Rep. Jackie Speier’s, D-Calif., long-awaited revenge porn legislation is expected to be introduced before Congress breaks for its August recess, her office told us. It said that July 23 is the goal. The federal revenge porn legislation is reportedly not modeled on any of the state revenge porn laws, but Speier consulted with groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) that have expressed concern with some revenge porn legislation and laws, citing free speech concerns. Speier also has consulted with companies like Google that have announced new policies recently regarding revenge porn, her office said.
Supporters of Google's case against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood want to ensure the viability of Communications Act Section 230, they said in interviews and statements Monday. But Google’s critics said the company and its allies are using disingenuous means to make a point about copyright where it doesn’t apply. CEA, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and Engine filed a joint brief on behalf of Google Friday, a CEA news release Monday said. The Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and R-Street Institute also filed a pro-Google brief Friday, an EFF news release said.
Supporters of Google's case against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood want to ensure the viability of Communications Act Section 230, they said in interviews and statements Monday. But Google’s critics said the company and its allies are using disingenuous means to make a point about copyright where it doesn’t apply. CEA, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and Engine filed a joint brief on behalf of Google Friday, a CEA news release Monday said. The Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and R-Street Institute also filed a pro-Google brief Friday, an EFF news release said.
Supporters of Google's case against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood want to ensure the viability of Communications Act Section 230, they said in interviews and statements Monday. But Google’s critics said the company and its allies are using disingenuous means to make a point about copyright where it doesn’t apply. CEA, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and Engine filed a joint brief on behalf of Google Friday, a CEA news release Monday said. The Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and R-Street Institute also filed a pro-Google brief Friday, an EFF news release said.
A coalition of pro-free speech organizations, trade groups and law professors asked Congress to prohibit proposed federal laws that could undermine liability protections for publishers, the Center for Democracy & Technology said in a news release Thursday. “With the passage of the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act [HR-285] in the House and counterpart bills anticipated in the Senate, lawmakers are considering major changes to the legal protections that support free expression online, with laws that would hold Internet intermediaries liable for third-party content hosted on their sites,” the release said. "When faced with potential federal criminal liability for their users' content, online platforms will censor as a self-defense mechanism," Emma Llanso, CDT Free Expression Project director, said. "Wholly innocent operators of smaller sites and publications could be driven out of business if they are hauled into court to defend themselves on federal criminal charges.” The Computer and Communications Industry Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, NetChoice, TechFreedom and Derek Bambauer, University of Arizona law professor, were among the coalition’s signatories.
A coalition of pro-free speech organizations, trade groups and law professors asked Congress to prohibit proposed federal laws that could undermine liability protections for publishers, the Center for Democracy & Technology said in a news release Thursday. “With the passage of the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act [HR-285] in the House and counterpart bills anticipated in the Senate, lawmakers are considering major changes to the legal protections that support free expression online, with laws that would hold Internet intermediaries liable for third-party content hosted on their sites,” the release said. "When faced with potential federal criminal liability for their users' content, online platforms will censor as a self-defense mechanism," Emma Llanso, CDT Free Expression Project director, said. "Wholly innocent operators of smaller sites and publications could be driven out of business if they are hauled into court to defend themselves on federal criminal charges.” The Computer and Communications Industry Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, NetChoice, TechFreedom and Derek Bambauer, University of Arizona law professor, were among the coalition’s signatories.
The Internet Association (IA) called on the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees to take on copyright issues within trade legislation in a Jan. 14 letter (here) to committee leaders. The group, which includes Amazon, Facebook and Paypal, said that copyright “limitations and exceptions” should be included in the Trade Promotion Authority legislation and asked for liability protections for Internet intermediaries.
The Internet Association’s letter to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees’ leadership Wednesday is an example of the tech industry’s growing influence in copyright debates, said pro-fair use experts in interviews Thursday. IA said copyright “limitations and exceptions” should be included in the Trade Promotion Authority legislation and asked for liability protections for Internet intermediaries. The association’s members include Amazon, Facebook, Google and PayPal.
The Internet Association’s letter to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees’ leadership Wednesday is an example of the tech industry’s growing influence in copyright debates, said pro-fair use experts in interviews Thursday. IA said copyright “limitations and exceptions” should be included in the Trade Promotion Authority legislation and asked for liability protections for Internet intermediaries. The association’s members include Amazon, Facebook, Google and PayPal.
BMG Rights Management and Round Hill Music’s lawsuit against Cox Communications puts an unfair burden on ISPs, said copyright experts who support ISP flexibility under Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The music publishers allege that Cox has failed to uphold its end of the bargain under Section 512 by not terminating the Internet services of repeat copyright infringers. But copyright owners don’t have the authority to make such demands of ISPs, said Mitch Stoltz, Electronic Frontier Foundation staff attorney. The case was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. The docket number is 14-cv-01611.