CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘Access’ Category

BBC iPlayer upgrade prompts new ISP complaints: “

High definition network freezes out the little guy

The BBC is facing more criticism that the way it delivers iPlayer traffic will make it harder for smaller ISPs to survive.…

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(Via The Register - Comms.)

CCC’s “Freedom Stick” circumvents China’s firewall, just in time for The Games

Rumor has it that a large quantity of genetically-superior human beings are amassing in Beijing at the moment and attempting to squeeze into spandex-like outfits for your entertainment. Those interested in watching such tight-outfitted goings on are going to find themselves faced with even tighter internet restrictions when they get back to their hotel room or local internet cafe, thanks to that handy dandy Great Firewall of China. Lucky for them, the Chaos Computer Club has prepped a solution called the ‘Freedom Stick’ which when plugged into a computer redirects its internet traffic over The Onion Router, a worldwide network of anonymous computers designed to hide your steps. Naturally, you can just download the software yourself, but the $30 USB dongle could come in handy if you’re not on your own PC, or just want to leave behind material evidence of your indiscretion. The Freedom Stick will only be available through the duration of the Olympics, so get one while you can.

[Via Wired]

(Via Engadget.)

BT slams bandwidth brakes on all subscribers:

You’re all hogs in their eyes

BT is throttling all of its broadband customers’ bandwidth at peak times, not just heavy users, according to independent monitoring data.…

(Via The Register - Comms.)

Users should check this in the UK too even though it is no secret that major ISPs throttle their network…..

New ‘Switzerland’ Software Exposes Bandwidth-Throttling ISPs: “Net neutrality advocate group Electronic Frontier Foundation releases a new open source application to detect any bandwidth-shaping practices your internet provider may be employing. Users can download the application, named Switzerland, and run it on their own computer to put their ISP to the test.

(Via Wired News.)

FCC formally rules Comcast’s throttling of BitTorrent was illegal: “

Federal regulators voted 3-2 on Friday to declare that Comcast’s throttling of BitTorrent traffic last year was unlawful, marking the first time that any U.S. broadband provider has ever been found to violate Net neutrality rules.

The Federal Communications Commission handed Comcast a cease-and-desist order and required the …

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(Via The Iconoclast.)

Here we go again…. I think the whole Government initiative, the newly launched Consultation Paper on legislative options to address illicit P2P file-sharing and the development of the proposed code of conduct needs to be carefully thought by taking into account fundamental human rights such as access to information as well as privacy of communications. If any Internet users commits a crime and share pirated content then the entertainment industry should pursue legal action on such users. That is the only solution. It does come at a cost but cutting access or termination of accounts is a rather dubious and not an acceptable solution. The ISPs should not act as self appointed prosecutors, and judges, and only courts of law can decide if a user has committed a crime.

Consultation on legislative options to address illicit P2P file-sharing
Starting Date: 24-07-08 Closing Date: 30-10-08
This consultation is intended to set out and gather views on a proposal for a co-regulatory approach that could be adopted in order to facilitate and ensure co-operation between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and rights holders to address the problem of illicit use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing technology to exchange unlawful copies of copyright material. This takes forward Recommendation 39 of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property which addressed the issue of illicit use of P2P. The consultation also identifies and seeks views on other potential options and calls for evidence on issues related to illicit use of P2P.

BERR Press release: New measures to address online file-sharing
Consultation Document: Consultation on legislative options to address illicit peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing

Leading ISPs agree to warn illegal file-sharers: “The UK’s six major internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed to write to 1,000 of their subscribers a week on behalf of the music and film industries warning them not to engage in copyright-infringing file-sharing.”

See also the BBC News coverage: Net firms in music pirates deal

The Times coverage: Music companies to police illegal downloads: No sooner had Britain’s six biggest internet service providers (ISPs) agreed to monitor illegal file sharing than the web was abuzz with suggestions to get around the scheme.

Wired News coverage: British ISP File Share Smackdown Targets Accounts, Not Users

Slyck.com coverage: BPI and ISPs Agree to challenge P2P Piracy in the UK

Gov responds on throttling petition: Choke on it: “

Red Arrows trump web users on nation’s worry list

The government has told an e-petitioners calling for an investigation into ISPs taking on too many subscribers and throttling bandwidth to get over it.…

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(Via The Register - Comms.)

FCC Chair Sides with BitTorrent, Comcast in Violation: “FCC Chairman Kevin Martin spoke to the Associated Press on Thursday about Comcast’s ‘delaying’ policy with words that may not bode well for the ISP. In a potentially significant victory for network neutrality principals and the file-sharing community, Kevin Martin said that Comcast violated net neutrality principals when they cut off BitTorrent uploaders.”

(Via Slyck.com File-Sharing News And Information.)

Bits: An Imminent Victory for ‘Net Neutrality’ Advocates: “If regulators penalize Comcast for blocking some Internet file downloads, it would be a victory for advocates of an open Internet. But it could end up accelerating the move by Internet providers to make heavy users charge more

(Via NYT > Technology.)

EU accidentally orders ISPs to become copyright police: “

Legislator: ‘No we never’

Part of the EU Telecommunications Package, agreed by MEPs on Monday, could be interpreted to endorse cutting off P2P users after a written warning or two, even though the author claims that was not the intention.…

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(Via The Register - Comms.)