Continuing my end-of-year wrap up ...
Here are what I consider to be some of the "best" law-themed posts from 2007. Again, some of these posts are academic, some are trivial, some just link to what other people say, and some are a little random, but they do represent what interests me and what I have posted on this blog in 2007.
Free Speech:
- Why the Government's proposed online censorship regime is a mistake - although this proposal was later amended by the Howard Government, the Rudd Government has a new proposal that is also a mistake - Online censorship in Australia.
- A closer look at Australian hate videos on YouTube - in response to a report by The Daily Telegraph that looked at the "web of hate".
- Is 9:12pm too early to broadcast the word "cunt"? - this provocative title actually raised a serious question.
- Should we hold Google and YouTube acountable? - this question was asked after three children hanged themselves after seeing footage of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's execution; my answer: no.
- MySpace fraud - the occasional instance of a site being used to assume someone else's identity does not justify government regulation of social networking sites.
- The Chaser's Licciardello not offensive - the first time The Chaser was in trouble with the law in 2007.
- Trouble for Values Australia website? - a website called Values Australia purportedly received a letter from the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that expressed concerns about the site.
- EFF sues Viacom - a dispute over the video "Stop the Falsiness", a tongue-in-cheek commentary on Stephen Colbert's portrayal of the right-wing media as well as parodying MoveOn's own reputation for earnest political activism.
- Colbert and campaign finance laws in the US - Stephen Colbert's short lived run for the Presidency was effectively ended over the interpretation of campaign finance laws.
Defamation:
- Defamation on Wikipedia, Digg-ing for liability in defamation and More on defamation and blogging all look at online liability for defamation, depending upon the website in question.
Copyright:
- Peekvid - my analysis of this video site was one of my most popular posts of the year.
- Photographing the Sydney Opera House - question: does the law allow you take a photograph of the Sydney Opera House and then sell that photograph to someone else?; answer: maybe, maybe not ... depends on who you ask and who you listen to ...
- Copyright, speech and the NSW Minerals Council - an example of how copyright law can be used to suppress speech.
- Do you own your avatar? - this is likely to become a bigger issue as the proliferation of virtual worlds continue.
- Lisensa - a way to license online content.
- Piracy ad parodies - a collection of amusing piracy ad parodies.
Other:
- Courts turning to Wikipedia - a look at which courts are citing Wikipedia.
- An unconstitutional acquisition of property? - on the constitutionality of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (Cth).
- Even the High Court is interested in Paris Hilton - Justice Kirby proves he follows popular culture.
- "Pollies Caught Out on Facebook" - the legality of Liberal Party advertisements on Facebook.
- Legal bloggers down under - based on a piece in The Age on legal blogging in Australia.
- Blawg Review #136 - my turn to host the carnival of law bloggers.
