Comment Ask the Presidential Candidates - Legal Framework (Score 1) 1002
I would ask the candidates:
Given the astonishing pace of technology in recent years, how would you propose updating our legal institutions, legislative, judicial and adversarial (lawyers) to cope with the effects of new technology on society?
Some examples of important issues:
(1) Freedom of speech vs pervasive encryption, anonomous email, controversial web content.
(2) Property rights as applied to digital content. What is "publishing", "fair use", and where/who/how are royalties due. Does the Digital Millenium Copyright Act tilt the balance too far toward the corporation and away from the artist (now "for hire" by default) and the consumer (now a "licensee", not an owner).
(3) How should the patent system be reformed to eliminate patents on obvious processes. Contrary to the purpose of patents, that type of patent inhibits trade and industry (Amazon's "single click", for example)?