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EFFector - Volume 21, Issue 16 - ACTION ALERT: A New FISA Bill is being drafted behind closed doors.

EFFECTOR

EFFector - Volume 21, Issue 16 - ACTION ALERT: A New FISA Bill is being drafted behind closed doors.

EFFector Vol. 21, No. 16  May 7, 2008  editor@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

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In our 469th issue:

* THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, along with its counsel EFF and the
ACLU, successfully challenged a national security letter
issued to the Archive's digital library. The NSL, which had
unconstitutionally gagged the Archive for months, was
withdrawn, and we are now able to bring this story to the
public for the first time. This settlement -- and the
extensive dialogue about the case -- are critical
supplements to widespread reports of NSL abuse.
http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/05/06

* ACTION ALERT: A NEW FISA BILL is being drafted behind
closed doors. Although all may appear quiet in the House as
it publicly focuses on other major legislation, House
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has been negotiating with
Senator Rockefeller --  the architect of the terrible
Senate bill that would fully immunize lawbreaking telecoms
-- on a possible FISA "compromise".

Once a deal is struck, it could come to the House floor
with little warning. So, please contact your
Representatives now and remind them that we're watching --
and that they must not provide immunity for lawbreaking
telecoms.
http://stopthespying.org/

* ACTION ALERT: AN OUTRAGEOUS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL
directs federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA
samples from anyone they arrest. This new proposal
threatens to swell the government's DNA database with the
sensitive genetic information of innocent people --
Americans involved in peaceful political protests, for
example.

The public comment period will end on Monday, May 19, so
now's time to speak out against this proposal that turns
the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" on its
head!
http://www.eff.org/action/protectdna

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From Deeplinks

* MSN Music Debacle Highlights EULA Dangers
Like DRM, click-through license agreements can fiddle with
your rights as a user and a consumer.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/msn-music-debacle-highlights-eula-dangers

* Do You Own Your Software? WoW Glider Case Not Just About
Getting to Level 70.
Glider users may irritate some World of Warcraft players,
but Blizzard is simply wrong in its attempt to call them
copyright infringers.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/do-you-own-your-software-wow-glider-case-not-just-

* Patent Reform Act Stalls in the Senate
Disagreement among Senate Judiciary Committee members halts
progress on patent reform legislation.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/patent-reform-act-stalls-senate

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miniLinks
The week's noteworthy news, compressed.

~ Wiretaps Increase by 20%
The US government's statistics for 2007 show that (legal)
wiretap requests have increased. (Illegal wiretaps are not
included in the government's statistics.)
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080504-government-wiretapsthe-ones-we-know-aboutup-20-for-2007.html

~ Patent Court Appointees Under Question
A law professor claims to have discovered a flaw in the
appointment of patent judges -- the appointments may be
unconstitutional, calling into question thousands of patent
rulings. (log-in may be required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/washington/06bar.html

~ Security Gaps When ISPs Hire Third Parties
The use of third parties to intercept web traffic and
direct users to advertising can open major security holes.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/7109e033b5e429834fd4c7f324e45cf4.htm

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Announcements

* Come Hear EFF Speakers at the SanFran MusicTech Summit on
May 8:
http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/08/eff-speakers-sanfran-musictech-summit

* On May 9, join EFF and others in SF for a discussion with
Jonathan Zittrain about his new book, The Future of the
Internet--and How to Stop It. (RSVP required):
http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/09/i-future-internet-and-how-stop-it-i-w-jonathan-zit

* New and renewing EFF members get an $8 gift card for
Magnatune music downloads:
https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_magnatune

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Administrivia

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
 http://www.eff.org/about

Editor:
Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist
 richard@eff.org

Membership & donation queries:
 membership@eff.org

General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries:
 information@eff.org

Back issues of EFFector are available at:
 http://www.eff.org/effector/

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