Tag Archives: govt

These 1923 Copyrighted Works Enter the Public Domain in 2019

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[On] January 1, 2019. Under the terms of the Sonny Bono Copyright Act, works first published in 1923 will enter the public domain, meaning anyone can re-publish them, or chop them up and use them in other projects, without asking permission or paying the old rights holders. You can record new versions of the musical compositions; you can show the movies for a profit; you can even remake them. Amazon can sell you the ebook and keep all the money, and Project Gutenberg can give you the ebook for free. – Nick Douglas, Lifehacker http://bit.ly/2EGB25v

Huawei and ZTE may face new US ban via White House executive order

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Specifically, the executive order would allegedly order the U.S. Commerce Department to bar U.S. companies from using parts and equipment from companies that the government believes could pose a national security risk. The order, which reportedly has not been finalized, would use the government’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act as its foundation, which allows the White House to regulate and control commerce in the event of a national emergency. – John Callaham, Android Authority http://bit.ly/2RfEE4x

FTC Warns Consumers About Netflix Email Scam

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In a blog post Wednesday (Dec. 26), the FTC shared a screenshot captured by police in Ohio of a phishing email designed to steal personal information. The email claims the recipient’s Netflix account is “on hold” because the company is “having some trouble with your current billing information” and urges the user to click on a link to update their payment details. The phishing scam also listed an international phone number. – Todd Spangler, Variety http://bit.ly/2EPtVaq

European Content Quota for Streaming Services to Be Finalized by End of 2019

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European rules give member nations 21 months to incorporate an E.U.-wide directive into their national law. In this case, that means they have until Sept. 19, 2020, which will give the streamers less than a year to meet the quota once the details of it are laid out at the end of 2019. Furthermore, the 2020 date is the outside limit: E.U. countries are free to enforce the directive and its 30% provision before that. – Stewart Clarke, Variety http://bit.ly/2EFPytD

Canada strengthens net neutrality with zero-rating crackdown

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Canada’s telecom regulator [CRTC – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission] has ruled against a carrier offering ‘free’ music streaming as part of a zero-rating scheme. Quebecor’s ‘Unlimited Music’ allows premium Vidéotron subscribers to use select streaming apps, such as Spotify, Apple Music and TIDAL, without the data counting towards their monthly allowance. Many believe this type of scheme violates the principles of net neutrality, which argue all data should be treated equally. – Nick Summers, Engadget http://engt.co/2pL1bp9

China Moves to Regulate Live Streaming

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The Cyberspace Administration of China said on Friday that live streaming hosts will have to censor content before it is broadcast on the Internet. It will also require hosts to register business and personnel details and those carrying news or entertainment will have to apply for licenses. Platforms carrying on-screen text or other feedback must employ censors to ensure that users’ comments confirm with the law. – Patrick Frater, Variety http://ift.tt/2fn7MkH

House Speaker livestreams snowstorm with world’s worst soundtrack

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House Speaker Paul Ryan decided instead of trying to politicize the snowstorm hitting the nation’s capital, he would just point a camera out the window of his office at the Capitol building towards the National Mall. […] The livestream actually quite soothing once you mute the horrible music that accompanies it. No really, the music is horrendous. But the snow is nice. – Roberto Baldwin, Engadget

More than 9,000 UK households say they still watch black-and-white TV

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photo: Ars Technica

The latest TV Licensing survey concluded that as of September there were 9,356 households across the country that say they watch TV in the old-fashioned way. London is the leader with 2,222 black-and-white TV licences issued in 2015, followed by Birmingham and Manchester with 429 and 313 licences respectively. In the whole of Scotland, only 550 households claim to be watching a monochrome TV set. – Andrii Degeler, Ars Technica

FCC: yes, you’re allowed to hack your WiFi router

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photo: Engadget

[T]he Federal Communications Commission has modified its proposal to allow open source firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato. The agency will only forbid tweaks that take a router “out of compliance,” such as an overly strong signal. In short, you can flash your WiFi hotspot in the future without worrying that the feds will come knocking. – Jon Fingas, Engadget
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