Blame It On Steinski

Victorious RIAA defendant gets attorneys’ fees, turns to class-action plans

In some wonderful news, a federal magistrate judge late last week awarded former RIAA defendant Tanya Andersen attorneys’ fees for her nearly two-and-a-half-year fight against a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Andersen, a disabled single mother, is now turning her attention to countersuing the RIAA in a class action. The RIAA, among other enlightened tactics, ambushed Andersen’s 8-year-old…

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How fair use actually works (real world example)

The concept of fair use is an embattled idea in the age of digital information. Theoretically, one is allowed to use a piece of copyrighted material without permission in order to comment on it, editorial stylee.

How does it actually work? Chris Knight’s example is a practical illustration.

1) Chris runs for his local board of education in North Carolina. He home-produces 3 videos that run…

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Disabled single mom sues the RIAA

Tanya J. Andersen and her daughter Kylee were put through the mill by the RIAA and their “investigators”, who accused the Andersens of a fictitious downloading crime. Unlike most of the victims of this group of musical Republicans, Ms. Andersen successfully fought the RIAA to a standstill, and now she’s countersuing them under the RICO act, among other statutes.

The RIAA, of course, in their…

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Gonzales proposes thoughtcrime legislation

Remember years ago, when you read Orwell’s 1984 for the first time? There’s a passage in it where O’Brien, the totalitarian thug, explains something to Winston; he points out that the easiest way to control a huge populace is to make sure that everyone is breaking a law – a society where every citizen is a criminal.

Cnet posted news of the latest brainstorm from Alberto Gonzales, who may be…

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Fair use, in a Disney stylee

With a big thanks to Loughlin, who got the goods.

Pay close attention; it’s your ass and your right of free speech on the…

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The single most important book on creativity and copyright

Before I read Lawrence Lessig’s book Free Culture, I agreed with the general view of copyright and intellectual property; an idea has the same property characteristics as a car or a table. Copying the idea is theft, even if you copy only a small part for any reason, and even if you don’t sell it. It’s the view put forth by the media, the RIAA, the MPAA, and various other corporate trade…

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Which is harder? Buying a gun, or buying a used CD?

Is that your final answer?…

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Lessig video on “harmful to minors” speech

Another incisive PowerPoint video presentation from Larence Lessig, this time about the various legislative failures and issues surrounding the protection of children from speech deemed harmful to minors. Laws? Private Filters? Lessig has a modest proposal. (18 min. and change)…

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Lessig@Google

As part of an “Authors at Google” lecture series, Lawrence Lessig – author of several essential books about copyright, creativity, computer code, and their impact on popular culture and our ability to communicate with each other – spoke at length (and with an awesome PowerPoint presentation) about subjects of concern to everyone making music, art, and trouble in the 21st…

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As we peer over the edge of the Fair Use precipice…

There is someone standing by with a rope and words of advice. If you’re interested in the sample/remix aspects of popular culture, you want to stay up on Anthony Falzone’s blog.

Mr. Falzone is associated with the Center for Internet and Society:

In the heart of the Silicon Valley, legal doctrine is emerging that will determine the course of civil rights and technological innovation for…

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