Wetmachine – Page 171 – A group blog on telecom policy, software, science, technology, and writing

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Round One to AT&T in Indiana

Harold January 12, 2006 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

So far, the latest Bell startegy is working. According to Esme Vos’ Muniwireless.com, the Indiana Senate Subcommittee voted out SB 245 8-2. SB 245 will now move to the full Senate. If approved, there are apparently sponsors prepared to introduce a similar bill in the Indiana House of Reps.

Stay tuned . . . .

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Of Intellectual Property and Neo-Imperialism

Harold January 11, 2006 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

As a U.S. Citizen, I would like my country to enjoy respect abroad and to inspire others with the ideals that I beleive make this country great. Sadly, this is often compromised in our diplomatic dealings with other countries.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Jews for Jesus Rises Again

Harold January 9, 2006 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

According to this blog entry, Jews for Jesus has sued Google over use of a third level domain name: jewsforjesus.blogspot.com You can read the complaint here.

As Ron Coleman’s Likelihood of Confusion blog observes, Jews for Jesus achieved one of the early awful victories for trademark holders in 1998 over this very same issue. In Jews for Jesus v. Brodsky, 993 F.Supp 282 (D.NJ 1998), Jews for Jesus won a trademark infringement claim against the user of the name “jewsforjesus.org” and “jews-for-jesus.com.” (Coleman was Brodsky’s attorney and provides a good summary and links.) This case is actually used to be pretty famous (or infamous) in domain name/TM circles. As use and sophistication about the Internet has grown, however, courts have backed away from it and the pendulum has begun to swing the other way (as I noted last year in my entry on the jerryfalwell.com case).

Comparing the 1998 case and the 2006 case provides some interesting lessons in how much the world has changed in 8 years. My thoughts below, but some disclosure first- I helped draft an amicus brief in support of Brodsky in 1998 in my roll as assistant general counsel to the now defunct Domain Name Rights Coalition.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Here They Come Again! Anti-Muni Bill in Indiana.

Harold January 4, 2006 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

Nothing like a fresh new year! State legislators return to their respective capitals to once again do the work of the people. Or, in the case of Indiana State Senator Brandt Hershman, the work of AT&T (formerly SBC). The eager Mr. Hershman has already introduced a bill, SB 245, that deregulates the phone industry, eliminates local franchising, etc., etc.

And tucked away on page 97 of this 107 page bill is an anti-muni broadband provision remarkably similar to one that went down in flames last year.

Inventing the Future:
Sony Capitulates on One DRM Case

Stearns December 31, 2005 February 24, 2013General, Inventing the Future, Tales of the Sausage Factory

Good news. I’d be happier if there were a legal decision that established a precedent. But the settlement sounds good just the same.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Of Folk Tales and Intellectual Property

Harold December 29, 2005 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

As the year winds down, I’ve been thinking how a traditional folk tale illuminates the folly of expanding copyright, trademark and patent rights. In particular, I find this explains why I find the lawsuits against Google Library so annoying and wrong-headed.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
Senate Confirms Tate and Copps

Harold December 22, 2005 May 4, 2016General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

Late last night the Senate confirmed Deborah Tate and Michael Copps for the FCC Commissioner slots. I’d like to think it was my eloquence shaming them into sanity, but I doubt it anyone on the Hill reads this blog (Wonkette this ain’t).

My congratulations to new Commissioner Deborah Tate and reconfirmed Commissioner Michael Copps. Sad for me, I will have to work for a living in January after all.

Stay tuned . . . .

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
What we can Learn from the “War on Christmas”

Harold December 21, 2005 February 24, 2013"A Republic, if you can keep it", Tales of the Sausage Factory

The latest effort by social conservatives to rally their troops around the so called “war on Christmas” teaches us many valuable lessons for the season. Notably, we can look forward to more ugliness in 2006 as the conservative sound machine ramps up the volume to try to drive its troops out for what (for now at least) look like pretty dismal ’06 by-election for the GOP.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
The last wireless believer has left the Federal Building

Harold December 21, 2005 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

Michael Gallagher, the Assistant Secretary in charge of the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) is leaving. It looks like a bleak year for those who believe that more spectrum made available to the public will bring greater economic propserity and freedom of speech for all.

Tales of the Sausage Factory:
A 2-1 FCC?

Harold December 20, 2005 February 24, 2013General, Tales of the Sausage Factory

Unbelievably, the vote on confirmation for Deborah Tate (the new Republican replacement for Kathleen Abernathy) and Michael Copps (Dem) (to sit another 5 year term) is delayed. Why? Because Senators act like 6 year olds.