Category: Stories

  • Why recycling is rubbish

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    In a utopian report, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) says the UK needs £20bn additional spending on recycling infrastructure over the next decade. The recommendation is made in a report today that proposes “unlocking value locked up in the UK’s current waste” – which sounds great – but the report fails to tell us…

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  • EU wants to erect opt-in hurdle for creators

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    A potentially incendiary EU report released today recommends making changes to the Berne Convention – and creating several new layers of bureaucracy in order to deal with the digitisation of cultural stuff. Creators would have to “opt-in” to a new database before getting their rights, which have historically been guaranteed by Berne signatories since 1886.…

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  • Personalised power cuts and pricey meat: Grey Britain in 2030

    Personalised power cuts and pricey meat: Grey Britain in 2030

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    One of the few surviving cows gives its opinion of the Climate Change Act It’s full steam ahead for a low carbon Britain, the UK Committee on Climate Change says in its fourth report [1], published today. The CCC is the Government’s primary advisory panel on cutting CO2 and was established in the 2008 Climate…

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  • Theft scribe picked for Intellectual Property review

    Theft scribe picked for Intellectual Property review

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    Five advisers have been appointed to Ian Hargreaves’ review into intellectual property growth, the IPO announced yesterday. Two of the choices may cause consternation among creators’ rights representatives. One is Scottish legal academic James Boyle, founding board member of Creative Commons, and co-author of two rabble-rousing comic books. One portrays Lawrence Lessig as the Statue…

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  • Wikileaks pay to play? – Cryptome

    Wikileaks pay to play? – Cryptome

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    Wikileaks has always been a commercial enterprise hiding behind a narcissistic “public interest” PR, says Cryptome operator John Young in a scathing critique of the site. Whistleblower site Cryptome began publishing documents in 1996, incurring the wrath of UK and US governments. The archive endures. Young was invited to be the “public face” of Wikileaks…

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  • Nyah! Google is the Kevin the Teenager

    Nyah! Google is the Kevin the Teenager

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    “Nyah” For years, Google has been the Stroppy Teenager Kevin when it comes to copyright – full of attitude, and refusing to tidy up the bedroom. But do yesterday’s concessions make any difference? No.… Read More

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