Friday, June 7, 2002

Is there a law that says you have to watch commercials? NewsScan Fri, 07 Jun 2002 09:31:29 -0700 Surely there isn't -- says Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) in his support for a consumer lawsuit seeking to confirm that users of Sonicblue's ReplayTV system have the lawful right to skip commercials when they record TV programs for later viewing. The suit has been filed in the same federal court in Los Angeles that is hearing a complaint from movie and television studios that ReplayTV allows customers to violate their copyrights, arguing that skipping commercials amounts to stealing. Sonicblue's position is: "Basically we believe that consumers have 'fair-use' rights, and everything consumers do with a ReplayTV is covered with 'fair use'." [Reuters/*USA Today*, 6 Jun 2002, http://www.usatoday.com; NewsScan Daily, 7 June 2002] 22:57 # G!

Pupils 'stalked teachers to post details on hate website' A conference has heard pupils at an Aberdeenshire school 'stalked' teachers and posted their personal details and threats on a website. It showed photographs of teachers with their partners, children and grandchildren, alongside threats to kill them. [ANANOVA] 17:47 # G!