Canberra, Australia (TNR) - In a crushing defeat for the international copyright lobby, the Australian Federal Court ruled today that Internet service providers are not obligated to punish customers or turn over their identities because of allegations of copyright infringement.
In his 200 page decision, Justice Dennis Cowdroy, OAM, completely denied the plaintiffs' claim that simply providing Internet access to an alleged copyright infringer is the same as authorizing copyright infringement under Australian law, on the basis that it is the BitTorrent system, and not the ISP, that enables copyright infringement, the ISP does not control BitTorrent, and that torrents may be used for legitimate purposes, making a blanket block improper.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Judge recommends Jack Thompson be permanently disbarred
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tallahassee, FL (TNR) - Judge Dava Tunis, the appointed referee over Jack Thompson's ongoing bar trial, has recommended the permanent disbarment of the anti-video games attorney, The Nerd Report has learned.
The Florida Bar Association is seeking Thompson's disbarment for a period of ten years, but the Judge Tunis has declined to follow this recommendation, instead taking the precedent-setting step of permanent disbarment, noting that Thompson "does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose
him" when engaging in litigation, and that there is "no evidence whatsoever to indicate that [Thompson] is amenable to rehabilitation, or even remotely appreciates the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted."
Mr. Thompson has engaged in extensive litigation against the gaming industry for over a decade, claiming that violence in video games teaches children to engage in violence themselves. Throughout this time, he has treated those opposing him with disdain and even open mockery, at one point submitting a document to the court in picture form, claiming that the court couldn't understand him without the visual aids. The court in question was Judge Tunis' own, during the proceeding that has led to the recommendation for his disbarment.
The decision in the case is not yet final, but the appointed referee's recommendation makes it highly likely that Jack Thompson's days as a practicing attorney are numbered.
Tallahassee, FL (TNR) - Judge Dava Tunis, the appointed referee over Jack Thompson's ongoing bar trial, has recommended the permanent disbarment of the anti-video games attorney, The Nerd Report has learned.
The Florida Bar Association is seeking Thompson's disbarment for a period of ten years, but the Judge Tunis has declined to follow this recommendation, instead taking the precedent-setting step of permanent disbarment, noting that Thompson "does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose
him" when engaging in litigation, and that there is "no evidence whatsoever to indicate that [Thompson] is amenable to rehabilitation, or even remotely appreciates the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted."
Mr. Thompson has engaged in extensive litigation against the gaming industry for over a decade, claiming that violence in video games teaches children to engage in violence themselves. Throughout this time, he has treated those opposing him with disdain and even open mockery, at one point submitting a document to the court in picture form, claiming that the court couldn't understand him without the visual aids. The court in question was Judge Tunis' own, during the proceeding that has led to the recommendation for his disbarment.
The decision in the case is not yet final, but the appointed referee's recommendation makes it highly likely that Jack Thompson's days as a practicing attorney are numbered.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
College age gamer elected mayor of Muskogee, OK
May 29, 2008
The Internet (TNR) - Earlier this month, 19 year old video gamer John Tyler Hammons was elected mayor of the town of Muskogee, Oklahoma, a large town of approximately 38,000 residents.
The Nerd Report does not have a correspondent in the area, so it has been unable to secure interviews. The Associated Press reports that his first priorities as mayor are to establish tougher campaign finance reporting rules and an independent ethics commission.
A registered Republican, Hammons served as president of both the Young Republicans and Young Democrats while in high school. His position as mayor makes him the youngest at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oklahoma.
However, Hammons has pledged to leave politics at the door to City Hall, focusing on the needs of the city in his duties.
AP reports that Hammons has ambitions to run for governor of Oklahoma in the future, and if successful in that, to consider seeking the Presidency. There is no word on his position regarding the role of government in gaming, but TNR finds it safe to conclude that he would not be as restrictive as some current-day candidates for high office.
The Internet (TNR) - Earlier this month, 19 year old video gamer John Tyler Hammons was elected mayor of the town of Muskogee, Oklahoma, a large town of approximately 38,000 residents.
The Nerd Report does not have a correspondent in the area, so it has been unable to secure interviews. The Associated Press reports that his first priorities as mayor are to establish tougher campaign finance reporting rules and an independent ethics commission.
A registered Republican, Hammons served as president of both the Young Republicans and Young Democrats while in high school. His position as mayor makes him the youngest at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oklahoma.
However, Hammons has pledged to leave politics at the door to City Hall, focusing on the needs of the city in his duties.
AP reports that Hammons has ambitions to run for governor of Oklahoma in the future, and if successful in that, to consider seeking the Presidency. There is no word on his position regarding the role of government in gaming, but TNR finds it safe to conclude that he would not be as restrictive as some current-day candidates for high office.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)