CITP Blog is hosted by Princeton University’s Center for Information Technology Policy, a research center that studies digital technologies in public life. Here you’ll find comment and analysis from the digital frontier, written by the Center’s faculty, students, and friends.
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Despite J.K. Rowling’s decision not to offer the new Harry Potter book in e-book format, it took less than a day for fans to scan the book and assemble an…
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Who'll Stop the Spam-Bots?
The FTC has initiated Operation Spam Zombies, a program that asks ISPs to work harder to detect and isolate spam-bots on their customers’ computers. Randy Picker has a good discussion…
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What is Spyware?
Recently the Anti-Spyware Coalition released a document defining spyware and related terms. This is an impressive-sounding group, convened by CDT and including companies like HP, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Here is…
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HD-DVD Requires Digital Imprimatur
Last week I wrote about the antitrust issues raised by the use of encryption to “protect” content. Here’s a concrete example. HD-DVD, one of the two candidates for the next-gen…
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Controlling Software Updates
Randy Picker questions part of the computer science professors’ Grokster brief (of which I was a co-signer), in which we wrote: Even assuming that Respondents have the right and ability…
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Michigan Email Registry as a Tax on Bulk Emailers
I wrote on Friday about the new registry of kids’ email addresses being set up by the state of Michigan. I wasn’t impressed. A commenter pointed out an important fact…
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Encryption and Copying
Last week I criticized Richard Posner for saying that labeling content and adding filtering to P2P apps would do much to reduce infringement on P2P net. In responding to comments,…
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RIAA Saber-Rattling against Antispoofing Technologies?
The RIAA has fired a shot across the bow of P2P companies whose products incorporate anti-spoofing technologies, according to a story (subscribers only) in Friday’s National Journal Tech Daily, by…
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Michigan Debuts Counterproductive Do-Not-Spam List for Kids
The state of Michigan has a new registry of kids’ email addresses in the state. Parents can put their kids’ addresses on the list. It’s illegal to send to addresses…
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Chess Computer Crushes Elite Human Player
Last week Hydra, a chess-playing computer, completed its rout of Michael Adams, the seventh-ranked human player in the world. Hydra won five of six games, and Adams barely escaped with…