Informationoverlord

Telecom regulator feeds

Posted by scott on August 29th, 2008

In a follow up to my post on uk government related feeds earlier this week, this is a list of Telecoms regulators that I know offer feeds - listed by country. As you’ll see, whilst many regulators do not yet see the need to feed, Portugal’s regulator has decided you can never have enough feeds.

Belgium

BIPT [Website]

Feeds
ALL BIPT
http://www.bipt.be//rss.aspx?levelid=2&lang=nl
Virussen
http://www.bipt.be//rss.aspx?levelid=3&lang=nl
Postsector
http://www.bipt.be//rss.aspx?levelid=4&lang=nl
Telecom
http://www.bipt.be//rss.aspx?levelid=5&lang=nl
Radiocommunicatie
http://www.bipt.be//rss.aspx?levelid=6&lang=nl

Czech Republic

CTU [Website]

Feeds
Nov? za?azeno http://www.ctu.eu/rss/rss_export_news_iso.php
Aktuální informace http://www.ctu.cz/cs/rss/actual-info
Telekomunika?ní v?stník http://www.ctu.cz/cs/rss/telecomunication
Poštovní v?stník http://www.ctu.cz/cs/rss/post

Denmark

National IT and Telecoms Agency [Website]

Feeds
Latest News (english) http://en.itst.dk/news/news/RSS

Finland

FICORA [Website]

Feeds
News http://www.ficora.fi/index/viestintavirasto/rss/uutiset.xml
Press Releases http://www.ficora.fi/index/viestintavirasto/rss/lehdistotiedotteet.xml

(english feeds currently not working http://www.ficora.fi/en/index.html )

Germany

BnetZa [Website]

Feeds
Pressemitteilungen http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/pressemitteilungen.rss
Aktuelle Anhörungen http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/ausschreibungen.rss
Ausschreibungen http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/ausschreibungen.rss
Aktuelles aus dem Bereich Eisenbahnregulierung http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/aktuelles_eisenbahnen.rss
Aktuelles aus dem Energiebereich http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/aktuelles_energie.rss
Aktuelles aus dem Postbereich http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/aktuelles_post.rss
Aktuelles aus dem Bereich Telekommunikation http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/Aktuelles_Telekommunikation.rss

Press releases http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/press.rss
Public consultations http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/public_consultations.rss
Telecommunications - Current News http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/telecoms_news.rss
Railway Regulation - Current News http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/railway_regulation_news.rss
Electricity/Gas - Current News http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/enid/rss/aktuelles_energie_englisch.rss

Hong Kong

OFTA [Website]

Feeds
Latest News http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/rss/index.xml
Latest News (simplified chinese charcaters) http://gbcode.ofta.gov.hk/TuniS/www.ofta.gov.hk/zh/rss/index.xml

Hungary

NHH [Website]

Feeds
Minden új tartalom http://www.nhh.org.hu/rss.php?channel=1
A www.nhh.hu portálon frissen publikált valamennyi szöveges tartalom és új dokumentum.
Határozatok, közlemények http://www.nhh.org.hu/rss.php?channel=2
A Tanács és a Hivatal új határozatait, közleményeit ismerheti meg.
Sajtóközlemények http://www.nhh.org.hu/rss.php?channel=5
All New Content (English) http://www.nhh.org.hu/rss.php?channel=4

Ireland

ComReg [Website]

Feeds
What’s New http://www.comreg.ie/about_us/rss.43.html

Israel

Minstry of Communications [Website]

Feeds
?????? ???????
http://www.moc.gov.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=51&lang=he&dvd=1&c=4
?? ???
http://qa-moc.gsites.co.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=31&lang=he&dvd=1&c=3
???????
http://www.moc.gov.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=44&lang=he&dvd=1&c=2
????? ???????
http://www.moc.gov.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=49&lang=he
?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????
http://www.moc.gov.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=298&lang=he&dvd=1&c=5

Press Releases (eng) http://www.moc.gov.il/templates/rss/rssbuilder.aspx?folderid=155&lang=en

Norway

Post- og Teletilsynet [Website]

Feeds
Latest News
http://www.npt.no/portal/pls/portal/ikb.rss_feed.rss?p_feed_id=60377&p_antall=10

Portugal

ANACOM [Website]

Spain

CMT [Website]

Press Releases http://www.cmt.es/en/comunicados_de_prensa_en.rss
Public Employment Offers http://www.cmt.es/en/ofertas_de_empleo_publico_en.rss
Contractor Profile http://www.cmt.es/en/concursos_y_contrataciones_en.rss
Publications http://www.cmt.es/en/publicaciones_en.rss
Decisions http://www.cmt.es/en/resoluciones_en.rss

Ofcom [Website]

RSS, Regulation, Telecoms 1 Comment »

Babes and Apples

Posted by scott on August 28th, 2008

Ofcom has been getting down with babe TV once again. It fined Satellite Entertainment Ltd £20,000 for breaches of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code in respect of its service SportsxxxBabes. Ofcom found that the channel had transmitted free-to-air ‘adult-sex’ material that was of an explicit nature including “sequences apparently showing intercourse, oral-genital contact, masturbation, the use of dildos, a woman gagged with her knickers, and full nudity.” - In each case the most intimate detail was pixellated.

Meanwhile, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints against Apple for a TV ad for the iPhone. The ASA found that the ad which included the statement “all parts of the internet are on the iPhone” gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone, as many sites would not be viewable on the iPhone due to the fact that Java and Flash proprietary software, on which many sites are built, were not enabled on the iPhone.

This is all well and good, but the thing that pisses me off about the ad is just how fast everything loads on this obviously fantasy version of the iPhone - if that isn’t misleading, I don’t know what is.

Advertising No Comments »

Infolaw Legal Web ebooks for 2008/2009.

Posted by scott on August 28th, 2008

Infolaw have now issued their New Legal Web ebooks for 2008/2009.

Book one is Topics of Modern Legal Practice

Software as a Service for legal applications

New and developing legal resources on the web

Alternative legal services - how will legal services be delivered in future?

Domain names in a legal context

Two further topics: electronic presentation of evidence and digital media law

Book Two is Law 2.0 in Progress

Blogging answers and insights

Social networking

Syndication (RSS)

Publishing with Web 2.0

Managing Web 2.0

Not only are the books full of interesting articles by Nick Holmes and Delia Venables “and many other leading experts in their fields” (including myself) but if you’re a lawyer type you can bag some CPD points just by reading them and answering a few questions (5 hours CPD for either the Bar Standards Board or the Solicitors Regulation Authority, for each book).

Prices and further details are here

Law, Legal Publishing No Comments »

UK Central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies with rss feeds

Posted by scott on August 26th, 2008

If that title hasn’t already got you excited, I don’t know what will. I have done some lists like these before but felt it was time to do a bigger one, based on all the bodies listed as “Central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies” on DirectGov

There are a LOT of these bodies. Did you know there was an Office of the Public Guardian ? Nope, me neither. Interestingly, whilst Ofccom has feeds, fellow industry regulators, such as the FSA, Ofgem, and Ofwat do not.

Here is the current list.

Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales [Website]

Feeds
Latest reports: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/rss/rss.xml
Press releases: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/rss/rss-pr.xml

Audit Scotland [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/rss/rss.xml

The UK Border Agency (Home Office) [Website]

Feeds
Latest News - http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/static/biaAssets/rss/allNewsRss.xml

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={911D18D8-E104-4C79-9C10-BF0073921375}

Cabinet Office [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://news.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/rss.aspx
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={99C8EFEB-3A90-4795-AAEA-E186F217E17A}

Child Support Agency [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/RSS/stories.xml

Department for Children, Schools and Families [Website]

Feeds
Latest press notices on all subjects: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/feeds/latest.xml
Latest speeches: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/speeches/latest.xml
Speeches podcast: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/speeches/podcast.xml

UK Resilience (Cabinet Office) [Website]

Feeds
UK Resilience Feed: http://interactive.ukresilience.gov.uk/rss/rss.ashx
Latest News Feed: http://interactive.ukresilience.gov.uk/rss/rss.ashx?category=Latest%20News
Local Response Gateway Bulletins Feed: http://interactive.ukresilience.gov.uk/rss/rss.ashx?category=Local%20Response%20Gateway
UK Threat Level Feed: http://interactive.ukresilience.gov.uk/rss/rss.ashx?category=UK%20Threat%20Level

Communities and Local Government [Website]

Department of Culture Media & Sport [Website]

Feeds
Press Releases: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/rss/dcmsnews.xml
FOI Requests: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/rss/dcmsfoicases.xml

Ministry of Defence (MOD) [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={78B41929-F3CD-486C-8A78-9D2F8DEA76E5}
Latest News: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/rss.aspx?feed=recentdefencenews
Top 5 News Stories: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/rss.aspx?feed=top5defencenews
Recent Defence News: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/rss.aspx?feed=recentdefencenews
Last 7 days Defence News: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/rss.aspx?feed=last7daysnews

Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={D34FFA95-7076-4846-AC34-D9D596B52A29}

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={5B045144-4AAA-4724-80A0-EEBAEF11D42F}
Speeches: http://www.dius.gov.uk/rss/speeches.xml
Consultations: http://www.dius.gov.uk/rss/consultations.xml

Department for International Development [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/rss/newsrss.asp
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={E58AE587-ACA7-47CD-B0B7-7698C43D5F1E}

Department of Heath [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={99EE8490-44D9-46C9-B278-8E660CF8E467}
CMO features: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_076660
Live consultations: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_076652
Responses to consultations: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_076653
FOI releases: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_083412
New publications: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_076655
Recent stories: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_082342
Tenders: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Rss/Rss?Feed=DH_085170

Electoral Commission [Website]

Feeds
News Releases: http://feeds.feedburner.com/electoral-commission-news-releases
Consultations: http://feeds.feedburner.com/electoral-commission-consultations

Food Standards Agency [Website]

Feeds
All news items: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/?view=rss
UK Press Releases: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/?view=rss
Food alerts: http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/?view=rss
Allergy alerts: http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/allergyintol/alerts/?view=rss
Scotland press releases: http://www.food.gov.uk/scotland/aboutus_scotland/pressreleases/?view=rss
Wales press releases: http://www.food.gov.uk/wales/aboutus_wales/pressreleases/?view=rss
Northern Ireland press releases: http://www.food.gov.uk/northernireland/aboutfsani/pressreleases/?view=rss

Foreign Office [Website]

Feeds
Latest news http://feeds.feedburner.com/FcoLatestNewsRssFeed

Healthcare Commission [Website]

Latest News: http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/homepage.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.news_show_feed&cta_tax_id=26#

Health and Safety Executive [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={9E29E41F-D5EB-4CAD-BEE6-A6DE05E8C818}

HM Revenue & Customs [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={60C241A1-7699-4AD6-BF9D-E2C57A036F52}

HM Treasury [Website]

Latest News: http://rss.hm-treasury.gov.uk/
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={D59F30CB-0519-4121-B193-D8C4B6AC31EB}

Home Office [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={83B28694-EFEE-4B3D-9B92-FECF434DB578}

House of Commons

Feeds
Debates: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/debates.rss (unofficial)

House of Lords

Feeds
Debates: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/lords.rss (unofficial)

Information Commissioners Office [Website]

Feeds
Decision Notices: http://www.ico.gov.uk/rssfeeds/decisionnotices.aspx
Press Releases: http://www.ico.gov.uk/rssfeeds/pressreleases.aspx

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.dius.gov.uk/rss/press.xml

Ministry of Justice [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={DEA803DB-3FD0-4ABD-A23D-9914BBF9CABA}

The Learning and Skills Council [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/news/rss/

Legal Services Commission [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/xml/rss/whatsnew/rss.xml

Martime and Coastgauard Agency [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/mcga-pr-rss-feed.xml

Met Office [Website]

Feeds
News Releases: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/xml/news_rss.xml

The National Archive [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/news.xml
New document releases: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/foireleasesnews.xml
Podcasts: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/podcasts.xml

National Assembly for Wales [Website]

National savings and investment [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://www.nsandi.com/mediacentre.xml

National statistics online [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/includes/nsheadlines.xml

Natural England [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/feed/rss.xml

Northern Ireland Assembly [Website]

Feeds
Today’s Business: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/rss/todays_business.xml
Press Releases: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/rss/prrss.xml
Questions: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/rss/questions.xml
Legislation: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/rss/bills_rss.xml

Northern Ireland Office [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/news.xml

10 Downing Street [Website]

Latest news: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/latest-news/wp-rss2.php
Speeches and Transcripts: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/speeches-and-transcripts/wp-rss2.php
Statements and Articles: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/statements-and-articles/wp-rss2.php
Prime Minister’s Questions: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/prime-ministers-questions/wp-rss2.php
Press Briefings: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/press-briefings/wp-rss2.php
Press Notices: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/news/press-notices/wp-rss2.php
Petition Responses: http://www.number10.gov.uk/topics/communicate/petition-responses/wp-rss2.php
Flickr Feed http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=25062009@N05&lang=en-us&format=rss_200
Youtube Feed
Twitter Feed

Office of Communications (Ofcom) [Website]

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) [Website]

Feeds
Merger Decisions: http://www.oft.gov.uk/rss/merger-rss
Press Releases: http://www.oft.gov.uk/rss/pr-rss

Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) [Website]

Feeds
UK Acts: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/feeds/PGAfeed.xml
UK Statutory Instruments: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/feeds/SIfeed.xml

Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://online.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk/news/index-rss.xml

Scottish Government [Website]

Scottish Parliament [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmcentre/rss/rss.xml

Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) [Website]

Feeds
Latest News: http://feeds.feedburner.com/sdc

Department for Transport [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={5577C871-E9CA-407A-87D7-1719CEA8F58F}

Wales Office [Website]

Feeds
Latest news: http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/feed/
FOI Disclosures: http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/category/foi-disclosures/feed/
News releases: http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/category/news-releases/feed/ Publications: http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/category/publications/feed/
Speeches: http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/category/speeches/feed/

Department for Work And Pensions [Website]

Feeds
Press releases: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/rss/default.aspx?feedid={9CDC1E48-C9FD-4AD6-A07E-C6AE55DE6310}

Youth Justice Board [Website]

Feeds
News: http://www.yjb.gov.uk/internet.cms/rss/news.aspx
What’s New: http://www.yjb.gov.uk/internet.cms/rss/whatsnew.aspx

Government, RSS, Regulation, Uncategorized 32 Comments »

An apple a day …

Posted by scott on August 21st, 2008

… makes you sick of them by the end of the week.

Ars technica is reporting that someone has decide to filer a lawsuit against apple over the 3G iPhone. According to the site, Jessica Alena Smith (who hopes to be joined by others to make it a class action suit) filed the suit over the “Defective iPhone 3G,” alleging that the new iPhone’s 3G performance and reliability has been subpar, despite the claims made by Apple’s aggressive marketing campaign.

Now Apple released a ‘bug fix’ the other day - without specifying just WHAT bugs it was meant to fix - but was widely reported to by one that dealt with the issue of 3G dropping etc. I can say from a UK perspective - it didn’t do the trick. My phone still plays the ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ reception trick with 3G activated - and this is with me sat still in one place not roaming around so that it has to find the next base station to pick up a signal. Just yesterday I managed to go from almost a full 3G signal to No Service, by just moving the phone from one hand to the other, whilst sat down.

What with the joke that has been the roll out of mobile me, Apple is doing a very good job of being Microsoft.

Mobile Services, Telecoms, Web Tools 1 Comment »

Creating a Free legal web

Posted by scott on August 19th, 2008

Nick Holmes over at Binary Law must be getting the summer blues. With nothing to do with his spare time, he has decided that it’s time to create the Free Legal Web, and pull together - cross referencing, connecting, mashing - all the good free legal information currently available: statutes, law firm commentary, blog commentary etc. It is a great idea. It is also mad, which is why he needs your help!

A free barcamp: 18 October (Adelphi Room, Royal Society of Arts) is the planned first stage to address core issues such as:

Who’s who and what can they contribute?
Data access issues — What resources are available and what are the barriers to their re-use?
Publishing/tech issues — How can we best leverage those resources and add value?
Editorial/UGC issues — For whom/by whom? Accuracy and authenticity? An “acceptable bargain”?
Organisational issues — Infrastructure, funding

This will be a huge undertaking, and as such is something that could fall flat on its face before it even gets off the ground. BUT: this is a great opportunity to truly provide a viable free alternative to the likes of Lexis and Westlaw. If you are not busy on the 18th October, I urge you to come along and see if there is anyway you could contribute your expertise/time to help build the project.

Law, Legal Publishing 2 Comments »

Govt consult on draft regs for data retention - but communications data bill still looms

Posted by scott on August 15th, 2008

It may be only three months since the government announced in their Draft Legislation Programme plans to introduce a Communications Data bill, but you could be forgiven for thinking that common sense has raised its head, and the plans for primary legislation have been dropped. Why?, well, the Home Office is now consulting on draft regulations that will replace the Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2007. The new regulations will cover the retention of specific internet data that were not covered in the original regs which only regulate the retention of data relating to fixed and mobile telephony.

The regs, once implemented, will complete the UK’s transposition of the EC Data Retention Directive into national law.

However, if you think this means that the government have abandoned plans for an all encompassing Communications Data Bill, you’d be wrong. According to the Home Office this is still very much in the works and is being finalised as we speak. In case you have forgotten the purpose of that bill:

The purpose of the Bill is to: allow communications data capabilities for the prevention and detection of crime and protection of national security to keep up with changing technology through providing for the collection and retention of such data, including data not required for the business purposes of communications service providers; and to ensure strict safeguards continue to strike the proper balance between privacy and protecting the public.

The main elements of the Bill are:

(1)Modify the procedures for acquiring communications data and allow this data to be retained;

(2)Transpose EU Directive 2006/24/EC on the retention of communications data into UK law.

The fact that the Draft Regulations achieve point 2 should cause the alarm bells to start ringing. According to the Home Office, bringing forward the reg ahead of the proposed bill is merely to allow the government to complete the transposition of the Directive by the data specified in the Directive - 15 March 2009, something that they might not have been able to do if they waiting for the draft bill to be finalised and pushed through parliament.

This is obviously a new approach from the government who previously have been quite happy to ignore implementation dates on a variety of Directives. Also, logically it also means that the government is likely to revoke these new regulations almost as soon as they hit the statute book, so as to incorporate them into the CD bill. It will be interesting to see if the CD bill will also act as a consolidating piece of legislation, pulling into one act those aspect of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act that also cover aspects of CD law.

The text of the new regulations do little more than add in the requirement for retaining internet data, which will now join fixed and mobile call data at having to be retained by 12 months (The government can request that data be retained for up to 24 months for specific cases). As before the regs will allow the Home Secretary to reimburse any additional expenses incurred by providers in complying with the regs, as long as such expenses have been notified to, and agreed with the Home Secretary in advance.

The government are also keen to avoid needlessly duplication of data. Whilst the regs apply to all communications service providers, the government agrees that the regs and the directive should be interpreted in such as way that if more than one communications service provider holds particular communications data, then only one need retain the data for the purposes of the Directive. The government gives the example where a mobile network provider’s services are sold by another provider, that provider will not be required to retain copies of itemised bills as that same detail will be retained within the scope of the Regulations by the mobile network provider.

Just who can have access to this data remains a key concern to many. The draft regs say:

Access to retained data

10. Access to data retained in accordance with these Regulations may be obtained only—
(a) in specific cases, and

(b) in circumstances in which disclosure of the data is permitted or required by law.

How Vague is this???? One presumes that the final text will make specific reference to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and in particular the The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order (as amended), which allows access for the Police, but also local councils, the post office and others.

Responses the consultation are requested by 31 October 2008.

Data Protection, Regulation No Comments »

I got you Babe

Posted by scott on August 14th, 2008

I’m starting to get fascinated with all these ‘babe’ decisions by Ofcom. The latest broadcast bulletin includes its ruling against the Channels House of Fun and Lucky Star.

Ofcom found material broadcast in Sex Station (a free-to-air unencryped programme on Lucky Star), that “included some explicit images featuring, in particular, apparent female masturbation.”

How exactly is ‘apparent’ female masturbation explicit? Surely there either is masturbation and you can see it clearly - i.e. explicit, or it is implied, whereby it isn’t explicit?? Then again, according to Ofcom “We want a paddling pool filled with your hot, horny man-muck” is explicit sexual language. As I commented in a previous post, this is bad carry-on film dialogue, not sexually explicit language.

House of Fun meanwhile was also found guilty of sexually explicit non-masturbation by one of their ‘babes’ who had her hand inside her underwear. (image pixalated)

Ofcom hasn’t asked either channel to reach into their pockets (or their panties) to pay any fines on this occasion, although both Channels were warned that any future code breaches of this nature would likely lead to them.

I must confess that I don’t think I have ever watched one of these channels (not because I’m good and pure, just never seen the point) but I suddenly have an urge to watch so as not to miss out on all this ‘explicit’ action. Maybe I need a babe channel watch blog?

Broadcasting, Regulation, Television No Comments »

US Court makes important ruling on open source software

Posted by scott on August 14th, 2008

I was pleased to read this morning that the US Court of Appeals has overturned a District Court ruling that that redistributing software in violation of the terms of a free software license could constitute a breach of contract, but could not be considered copyright infringement. The District court had ruled that version 1.0 of the Artistic License was ‘ intentionally broad’ , and unlimited in scope, and therefore did not create liability for copyright infringement. The Court of Appeals disagreed.

The Court found that the district court had dismissed the terms of the licence too lightly.The Artistic License grants users the right to copy, modify, and distribute the software:

provided that [the user] insert a prominent notice in each changed file stating how and when [the user] changed that file, and provided that [the user] do at least ONE of the following:

a) place [the user=s] modifications in the Public Domain or otherwise make them Freely Available, such as by posting said modifications to Usenet or an equivalent medium, or placing the modifications on a major archive site such as ftp.uu.net, or by allowing the Copyright Holder to include [the user=s] modifications in the Standard Version of the Package.

b) use the modified Package only within [the user=s] corporation or organization.

c) rename any non-standard executables so the names do not conflict with the standard executables, which must also be provided, and provide a separate manual page for each nonstandard executable that clearly documents how it differs from the Standard Version, or

d) make other distribution arrangements with the Copyright Holder.

According to the court the term ‘provided that’ makes it clear that there are conditions to making use of the ‘free’ code, and that ignore those conditions is an infringing act. So the case goes back to the district court to determine whether the copyright owner in the case has demonstrated (1) a likelihood of success on the merits and either a presumption of irreparable harm or a demonstration of irreparable harm; or (2) a fair chance of success on the merits and a clear disparity in the relative hardships and tipping in his favour ( at oral argument, the parties admitted that there might be no way to calculate any monetary damages under a contract theory).

The case involves Robert Jacobsen, who manages an open source software group called the Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI), which created a software package the allow model railroad enthusiasts to control model trains by programming the decoder chips. A company called Kamind Associates subsequently downloaded parts of Jacobsen’s project, and copied, modified and distributed parts of that code in its own commercial software, removing any reference to where the files originally came from and not documenting any changes made to the files.

Larry Lessig, explained the decision in non-technical terms.”The Court has essentially held that free licenses such as the CC licenses set conditions (rather than covenants) on the use of copyrighted work. When you violate the condition, the license disappears, meaning you’re simply a copyright infringer. This is the theory of the GPL and all CC licenses. Put precisely, whether or not they are also contracts, they are copyright licenses which expire if you fail to abide by the terms of the license.“

Case Law, copyright No Comments »

Where’s my signal?

Posted by scott on August 14th, 2008

I was pleased to see that my problems with the iPhone and its flakey connectivity is not just me.

As my girlfriend is also on 02, but with a Sony Eriksson phone it can be interesting being sat next to one another when she has almost a perfect signal, whereas I’ll have maybe half a bar. Is the aerial in the iPhone really that shite or is the problem related to the chipset? It is another thing that makes turning off 3G on the iPhone almost a must, as the juice it takes to try and find the 3G signal, before invariably dropping it almost as fast, sucks the battery dry.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love the phone overall, but things like this do annoy me.

On another note, I added two new apps this week. AlcoholAware - which lets you keep a drink diary to monitor just how close you don’t get to the recommended units of consumption per week. Menu of drinks and alcohol units to choose from and add to, plus a ‘history’ and a last 24 hrs, week, month tally. My four drinks last nigh apparently have me at 9.7 units already. I’ve also added to AIM instant messaging app, which works pretty well - even though I am not a big IM-er.

Telecoms, Web Tools No Comments »

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