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EFFector - Volume 21, Issue 17 - Microsoft Cripples Its Own Software

EFFECTOR

EFFector - Volume 21, Issue 17 - Microsoft Cripples Its Own Software

EFFector Vol. 21, No. 17  May 21, 2008  editor@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

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In our 470th issue: 

EFF relaunches the "Line Noise" Podcast, Microsoft cripples 
its own software, and GOP House Leadership suddenly 
switches positions on illegal surveillance.

* "LINE NOISE," THE EFF PODCAST, is up and running again 
after a year in hibernation. Finally, a way to stay up-to-
date about online civil liberties issues with your eyes 
closed! We've posted two episodes this week, one on Orphan 
Works and another on the Broadcast Flag. Check them out:
http://www.eff.org/linenoise

* USERS OF MICROSOFT WINDOWS VISTA discovered last week 
that their computers were refusing to record NBC's American 
Gladiator. When EFF and others raised the issue online, 
Microsoft responded, confirming that Vista's video 
recording and reuse abilities have been crippled according 
to NBC's demands.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/microsofts-masters-whose-rules-does-your-media-cen

You can hear more about it on the Line Noise podcast:
http://www.eff.org/linenoise/conversation-about-broadcast-flag

* GOP HOUSE LEADER JOHN BOEHNER has been fighting hard for 
his own right to protection from illegal wiretapping, even 
though he's simultaneously trying to deny ordinary 
Americans the same rights. Oh, and he's earned himself and 
his attorneys $1.1 million in the process.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/boehner-wiretapping

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>From Deeplinks

* AT&T Spent $5.2 Million on Lobbying in the First Quarter 
of 2008
What does immunity from the law cost these days anyway? 
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/t-spent-5-2-million-lobbying-first-quarter-2008

* Senators Question FBI About Unlawful Internet Archive 
Record Demand
A group of bipartisan U.S. Senators send FBI Director 
Mueller a letter demanding answers over an illegitimate 
National Security Letter (NSL) served on the Internet 
Archive.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/senators-question-fbi-about-unlawful-internet-arch

* Score Two for Defendants in the P2P Wars
The Music Industry's P2P litigation campaign took two 
significant legal blows this week.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/score-two-defendants-p2p-wars

* House Passes Controversial PRO IP Act
The PRO IP Act (H.R. 4279) passes the House, giving more 
fuel to the RIAA's file-sharing lawsuit fire.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/house-passes-controversial-pro-ip-act

* Release the Orphan Works!
The House and the Senate propose new legislation that could 
potentially return millions of orphaned copyright works 
back to the cultural commons.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/release-orphan-works

* The Struggles of France's Three Strikes Law
The latest in the content industry's ongoing attempt to 
keep French citizens accused of copyright infringement off 
the Internet:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/struggles-frances-three-strikes-law

* Knitwit BBC Goes After Dr. Who Fans
The BBC demands that Dr. Who crafters cease and desist 
knitting.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/knitwit-bbc-goes-after-dr-who-fans

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miniLinks
The week's noteworthy news, compressed.

~ Media Failing to Probe Candidates on Civil Liberties
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting takes the news media to 
task for not asking the tough questions of the presidential 
candidates.
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3370

~ When Technology Is Designed to Fail
"Complexity by design" isn't an accident -- it's a way for 
providers to maintain control.
http://db.tidbits.com/article/9611

~ Cars that Datamine?
Stanford scientists are studying ways to allow cars to 
collect data on your driving habits.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/a-data-mining-c.html

~ New Site Lists Copyright Takedowns
YouTomb compiles a list of all the videos ordered removed 
from YouTube.
http://youtomb.mit.edu/

For more miniLinks:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/minilinks-2008-05-21

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Announcements

* EFF at Laughing Squid's Lucky 13
Come help celebrate Laughing Squid's Lucky 13 party at 
Cellspace on Saturday, May 31st, in San Francisco:
http://laughingsquid.com/laughing-squid-2008/

* EFF at RoboGames
Can't get enough extreme robot action?  Neither can we!
EFF will be at the 2008 RoboGames at Fort Mason in San 
Francisco on June 13-15:
http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/06/12/eff-robogames

* EFF at Personal Democracy Forum 2008
Visit EFF at Personal Democracy Forum 2008 in New York City 
on June 23-24, 2008. For EFF supporters only: sign up by 
Tuesday, May 27, and receive an additional $50 discount off 
of the early bird rate. Use discount code: "eff08".
http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/06/23/eff-personal-democracy-forum-2008

* As always, new and renewing EFF members get an $8 gift 
card for Magnatune music downloads:
https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_magnatune

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Administrivia

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
 http://www.eff.org/about

Editor:
Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist
 richard@eff.org	

Membership & donation queries:
 membership@eff.org

General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries:
 information@eff.org

Back issues of EFFector are available at:
 http://www.eff.org/effector/

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