Archive for January 9th, 2009

Another strike against the Digital Millenium Copyright Act! The anonymous owner of a real estate gripe site had had the site’s page removed by his ISP when the subject of the gripes — the real estate agency — complained it violated the agency’s copyright. No so, says the judge. The Cleveland Plain Dealer‘s Patrick O’Donnell reports:

A Web site dedicated to criticizing a Lorain County home builder won a court battle last month to stay on the Internet. Just as significantly, the owner maintained his ability to run the Web site anonymously.

The home builder in question, Powermark Homes, Inc., took exception to the site Powermark Homes Alert and its url, www.powermarkhomessucks.com. Public Citizen attorney Greg Beck argued on behalf of the site’s owner (“John Doe” in court documents).

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wolfeThere’s a great piece in the Wall Street Journal today about Dr. Sidney Wolfe, the director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. Dr. Wolfe, who over the years has worked to get several harmful drugs off the market and stricter warnings put on other drugs, was recently appointed to a four-year term on the Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Committee, which advises the FDA on the safety of drugs. WSJ reporter Alicia Mundy’s lead in her story, “A Wolfe in Regulator’s Clothing: Drug Industry Critic Joins the FDA” is wonderful:

The pharmaceutical industry has a recurring nightmare: Drug-safety crusader Sidney Wolfe becomes a player at the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Wolfe also has a nightmare: One of his children goes to work for a drug maker.

Of the two, the doctor is sleeping more soundly.

Mundy also videotaped an interview with Dr. Wolfe. To learn more about dangers and side effects of the drugs you take, visit the Public Citizen resource: Worst Pills, Best Pills.

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