Students for FC, they have a special place in my heart

Students for Free Culture Conference, NYC this Saturday!

Cory Doctorow at 8:19 AM Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011

Kevin sez, "The Students for Free Culture Conference 2011 is a gathering of student activists, intellectuals, artists, hackers, and generally interested people to discuss the latest issues in the free cultural world, with a focus on student involvement and participation. The conference will take place in New York City from February 19-20. It will feature keynotes from the creators of Diaspora, Brazilian professor and activist Pablo Ortellado, and professor and former Obama Administration advisor Susan Crawford, as well as panels on remix culture, open education, and fashion and copyright. The second day is an unconference where anyone is invited to pose a panel, discussion, gathering, or hack session. Registration is pay-what-you-want, and travel funding is available by request. See the complete conference schedule for more detail."

An Interesting take on Clintons Approach via Timothy Karr

Here is a response to Clinton's net stance from Timothy Karr of SavetheInternet.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/no-double-standard-for-cl_b_823614.html

Clinton calls for global recognition of Internet freedom- CNN

Though this might interest some of you

By Michael Martinez for CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/15/clinton.internet/index.html?iref=allsearch

Ramadan and Zizek on Egypt

Controversial Groupon Ad

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/06/groupon-tibet-super-bowl_n_819353.html

Sarah Palin copyrighting her name

From BoingBoing.net

Sarah Palin Circle-R wants a trademark on her name

Cory Doctorow at 9:01 AM Sun

Some details on Sarah Palin's crazed attempt to register a trademark in her name; apart from making stupid errors in her application, there's the curious business that she considers "running for election" to be the same as using her name in commerce. Also, turns out Bristol Palin also wants a trademark on her name, for "motivational speaking services in the field of life choices."

On November 29, the application was rejected for two reasons. First, the examiner pointed out, the fact that your name appears in a news article or on your Facebook page is not evidence that you are "providing a website" featuring political information. Second, Palin did not sign the application.

The examiner pointed out that if a mark is the name of a particular living individual, it can't be registered unless that individual has signed or there is some other record of consent. (The examiner cited cases involving "Little Debbie," who is in fact a real person, and "Prince Charles," who arguably is too.) Because Palin hadn't signed, the application could not be granted.

It seems like signing your name is not something you would forget when your name is what you're trying to trademark, but she's a busy woman.

An explanation, per the superbowl