Law Librarian Blog

Database of Requests Submitted under Canada's Access to Information Act

A privately operated website provides access to a searchable database of requests for information filed with departments and agencies of the Canadian government under Canada's Access to Information Act.

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati Law Library

Disaster Planning Website Offers Useful Advice

The San Francisco Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security has prepared a great website you can use to prepare yourself and your family for an emergency.

Webcast Today: Bloggership Conference

Bloggership:  How Blogs Are Transforming Legal Scholarship is being held today at Harvard Law School (Friday, April 28).  The symposium is sponsored by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Over twenty of the nation’s leading law professor bloggers are meeting for the first scholarly conference on the impact of blogs on the legal academy. Papers will be presented on "Law Blogs as Legal Scholarship," "The Role of the Law Professor Blogger," "Law Blogs and the First Amendment" and "The Many Faces of Law Professor Blogs."

Webcast | Conference Papers (SSRN)

Participants from the Law Professor Blog Network include:

Paul Caron (Cincinnati), conference organizer, editor-in-chief and publisher of Law Professor Blogs Network and editor of TaxProf Blog. Paul will offer opening remarks to kick off the conference.

Douglas Berman (Ohio State), editor or Sentencing Law and Policy. Doug will be presenting Scholarship in Action: The Power, Possibilities, and Pitfalls for Academic Blogs.

Ellen Podgor (Stetson), co-editor of White Collar Crime Prof Blog. Ellen will be commenting on papers presented on the topic of "Law Blogs as Legal Scholarship," including Doug's presentation.

Betsy Malloy (Cincinnati), co-editor of Health Law Prof Blog. Betsy will be commenting on papers presented on the topic of "Law Blogs and the First Amendment."

Check Out California Bar Girl

California Bar Girl is blogging her life and times as she approaches the July 2006 California Bar Exam.

The Greenspan Era: Discretion, Rather Than Rules

The Greenspan Era: Discretion, Rather Than Rules (NBER)
Benjamin M. Friedman

Abstract: What stands out in retrospect about U.S. monetary policy during the Greenspan Era is the ongoing movement away from mechanistic restrictions on the conduct of policy, together with a willingness on occasion to depart even from what more flexible guidelines dictated by contemporary conventional wisdom would imply, in the interest of carrying out the Federal Reserve System’s dual mandate to pursue both stable prices and maximum employment. Part of this change was procedural – for example, the elimination of money growth targets. The most substantive demonstration of policy flexibility came in the latter half of the 1990s, as unemployment fell below 6% (in 1994), then below 5% (in 1997), and then remained below 5% for more than four years, yet the Federal Reserve did not tighten monetary policy. This policy stance was consistent with a view of the economy, including faster productivity growth and increased exposure to international competition, that Chairman Greenspan had articulated nearly a decade before.

Opening: Catalog Librarian (new position) Pepperdine Law

Pepperdine University School of Law Library is seeking friendly, detail-oriented, and customer service-focused individual for the new position of Catalog Librarian.

Job Duties:  the Catalog Librarian will manage all aspects of the library's cataloging operations, including supervision of two and a half FTE paraprofessionals.  S/he will manage all original and copy cataloging, and will share responsibility for the library's automated library system with the library's technology staff.  Specific duties will include:    original and copy cataloging, including creation and revision of bibliographic records, authority work as necessary, management of recataloging and reclassification projects, and supervision of technical services department staff.  The successful candidate will assume the lead role in developing and implementing long and short term strategic plans for cataloging operations in conjunction with the Associate Director; lead and facilitate continuous improvement of cataloging functions; develop and update procedures, workflow, and policies; ensure data integrity of catalog and other integrated library system modules; participates in the library's weekend reference rotation; other duties and special projects as assigned.  Reports to the Associate Director for Library Services.

Qualifications:  Required:  M.L.S. from an ALA-accredited institution with 3-4 years of cataloging/technical services professional experience; experience with OCLC; knowledge of MARC, AACR2R, LCSH, LC classification system and standard authority control procedures; significant experience with integrated library systems; excellent project management skills; strong organization skills with meticulous attention to detail; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; creativity and an ability to think outside the box; demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all library users and staff, in a friendly, courteous, and professional fashion. 

Preferred: familiarity with legal materials; experience with Endeavor Voyager; demonstrated proficiency in standard PC applications and ability to quickly learn new technologies; reading knowledge of a Western European language.

Compensation:  Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Available:  August 1, 2006.  Consideration of applicants will begin immediately. 

To Apply:  Application by email is encouraged. Please send a letter of application, resume, and the names of three references  to Katie Kerr, Associate Director for Library Services, Pepperdine Law Library, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA  90263, or via email at Katie.kerr@pepperdine.edu

About Us:  Pepperdine University, named "the most beautiful campus" in the nation by The Princeton Review in 2006, is situated on an 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California.  The School of Law has approximately 680 students, 36 full-time faculty, and 60 law school staff.  It provides a balanced curriculum, a scholarly faculty, an award-winning trial advocacy program, three law reviews, and an extensive clinical and externship program.  The School supports several distinct institutes and centers, including the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, the Institute for Law, Religion, and Ethics, and the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law.  For more information about the School of Law, please see law.pepperdine.edu.  The Jerene Appleby Harnish Law Library is the focal point of the School of Law, containing over 375,000 volumes and volume equivalents.  The library houses three dedicated computer labs and is serviced by the law school's wireless network.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. Pepperdine is a private, medium-sized university, religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. 

Podcast Repository at American University Washington College of Law

Check out American University Washington College of Law's Podcast repository.

Brookings Report on Protecting the Homeland, 2006/2007 edition

Protecting the Homeland 2006/2007
Michael d'Arcy, Michael O'Hanlon, Peter Orszag, Jeremy Shapiro, and James Steinberg
Brookings Institution Press 2006
0-8157-6459-6, $22.95

From the blurb: Protecting the Homeland 2006/2007 reviews the current state of homeland security, assesses America’s remaining vulnerabilities, and suggests new policies to improve security in the United States. It presents specific recommendations for reforming intelligence; fostering international cooperation; increasing infrastructure and border protection; developing technology; and formulating countermeasures against specific types of aggression. Written with a sense of urgency, the book warns that while Americans can feel somewhat safer today than they did in 2001, much more needs to be done in improving the nation’s defenses against terrorism.

The Internet’s Growing Role in Life’s Major Moments

A new study, from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, has reveal that the Internet plays a major role in helping users handle critical events, such as helping someone with a major illness, buying a home, or sending a child to college. Not surprisingly, magic 8-ball sales have plummeted in recent years.

Check out the report.

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati Law Library

State Statistical Database

Looking for state statistics?  Check out StateMaster.com.

From the site:

"A unique statistical database which allows you to research and compare a multitude of different data on US states. We have compiled information from various primary sources such as the US Census Bureau, the FBI, and the National Center for Educational Statistics. More than just a mere collection of various data, StateMaster.com goes beyond the numbers to provide you with visualization technology like pie charts, maps, graphs and scatterplots. We also have thousands of map and flag images, state profiles, and correlations."

Popular stats include:

• Illegal Immigrants
• Current Gas Prices
• Oil Consumption
• Iraqi War Casualties

My personal favorite....toothless residents!

Hat tip to LibrarianInBlack.

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati Law Library

Opening: Senior Research Services Librarian (new position), Pepperdine Law

Pepperdine University School of Law Library is seeking an outgoing, friendly, creative, customer service-oriented individual for the new position of Senior Research Services Librarian.

Job Duties:  As a member of the reference department team, the Senior Research Services Librarian will provide outstanding service at the reference desk, and partner with law faculty and administrators to assist with in-depth research requests.  The successful candidate will serve as mentor and trainer for newer librarians on the team.  S/he will serve as primary coordinator in one of the following areas:  faculty research needs - direct faculty liaison program, assist with collection development and training; library publications and marketing - develop print and online materials such as pathfinders, library brochures, e-newsletters, and web content; teaching - coordinate first-year legal research classes, library orientation programs, legal research workshops, and one-on-one training sessions; electronic resources - coordinate the evaluation and selection of electronic resources, develop training and awareness programs for new resources.  All members of the research services team serve as liaisons to student law reviews and assist with cite-checking and other research needs; contribute to content development of the library's website and online newsletter; participate in first-year legal research instruction; supervise student research assistants; participate in the regular evening and weekend reference rotation.  This position reports to the Associate Director for Library Services.

Required Qualifications:  M.L.S. or equivalent graduate degree from an ALA-accredited library school and a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school.  Thorough knowledge of legal bibliography and scholarly research, including online services and resources.  Experience in lecturing effectively in both large- and small-group settings.  Ability to respond creatively and quickly to research requests.  Must be self-motivated, and able to work independently as well as in a team environment.  This is a service-oriented position and the successful candidate must have the demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all library users and staff, in a friendly, courteous, and professional fashion.  At least two years library or related experience.  Supervisory experience is preferred.

Salary:  Commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

To Apply:  Application by email is encouraged. The position is available immediately, and will remain open until filled.  Please send a letter of application, resume, and names of three references to Katie Kerr, Associate Director for Library Services, Pepperdine Law Library, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA  90263, or via email at Katie.kerr@pepperdine.edu

About Us:  Pepperdine University, named "the most beautiful campus" in the nation by The Princeton Review in 2006, is situated on an 830-acre campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California.  The School of Law has approximately 680 students, 36 full-time faculty, and 60 law school staff.  It provides a balanced curriculum, a scholarly faculty, an award-winning trial advocacy program, three law reviews, and an extensive clinical and externship program.  The School supports several distinct institutes and centers, including the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, the Institute for Law, Religion, and Ethics, and the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law.  For more information about the School of Law, please see law.pepperdine.edu.  The Jerene Appleby Harnish Law Library is the focal point of the School of Law, containing over 375,000 volumes and volume equivalents.  The library houses three dedicated computer labs and is served by the law school's wireless network.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. Pepperdine is a private, medium-sized university, religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. 

New Sponsor: Foundation Press, West & RIA

We are delighted to announce that our Law Professor Blogs Network has signed a three-year exclusive sponsorship agreement with Thomson, the corporate parent of Foundation Press, West Group, and RIA.  We are grateful for the support we have received from LexisNexis, our prior sponsor, and are looking forward to working with Thomson for many years to come. 

Roy Balleste to lead UDC Law Library

Roy Balleste has agreed to become the next Law Library Director of the Charles N. and Hilda H.M. Mason Law Library at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law effective June 26, 2006.

Mr. Balleste previously served as the Associate Law Library Director at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center. Mr. Balleste received his JD and LLM from the St. Thomas University School of Law, his MLIS from the University of South Florida, and is currently working on a Doctor of Science of Law in Intercultural Human Rights at the St. Thomas University School of Law.

Bibliographies of Western-language Works on Chinese law

Knut B. Pissler of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign Private Law and Private International Law in Hamburg has compiled an annual bibliography of Western-language works on Chinese law for several years. Don Clarke, editor of our sister blog, Chinese law Prof Blog, provides links to the last four bibliographies, including the 2005 draft bibliography. Check it out.

Recent CRS Reports on Taxation

Recent CRS Reports on taxation include the following:

• MAJOR TAX ISSUES IN THE 109TH CONGRESS
• PROPOSED FEDERAL INCOME TAX EXCLUSION FOR CIVILIANS SERVING IN COMBAT ZONES
• TAXES AND FISCAL YEAR 2006 BUDGET RECONCILIATION: A BRIEF SUMMARY
• TAX PREFERENCES FOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVS): CURRENT LAW AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES IN THE 109TH CONGRESS
• THE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES ON THE ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING: A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS
• THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX FOR INDIVIDUALS: LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AND THEIR REVENUE EFFECTS
• AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DESIGN OF THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT

MAJOR TAX ISSUES IN THE 109TH CONGRESS   
CRS Publication Date:  04/06/2006
Document No.:  RL32719
Author(s):  David L. Brumbaugh, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  During the first months of 2006, congressional deliberations on tax policy have returned to their focus at the close of 2005: budget reconciliation. The fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget resolution (H.Con.Res. 95), approved in April 2005, called for net tax cuts totaling $17.8 billion for FY2006 and $105.7 billion over five years. $11.0 billion of the FY2006 tax cuts and $70.0 billion in cuts over five years were included in reconciliation instructions.

PROPOSED FEDERAL INCOME TAX EXCLUSION FOR CIVILIANS SERVING IN COMBAT ZONES   
CRS Publication Date:  04/13/2006
Document No.:  RL33230
Author(s):  Pamela J. Jackson, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  This report provides information about the tax treatment of both the earned income of members of the Armed Forces serving in combat zones and the earned income of U.S. citizens working overseas; a brief synopsis of the current legislative proposal to expand income tax incentives to government civilian employees in a combat zone; and an analysis of the relevant policy issues.

TAXES AND FISCAL YEAR 2006 BUDGET RECONCILIATION: A BRIEF SUMMARY   
CRS Publication Date:  04/06/2006
Document No.:  RS22322
Author(s):  David L. Brumbaugh, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  As 2005 drew to a close, Congress began consideration of the tax-reduction reconciliation bill. On November 15, both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee approved separate tax-cut proposals as H.R. 4297 and S. 2020, respectively. The full Senate approved a slightly modified version of S. 2020 on November 18; the House passed H.R. 4297 on December 8. On February 2, 2006, the Senate approved H.R. 4297 after amending it by replacing the contents of the House-passed bill with those of S. 2020. An important part of both the House- and Senate-passed bills is the extension of numerous temporary, tax-reducing provisions that are scheduled to expire at various times over the next several years.

TAX PREFERENCES FOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (SUVS): CURRENT LAW AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES IN THE 109TH CONGRESS   
CRS Publication Date:  04/04/2006
Document No.:  RL32173
Author(s):  Gary Guenther, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  This report examines current federal tax preferences for SUVs and legislation in the 109th Congress that would alter them.

THE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES ON THE ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING: A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS   
CRS Publication Date:  04/05/2006
Document No.:  RL33343
Author(s):  Thomas L. Hungerford, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  This report examines the consequences of government spending, especially public social welfare expenditures, and taxation on the economy and the well-being of the citizens. This analysis summarizes the results from previous studies and uses data from 21 industrial countries to compare the U.S. experience with that of other countries.

THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX FOR INDIVIDUALS: LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AND THEIR REVENUE EFFECTS   
CRS Publication Date:  03/29/2006
Document No.:  RS22100
Author(s):  Gregg Esenwein, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  Temporary provisions intended to mitigate the effects of the AMT expired at the end of 2005. As a result, the number of taxpayers subject to the AMT will increase from 3 million in 2004 to 20 million in 2006. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending and indexing the 2005 AMT parameters would reduce federal revenue by $282 billion through the end of FY2011. On November 18, 2005, the Senate approved a tax cut reconciliation plan - the Tax Relief Act of 2005 (S. 2020) - that would, among other things, provide AMT tax relief through 2006. On December 7, 2005, the House approved a stand-alone measure, H.R. 4096, extending the higher AMT exemption for one year and indexing the exemption for inflation. On December 8, the House, as a part of its budget reconciliation legislation, approved H.R. 4297 which, among other things, would provide partial AMT relief through a one-year extension of the treatment of nonrefundable personal tax credits under the AMT. The first session of the 109th Congress ended, however, with action on these legislative initiatives still pending.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DESIGN OF THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT   
CRS Publication Date:  03/21/2006
Document No.:  RS22389
Author(s):  Pamela J. Jackson, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-135) expanded the amount of LIHTC allocation authority for Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In addition to the 2006 allocation of $1.90 per capita for each state, the LIHTC allocation was increased for 2006, 2007, and 2008. The act also makes an additional $3.5 million in LIHTC authority available to both Texas and Florida in 2006. Other legislation introduced in the 109th Congress proposes additional increases in the allocation authority of the LIHTC. H.R. 2681, the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2005, proposes to double LIHTC authority nationwide. Both H.R. 659 and H.R. 3159, the Community Restoration and Revitalization Acts of 2005, propose increases in, and administrative modifications to, the tax credit in order to target it more directly to low-income communities. H.R. 4873 proposes several administrative changes to the LIHTC.

CRS Reports can be obtained from GalleryWatch.com. Individual reports are available from www.pennyhill.com.

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati College of Law

New from Hein: The Civil Procedure Law and Court Rules of the People's Republic of China

The Civil Procedure Law and Court Rules of the People's Republic of China by Wei Luo

Publisher's Description: Legal researchers and practitioners will discover in this work the essential resource to understanding the complex Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (CPL). Wei Luo has emerged as a premiere translator, fluent in both English and Chinese. Luo employs his training in both librarianship and the law to lucidly and accurately explain the relatively new yet sophisticated system of Chinese law to the would-be researcher.

Not only does the author succeed in providing a clear, accurate translation of the Civil Procedure Law, but he also includes the first-ever annotations in English for 30 crucial court rules of the Supreme People's Court (SPC). Luo explains the law by focusing on five of the most significant of the hundreds of court rules and judicial interpretations promulgated by the SPC to supplement the CPL. In the introduction, he recaps the legislative history and nature of the CPL and in a special section, covers the Separated Set of Procedures for Maritime Litigation in China.

Although Chinese Civil Procedure law has distinctive characteristics unfamiliar to most Western jurists, the significance has diminished since enactment of the CPL in 1991. Luo notes that the Chinese judicial system has developed a sophisticated and relatively independent system of adjudicating maritime disputes.  As China moves toward judicial reform, polishing legislation and judicial interpretations of civil procedure law and relevant court rules, Luo is optimistic that one day Chinese judges will become more independent from administrative influences, more ethical in adjudicating civil cases and more competent in rendering fair judgments.

1 volume $90.00
Item #332490; viii, 419 pages; ISBN 0-8377-3410-X
Published: Buffalo; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2006 CHINESE LAW SERIES, VOLUME 10

Release of Foreign Relations Volume

The Department of State has released Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976, volume VI, Vietnam, January 1969-July 1970, the first of five volumes to cover the end of the Vietnam war.

From the press release:

"The Presidential election of November 1968 had demonstrated just how divisive Vietnam had become in American society and politics. Vietnam was the new President’s first priority. The volume demonstrates that in the early months of 1969 there was no specific plan to end the war. Rather, the Nixon administration searched for ways to demonstrate to the leaders in Hanoi that there was a new "firm hand at the helm" prepared to both talk and fight. Nixon and his advisers hoped to convince Hanoi that it was dealing with an adversary that would negotiate only from a position of strength. This volume documents the search for the formula to convince Hanoi: the secret bombing of Cambodia, Vietnamization and U.S. troops withdrawals, integration of the secret war in Laos with the conflict in Vietnam, covert operations against North Vietnam, and most importantly the U.S. and South Vietnamese attack on the enemy sanctuaries in Cambodia.

The volume also covers the negotiations to end the war, with the initial negotiations focusing on the private talks in Paris between the heads of the delegations at formal, but sterile, peace talks. The Nixon administration also sought to engage the Soviet Union to moderate North Vietnamese behavior, but without much success. The secret negotiations between Henry Kissinger; Xuan Thuy, the head of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s delegation in Paris; and Politburo member Le Duc Tho are all covered in detail."

Ron Jones, University of Cincinnati Law Library

Website Reviews Published in Cornell Law Library's InSITE

The April 17, 2006 issue of InSITE reviewed the following websites:

• Adoption LawSite
• Corporate Crime Reporter
• Enron Trial Exhibits and Releases
• Journal for Crime, Conflict and Media Culture
• Plagiarism Today

Text of reviews

Adoption LawSite
Founded in the fall of 1998, the Adoption Law Center is a project of the Capital University Law School and the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy (NCALP).  According to its mission statement, the Center "seeks to improve the laws, policies and practices associated with child protection and adoption systems."  The Adoption LawSite has been designed as a resource for prospective adoptive parents, biological parents, adoption and child welfare lawyers, juvenile and family court judges, and child advocates of all kinds to assist them in locating child welfare and adoption information.  This site offers visitors the full text of related state and federal statutes and regulations, as well as selected cases.  Secondary sources include summaries of each state’s statutes, regulations, and cases, and summaries of each federal statute   While Adoption LawSite is free, registration is required to search the site and download documents. [BWK]

Corporate Crime Reporter
The Corporate Crime Reporter is a print legal newsletter in its twentieth year of publication.  The newsletter has a broad subscription base including prosecutors, defense law firms, corporations, and academic law libraries.  The website is the online companion to the print publication and is primarily devoted to reproducing highlighted material that originally appeared in print.  Numerous feature articles are presented.  Recent topics include foreign bribery prosecutions and an Iraq False Claims Act case.  The balance of the site provides reports, documents, and interviews.  Items of interest include the copies of indictments in several high-profile cases, including the Martha Stewart, W.R. Grace, and Texans for a Republican Majority PAC cases.  Interviews posted to the site are with attorneys who are notable in the corporate crime area, and an index to the interviews published from 1987 to 2006 is available. [MM]

Enron Trial Exhibits and Releases
The Department of Justice has put together a website to provide convenient access to documents related to the government’s case against former Enron executives.  The bulk of the material is numerous exhibits admitted into evidence by the government during February and March of 2006. The format of the material is the same as admitted in court.  Most of the files are in PDF or TXT.  Exhibits include e-mails, transcripts of conference calls, letters, meeting minutes, and handwritten notes.  The material is organized by date admitted into evidence.  Also available on the site is the government’s list of witnesses, dated January 2006, and several press releases.  The site includes a basic search feature that assists users in navigating through the extensive material. [MM]

Journal for Crime, Conflict and Media Culture
The Journal for Crime, Conflict and Media Culture (jc2m) is a peer-reviewed UK-based interdisciplinary journal exploring the critical nexus of media culture, criminal justice and conflict.  Established in the summer of 2003, the Journal is an independent, non-profit e-journal which seeks to publish international research concerned with representations of, and inter-relations between, crime and conflict in mass media and popular culture.  The Journal's website contains the full text of all issues and articles in PDF (but not in HTML).  Issues are browseable but not searchable.  There is no index and articles are not abstracted.  The Journal’s website also provides interested authors with jc2m’s style sheet, call for papers, mission statement, and editorial board. [BWK]

Plagiarism Today
Targeted specifically to webmasters and other digital rights stakeholders, Plagiarism Today (PT) is a blog dedicated to increasing awareness among copyright holders and the media regarding the prevalence of plagiarism on the Web.  PT has been online since June 2005, and covers a broad number of categories, including Legal Issues, DMCA, Prevention, and Products.  A unique contribution of this blog includes guides to Internet plagiarism for webmasters, which cover "Stopping Internet Plagiarism," "How to Find Plagiarism," "Contacting a Plagiarist, "Finding the Host" and other useful tips.  The author has also created a "Host Report," which summarizes the responsiveness of web hosting companies to reports of copyright violations.  Plagiarism Today allows comments and the site is searchable. [BWK]

InSITE contributors: Julie Jones, Research Attorney, Brandy Kreisler, J.D., M.L.S., Matt Morrison, Research Attorney, Jean Pajerek (editor), Head of Technical Services & Information Management, all current or former members of the professional staff at Cornell Law Library.

About InSITE: InSITE highlights selected law-related Web sites in two ways: as an annotated publication issued electronically and in print; and, as a keyword-searchable database. The law librarians at Cornell evaluate potentially useful Web sites, select the most valuable ones, and provide commentary and subject access to them.

Digital versions of this information can be accessed via:

1. Searchable database or by browsing current and archived issues on the web: Click InSITE at www.lawschool.cornell.edu/library

2. E-mail subscription. Send the following request: SUBSCRIBE InSITE-L <YourFirstName> <YourLastName> to: listproc@cornell.edu

3. Readers can subscribe to the new InSITE RSS feed at http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/library/RESOURCES/insite.htm

The contents of InSITE and any recommendations therein are the opinions of the authors and do not reflect the views of Cornell University. InSITE is copyright protected by Cornell Law Library, © 2006 Cornell Law Library. Permission to republish InSITE issues on Law Librarian Blog has been granted. For permissions, contact Jean M. Pajerek [jmp8@cornell.edu].

Cornell Law Library URL: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/library

Most Cited Law Blogs

On 3L Epiphany, Ian Best has published two citation studies he just completed:

Law Blogs Cited by Law Reviews | Law Blogs Cited in Court Opinions

Professional Reading: The Law and Economics of Software Security

The Law and Economics of Software Security
Robert W. Hahn, Anne Layne-Farrar. Apr 2006.

Abstract: Security in software networks relies on technology, law, and economics. As the cost of software security breaches becomes more apparent, there has been greater interest in developing and implementing solutions for different parts of the problem.

In this paper, we provide the first comprehensive assessment of the software security issue that uses a law and economics framework. We begin by offering a definition of software security that illustrates the complexity of the problem. We then review and critique the literature assessing the costs of software security. Finally, we evaluate a number of legal, economic and technical approaches for addressing security problems.