blogophobiabeat

EFF's Legal Guide For Bloggers

2005-06-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

The E.F.F. (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has published an in-depth, very timely, Legal Guide For Bloggers.
The Guide is quite insightful, covering an exrtremely wide range of possibilities and legal options. If you blog, or plan to, make this your Bible!
Please note: this Legal Guide covers only issues under U.S. law at present.
Here are a selection of topics- all of which are very high profile in relation to blogs and bloggers, and will certainly be of interest to many:
1. Legal Liability Issues: An Overview
2. Intellectual Property
3. Defamation
4. Section 230
5.Privacy

The great debate currently being waged in various Courts and cases, "Are Bloggers Journalists?" is addressed.
As are answers to questions such as: Do bloggers have the same Constitutional protections as mainstream media?
and Can Journalists' Blog?
This guide is not about possibilities or opinions- it speaks to specific actions and their legal consequences, and addresses blogs only.
It provides options and legal recourse.
It also explains the areas of law in which one could face action based upon possible infringement.
The E.F.F. agrees that bloggers are not Journalists per se, yet the Rights of the Constitution
are applicable to them and (as per a recent Supreme Court ruling)
"are no greater and no less than those enjoyed by other individuals and organizations engaged in the same activities."
Yes, the right to blog is an extension of freedom of speech,
just as the right to defame, infringe on Copyright, Trademark, and Privacy, is not-
and is equally protected- and actionable, should those rights be compromised.
Bottom line: if you want to be a Publisher, and play in the big leagues-
even if you are "just" a small one person Grass Roots blogger,
you'd best check your facts, and the risk you face,
should you unwittingly place yourself in legal peril.

The playing field is fairly level....
At present, the E.F.F. is involved in several high profile, likely to be precedent-setting cases.
This is in line with their Mission Statement:
"to shape the law to protect your rights through impact litigation."

While they realize they are unable to help everyone who might seek their assistance,
(they are a small, highly dedicated group of law professionals funded by members' contributions)
they do offer access to their extensive
archives of legal filings
should one wish to make use of them.

(And they do promise to refer you to someone who should be able to help you if you find yourself in trouble.)

Do take advantage of their generosity-read the Guide!

Welcome to BLOGOPHOBIA BEAT!

2005-05-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

You Have Arrived At
BLOGOPHOBIA Beat!

BLOGS, BLOGGING, BLOGOSPHERE, RSS: all are words bandied about with increasing frequency- both online, and in traditional media.
Where once the digital divide referred to the separation between the "haves" and the "have-nots" of computer and internet access, another burgeoning division is gaining ground.
This Divide is about those who "get" blogging, and those who "do not". As the gap closes with great speed, there is one recurring question:

What Is A Blog?

Though answers abound, they are as varied and seemingly unrelated as those who provide them.
There is Blog confusion. A lot is in the unknown quotient.
There are misconceptions. Many people perceive Blogs as a new technology. Blog categories, and there are many, only add to this confusion.

WHAT a Blog is, is defined in large part by the "Blogger" (author/ owner) of that Blog.

The person who creates and maintains it--(known as the Blogger) and the intent they seek to promote by it's content defines that particular Blog.

There are some common identifying characteristics of all Blogs.

Blogs resemble aHomepage in that they are uniquely named, post somewhat regularly and can be found online. This is similar to updating one's website.
Blogs that generate interest, regardless of the main subject, can quickly become a popular, and admired, source of information online.
Again like a website, all Blogs have links. Blog links however, have a greater effect upon the popularity, and search engine rankings, of aa Blog than those found on a web site.
Blogs can contain photos.

For more on what Blogs are about, click ABOUT Blogs

Here are some examples of various Blogs.

A diary/journal/rant.
A marketing tool that promotes a site, and/or a product.
A news/journalism platform, most of which tend to concentrate information on specific areas, such as:
Politics
Entertainment
Technology
Medicine/Health Issues
Education

See An Introduction to Blogs for more information about the various types of Blogs.

There are also specific components in a Blog that are not found on conventional Web pages. For example, Blog readers are able to, and encouraged to, post their Comments on Blog posts. The sheer volume of Blogs online can present an overwhelming choice factor. I've put together a list of interesting and or imfornative Blogs- BLOGS TO READ. This should help you get an idea of the variety and readability factor in Blogs today.

BLOGOPHOBIA: You Either Have It- Or You DON'T!

2005-05-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

BLOGOPHOBIA is FINALLY HERE!

The world is obsessed with Blogs. And as such, it is past time for me to resurrect my own Blog. My good Blogiquette includes stating my Purpose for this Blog-so here you go: Bring me your tired and your blogged-out, But not your Blogshit.
Expose the wanna be bandbloggers who just jumped on board, looking for a spot to
bellow their uninteresting, ill-informed spin of the world.
They who seek to ptu their spin and twist on the world.It has been a long time coming...

Rather, get on your blog, expose the daily blurbs we are supposed to find truthful. Let's talk about those blogophobes.Whether they are in the closet, predicting their dire reprocussions, it's time to get off your blogass, and read it right here. About those big bad blog machines that seek to usurp the platform, and call it their own-you know them! They are only interested as long as they envision some blog bucks on the near horizon!

Yes. It has been a very long time coming- but like the song says- "it's darkest- just before the dawn!"

"He-ar--you must hear what the people say-it's always- darkest just before the dawn! And it appears to be a lo-ong- appears to be a lo-ong- appears to be a lo-ong-- time- such a long, long time- before the dawn!"

The sun has just risen- the dawn is here and now!

How many blogophobes can you name?