexually explicit Web site.""
Submission + - Video on Demand from the public library
ye oulde library lover writes: "In light of the recent story about Wal-Mart and movies on demand, readers should know there is a FREE service available from some public libraries that lets you download movies and tv shows. The service is just beginning, so selection is pretty mediocre, but the sponsors, Recorded Books and PermissionTV, make some big promises. If your library ponies up to the top service, you will be able to download movies on the same day as their dvd release!
All you need is a library card. You can see one of the early adopters — Half Hollow Hills Community Library in the library's blog. Look for MyLibraryDV."
