Further Reading

  • The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution [PDF]

    • by Peter Biddle, Paul England, Marcus Peinado, and Bryan Willman of Microsoft Corporation
    • Abstract: We investigate the darknet a collection of networks and technologies used to share digital content. The darknet is not a separate physical network but an application and protocol layer riding on existing networks. Examples of darknets are peer-to-peer file sharing, CD and DVD copying, and key or password sharing on email and newsgroups. The last few years have seen vast increases in the darknet's aggregate bandwidth, reliability, usability, size of shared library, and availability of search engines. In this paper we categorize and analyze existing and future darknets, from both the technical and legal perspectives. We speculate that there will be short-term impediments to the effectiveness of the darknet as a distribution mechanism, but ultimately the darknet-genie will not be put back into the bottle. In view of this hypothesis, we examine the relevance of content protection and content distribution architectures.

  • Microsoft Research DRM talk

    • by Cory Doctorow of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
    • Here's what I'm here to convince you of:
      1. That DRM systems don't work
      2. That DRM systems are bad for society
      3. That DRM systems are bad for business
      4. That DRM systems are bad for artists
      5. That DRM is a bad business-move for MSFT

  • Digital Millennium Copyright Act

    • by Wikipedia
    • The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a controversial United States copyright law which criminalizes production and dissemination of technology that can circumvent measures taken to protect copyright, not merely infringement of copyright itself, and heightens the penalties for copyright infringement on the Internet. Passed on May 14, 1998 by a unanimous vote in the United States Senate and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 28, 1998, the DMCA amended title 17 of the US Code to extend the reach of copyright, while limiting the liability of Online Providers from copyright infringement by their users.
    • Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Full Text [PDF]

  • MP3 stores' Terms of Service

  • Electronic Frontier Foundation

    • If America's founding fathers had anticipated the digital frontier, there would be a clause in the Constitution protecting your rights online, as well.

      Instead, a modern group of freedom fighters was necessary to extend the original vision into the digital world.

      That's where the Electronic Frontier Foundation comes in.

      Just as Patriots fought for liberty and freedom, we fight measures that threaten basic human rights. Only the dominion we defend is the vast wealth of digital information, innovation, and technology that resides online.

      The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a group of passionate people -- lawyers, technologists, volunteers, and visionaries -- working in the trenches, battling to protect your rights and the rights of web surfers everywhere. The dedicated people of EFF challenge legislation that threatens to put a price on what is invaluable; to control what must remain boundless.

  • Video of copyright debate of the century

    • On April 14, 2005 the copyright debate of the young century was held when EFF Senior IP Attorney Fred von Lohmann and Siva Vaidhyanathan, author of the great copyfight book "The Anarchist in the Library," faced down reps from the RIAA, MPAA, Universal and Napster in a 3+ hour wrangle before an audience at Cornell University.

  • Creative Commons

    • Creative Commons offers a flexible range of protections and freedoms for authors and artists. We have built upon the "all rights reserved" of traditional copyright to create a voluntary "some rights reserved" copyright. We're a nonprofit. All of our tools are free.

    • Learn More about Creative Commons

      The best way to learn about the Creative Commons is to watch one of thier short movies.