The U.S. federal courts are being forced to apply 1976 law to modern digital innovations. With respect to two new digital services, judges took two different paths, ruling one was compliant with federal copyright law, while another was not.
The death of Aaron Swartz has added a new data point to the discussion of mental health services available in the United States. That’s certainly the case. But for some people, his death is also an issue in an ongoing battle over copyright law.
Way back in 1976, Congress changed the way copyright law works, but delayed the practical implementation until 2013. With 2013 just around the corner, artists are preparing to reclaim the rights to popular works that they created from 1978.
As American grapple with SOPA and PIPA, and Wikipedia and Reddit use a blackout to educate their users about their views on the legislation, Spain is also trying to get a handle on online piracy. The new conservative government has vowed to swiftly enact a bill artists say they need, but critics say is worthless — and dangerous.