Month: November 2015

This Fake Bomb Detector Is Blamed for Hundreds of Deaths. It’s Still in Use.

Despite being widely discredited, a British-designed bomb detector based on pseudoscience continues to be used at sensitive security sites across the world.

Source: This Fake Bomb Detector Is Blamed for Hundreds of Deaths. It’s Still in Use.

Legal regulators move in on Prenda’s Paul Hansmeier, who may get disbarred | Ars Technica

State bar regulators say Hansmeier hid money, lied in court.

Source: Legal regulators move in on Prenda’s Paul Hansmeier, who may get disbarred | Ars Technica

Venezuelan President Calls NSA Spying on State Oil Company “Vulgar,” Orders Official Inquiry

Nicolas Maduro called monitoring of state oil-company emails — revealed by The Intercept and teleSUR — “illegal action in light of international law.”

Source: Venezuelan President Calls NSA Spying on State Oil Company “Vulgar,” Orders Official Inquiry

Make the Censors Watch ‘Paint Drying’ by Charlie Lyne — Kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/charlielyne/make-the-censors-watch-paint-drying

The British Board of Film Certification (previously known as the British Board of Film Censors) was established in 1912 to ensure films remained free of ‘indecorous dancing’, ‘references to controversial politics’ and ‘men and women in bed together’, amongst other perceived indiscretions.

Today, it continues to censor and in some cases ban films, while UK law ensures that, in effect, a film cannot be released in British cinemas without a BBFC certificate.

Each certificate costs around £1000 for a feature film of average length. For many independent filmmakers, such a large upfront can prove prohibitively expensive.

 

BitTorrent Usage Doesn’t Equal Piracy, Cox Tells Court – TorrentFreak

U.S. Internet provider Cox Communications is scheduled to go to trial soon, defending itself against copyright infringement claims from two music companies. In a new motion Cox asks the court to prohibit the use of any material claiming that BitTorrent equals piracy. BitTorrent has plenty legitimate uses and equating it to infringement would mislead the jury during trial, the ISP argues.

Source: BitTorrent Usage Doesn’t Equal Piracy, Cox Tells Court – TorrentFreak

Anne Frank Scandal: An Underreported Copyright Monopoly Abuse – TorrentFreak

The seminal Anne Frank’s Diary is elevated to public domain in a month and a half. But the foundation holding the copyright is trying legal trickery to extend its monopoly by decades, and almost nobody reports it as the fraud it is.

Source: Anne Frank Scandal: An Underreported Copyright Monopoly Abuse – TorrentFreak

Pirate Bay Censorship Marks the End of Open Internet, ISP Warns – TorrentFreak

The ISP under legal pressure to block The Pirate Bay in Sweden has criticized efforts to make the provider an accomplice in other people’s crimes. In a joint statement two key executives of Telenor / Bredbandsbolaget warn that folding to the wishes of private copyright holder interests could mark the beginning of the end for the open Internet.

Source: Pirate Bay Censorship Marks the End of Open Internet, ISP Warns – TorrentFreak

$5M Jury Award for One Foreclosure Fraud Makes U.S. Punishment Look Trivial

The government’s $25 billion foreclosure fraud settlement with the big banks looks pathetic when you consider they could have been on the hook for trillions.

Source: $5M Jury Award for One Foreclosure Fraud Makes U.S. Punishment Look Trivial

EU Court of Justice to Decide on Legality of Pirate Bay Blockades – TorrentFreak

The Pirate Bay remains freely accessible in the Netherlands pending the outcome of a landmark lawsuit. Before making a final decision, the Dutch Supreme Court wants clarification from the EU Court of Justice on several issues. Among other things, the EU Court must decide whether The Pirate Bay communicates illegal content to the public.

Source: EU Court of Justice to Decide on Legality of Pirate Bay Blockades – TorrentFreak