News & Media
Suck it, El Jobso
by Jason Fischer A while back, attorneys for Apple concocted a creative argument for why jailbreaking your iPhone constituted an infringement of the copyrights in the device’s software, based on the anit-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (more familiarly known as the “DMCA”). The Library of Congress (as the body that promulgates regulations for enforcement of the Copyright
First Amendment meets Second Amendment
The sheriff of Osceola County, Iowa denied a concealed weapons permit to Paul Dorr because he engaged in too much protesting, passing out leaflets, and writing letters to the editor. (source) U.S. District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett wasn’t having any of that. Sheriff Weber’s rationale for denying the permit was reported as “concern from public. Don’t trust him.” (source).
Libel Tourism Law Looks Like It Will Pass
The U.S. Senate passed a law that will make libel judgments from other countries void in the United States unless the judgment was won in a trial where First Amendment rights were taken into account. (source). Previous posts on this issue here, here, and here. It looks like the bill will pass the house as well. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman
Thank Goodness They Are Here To Protect Us
A bunch of hippies got together to start a “raw food” cooperative. The cops busted them for selling non corporate-blessed food. (source) While I think that’s pretty retarded and a waste of time and money, the funniest part is that the junior-college-flunkouts raided the contraband-yogurt store with guns drawn. (video)
New Obscenity Prosecution – United States v. Adult DVD Empire
Federal prosecutors have filed obscenity charges against Adult DVD Empire in the Western District of Pennsylvania. (source) This is the same district where Mary Beth Buchanan held her little reign of terror. It appears that her successor, Robert Cessar, is just as much of a petty little control freak as his predecessor. this was a left-over case from her obnoxious
Porn star saves man from wrongful CP prosecution
By J. DeVoy Reason has a great story about a man charged with possession of child pornography due to a Nifong-esque disregard of evidence favorable to the defendant. Ultimately, the case’s heroine, Lupe Fuentes, made an appearance to set the defendant free.
The Legal Satyricon Hits the Road
Three Satyricon correspondents are taking bar exams in the coming days. Wish them luck, or at least neutrality. If you’re fortunate enough to be in one of the following cities, let us know in the comments. Christopher Harbin – Buffalo, New York (a/k/a Legal Satyricon on Ice). Chris will be taking the New York bar exam in the Buffalo Convention Center.
Hole in the sea floor
By J. DeVoy BP confirms that there’s a hole in the sea floor, spewing oil and deadly methane gas into the Gulf of Mexico. While some reports indicate that this fissure has existed since the crisis’ beginning, details remain hard to find. The high volume of methane gas found in this fissure is worth noting, and troubling, as it corroborates
An event for the free speech-minded
By J. DeVoy The Lords of Acid are touring! For those who haven’t heard of this group, it’s the kind of bizarre music and stage act that only a First Amendment zealot can truly appreciate. For others familiar with the group, this is a bit of a head-scratcher, as it hasn’t released new material in roughly a decade. It is,
FYI
If I get asked about Congress’s postal power on the bar exam, I will cut someone.
BREAKING: JUDGE DISMISSES STAGLIANO OBSCENITY CASE
By J. DeVoy Xbiz reports that the government’s case, failing to meet its burden of proof on any of the counts against Stagliano, has been dismissed. The trial, pending before Judge Richard Leon in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, was dismissed on the defense team’s Rule 29 motion at the end of the government’s case.
Don't let your children use the internet
By J. DeVoy From Jessica Leonhardt, a/k/a Jessi Slaughter, 11-year-old Florida resident: Im sorry guys. I really am. I just figured that picture was all over 4chan and ebaumsworld and everything. And it reallly isnt child porn is it? [Ed.’s note: CHECK YOU THIRD CIRCUIT PRECEDENTS.] you couldnt seee anything, it was like seeing me in a bathing suit. people
Worst. Dad. Ever.
Dad puts 14 year old son on a Southwest Airlines flight (bound for Flori-duh, of course). On flight, older woman gets frisky. The older woman allegedly made sexual advances toward the young man and offered him unnamed “illegal drugs.” (source) How does dad react? He sues Southwest airlines. FACEPALM
Bastille Day
In celebration of Bastille Day, today’s entry is my annual expression of gratitude to La République Française et les citoyens français (the French Republic and the French Citizens). It is all too popular of an American sport and political diversioin, to mock, insult, and scapegoat the French. They frequently oppose U.S. foreign policy, have a reputation for rudeness, and we
Putting $1 trillion in perspective
By J. DeVoy The Federal budget’s gap between assets and spending topped $1 trillion in June. If you spent $1 million every single day since the birth of Jesus Christ (not that he’s relevant here, but it’s a good yardstick) through today, you still would not have spent $1 trillion. In fact, you wouldn’t have spent even 75% of that amount
Massachusetts censors IMs, SMS, e-mail and web
By J. DeVoy Massachusetts has long had laws prohibiting individuals from providing minors with “harmful matter” under the state’s Crimes against chastity, morality, decency and good order law. As Ars Technica reports, though, this law is getting an important update. Effective yesterday, the material that may harm minors now includes: [A]ny handwritten or printed material, visual representation, live performance or
Second Circuit Strikes Down FCC's "Fleeting Expletive" Rule
Huzzah! Broadcasters and free speech wonks scored a major victory today as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC’s “fleeting expletive” rule for chilling protected speech because the rule was unconstitutionally vauge. The fleeting expletive prohibition required broadcasters to monitor live broadcasts and censor naughty words or face fines upwards of $300k. Given the subjective nature of
Another example of the whiny nanny-state in action
By J. DeVoy In 1990, the world was a different place. Gas was cheap, mini-vans were coming into vogue, and Iraq was a country where our dealings were mostly sub rosa arrangements between Donald Rumsfeld, the CIA and Saddam, rather than another costly foothold in the American empire. Additionally, Aghanistan was more of the soon-to-be-defunct USSR’s problem than America’s (and
Dead Wrong on Copyright
by Christopher Harbin Tony Woodlief of the Wall Street Journal recently penned an opinion piece rife with terrible analogies and poor logic on the subject of copyright incentives. One passage in particular really irks me. In reality, both sides agree with the premise embedded in the Constitution, which is that people ought not enjoy art without compensating the artist, any more than
Time to pack it in
Well, I guess that’s the end of this blog. According to Prince, the Internet is on the way out. See you all on the next publication medium.
