EFA calls for help on the R18+ games issue

On the Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) website, EFA Chair Nic Suzor has made available a six page form-letter from the South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, on the topic of the lack of an R18+ rating for games.

Nic writes:

"The letter reiterates that this is not going to be an easy fight to win. For Atkinson, the lack of an R18+ rating is clearly something that helps keep violent media away from children, and he sees no real harm in not making the same material available to adults..."

EFA is planning to put together a response to the discussion paper that analyses and addresses all of the points that Atkinson makes, as well as systematically covering the research in the field. If you are able to help, please contact Nic, join the R18+ games discussion list, or take a look at the EFA R18+ wiki space.

IP and Tech Law Clinic - 2009 advice sessions now full

The Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic advice sessions for 2009 are now FULL.

We are hoping to offer further free legal advice services in 2010. Keep an eye on the website for more information.

The Future of Data Policy

The Microsoft External Research Division has launched a book entitled, The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery (2009) edited by Tony Hey, Stewart Tansley, and Kristin Tolle. The book was launched on the opening day of the Microsoft eScience Workshop that took place in Pittsburgh, USA from 15-17 October 2009. The book includes a chapter, 'The Future of Data Policy' (pp 201-208), authored by Professor Anne Fitzgerald, Professor Brian Fitzgerald and myself. The book is licensed under a Creative Common Attribution Share Alike 3.0 United States licence, and can be download in its entirety or by chapter at The Fourth Paradigm.