Fingerprinting RFIDs, Google Commits to All Open Source in Its Cloud, and More

• Fingerprinting RFIDs to foil cloning
  The research apparently identifies physical characteristics of the tag that are not copied by the cloning. Seems like a logical step for now but how long before attackers figure out how to mimic these, for instance finding some way to alter the threshold power that can be programmed along side the actual data?
• Explaining the one way expansion of copyright
  Glyn Moody links to and quotes from a Copycense article that does an excellent job of explaining how harmonization of copyright terms and enforcement has resulted in only expansion. This is a trend those of us following copyright law have noticed for some time. This article is useful for pointing the trend out so clearly as well as providing additional resources to understand it.
• Digital Economy Bill lacks chilling sanctions but reserves powers to create them
  Nate Anderson explains at Ars that the bill as table has no three strikes disconnection nor any other sanctions we were afraid of from the Digital Britain report. It does, however, still give power to the Secretary of State to instate such sanctions, and more, without parliamentary approval.
• Google commits to all open source in its cloud
  Dana Blankenhorn’s theory is sound, suggesting the advantages that many open source advocates have expounded about competition and consumer advantage. I wonder if it is simpler than that, though, that it starts with the engineering culture at Google and the realization that if management tried to reduce the amount of open source, their would be internal rebellion.

Share