Monthly Archives: June 2011

Techdirt/Protect IP

“The Protect IP Act is about the old media industry going to war with the Internet,” Techdirt, May 16, 2011. Larry’s articles on Protect IP were the subject of a long commentary from Techdirt’s Mike Masnick.

ABC/GNI

“Digital revolutionaries under surveillance,” Australian Broadcasting Company, May 15, 2011. Larry was the guest on Australian radio’s Background Briefing to discuss censorship and surveillance of political dissidents, and the ill-fated Global Network Initiative aimed at providing cover for tech companies who cooperate with governments.

Forbes/Protect IP

“Leahy’s Protect IP Act: Why Internet content wars will never end,” Forbes.com, May 16, 2011. In a longer essay reviewing the Protect IP Act, Larry argues that the content industries are fighting a losing battle in the courts and in legislatures against the Internet itself. Instead, they should be moving more quickly to adapt to new distribution platforms. See commentary at Centre for Innovation Law and Policy, New York City Culture Blog, A Farther Room, Scott McLeod’s Mind Dump, Search Engine Watch and Digital Trends.

CNET/Protect IP

“Leahy’s Protect IP act even worse than COICA,” CNET News.com, May 12, 2011. Larry files an initial review of the new Protect IP Act, aimed at curbing online piracy, shortly after its introduction by Sen. Patrick Leahy. Though many improvements were made over last year’s version, known as COICA, the bill is still a dangerous tinkering with the mechanics of the Internet in the name of a dubious goal.

Science Friday/iPhone

Are your gadgets spying on you?” NPR Science Friday, May 6, 2011. Larry debates Senator Al Franken on whether the Apple iPhone flap suggests a need for new federal regulations of mobile devices. Audio is available here.

Forbes/Data roaming

“FCC mandates data roaming, but they still don’t know the territory,” Forbes.com, May 5, 2011. Larry’s long analysis for Forbes of a controversial–and possibly illegal–new FCC ruling requiring wireless communications carriers to offer data roaming plans to competitors at rates overseen by the agency.