Print is Dead. Long Live the Word. Britannica Stops the Presses. Welcome to the Henry Blake cliche festival. CNN Money reports that after 244 years the print edition of Britannica will no longer be offered. As many may recall, one study indicated the Wikipedia was more accurate than Britannica…

But let’s not obsess over print. … Today the print edition is $1395. … Digital divide and access to knowledge discussions can miss that the cost of the set would cover Internet access for 20 months. … Digital also is a dream for the look it up model. … Will folks pay for the online version at $70 per year? I would guess not.

So go with God, Britannica. Thank you for the years of service and enhancing my childhood. And congratulations on your new form. Like those in Good To Great, you have ditched the old method and seek to play in the new space. It is a bet, but it you are in the correct game and that is good.

News Media and “New Media” – New Zealand Law Commission Consultation on Regulation

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02
2012

The Law Commission of New Zealand is undertaking a review of the current regulatory regime for news media with respect to its adequacy in catering for new and emerging forms of news media – sometimes referred to as the “new media”.  It published a comprehensive “Issues Paper” [Word] for consultation on 12 December 2011.  Responses are required by 12 March 2012 and can be made online.

The Privacy Paradox

Privacy and Its Conflicting Values

February 2, 2012

 
Stan. L. Rev. Online

 
Symposium Issue

How should the legal system adjust to our evolving and oftentimes conflicting expectations of privacy? Experts weigh in on this important question in areas ranging from political data to government searches in this 2012 Symposium Issue.

2012 Symposium

First Amendment Challenges in the Digital Age

Audio recordings of the panels are now available at the above link

Twitter Libel Actions in Three Jurisdictions – Courtney Love, Chris Cairns, Joseph Meggitt

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02
2012

Three libel actions involving Twitter have been in the news around the world this week.  The first is in the USA and involves Courtney Love (again).  The second is due to be the first twitter libel trial – in England in two weeks’ time.  Finally, in Australia there is news of a claim against Twitter Inc itself as the publisher of a defamatory tweet. 

Times contempt challenge thrown out in Strasbourg – Adam Wagner

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02
2012

In the case of Michael Seckerson v United Kingdom (App Nos. 32844/10 and 33510/10) the European Court of Human Rights rejected as “inadmissible” Times Newspapers’ challenge to its 2009 conviction for contempt of court.  The decision, which was made by seven judges, is a good example of an early stage “strike-out” by the Court which is nonetheless a substantial, reasoned decision

This case demonstrates that prosecution for contempt for breach of the secrecy of the jury room is not incompatible with Article 10.