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

DOJ Has Blocked Everyone In The Executive Branch From Reading The Senate’s Torture Report | Techdirt

the new head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr, demanded that all the federal government agencies that received the report should return it to him so he can destroy it and make sure that no one ever sees what’s in the report.

Source: DOJ Has Blocked Everyone In The Executive Branch From Reading The Senate’s Torture Report | Techdirt

FBI’s flawed forensics expert testimony: Hair analysis, bite marks, fingerprints, arson.

The Washington Post published a story so horrifying this weekend that it would stop your breath: “The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000.”

Source: FBI’s flawed forensics expert testimony: Hair analysis, bite marks, fingerprints, arson.

Judge tried to bribe FBI agent with beer to get family’s text messages | Ars Technica

Indictment alleges judge offered “a couple of cases of beer” as payment.

Source: Judge tried to bribe FBI agent with beer to get family’s text messages | Ars Technica