Conferences
Google Book Settlement prezi
My presentation in Alicante on the Google Book Settlement Agreement. Google Book Settlement on Prezi
Feeling silly
Android v iPhone
(via Claudio Ruiz) Loved this geeky comic book picture which, as such funny images are wont to do, encompasses the current Flash interoperability support debate with no words. You have to pay close attention, I missed it at first. Found at NetoRatón.
Open source
Openness matters
As usual, Randall Munroe at xkcd gives us a terrific insight in the latest privacy developments: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. xkcd is a work of unadulterated genius.
Litigation
Microsoft sues cloud computing provider for patent infringement
This one is a bit puzzling. Microsoft holds several software patents, just like any other large tech company. However, they are not known to litigate, and mostly engage in cross-licensing agreements with their portfolio (remember Novell?). But now Microsoft has sued cloud computing and consumer relationship management provider Salesforce for Read more…
Copyright
Does Spain need to change its copyright law?
(via TechDirt) The New York Times has published an interesting article about how copyright owners are urging for a change in Spanish copyright law (as an aside, I should find another word to describe articles linked in this blog, “interesting” is seriously over-used). Allegedly, Spain is the pirate capital of Read more…
Facebook
Can you quit Facebook?
I have been feeling quite smug in the last few days. That is, more smug than usual, a certain kind of cultivated perennial smugness is required if you are an academic, but I digress. My disproportionate sense of self-satisfaction comes from the fact that I quit Facebook one year ago. Read more…
Cyber-liberties
Moglen on privacy and the cloud
This is a tour de force speech by Eben Moglen. He talks about privacy in the age of the cloud, and how we need to create new services and architectures that free data from the likes of Facebook and Google. The speech has perhaps the best assessment of Facebook I Read more…
Off-topic
Twitter, influence and politics
The British general election has finally produced a result after a relatively short period of negotiation and politicking. There is now a coalition in place between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats brought about by a hung parliament (note to non-British readers, yes, they call it that!). This general election was Read more…
Cyber-liberties
Cleanternet
This is a wonderful parody video about plans by European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström to introduce a website blocking system in Europe. I find it amusing that some people believe that widespread filtering is usually advocated as a solution to minority behaviour that, while abhorrent, does not justify putting in place Read more…
ACTA
Why ACTA? The shifting international IP political scene
There are various sources of information dealing with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) online, but there is one point that seems to be covered less. Why is the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) being negotiated at all as a multilateral trade agreement? In other words, why is this not being negotiated Read more…