Topic: Legal Topics
The very standards and conditions that made the Web a permissive, open environment have come under an attack from an onslaught of legal regulations and the monopolistic aspirations of bandwidth and software providers. Albert Wenger, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures, takes us on a journey of why the Web has proved successful for us, what made it interesting and open, how the very conditions that helped the Web flourish are under a threat, and what we can do about them.
Dr. Moira Gunn talks about how intellectual property rights in the age of personalized medicine with head of the Life Sciences Practice at Baker Botts, Jen Gordon.
The issue of copyright continues to be a major problem over the life of the personal computer. Companies have consistently tried to limit the ability of users to make the most of their machines, using a variety of protection schemes. In his talk at the 28th annual Chaos Communication Congress (28c3), Cory Doctorow reviews the history of the copyright fight and discusses how developers and political organizations will continue to limit the use of the general purpose computer.
While other mobile device companies depend on a closed software development system that gives them near total control, Android uses an open source model that could lead to more innovation. Attorney and open source expert Wendy Seltzer discusses the issues of allowing developers more freedom and what Android can gain from a partnership with other stakeholders that allows both sides to succeed from openness.
If you had to rely on a medical device implanted into your body to keep you alive, would you trust your life to a closed-source proprietary device manufacturer, or would you rather that it ran on software that was publicly available for review? In sharp, clear tones, Karen tells her story, presenting an entirely new perspective on the importance of open source software. Karen Sandler is the Executive Director of the GNOME foundation and a cyber-lawyer.
Nearly every day the news media carries stories about how much information the government compiles about the average citizen. As Daniel J. Solove writes in his new book Nothing to Hide: The False Tradeoff Between Privacy and Security, many people say, "If you've got nothing to hide, you shouldn't worry about government surveillance." However, Solove argues that it should not be necessary to choose security over privacy. He discusses the history of privacy law and reviews the problems of technology and privacy.
Deborah Estrin talks about GIS tracing of individual activity, it's fascinating usefulness, and potential privacy drawbacks. She assesses how combining tools such as location trace and environmental data with a wellness focus can inform public policy and personal decision making. According to Estrin experience sampling can yield data points which help patients to adjust and cope with medications. On the other hand, these living records can be intimate traces almost impossible to erase.
John Heilemann talks with FCC chair Julius Genachowski about the FCC's policy-making positions and challenges for the 21st century; including spectrum reapportionment, net neutrality, keeping up with the spectrum requirements of mobile broadband, global competitiveness, and "keeping the pipes open for innovators and consumer choice."
From rebuilding communities in Detroit around technological and artistic innovation to improving legal services, each of these speakers share their experiences and insights as to why groups succeed - and sometimes fail - in their attempts to adopt the latest information technology developments and apply them to the greater public good.
Given that amount of digital data available about people and businesses, users are discovering that they have no way to control and correct information about themselves. The Personal Data Ecosystem is a project meant to help create ways for better digital management. Three members of the PDE community, Paul Trevethick, Kaliya Hamlin, and Drummond Reed discuss the status of their activities, emphasizing some of the technical aspects of how to assist businesses and individuals manage their digital lives.
