Brian Abeling  
Pekin District 108  
Pekin, Illinois 

Copyright Laws 
Tell it to the Judge 
Sponsored by C/Net, this site is extremely simple, yet very effective at teaching about copyright laws and how they apply to building web sites.  The user is asked to take a short 8 question quiz with questions like, "If you give credit to the author, are you still infringing on a copyright?" and "If I don't make money from copying someone else's intellectual property, is it infringement?"  All questions are answered with a simple Yes or No.  Hit the submit button for the answers and you'll get instant feedback and scores.  The feedback takes you through each question letting you know if you were right or wrong as well suppling additional information about the question at hand.   

It would be extremely easy to use this web site as a classroom activity.  Since it is interactive, I think that students and teachers find it interesting.  In addition, it's quick, easy, and still manages to teach you the eight most basic facts about copyright laws that relate to the Web. 
 
 
 

Censorship 
Parent sues Livermore Library to end Children's access to Internet pornography. 
Just within the last month, a parent filed a lawsuit against the Livermore, California public library for not blocking out pornography on the Internet access terminals.  The suit came about after the plaintiff's request for establishing producedures to prevent children from accessing pornography was denied. The suit claims that "children to not have a consitutional right to see pornography" and "This case is about parent rights."  

This case is almost the opposite of the Loudoun County Library in Virginia.  In this case, the library is being sued because it used Internet blocking software on all of the library workstations.  Organizations such as the ACLU and People for the American Way are involved in the suit against the library. 

I'm not really sure that I would use this information in the classroom with students right now.  However, I am really interested in the turn out of these two cases because it relates directly to my work.  Half of my current job is working with our business partners and local organizations to help get them on-line.  The public library is one of our key partners which has 15 Internet access stations that are accesible to the public.  I will be forwarding the web site (techlawjournal.com) to them so that together we can stay up to date and prepare for any action(s) that we made need to take.  

In addition, our school and public library have applied for the E-rate funding, which may have stipulations regarding Internet screening software.  This legistlation (S1619 & HR3177) were recently approved by the Senate and are moving to the House for action.  
 
 
 
 

Internet Taxation 
House Commerce Committee Passes Internet Tax Freedom Act 
The House Commerce Committee recently approved a "consensus' moratorium on Internet taxes for the next three years.  It would prohibit the state and local authorities from taxing Internet services. However, it would not stop the FCC from doing so.  

There seem to be two basic reasons for this legislation.  First is that most congressmen want to see strong continued growth of the Internet and electronic commerce.  Second, they feel that information should not be taxed.  At this time, there appears to be very little opposition.  However, it still must be passed by the House, the Senate, and eventually the President.  

I am really not sure how or if I would use this resource with students.  However, I certainly can use this resource as part of my job of working with local businesses and local government which are all a part of our technology outreach programs.  We are also partners with the local ISP's and this is certainly an issue that they would be interested in.  
 
 
 
 

Software Piracy  
So go ahead, sue me  
Richard Folkers, US News & World Report, June 15, 1998  page 60.  
Software manufacturers are working on new software regulation known as Article 2B which will change the legalities of how software agreements work.  Currently, software agreements are treated legally with the basis as any other tangible good.  

On the positive side, article 2B will provide several new protections for consumers.  Currently, if a user opens the box or wrapping to a software package, then they are usually not able to return the software.  However, if they have to open the box to actually read the software agreement then how can they determine if they agree to the license?  Article 2B will likely have provisions for changing this scenario so that consumers will be able to return software if they do not agree with the license.  

On the flip side, article 2B will also bring protections for the software makers.  Those who agree to the new software license may be restricted from writing reviews or publically criticizing the product.  Software makers would also get to continue to defend their rights in the jurisdiction that they choose.  For example, Corel's Word Perfect agreement states that any legal action taken against the manufacturer will be governed by the laws of the Republic of Ireland.  

Information from this resource may be useful in helping to explain to students and teachers why it is important to read the software agreements.  It is also helpful to stay up to date on issues such as this because they are important to all computer consumers.  
  

Internet Privacy  
Banning Privacy Part I and Part II  
The first part of this article was written by Charles Pappas as a commentary on how the Internet would be safer if everyones identify was known up front.  He sites examples from AOL in which children and adults can easily be contacted by total strangers.  If anonymity was gone, he feels that security will improve for everyone.  

However, Angela Gunn writes in part II how taking privacy away will harm Internet citizens and will be bad for electronic business, diplomacy, and kids.  Electronic commerce may be stunned if consumers have to identify all of their information ahead of time. Giving up your personal privacy is already the main worry of most on-line Americans according to a Business Week poll.  World diplomacy would also be effected if America decided to alter the idetification process on the Internet.  Besides, we don't own the entire Internet, it's a global infrastructure that the entire world owns.  She also points out how children themselves can be protected from anonymity on the Web.  For example, if a pregnant teenager is searching for help or information that they need, sometimes anonymity means everything to them.  Without it, they may even bother searching for help.  

These two articles provide excellent background information that would be extremely useful for promoting discussion on the topic of Internet privacy with teachers and students.  I really like the fact that they are really easy to ready articles that contain virtually no technical jargon. Great common sense examples like these will be best tool for getting students to discuss this topic.