It’s a safe bet that the controversy over the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (HR-4777) hasn’t ended with the House Judiciary Committee’s 25-11 approval of the measure by Reps. Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Boucher (D-Va.) Thurs. In a markup session full of gambling puns and raised voices, the committee approved DoJ-requested changes to the bill and shot down a slew of Democratic amendments to remove horse racing- specific provisions and punish individual gamblers. Goodlatte invoked states’ rights in opposing Democratic amendments. Rep. Leach’s (R-Ia.) Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (HR-4411), targeted toward civil regulatory restrictions and criminal enforcement, also passed with an amendment clarifying that all wagers now illegal under any law would remain so.
The FCC must rely on documentation -- not rhetoric -- in considering telco arguments to remove municipalities from video franchise oversight, Comr. Copps said. He told a news briefing he'll rely on “the record” in the review and wants a further study of media ownership, which he linked to network neutrality. The FCC should provide Congress “options papers,” Copps said: “I want this Commission to be as active as it can be… teeing up options, especially for our friends in Congress.”
Net neutrality proponents are starting their battle in the Senate with a bill (S-2917) endorsed by Senate Commerce Committee Co-Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii). The bill, introduced by Sens. Snowe (R-Me.) and Dorgan (D-N.D.), would bar broadband providers from blocking or degrading Internet content. The bill goes further than a provision in Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) bill calling for an FCC study on net neutrality.
Net neutrality proponents are starting their battle in the Senate with a bill (S-2917) endorsed by Senate Commerce Committee Co-Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii). The bill, introduced by Sens. Snowe (R-Me.) and Dorgan (D-N.D.), would bar broadband providers from blocking or degrading Internet content. The bill goes further than a provision in Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) bill calling for an FCC study on net neutrality.
The Supreme Court’s slap at the U.S. Appeals Court, Federal Circuit, in eBay v. MercExchange (WID May 16 p1) should be welcomed as tough love toward the court that handles patent appeals, veteran judges and lawyers said Fri. The decision answered what is now a “stupid question” -- does the high court even care about patents? -- said John Whelan, Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) gen. counsel-intellectual property, to laughter at the Federal Circuit’s annual judicial conference. But some speakers cautioned the Federal Circuit that the Supreme Court’s newfound interest in patent cases -- and the appeals court’s idiosyncratic legal traditions -- shouldn’t affect how judges handle cases. Also Fri., Cal. congressmen introduced legislation to educate district courts on patent law.
GameZnFlix is on track to achieve various goals this year, including opening several new distribution centers by the holiday season, executives of the online game and DVD rental service told investors in a Web conference. They said the company, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Blu-ray movies, and PS3 and Wii videogames as it eyes possible expansions into additional platforms and markets as well.
GameZnFlix is on track to achieve various goals this year, including opening several new distribution centers by the holiday season, executives of the online game and DVD rental service told investors in a Web conference. They said the company, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Blu-ray movies, and PS3 and Wii videogames as it eyes possible expansions into additional platforms and markets as well.
The U.S. govt. helped kill a proposal for an Internet red-light district, ICM Registry will say today (Fri.) in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal being filed in U.S. Dist. Court, D.C. The suit alleges the Commerce (DoC) and State Depts. wrongfully withheld information on their roles in ICANN’s consideration -- and recent rejection of -- ICM’s application for a new .xxx sponsored top-level domain (sTLD). The FOIA appeal seeks more evidence that NTIA, at first seen as favoring .xxx, bowed to pressure from right-wing religious groups and international opposition to the domain.
BALTIMORE -- Small ISPs should fight to keep telecom bills off the House and Senate floors, David Isenberg, founder of Isen.com, said Wed. at ISPCON here. Should the bills reach reconciliation, the closed-door sessions likely would see even a weak net neutrality provision under consideration be yanked, especially in “lame duck” session, with politicians eyeing the door. The net neutrality debate has been skewed by the “lies” of cable carriers and telcos, Isenberg said. ISPs should get into the fight and set the record straight, he said.
BALTIMORE -- Small ISPs should fight to keep telecom bills off the House and Senate floors, David Isenberg, founder of Isen.com, said Wed. at ISPCON here. Should the bills reach reconciliation, the closed-door sessions likely would see even a weak net neutrality provision under consideration be yanked, especially in “lame duck” session, with politicians eyeing the door. The net neutrality debate has been skewed by the “lies” of cable carriers and telcos, Isenberg said. ISPs should get into the fight and set the record straight, he said.