For the past few weeks in class we've been talking about file sharing and how out of control it has gotten, but this article shows that the government is not going to take it sitting down. TorrentFreak was one of the online world's most trusted and widely used file-sharing sites on the web. People used it for up to date news on topics related to torrents, file sharing, and all other similar information. It was no secret that copyright enforcers had this site at the top of their hit list. However, as people logged on to TorrentFreak on February 18 they were quick to find that the site had finally been silenced. Instead of the regular site, visitors were shocked to find the very clear and simple statement, "we killed TorrentFreak" instead. The author and many other people probably assumed that it was just another hacker who had managed to get past the security protocols and play a joke, but upon further inspection it became less clear if it really was a joke. The homepage boasted a "You Can Click, but You CanŐt Hide" public service ad funded by the MPA and the GVU that also stated that the site had been closed on behalf on them. So unless the site is just trying to cause controversy, it might be safe to say that the government is finally taking action in a very loud way. On the other hand something doesn't seem quite kosher. This article makes it clear how many people are involved in this battle over file-sharing and that the government is trying hard to find a way to come out on top, but as we talked about in class itŐs going to have to take something big and drastic otherwise it will just continue and most likely get worse.
DVD Jon aims to smash digital Tower of BabelThis article is on doubleTwist a firm founded by DRM manufacturer Jon Lech Johnson last March. It is software that is designed to allow users to share digital media files (even copyright protected content) across devices. It allows users to "share and sync digital media without worrying about codecs and bitrates. " The example they give is that it will allows video made on a Nokia smartphone to play on an iPod of PSP. Right now this software is still free and there is also a developers kits version available. It was created on the grounds that media has become such a "tower of Babel" in regards to the multiple formats and competing technologies that the user needs something that will take away the hassle and confusion. DoubleTwist wants to allow users to "share, consume, and sync audio, video, and photos regardless of device, file-format, or social network. " This is sure to not please a lot of big business including Apple because of the drag and drop copy protected media function. DoubleTwist claims that it is simply allowing users to enjoy the fair use of media they have already purchased. This relates directly to everything we were talking about in class with what should and should not be considered fair use. I have a feeling that this will end up being a case very similar to all the ones we read. DoubleTwist doesn't expect to get any legal problems from Apple though. Johnson has a long history in dealing with unpicking DRM technologies and copy protections schemes. It will be interesting to see how calm big businesses stay with software like this out their overriding what they have decided was the best way.
Microsoft puts older office file formats in public domain sort ofThis article is on Microsoft opening up to public domain. On February 15, 2008 Microsoft announce that it had made "all of its Office binary file formats openly available to outside software developers, while promising never to sue them for patent violations. " These files will be made available under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise program. All of the files being made available right now are the binary file formats used in releases from Office 97 though Office 2007. The release of these could make it easier for programmers to write open source applications like OpenOffice.org and IBM's Symphony. Microsoft has been giving away information about their formats for free for a while, but there were several companies that had asked for Microsoft to release more technical information about the older Office file formats. As part of the OSP agreement, Microsoft has promised not to assert any claim against any developers "for making, using, selling, offering for sale, importing or distributing any implementation to the extent in conforms to a covered specification. " Developers also don't have to sign any licensing agreements, tell Microsoft when they use it, or even give them credit. Microsoft will still own the formats even though they are letting people use them so it is different that the full open-source license. This is a big move for a company like Microsoft. For them to put their code out there for other developers to work off of is very bold of them. It is going to be very easy for everyone to claim fair use if they ever get into legal troubles. The cases we went over in class proved that fair use is a grey area in IP law and it is easy to argue in either direction. This might be Microsoft's attempt to keep control in such a copyright protected field where file-sharing and infringement are around every corner.