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Charles Nesson, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School:

“the idea of imposing law on the global ocean of free bits that has flooded into cyberspace is a gross and harmful over-extension of the power of the state and authority of the law.”

Source: Judge rejects fair use as Tanenbaum P2P trial begins

Nancy Gertner, judge for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts:

[Judge Gertner] then concluded by telling the RIAA lawyers that they were “basically bankrupting people, and it’s terribly critical that you stop it.”

Source: How Harvard Law threw down the gauntlet to the RIAA

UPDATE: So much for the encouraging sentiments. The trial didn’t go well. The Register was less than impressed with Charles Nesson’s tactics.

Kick me again, RIAA. Please!

Does our government like us? Henry Porter has his doubts (they’re my doubts too).

The left, at least as we see it in government, gives the impression of not really liking the British people and so finds every possible pretext to chivvy, nudge, monitor, watch and criminalise its behaviour. How else do we explain the 3,500 new criminal offences that have been brought in by Labour or the expensive programmes of surveillance and data capture, which have done nothing to alleviate child poverty or address the wealth gap but a great deal to extend state power?

Source: www.guardian.co.uk The left must think beyond the state

From: Activate 09 summit hears calls for more free data access

It is “totally unacceptable” for Ordnance Survey not to provide maps suitable for the digital economy, said former Cabinet Office minister Tom Watson at the Guardian’s Activate 09 summit - part-sponsored by Ordnance Survey - last week.

Thank you Mr Watson.