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Google updates search algorithm: Number of valid copyright removal notices

Inside Search :: We aim to provide a great experience for our users and have developed over 200 signals to ensure our search algorithms deliver the best possible results.

Starting next week, we will begin taking into account a new signal in our rankings: the number of valid copyright removal notices we receive for any given site.

Announcement by Amit Singhal, insidesearch.blogspot.de

HT: Liz Gannes, AllThingsD: "In Self-Imposed Alternative to SOPA, Google Will Ding Repeat Copyright Offenders in Search Results"

Leaked RIAA report: SOPA/PIPA “ineffective tool” against music piracy

TorrentFreak :: Contrary to the endless lobbying and subsequent defending of the now-dead SOPA and PIPA frameworks, a leaked report shows that earlier this year the RIAA’s Deputy General Counsel admitted that the legislation was “not likely to have been effective tool” for dealing with music piracy. All efforts are now being put behind the “six strikes” plan – but could disconnections for repeat infringers still be on the agenda?

A report by Enigmax, torrentfreak.com

Internet Defense League creates "cat signal" to save Web from next SOPA

Ars Technica :: You've heard of the bat signal—now get ready for the cat signal. A diverse crew of Internet businesses, advocacy groups, and lawmakers has banded together to create something called the Internet Defense League. The organization seeks to save the 'Net from bad laws like SOPA. And a cat signal is what the group will use to alert the world when it's protest time.

Explainer - A report by Jon Brodkin, arstechnica.com

Celebrating (?) the six-month anniversary of SOPA's demise

Forbes :: Six months ago today – January 18, 2012 – was a major day in the Internet’s history. Some of the most heavily trafficked websites went dark or rallied their users against proposed legislation called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its sister bill the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The resulting outcry effectively killed the legislation that day. But with 6 months of perspective, plus plenty of new developments, it’s clear there may not be much to celebrate about the developments of January 18.

Nothing to celebrate - A report by Eric Goldman, www.forbes.com

HT: Kashmir Hill, here:

Fantastic piece by @ericgoldman questioning the legacy of the SOPA victory: forbes.com/sites/ericgold…

— Kashmir Hill (@kashhill) July 18, 2012

U.S. Senator Lieberman: July is the last chance for cybersecurity legislation

The Next Web :: Senator Lieberman, author of the leading cybersecurity bill in the Senate, yesterday urged both houses of Congress forward. In regards to his bill, the Lieberman-Collins bill, he made a stand that a vote on the issue needed to be taken up in the very near future.

Continue to read Alex Wilhelm, thenextweb.com

Big Content wants to bring SOPA-style policies to Canada

Ars Technica :: Anti-piracy efforts in the United States have been so successful that they should be imported to Canada. At least, that's the view of the Canadian Intellectual Property Council, an arm of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce that represents the interests of major content companies in Canada. A white paper urges Canadian policymakers to introduce domain seizures, criminal prosecutions and asset seizures of online sharing sites, and even SOPA-style regulation of intermediaries.

Continue to read Timothy B. Lee, arstechnica.com

SOPA fighters handily fund billboard outside Lamar Smith's office

BoingBoing :: Holmes sez, "A crowd-funded, Texan-themed billboard for Lamar Smith (R-TX) is currently emblazoned across the Texas sky. The billboard says 'Don't Mess with the Internet', and it just took flight this morning right outside the San Antonio offices of SOPA-sponsor Lamar Smith. ..."

Continue to read Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net

UK orders blacklist of torrent site, the result? The Pirate Bay reports record traffic

Forbes :: While the US tries to pass sweeping anti-piracy and pseudo censorship laws like SOPA, ACTA and CISPA, the UK has adopted a different strategy. In February the UK deemed torrent site The Pirate Bay to be an egregious copyright offender, and as such, the High Court has now ruled that several of the largest ISPs in the country must blacklist the site from their customers.

Unexpected marketing help - Continue to read Paul Tassi, www.forbes.com

Rep. Darrell Issa opens up secretive intellectual property 'treaty', ACTA, to the public

VentureBeat :: While Americans were busy fighting the SOPA and PIPA bills at home, nations around the globe, including the United States, were signing on to ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which many in the world of technology feel is as bad or worse than the home grown piracy legislation. “ACTA represents as great a threat to an open Internet as SOPA and PIPA and wasdrafted with even less transparency and input from digital citizens,” said California Congressman Darrell Issa. That’s why Rep. Issa is opening up ACTA to the public using an online platform called Madison, part of the #OPEN act introduced in January.

Continue to read Ben Popper, venturebeat.com

RIAA chief: SOPA & PIPA were killed by misinformation

MyCE :: Nobody wanted the anti-piracy SOPA and PROTECT IP bills to pass more than the Recording Industry Association of America. Well, beside the MPAA. The music organization’s CEO Cary Sherman on Thursday blamed a purposeful misinformation campaign for lawmakers’ failure to pass both. Touching on previous remarks made in a New York Times op-ed from February 7, Sherman readdressed why he believes the divisive bills were misrepresented by critics and shot back at those who argue piracy isn’t as big a deal as copyright holders make it out to be.

Continue to read Justin Massoud, www.myce.com