Figaro
VIP Member
- Jul 23, 2014
- 328
- 56
- 80
One: Pass anti-troll patent reform
No tech issue in the 113th Congress showed more promiseand ultimately fell down harderthan patent litigation reform. The issue of patent trolls, companies that have no business outside of threatening patent lawsuits, hit the big time in 2013.
In no small part, thats because the trolls invaded Main Street USA en masse. Bottom-of-the-barrel patent trolls sent out demand letters, asking small businesses to pay up for things like using off-the-shelf wireless routers and scanners. Any member of Congress who hadnt heard of the trolls surely has now.
Two: Reform ECPA, and finally grant due process for e-mail privacy
Changing the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) has been on the digerati wish list for years. This law, passed in 1986, creates heavy criminal penalties for unauthorized entry into protected computers. Prosecutors have applied the law to things like violating a websites terms of service.
It wasnt until last year when it looked like there might be room, finally, for a breakthrough. It was an opportunity born of tragedy. In January 2013, Aaron Swartz, a hacker and activist who was facing prosecution under the law, took his own life. Swartzs untimely death created a movement to pare back the elements of CFAA that had long been seen as overreaching.
Three: Do something on immigration
This item is a little different from the others on the listthere are understandable reasons why its stuck. Its an issue that ignites strong passions, and it isnt strictly a tech issue.
It does relate, though. Companies have complained that US reserves of workers who are highly trained in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas arent enough to meet their needs. They want a big increase in the number of skilled workers who are given visa through the H-1B and other programs.
Immigration reform is a mantra among tech CEOs, and it's now a top lobbying priority. They'd like to see more educated workers allowed in. H-1B visas are currently capped at 45,000 annually.
Well, and what do they expect in the upcoming elections if even in this area they have continuous failures?
No tech issue in the 113th Congress showed more promiseand ultimately fell down harderthan patent litigation reform. The issue of patent trolls, companies that have no business outside of threatening patent lawsuits, hit the big time in 2013.
In no small part, thats because the trolls invaded Main Street USA en masse. Bottom-of-the-barrel patent trolls sent out demand letters, asking small businesses to pay up for things like using off-the-shelf wireless routers and scanners. Any member of Congress who hadnt heard of the trolls surely has now.
Two: Reform ECPA, and finally grant due process for e-mail privacy
Changing the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) has been on the digerati wish list for years. This law, passed in 1986, creates heavy criminal penalties for unauthorized entry into protected computers. Prosecutors have applied the law to things like violating a websites terms of service.
It wasnt until last year when it looked like there might be room, finally, for a breakthrough. It was an opportunity born of tragedy. In January 2013, Aaron Swartz, a hacker and activist who was facing prosecution under the law, took his own life. Swartzs untimely death created a movement to pare back the elements of CFAA that had long been seen as overreaching.
Three: Do something on immigration
This item is a little different from the others on the listthere are understandable reasons why its stuck. Its an issue that ignites strong passions, and it isnt strictly a tech issue.
It does relate, though. Companies have complained that US reserves of workers who are highly trained in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas arent enough to meet their needs. They want a big increase in the number of skilled workers who are given visa through the H-1B and other programs.
Immigration reform is a mantra among tech CEOs, and it's now a top lobbying priority. They'd like to see more educated workers allowed in. H-1B visas are currently capped at 45,000 annually.
Well, and what do they expect in the upcoming elections if even in this area they have continuous failures?