Google
Google bombing at work
(received via the Cyberprof mailing list) Go to Google and type “Failure”, then hit “I’m feeling lucky”. Then much fun ensues, and the people rejoice and giggle.
Open science
Access to medicines debate back to the table?
The nightly news are filled with stories about the bird flu and the prospect of a pandemic that will kill millions of people. But it has also brought one issue back to the table, the access to medicines debate. There are reports that there is only one antiviral drug that Read more
Creative Commons
CIE Report on Creative Commons is out
The Common Information Environment (CIE) commissioned Intrallect and the AHRC Centre to undertake a report on the viability of using Creative Commons licences in the public sector. The report is finally out and can be downloaded here, with the appendices available here. The study comes at a time when Creative Read more
Blogging
Measuring “buzz” power in blogs
(Via IFTF) BlogPulse is a great tool for searching for the popularity of certain words and brands in selected blogs over time, which can serve as a “buzz-meter” tool. I have been having fun searching for some words. See for example the results for copyright, patent and trademark: Copyright wins Read more
Creative Commons
In the Public Interest
Professor Michael Geist has released what seems to me to be a landmark in academic publishing. His book “In the Public Interest: The Future of Canadian Copyright Law” is a tome filled with opinions from Canadian copyright experts. That in itself is worthy of praise, but what makes this publication Read more
Enforcement
NCC warns against criminalisation of IPR
The National Consumer Council (NCC) has spoken out against the music industry suing their customers, warning that this is heavy handed. Jill Johnstone from the NCC said: “The European Commission must think again before bringing in new and tougher IP laws. Criminal sanctions for infringing copyright holders’ rights must be Read more
DRM
Modchips: Is the tide is turning?
I have finally managed to go through Stevens v Sony Computer Entertainment, the ruling from the High Court of Australia regarding modchips. In case you are too bored to check on Wikipedia, a modchip is a modification to a built-in technical protection measure in a computer game console (like PlayStation, Read more
Cybercrime
Hackers jailed
Two hackers from the international group THr34t-Krew (do you l33t?) have been sentenced by a Newcaste court for conspiracy to cause unauthorised modification of computers with intent, or in plain language, for writing a worm that did not even create a lot of problems, but had the potential for great Read more