Criminal Law Library BlogArticles Posted in Information Technology
The Emerging Field of Electronic Discovery Project Management
By Brett Burney Principal Burney Consultants LLC
We are proud to reprint the following article “The Emerging Field of Electronic Discovery Project Management” which first appeared as a TechnoLawyer TechnoFeature exclusive on September 1. It is being reprinted here with the written permission of both the author Brett Burney, a world recognized authority on issues related to bridging the chasm between the legal and technical frontiers of electronic discovery, and Technolawyer. Whether acknowledged or not we are living in an age of electronic discovery and must learn to cope with its challenges,which requires authorative, updated information such as that provided in Mr. Burney’s article. The complete article is presented as a pdf file provided by TechnoLawyer which can be read by clicking on the link following some introductroy material from the article we have provided below for your convenience.
INTRODUCTION
New on LLRX.Com August 2009
**The Government Domain: Tracking Congress 2.0
http://www.llrx.com/columns/govdomain42.htm
With the 111th Congress of the United States reconvening on September 8th, e-gov expert Peggy Garvin highlights new tools and sources that enhance and expand your ability to track and monitor the action.
Responding to Real Time Information, Open Systems, and the Obama IT Vision
Change 2010:
August 27, 2009, Washington, DC –“The Obama administration has challenged Federal information technology managers to explore more open systems,” said Arpan Patel, Director of Somat’s Information Engineering practice. “Federal managers face a compelling need to understand the differences between traditional approaches to information technology and increasingly important open approaches.”
Somat Engineering, the company that builds engineering solutions worldwide, is holding a special, limited attendance briefing, Change 2010: Responding to Real Time Information, Open Systems and the Obama IT Vision, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on September 23, 2009, at 9am.
U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Stays Microsoft Word Sales Ban
According to a report by Matthew Weigett in the September 4, 2009 Federal Computer Week, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC has held that Mircosoft can keep selling its Word software in the United States. Microsoft had filed an emergency motion with the court to stay a ruling by Judge Leonard Davis of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas that ordered to the company to stop selling Word in the United States and to also pay the plaintiff i4i, a Toronto based software developer, over $290 million in damages and interest. The motion to stay has been granted, allowing Word sales in the U.S. to continue while the infringement lawsuit is appealed. The appeal is scheduled for September 23.
Cybercrime: Rogue Computer Conficker Continues to Counfound Security Experts
The program, known asConficker( http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-088A.html), uses flaws in Windows software to co-opt machines and link them into a virtual computer that can be commanded remotely by its authors. With more than five million of these zombies now under its control government, business and home computers in more than 200 countries this shadowy computer has power that dwarfs that of the worlds largest data centers. Conficker continues to confound the efforts of security experts to trace its origins and determine its purpose.
For additional commentary see John Markoff’s article, “Defying Experts, Rogue Computer Code Still Lurks”, published in the August 27, 2009 New York Times.
Government, Cookies, and Federal Web Sites – Continued
After posting two articles on this Web site here and here related to the Obama administration seriously considering allowing much greater flexibility regarding the use of cookies and tracking devices on government Web sites, I thought I was finished with the topic. That is until this morning August 25 when I notices a well written and thoughtful editorial about “cookies” and the web in the New York Times. Since the editorial helped to clarify my thinking I wanted to share it with you here.
After a discussion of the issues, here in a nutshell are the concerns raised and approaches presented in the editorial:
1. More stringent requirements regarding the permanent and prominet display of notices on all government Web sites to clearly inform users that use of the Web sites is being tracked.
Transparency Chic According to Katherine Mangnu-Ward
In her interesting and provocative article, “Transparency Chic”, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Senior Editor at Reason Magazine, writes: “…Privacy is dead. But one kind of information is still cozily tucked away, the law…[W]ith the possible exception of the ever-leaky CIA, no aspect of government remains more locked down than the secretive, hierarchical judicial branch. Digital records of court filings, briefs and transcripts sit behind paywalls like Lexis and Westlaw.”
Katherine also writes about PACER and recommends that we all check out RECAP (PACER spelled backward) a free extension of Firefox to help gain access to and download documents. RECAP is a project of the Center for Information Technology and Policy at Princeton University.that, among other things, helps PACER users build a free and open repository of public records and also facilitates the downloading of these reords. RECAP is not a substitute for PACER; rather it is meant to be somewhat like a PACER facilitator. It is my understanding that you cannot use RECAP effectively unless you are also a PACER user. I go into this detail because Katherine recommends RECAP be used to download her article which is reproduced here with her permission.
Whether you agree or disagree, Katherine Mangu-Ward’s article is well worth reading. Here it is: I am also providing a link to her article as it first appeared so that you can also read the comments at that location
CLLB Information Security Newsletter – Cookies
Volume 2 Number 8 August 2009.
From the Desk of David G. Badertscher
Mmmm… cookies – chocolate chip and oatmeal with raisins! Cookies are one of the most popular snacks that exist today. Did you know you can get “browser” cookies almost every time you go on the Internet? These cookies help with Internet commerce, allow quicker access to web sites, or can personalize your browsing experience. However, there are some privacy and security issues to be aware of, so it is important to understand the purpose of a “browser” cookie and manage their use on your computer appropriately. This tip will help you understand what a “browser” cookie is, what it is used for and what risks might be associated with using cookies.
Hacking Attacks Exposed
A summary of an article, “Black Hat to expose attacks,” by Tim Greene
August 5, 2009
This summary was forwarded by Judge Herbert B. Dixon,Jr of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia with the permission of the Center for Legal and Court Technology, formerly the Courtroom 21 project, http://www.courtroom21.net/ . Upon receiving a copy, I contacted Judge Dixon and we agreed that it was appropriate to post it here in recognition of the important work the Center for Legal and Court Technology is continuing.