Chris Nolan

Is the intellectual property licensing scheme known as Creative Commons picking up steam? The answer, it seems, is a cautious “yes.” And that—despite the organizations demurring—could have political implications. “Its picking up,” Commons director Glenn Otis Brown says. “The last six months, we feel like its a completely different organization.” The licensing schemes popularity is […]

There are less than 10 days left until Congress takes another break, and the sound and fury of the tech industrys positioning to get its way is echoing from the halls of Capitol Hill to Sand Hill Road. Tech faces a selection of unappealing possibilities: one, that a bill controlling the ways in which stock […]

Blame it on the Howard Dean campaign–everyone else is–but technology isnt leaving politics. In fact, its finding steady acceptance on the other side of the fence, in public service and in civic administration of government services. Tech folks will roll their eyes at the small steps that are being taken, but the use of computer […]

The Republican Party, the party of lower taxes and less government, has always been aligned with the nations business interests. So youd think the tech community—an industry growing in importance in the United States and globally—would staunchly support President George W. Bushs re-election. That hasnt been the case, however. In 2000, tech supported—with votes and […]

Why should the tech community support Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry? The answer, in short, is because his presidency would be good for business, possibly as good for the tech business as the Clinton administration, according to Mark Gorenberg, Kerrys California finance chairman. “Im just a huge believer in John Kerry. I believe he is […]

Outsourcing—the catchall phrase for the movement of U.S. jobs overseas—ebbs and flows as a touchstone issue within this presidential campaign. Thats a measure of the ambivalence it creates. The myriad of reasons for outsourcings popularity resist sound bite-style campaigning. So do solutions to the problem. And the issue splits both political parties. Republicans who might […]

When Congress returns to Washington after Labor Day the stage will be set for all sorts of legislative shenanigans, the late-night, smoked-filled, back-room deal-making sessions everyone denounces but, make no mistake, just as many participate. One favorite trick: inserting clauses into large “omnibus” legislative packages, budgets or other financial bills that need approval to keep […]

Its an odd point in the political universe when two hot-button issues are as closely related as the arguments about outsourcing U.S. jobs and the debate over the ethics of stem-cell research. On the surface, the two dont seem related. In fact, each can enrage its political opponents. Mention outsourcing to a Democrat, and youll […]

How tough is the outsourcing issue for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry? Tough. So tough that Democrats wont talk about it. Calls to the campaign press folks in Washington, D.C., werent returned, and a request to talk to Silicon Valley executives who just endorsed Kerrys candidacy was declined. Its not that surprising. Earlier in the […]

Theres nothing like a little money to get Silicon Valley excited. Well, actually, theres nothing like a hot public offering. And Googles offering is hotter than hot. But as Californians know, intense heat can sometimes create brush fires. Unlike Netscape, which went public to almost as much fanfare and celebration nine years ago, Google isnt […]

Given its scope, the amount of money thats to be raised and the election year politicking surrounding the topic, a California ballot initiative to raise $3 billion for medical stem cell research could easily become the focus point of a simmering national debate. The initiative, informally known as Prop 71, was launched by Silicon Valley […]

Silicon Valley is as close as its ever been to seeing its position on stock options—that theyre a necessary and vital part of a corporations life—enacted into law. Even if the effort fails, theres some evidence that the fight has had some beneficial effect. First of all, its taught tech a long-overdue and much-needed lesson […]