Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cybersecurity
    • Servers

    Reflecting on Positions Past

    By
    eWEEK Editorial Board
    -
    December 31, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Five years into the new millennium, the questions of right and wrong in cyberspace are coming into clearer focus. This year, eWEEKs Editorial Board has turned its attention repeatedly to this broad topic, taking positions that we believe are in the best interests of you, our readers, and indeed of all cyber-citizens, present and future. Here is a summary of our most important positions of the year past.

      Google, through its Google Print project, once again came up with an idea for an innovative and useful service, only to raise the ire of copyright zealots. Were in the publishing business ourselves, and we firmly support copyright laws.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifClick here to read more about the copyright chaos of Google Print.

      Google Print seems to recognize these rights, even as it seeks to enable cyber-citizens to quickly search and find what they need. We think that, eventually, content creators will recognize what a boon such a tool can be in providing information, in helping to develop new content and in exposing the works of content creators to a far wider public than would otherwise be possible.

      Sony crossed the line of personal property rights in its efforts to secure its own content rights. The entertainment giant used a root kit to hide its DRM (digital rights management) software deep and undetectably within the operating systems of users computers. But the root kit was virtually uninstallable and exposed recipients PCs to viruses.

      Amazon leapt to the defense of purchasers; Microsoft made a solution available; and although Sony dropped the offending software, the company vowed to persevere with other DRM schemes. We believe that traditional “fair use” ought not to be diminished in the cyber era and that no one—and no company, no matter how large—has the right to invade and damage anyones PC.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifThe eWEEK Editorial Board says that Rootkit DRM constitutes security malpractice. Click here to read more.

      The state of Massachusetts took a stand in asking that all state documents be in fully disclosed and royalty-free formats, such as OpenDocument Text, which has been ratified as an OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) standard or in Adobe PDF. Microsoft protested the requirement but later changed the terms of its Open XML license to meet the Bay States requirements. Score one for user clout.

      Although it began life in the United States, the Internet has become a global information highway. As such, people worldwide have a stake in its governance. Internet governance under ICANN, while it might be improved, is not broken. We opposed efforts to hastily place the Internet under the United Nations International Telecommunications Union, and we were pleased when a compromise was reached that keeps ICANN in charge.

      Not all nations have the tradition of free speech that made the Internet possible. Chinese government censors apparently requested Microsofts Chinese Internet portal to filter the words “freedom” and “democracy” from its search engine. We think a good way to end the year is to review Article 19 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which upholds: “Freedom to hold Opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

      Tell us what you think at [email protected].

      /zimages/5/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis about productivity and business solutions.

      eWEEK Editorial Board

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×