Skip to main content

EFFector - Volume 23, Issue 21 - EFF Offers New Help For Targets Of Predatory Copyright Infringement Lawsuits

EFFECTOR

EFFector - Volume 23, Issue 21 - EFF Offers New Help For Targets Of Predatory Copyright Infringement Lawsuits

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a
desired change.

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

In our 543rd issue:

* EFF OFFERS NEW HELP FOR TARGETS OF PREDATORY COPYRIGHT
INFRINGEMENT LAWSUITS:
Website Resources Explain Rights and Options for Those
Caught in Movie-Downloading Shakedown

EFF has published a comprehensive collection of resources
to assist the thousands of individuals accused of online
copyright infringement by a Washington, DC, law firm
calling itself the U.S. Copyright Group (USCG). The
resources are intended to help those sued to learn about
the claims made against them, to explore possible defenses
and, most importantly, to find legal counsel to assist
them.

For the USCG v the People resource collection:
https://www.eff.org/uscg


* THANK YOU, DEF CON!

EFF would like to thank everyone who supported EFF at the
Black Hat and DEF CON conferences in Las Vegas last week.
The community support was stronger than ever. Special
thanks to Jeff Moss and the Black Hat and DEF CON
organizers for their ongoing support of EFF each year. 

For more, including a photo of the soon-to-be-auctioned
autographed DEF CON skateboard deck (and one of EFF's new
kittens!), go to: 
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/thank-you-eff

* EFF AND BOING BOING TV GO MILE HIGH! 

Next time you fly Virgin America, you just might see one of
EFF's new PSAs as part of your onboard entertainment.
Earlier this year, EFF worked with Bucknell University
Professor Eric Faden (of A Fair(y) Use Tale fame) to create
two video public service announcements about licensing
agreements for digital books and online behaviorial
tracking.

For more information and to view the PSAs go to:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-air-psas-virgin-america-flights-boing-boing-tv
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

EFF Updates

*BlackBerry Bans Suggest a Scary Precedent: Crypto Wars
Again?
Recent news reports have presented somewhat contradictory
analyses of government plans in the United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia, and other countries to block the use of
BlackBerry smart phones as a form of pressure on Research
in Motion, BlackBerry's Canadian manufacturer. EFF Senior
Staff Technologist Seth Schoen suggests that perhaps the
crypto wars of the 1990's never really ended. 

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/blackberry-bans-suggest-scary-precedent

*The Wall Street Journal Asks: What Do Online Advertisers
Know About You?
In a groundbreaking new series entitled "What They Know,"
the Wall Street Journal is taking a close look at the
information that online advertisers collect about you as
you browse the Web. 

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/what-they-know

* Breaking Down the 2009 DMCA Rulemaking, Part 1: Victory
for Vidders 
EFF Senior Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry explains a
tremendously important DMCA cirumvention exemption that has
been somewhat overlooked - breaking DVD encryption in order
to take short clips for purposes of criticism and
commentary for noncommercial use, educational use and
documentary films.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/07/breaking-down-2009-dmca-rulemaking-part-1-victory

* DoJ Pushing to Expand Warrantless Access to Internet
Records
The Department Of Justice has been pressuring Congress to
expand its power to obtain records of Americans' private
Internet activity through the use of National Security
Letters (NSLs). A recent Washington Post article suggests
that the agency wants access to detailed web browsing
history, search history, location information, and even
Facebook friend requests.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/07/doj-pushing-expand-warrantless-access-internet

* In Perfect 10 v. Google, Round 3 Goes to Google
If you're going to use the streamlined Digital Millennium
Copyright Act ("DMCA") process to require a service
provider to remove allegedly infringing content, you'd
better make sure you actually comply with the DMCA notice
requirements. Otherwise a court may find, as occurred in
Perfect 10 v. Google, that your "notice" didn't actually
put anyone on "notice."

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/07/perfect-10-v-google-round-3-goes-google-no-sloppy

* LIGATT Security Tries to Silence its Online Critics With
an Unsubstantiated Lawsuit
LIGATT Security, a controversial  Georgia-based computer
security firm, is embroiled in an ongoing flame war with
its online detractors, who question the firm's legitimacy
and stock prospects. Earlier this month, LIGATT upped the
ante by filing suit in a Georgia court, threatening 
approximately 25 anonymous commenters on Yahoo! Message 
Boards and demanding a $5 million judgment and a court 
order prohibiting criticism.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/07/ligatt-security-tries-silence-its-online-critics

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

miniLinks

~ Breaking a Promise on Surveillance
The New York Times reminds President Obama that his recent
surveillance power-grab breaks his campaign promises.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/opinion/30fri1.html?_r=1

~ Why People 'Jailbreak' Their iPhones
Jailbreaking smart phones is more popular than ever — and
now it's legal. CNN's John Sutter explains why.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/07/27/why.jailbreak.iphone/index.html

~ Why the Right to Jailbreak Matters
Fair use — whether jailbreaking a smart phone or creating a
video mashup — is not just acceptable, it's essential for
the future.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/fair_use_not_just_acceptable_its_essential_for_the.php

~ Wikipedia Schools the FBI on Free Speech
The FBI demands that Wikipedia take down an image of the
FBI seal. Wikimedia responds with an educational letter.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/03fbi.html?hpw

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

Announcements

*EFF at Hacker Halted Event

October 9, 2010

Make plans now to attend the 15th annual Hacker Halted
information security event - October 9-15 in Miami. EFF
members and newsletter subscribers receive a $100 discount
off the 2-day conference fees.

https://www.eff.org/EFF-at-hacker-halted

* Nominate a Pioneer for EFF's 2010 Pioneer Awards! 

EFF established the Pioneer Awards to recognize leaders on 
the electronic frontier who are extending freedom and 
innovation in the realm of information technology. This is 
your last chance to nominate a deserving individual or 
group to receive a Pioneer Award for 2010. Nominations 
close August 9th, so don't delay!

For nomination guidelines and an online nomination form, go
to:
https://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer/

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

* Dream Job Alert! EFF is looking to fill the following
positions:

~ EFF Seeks Web Developer

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit civil 
liberties organization based in San Francisco, is seeking 
a full-time programmer to help build websites and web 
applications that protect and promote civil liberties 
in the digital world.

A central responsibility will be to help build, launch 
and maintain an open-source infrastructure for membership 
and activism based on CiviCRM and Drupal. Additional 
responsibilities are likely to include work with EFF web 
projects including EFF.org, TOSBack.org, Panopticlick, 
Total Election Awareness and HTTPS Everywhere. We'll also 
be counting on your creative ideas for future web projects.

Minimum Requirements:

   *Substantial experience with web development 
    frameworks;
   *Substantial experience in relational database 
    systems such as MySQL;
   *A good working knowledge of UNIX;
   *A good working knowledge of Git, Subversion, 
    and/or similar tools;
   *An ability to organize and manage multiple 
    priorities;
   *An ability to work well with others in a 
    collaborative environment; and
   *A "can do" attitude.

Also Highly Desirable:

   *Experience with CiviCRM
   *Experience with Drupal
   *Experience with Javascript / JQuery / AJAX
   *Experience with Apache
   *Experience with web tools for activism & advocacy. 
    (i.e., Salsa, Convio, etc.)
   *Experience with computer security, especially web 
    security
   *Understanding and being motivated by digital civil 
    liberties

This is a full-time position based in EFF's office in 
San Francisco, CA. Salary $50,000-$55,000 with benefits. 
To apply, send a cover letter and your resume with links 
to some samples of your work to webdev@eff.org. Please 
send these materials in a non-proprietary format. No 
phone calls please!

~ Senior Copyright Lawyer

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is seeking a
senior-level copyright attorney. Responsibilities will
include litigation, public speaking, blogging, media
outreach, and legislative and regulatory matters related
to a variety of high technology legal issues.

Qualified candidates will have at least five years
of experience working in copyright law, including an
in-depth knowledge of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
(DMCA) sections 512 and 1201. Candidates should also have
significant experience in at least one of the following
specialties: trademark law, trade secret law, and/or
patent law. Litigation experience is required, including
significant experience managing both overall case strategy
and day-to-day projects and deadlines. Candidates should
have good communication skills and an interest in working
with a team of highly motivated lawyers and activists
in a hard-working nonprofit environment. Strong writing
and analytical skills, as well as the ability to be
self-motivated and focused, are essential. Tech savviness
and a familiarity with Internet civil liberties and high
tech public interest issues is strongly preferred. This
position is based in San Francisco.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and
references to ipjob@eff.org.

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

* Administrivia

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
+1 415 436 9333 (voice)
+1 415 436 9993 (fax)
https://www.eff.org/

Editor:
Lori McCoy, Membership/Administrative Assistant
lori@eff.org

Membership & donation queries:
membership@eff.org

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

Reproduction of this publication in electronic media
is encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily
represent the views of EFF. To reproduce signed articles
individually, please contact the authors for their
express permission.

Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be
reproduced individually at will.

Current and back issues of EFFector are available via
the Web at:
https://www.eff.org/effector/

Click here to change your email address:
https://action.eff.org/addresschange

This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.

EFF appreciates your support and respects your privacy.
http://www.eff.org/policy

Back to top

JavaScript license information