Anti-piracy bill pits free speech rights against copyright interests

A bipartisan anti-piracy bill introduced in the House of Representatives has the backing of the entertainment industry who want to expel copyright-infringing web sites from the Internet. Internet companies and digital rights groups say the bill is heavy handed and poses a serious threat to free speech and innovation. -db From CNet News, October 26, [...]

Business lobby opposed to order requiring government contractors to disclose political donations

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce made it known to the Obama administration that they oppose its plan to require government contractors to disclose their political donations. The Chamber argued that disclosures would chill the free speech rights of businesses and cited the case of Target which suffered boycotts and protests after the revelation that the [...]

Transparency: Democrats want sun to shine on secret flow of corporate money to Republicans

Democrats are suing the Federal Election Commission to force them to disclose which private companies and nonprofit groups are contributing millions of dollars in secret donations to Republican causes. There has been an avalanche of spending after the Supreme Court decision granting First Amendment rights to corporations, and Republicans have blocked legislation in Congress requiring [...]

Trademark case: Chamber of Commerce battles critics over parody

Political activists are asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce claiming the activists infringed on trademarks with a parody on the Chamber’s stance on climate change. -DB Electronic Frontier Foundation January 6, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of political activists including members of the Yes [...]