San Jose Mercury News: Apple loses appeals court battle over leaked information. Applying strong First Amendment protections to bloggers and Web site operators, a San Jose-based appeals court today rejected Apple Computer’s bid for the identities of individuals who leaked confidential information on one of its new products. In a 69-page ruling, the 6th District […]
Posts under ‘Free Speech’
Newmark Versus McCurry on Net Neutrality
The Wall Street Journal is running an online discussion — Should the Net Be Neutral? — between Craig Newmark of craigslist fame and Mike McCurry, former Bill Clinton press secretary and now lobbyist and PR consultant. Craig (an advisor and contributor to this center) takes the side of neutrality. McCurry takes the side of his […]
Are Paid Telecom Industry Shills Polluting Blog Comments?
Mark Glaser asks if this is the case. This calls for some serious sleuthing. Anyone want to help?
Freedom of Information: For Everyone
Earlier this year a Houston Press reporter drove 1,683 miles in Harris and its surrounding seven counties, visiting 63 school districts to test for compliance with the Texas Public Information Act, which is designed not just for reporters like me but for everyone. Here’s his story, called “Needling the Haystack.” Quite instructive.
Another Ally for Net Neutrality
Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America: We urge Congress to move aggressively to save the Internet — and allow ideas rather than money to control what Americans can access on the World Wide Web. We urge all Americans to contact their Congressmen and Senators and tell them to save the Internet and […]
Supporting the First Amendment
I’m pleased to say that I’ve joined the board of the California First Amendment Coalition, which defends our right to speak out for what we believe, and for the public’s right to know what government does with our money and in our names. Note that this is the people’s right, not just the media’s. As […]
Ad Agency Drops Suit Against Maine Blogger
Lance Dutson, a Maine blogger who has gone after a state tourism agency and its advertising contractor, found himself at the wrong end of a legal gun barrel when the contractor, an ad agency, filed a libel suit that looked from here like raw intimidation. He fought back, with a lot of help, and now […]
Maine Blogger Legal Trouble is Message
Lance Dutson (Maine Web Report): State Contractor Files Federal Lawsuit Against Me. So here I am, one man against the state and its contractors, put in the position of shutting up or being pounded by their deep pockets and a wild misconception of what the court system is supposed to be used for. One person […]
Wondering About Blogland
Daniel Henninger (Wall Street Journal): Wonder Land. At the risk of enabling, does the Internet mean that all the rest of us are being made unwitting participants in the personal and political life of, um, crazy people? As populist psychiatry, maybe this is a good thing; the Web allows large numbers of people to contribute […]
Challenging the Federal Censorship Commission
NY Times: TV Networks Sue to Challenge F.C.C.’s Indecency Penalties. With no allies among either the Democrats or the Republicans on the Federal Communications Commission nor any significant ones in Congress, the four broadcast networks, joined by the Hearst-Argyle Television group of stations, embarked late last week on a low-risk strategy of turning to the […]