Oct. 30, 2000
8:00 AM ET.
Alert No. 52. |
TLJ Home Page
News from
the Web
Calendar
Search
Tech Law Journal is a free access online publication that
provides news, records, and analysis of legislation, litigation, and
regulation affecting the computer and Internet industry.
This email service is offered free of charge to anyone who requests
it.
Contact TLJ:
202-364-8882.
E-mail.
P.O. Box 15186, Washington DC, 20003.
Notices
& Disclaimers
Privacy
Policy
Copyright 1998 - 2000 David Carney, dba Tech Law Journal. All rights
reserved. |
|
|
| News Briefs |
10/30. The Copyright Office
published in the Federal Register its rule
[PDF] that designates the classes of copyrighted works that the
Librarian of Congress has determined shall be subject to exemption
from the prohibition against circumvention of a technological
measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under
Title 17 of the U.S. Code.
9/29. Microsoft issued a statement
in which it said that it "is working with law enforcement to
resolve a situation -- and to apprehend the person(s) responsible --
in which a hacker gained access to certain parts of the company's
internal corporate network."
9/27. The Senate passed HR 4942, the Commerce State and Justice
(CJS) Departments appropriations bill by a vote of 49 to 42. The
House passed the bill on Oct. 26. Bill Clinton said he would veto
the bill. See, TLJ story titled Status of
Tech Legislation. The bill contains funding for the SEC, FTC,
FCC, DOJ, NTIA, and USPTO, among other agencies. It also contains
the Hart Scott Rodino reform bill, a low power FM bill, and a social
security number privacy bill. The House and Senate met on both
Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29, to pass continuing
resolutions (CRs) to fund the government while the Congress and
President negotiate over appropriations and tax bills. Clinton has
said he will veto any CR that extends funding for more than one day,
thus forcing Members of Congress to interrupt their re-election
campaigns every day to fly back to Washington DC to vote.
9/27. The FCC adopted and
released an Order
[MS Word] that modifies its April 7 Protective
Order [MS Word] in the AOL
Time Warner antitrust merger review proceeding regarding
the access of in house counsel to confidential documents. There have
been several leaks of confidential documents in this proceeding. AOL
and Time Warner filed their application
(part 1) [PDF] with the FCC on Feb. 11. See also, FCC
"transactions" AOL-TW web section.
9/27. The USPTO announced that
now all patent applications may be filed through its electronic
patent application filing system (EFS). It had previously been
operating a pilot electronic filing system. For more information,
see the USPTO's Patent
Electronic Business Center. See also, release.
9/27. The FCC released a Request
for Comments on SBC's
Section
271 application to provide long distance service in
Kansas and Oklahoma. See also, Protective
Order, which pertains to the leaks of confidential information
by the FCC. (CC DOCKET NO. 00-217) Deadlines: Public comments
are due by Nov. 15. Reply comments are due by Dec. 11.
9/27. The NTIA
announced that it will hold a public meeting on Nov. 2 on obtaining
more spectrum for use by 3G wireless communications. See, release.
Third Generation wireless technology currently being developed will
bring broadband Internet access to hand-held devices. The
reassignment of spectrum is likely to be a contentious topic.
9/27. The FTC completed a two day public
symposium to examine warranty protection for software and other
high-tech goods and services marketed to consumers. See, FTC
release.
10/25. Richard Walker, Director of the Division of
Enforcement at the SEC gave a speech in
New York City on Internet securities fraud enforcement proceedings.
Editor's Note: This column includes all News Briefs added to
Tech Law Journal since the last Daily E-Mail Alert. The dates
indicate when the event occurred, not the date of posting to Tech
Law Journal. |
|
|
| New TLJ Stories |
Status
of Tech Legislation. (10/30) The Congress remains in
session, with the outcome of many substantive, tax, and
appropriations bills affecting technology still uncertain. Clinton
is threatening to veto several key bills that include funding for
the FCC, SEC, FTC, NTIA, and USPTO, and which are also the vehicles
for passing many other tech related bills, including the FSC bill, a
low power FM bill, a social security number privacy bill, a Hart
Scott Rodino reform bill, and a porn filtering bill.
|
| New Documents |
CO:
DMCA rule
(PDF, TLJ).
FCC:
Request
for Comments in SBC petition to provide long distance
service in Kansas and Oklahoma, 10/27 (FCC, MS Word).
Walker:
speech
re Internet securities fraud, 10/25 (HTML, SEC).
|
| New and Updated Sections |
Calendar
(updated daily).
News
from Around the Web (updated daily).
|
| Quote of the Day |
"I was struck by how many different types of bonds there are
– literally thousands. They come in all different shapes and
sizes, including ... the 'Jonathan Lebed'
bond, otherwise known as the 'teenage stock manipulator' bond, which
has no maturity; and -- Yankees fans, hold your lunch rolls -- the
'Roger Clemens' bond which has no principle."
Richard Walker, Director of the SEC's Division of
Enforcement, NYC, 10/25 (source).
|
|