With names like Track, Trig and Bristol, the world is awash with potential Palin baby names. What would you be named if you were a Palin baby? Now you can find out! Apparently, I would have been Claw Palin. I Read more…
I have always been interested in the depiction of computers in popular fiction. One early computer meme represented the percentage crunching computer/robot that would helpfully tell the protagonists the percentage rate of survival for X situation (“You have a 2% Read more…
You know you’ve been to too many conferences… …when your office wall looks like this.
I am feeling a bit cyclical (and cynical) this week. Amusing copyright case from the States? Check. Scientologists unleashing havoc? Check. Underwhelming Apple keynote? Check. The end is nigh? Check. Perhaps I’ve been infected by Cascio’s cynicism (thanks panGloss). I’ve Read more…
Edinburgh University honorary graduate Joanne Kathleen Rowling (right) has won her case against Steven Vander Ark, the author of the Harry Potter Lexicon (the site is now down). I have been following this case with interest, as I believe it Read more…
Scientology has had a long and interesting history at the courts in using copyright law to remove content which it deems infringes its rights (*cough*censorship*cough*). Scientologists have repeatedly used copyright law in order to remove most references to aliens, Xenu, Read more…
The browser wars have just gotten a bit more interesting with the release of Google Chrome. While I am too addicted to Firefox, Chrome appears to be an interesting experiment. However, the Chrome EULA raised some eyebrows, as it contained Read more…
I think that everyone can agree that one of the problems with piracy is that it may have negative effect on some musicians. There is evidence that the music industry has become more reluctant to sign new acts and is Read more…
I found this wonderful timeline of Internet memes yesterday, so many happy memories of hours wasted in front of a YouTube screen… but I digress. I have been frustrated by the seemingly unstoppable war on evidence waged by copyright policymakers, Read more…
Some years ago, James Boyle made a compelling case in favour of evidence-based policymaking in an article attacking the European database right. Since then, I have become a strong believer in injecting some empirical evidence into copyright debates that are Read more…