CyberLaw Blog

Archive for May 18th, 2008

Brazil: Wordpress attorney blogs about the blocking:

Marcel Leonardi [pt], the Brazilian attorney who is representing Wordpress in the case of a possible ban on the platform in the country, blogs: ‘In the motion filled by the Automattic Inc. [on Monday], among other pieces of information, it has been highlighted the tremendous damage that the blanket ban would cause, and other possible ways of implementing the ban to the said blog in Brazil have been proposed.’ See the background info.

(Via Global Voices Advocacy.)

Bill takes aim at child porn holders, The Japan Times Online: “Saturday, May 17, 2008

Kyodo News, Bill takes aim at child porn holders

The ruling coalition has compiled a bill to stiffen the law against child prostitution and child pornography by criminalizing the possession of such pornographic material for personal use, sources said Friday.

While the current law does not cover individual possession of child pornography, the revised bill states, ‘Nobody should own or keep child pornography,’ and stipulates a prison term of up to one year or a fine of up to ¥1 million for violators, they said.”

The bill also requires Internet service providers to contribute to preventing the dissemination of child pornography, which occurs across national borders, and to cooperate with authorities in investigations, they said.

The bill does not cover pornographic animation or computer graphics, only focusing on photography.

The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition plans to submit the bill to the ongoing Diet session through June 15, but is not expected to be able to reach an agreement with the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party, over the legislation.

While the DPJ is now considering compiling its own revision bill, some of the party’s lawmakers have voiced concerns about punishing those who only own child pornography, with a senior member saying, “It may lead to unfair investigations.”

AVN Analysis: Karen Fletcher Pleads Guilty in ‘Red Rose’ Obscenity Case: “Analysis: Karen Fletcher Pleads Guilty in ‘Red Rose’ Obscenity Case
Government scores victory against woman who can’t leave her house

By: Mark Kernes, Posted: 05/17/2008

PITTSBURGH – Of all the people in the United States posting sexually explicit text to Internet sites, the government chose agoraphobic Karen Fletcher to indict for text-based obscenity – and now that she’s pleading guilty, it’s not unreasonable to ask, ‘Why Karen?’”

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