Very interesting discussion here about the defence of Free Software using Socrates. This dialogue between Socrates and sophist Antiphon can be found in Xenophon’s Memorabilia (Book I, Part VI): Antiphon. Socrates, for my part, I believe you to be a good and upright man; but for your wisdom I cannot Read more
So, the text of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has been released. Much of what I’ve read so far brings me back to an earlier comment I made regarding one of the early drafts. If you don’t feel like reading the link, the gist of what I said is that Read more
I’ve finally watched the excellent video “Patent Absurdity: how software patents broke the system”, and I highly recommend it. It contains several interviews surrounding the Bilski case in the U.S. Supreme Court, with commentary from some of the biggest names in the software patent debate. I will let the video Read more
Some weeks ago I had a conversation with a fellow academic about privacy (*waves at Judith*). This is a recurring discussion between us, as we have diametrically opposed views about privacy, technology and how to manage one’s image online. I tend to be in the open camp, while she cherishes Read more
(via Ars Technica) Just a couple of weeks ago yours truly was bemoaning the preposterous abuse of statistics in order to produce a set of dodgy figures about the cost of piracy to the European economy. Now a U.S. government institution has produced a report that pretty much tells us Read more
The latest issue of SCRIPTed, a journal of law, technology and society, is now live. In this issue: Editorial Health Legislation: Devolution, Reservation and Derogation, Murray Earle, pp.1-4 Reviewed Articles The Intellectual Property Implications of Low-Cost 3D Printing, Simon Bradshaw, Adrian Bowyer and Patrick Haufe, pp.5-31 Knowledge Management and the Read more
One Mr Liam Gallagher has eloquently expressed what many musicians feel about file-sharing: “I don’t mind it. I hate all these big, silly rock stars who moan – at least they’re f**king downloading your music, you c**t, and paying attention, know what I mean? You should f**king appreciate that – Read more
As someone who often bemoans technophobia, I feel the obligation to point out its opposite when it makes an appearance. I have read the unintentionally funny named article in TechCrunch “Dear Authors, Your Next Book Should be an App, Not an iBook”. Here the author gushes about the iPad, repeats Read more
This qualifies as my favourite April’s Fools yet. UK e-commerce game retailer Gamestation has modified their Terms and Conditions to include the following clause: “By placing an order via this web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Read more
So, what many suspected has come to pass, our deepest fears confirmed and one of the worst possible texts adopted. The Digital Economy Bill has gone through the wash-up process in the very last day of this Parliament. I am expecting others to go into the detail of what is Read more