Radiohead to Testify Against RIAA in File-Sharing Case
Something we need to see more of–actual artists standing up for themselves against RIAA’s disingenuous claims that it cares about artists more than it cares about deep-pocketed record labels. According to Radiohead’s legal team at Harvard Law School led by Charles Nesson, the band will testify against RIAA in RIAA’s lawsuit against Joel Tenenbaum–the Boston [...]
RIAA to Stop Suing Users
The Wall Street Journal reports that the RIAA has decided to change its strategy of suing users directly, to getting Internet Service Providers to police file sharing. More here.
RIAA Kills Yet Another Music Platform
Techcrunch just reported that yet another online music sharing service, Mixwit, is going out of business.
In the book Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity, Lawrence Lessig describes big media’s attempts to, not just increase its overall footprint, but to ensure that its content is the only content. By essentially bribing [...]
NYC Sodomy Cop Seeks Pardon
Justin Volpe, the former New York City cop from Brooklyn’s 70th precinct, who, in 1999, was sentenced to a 30 year sentence for sodomizing Abner Louima with a broomstick, is seeking a pardon from President Bush, according to the New York Post.
One woman who is supporting Volpe’s pardon request said, “Just[in] was a wonderful kid [...]
Supreme Court: Smokers Can Sue Cigarette Makers for Deceptive “Light” and “Low Tar” Claims
In a 5-4 decision today, the Supreme Court ruled that smokers could file suit against cigarette makers for deceptive advertising under State statutes, even if the advertising is otherwise in compliance with federal law.
The States maintain their own deceptive advertising statutes which apply to all businesses. But the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA) [...]
“Time to Make the Donuts” … and then Sue Your Ass
Where would the internet be if people weren’t allowed to post comments about restaurant establishments so that other people will know whether or not they should go there?
Zebulon J. Brodie, a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner in Centreville, MD, demands that Independent Newspapers, Inc. turn over the real names of anonymous commenters who wrote [...]
Update on Coldplay/Satriani Copyright Dispute
Coldplay has released a statement in response to Joe Satriani’s copyright infringement lawsuit against them. In the lawsuit, Satriani alleges that the melody and chord progressions of Coldplay’s summer smash hit, “Viva La Vida,” are a rip off from an instrumental that Satriani performed back in 2004, which was entitled “If I Could Fly.”
Here’s a [...]
The Top 10 Conspiracy Theories
There’s an abundance of conspiracy theories. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a group of conservative activists have banded together, to make a last ditch effort to deny Barack Obama the presidency, by claiming that he’s not an American citizen because, they claim, he was born in Kenya and not Hawaii. Here’s a copy [...]
UK Cops Make Drunk Women Give Up Their High Heels
Anna over at Shoe Smitten reports that UK cops will make women, who are walking around drunk, give up their “uncomfortable, inappropriate or soiled” shoes in exchange for flip flops. The cops are going to stand around outside nightclubs and wait for women to lose their balance or fall or whatever and then give them a pair [...]
BigLaw Associates Miffed Over $20K Bonuses
Elie Mystal over at Above the Law, writes:
As many people have pointed out, being angry over “only” a $20,000 bonus is something that most of the working world finds appalling. We get it: “spoiled whiners,” “real people are losing their jobs,” “nobody should complain about a six-figure salary,” yada, yada, yada.
But other people have pointed out [...]
