“Now or Never” and Digital Piracy

The album from which the Rachid Taha single comes, ZOOM, is released in Europe, and if you go to the YouTube page you’ll get iTunes link from which you can buy it.  But as is often the case with music I like from other countries, I can’t actually do so. If I were buying the CD, which I may well do at some point, I could simply use my credit card and the internet, pay extra shipping charges, and take advantage of the borderless world of the internet to get the newest release by an artist I’ve been following for decades. There’s an Amazon link, too.  Ironically, the digital store is more locked down.

Yes, I know there are ways around these restrictions such as proxies and such, but that’s not my point. I don’t want to have to result to those techniques in order to legally purchase music, just because the record label has decided it isn’t ready to distribute across the pond yet. And most people don’t know how to do take advantage of those methods yet. Make no bones about it, it’s a corporate decision to lock down distribution this way.  The artists, with the possible exception of huge megastars, are usually just thrilled anyone at all is actually buying their music and paying full price for it. They love having fans wherever they are. 
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Academic Freedom Media Review – September 15-21, 2012

Scholars at Risk monitors reports of threats to academic freedom and higher education communities worldwide, including media articles, blogs, opinion pieces and other announcements.  Unless otherwise indicated (such as in articles written by SAR), the language and views contained in the search results reflect those of the originating author and/or publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Scholars at Risk or its members, affiliates, board or staff. Archived media reviews are available here.

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Iran: Ensure Equal Access to Higher Education
Human Rights Watch, 9/22

A professor in defense of tenure and academic freedom at SLU
Tim Lomperis, The University News of Saint Louis University, 9/20

Interview with Pınar Selek: ”The Old Mindset Is Still in Place in Turkey”
Ceyda Nurtsch, Qantara, 9/19

Writer Held Over Japan Comments
Luisetta Mudie, Radio Free Asia, 9/19

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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review-June 16-22, 2012

Scholars at Risk monitors reports of threats to academic freedom and higher education communities worldwide, including media articles, blogs, opinion pieces and other announcements.  Unless otherwise indicated (such as in articles written by SAR), the language and views contained in the search results reflect those of the originating author and/or publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Scholars at Risk or its members, affiliates, board or staff. Archived media reviews are available here.

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Russian Professors Jailed For Selling Secrets To China
Radio Free Europe, 06/22

Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani of Iran
Scholars at Risk, 06/20

U. of Nebraska Professor Reportedly Is Detained While on Study-Abroad Trip to China
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 06/18

Anger Builds Over Dismissal of University of Virginia President
Richard Pérez-Peña, New York Times, 06/18

Khartoum University: heartbeat of the Sudanese revolution
Sudanese Online, 06/18

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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review April 14-20, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Tenured Professor Is Placed on Leave After Showing a Film About Pornography
Robin Wilson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/20

Syrian uprising takes toll on scientific community
Zeki Al Droubi, Nature, 4/19

AAUP Election Results Reflect Backlash Against Recent Leadership Decisions
Peter Schmidt, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/19

“None of Our Rights Have Been Observed,” Says Abdolfattah Soltani’s Wife
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 4/19

Belarus Banned from Bologna Process for Three Years /
Telegraf.by, 4/19
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NDAA and the Soul of America

Something momentous will very likely happen this week, something ominous.  So ominous that the kid that grew up reading mythology, medieval literature and fantasy, will somehow find it hard to believe if the sky doesn’t darken or the earth become sick as nature herself reproaches the nation for the wrongfulness of the path it has started down.  I am referring to the potential signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  No one wants to hold up funding for the military, but it contains other provisions that are simply contrary to the very essence of the American nation’s soul.  I get a lump in my throat and tight chest every time I think about this bill.

President Obama, once the hero of the narrative who came to office President Obama who “came into office pledging his dedication to the rule of law and to reversing the Bush-era policies” (Andrew Rosenthal, “Politics of Principle,” NYT, Dec. 15, 2011), is likely to sign the law making indefinite detention of American citizens a permanent fixture of American law.  They will also be subject to military tribunals.  Maybe we’re not quite at the point of using the Bill of Rights for toilet paper, but we’re at least using it as a dinner napkin.

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The Internet Blacklist Bill and International Studies

Today, Congress held hearings on the PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). There’s probably not too many reading this that would argue with the goals laid out in the titles of those two bills, but don’t be deceived. It’s not the objective of the bills we object to, but rather the means. As the Vimeo blog today notes, both bills

would give the power to the government and content owners to censor and block websites that host even just one piece of content that allegedly infringes a copyright…a much more severe House bill was just introduced and is set up to pass soon if we don’t take action NOW. These bills threaten the very essence of the web and the communities that have risen from it.

As an area studies scholar and someone who believes that in general open and free communications between cultures around the world is a good thing, I’d like to point out another objection to this law. It has the potential to greatly complicate my research and the free flow of knowledge by throwing up barriers to information that the internet only recently opened. My research delves into constructions of identity through literature, popular culture and the performing arts, and it always a great relief when I find useful research materials online. The internet has made music videos, movies, the popular press, and so much more available to me online from my living room or wherever my computer is.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, October 23-29, 2010

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

Warning on Bologna
Hannah Fearn, Inside Higher Ed, 10/29

Iranian Scholar Accused of Acting against National Security
Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR), 10/28

Students say: new report recommending specialised universities would spell disaster for accessible education and academic choice
CNW, 10/27

Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Svyatoslav Bobyshev and Yevgeny Afanasyev, Russian scholars held in pretrial detention since March
Scholars at Risk, 10/26

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Academic Freedom Media Review, June 5-11

Academic Freedom Media Review
June 5 – 11, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
 
China defends internet censorship
Michael Bristow, BBC News, 6/10
 
Marquette Settles With Woman Whose Job Offer Was Revoked /
Inside Higher Ed, 6/10

Paper on Psychopaths, Delayed by Legal Threat, Finally Published /
John Travis, Science, 6/10
 
Faith and Freedom
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 6/9
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Academic Freedom Media Review

Academic Freedom Media Review
May 22 – 28, 2010

Below is the weekly compilation of news articles addressing issues of academic freedom that is put together by Scholars at Risk.

MLA Pushes for End to Ideological Denials of Visas
Inside Higher Ed, 5/28

Groups protest Israel denying US student’s entry
Jeff Karoun, The Associated Press, 5/27
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Academic Freedom Media Review


Academic Freedom Media Review
January 23 – 29, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk

Censorship Charges at Los Angeles City College
Inside Higher Ed, 1/28

Guns on Campus (for Professors Only)
Inside Higher Ed, 1/27

Israeli Students Protest Exam That Equates Homosexuality With a ‘Defect’
The Chronicle for Higher Education, 1/27

New Online Journal From AAUP Will Focus on Academic Freedom
Jennifer Howard, The Chronicle for Higher Education, 1/26
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