Research
REPORTS
ALL PUBLICATIONS
25 July, 2014
Open Data and Privacy Primer
You can download here a PDF version of the reader
Introduction
These brief notes aim to help frame the discussions at the Expert Workshop on Open Data and Privacy, London June 2014.
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16 July, 2014
Open Rights Group’s suggested amendments to Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill
Open Rights Group is in favour of the following amendments to the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill.
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14 July, 2014
Joint briefing to MPs on Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill
https://www.
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09 July, 2014
Briefing to MPs on Data Retention legislation
Data retention: policy briefing – PDF
Update Jul 14: Briefing based on proposed DRIP bill
It is rumoured that the government is to introduce “emergency” legislation in response to a judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in April 2014 which held that the EU Data Retention Directive was unlawful on the grounds that it breached human rights.
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25 December, 2013
Annual Report 2012
Contents
Chair’s Foreword
Organisational Report
Accounts 2010
Management Accounts 2011
ORG’s Impact
Free Speech
Innovation and IP
Privacy
Legal rights and tech rights
Appendix: Campaigns and communications tactics
Chair’s Foreword
James Cronin, Chair of the Open Rights Group Board
As we all foresaw our world is now digital.
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04 December, 2013
Annual Report 2011
Contents
Chair’s Foreword
Organisational Report
Accounts 2010
Management Accounts 2011
ORG’s Impact
Free Speech
Innovation and IP
Privacy
Legal rights and tech rights
Appendix: Campaigns and communications tactics
Chair’s Foreword
James Cronin, Chair of the Open Rights Group Board
As we all foresaw our world is now digital.
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08 November, 2013
Digital Privacy
Response to Nominet domain registration policy review
Contact: Peter Bradwell, peter@openrightsgroup.org
1.
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31 October, 2013
Annual Report 2013
Contents
Company Information
Directors’ Report
Accountants’ Report
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
Notes to Financial Statements
Company Information
Directors
James Cronin
Simon Phipps
Alec Muffett
Maria Farrell
Harry Metcalfe
Ben Laurie
Milena Popova
Owen Blacker
John Elliott
Secretary James Cronin
Accountants Urban Ledgers Ltd 14 Thornhill Square London NI 1BQ
Bankers Cooperative Bank plc PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
Open Rights Report of the Board of Directors for the year ended 31 October 2013
Principal activities
The principal activities of Open Rights (which trades as the Open Rights Group or ORG) are:
To raise awareness of digital rights matters in the media, with policy makers and with the general public.
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30 October, 2013
Questions for Westminster Hall debate
Download briefing as PDF
Questions for Parliament: Open Rights Group briefing
Westminster Hall debate on oversight of surveillance
1 Is the oversight working?
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30 October, 2013
Digital Privacy
Mass surveillance oversight debate
Download PDF version
Civil Society Concerns about UK Surveillance
Secret mass surveillance is a threat to democracy and the rule of law.
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11 October, 2013
Response to IPO “Copyright in Europe” consultation
Context
The “Copyright in Europe” consultation was aimed at developing the IPO thinking on how best to respond to the copyright debate, and involved them bringing together “a number of questions on the European copyright framework and areas that have been highlighted by the European Commission for further action.
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07 October, 2013
Response to US surveillance Review Group
Context
In August, following revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden, US President Obama set up a review board to look at the scale, scope and oversight of NSA surveillance.
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04 October, 2013
Response to CMS Committee inquiry into online safety
Context
The CMS Committee Online Safety inquiry launched in August 2013 and focuses on three issues:
How best to protect minors from accessing adult content;
Filtering out extremist material, including images of child abuse and material intended to promote terrorism or other acts of violence;
Preventing abusive or threatening comments on social media.
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25 September, 2013
Consultation on proposals for data sharing and publication by HM Revenue & Customs to deliver wider public benefits.
This consultation response is also available as a PDF: https://www.
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20 September, 2013
Response to Royal Mail PAF licensing consultation
The Royal Mail’s consultation document, which gives details of the proposals, is available from the Royal Mail website.
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16 September, 2013
Response to Nominet’s second .uk consultation
Context
Nominet are running a consultation on their idea to introduce second level.
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18 June, 2013
PRISM, the NSA, Surveillance and the UK: Remaining unanswered questions for Parliament
What is PRISM?
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28 April, 2013
Digital Surveillance
Contents
In the wake of the Government’s proposed “Snoopers’ Charter”, ORG asks why intrusive new laws are being suggested, if they are needed at all and what the alternatives are.
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13 March, 2013
Submission to DPP consultation on social media prosecutions
In December 2012 the Director of Public Prosecutions launched a consultation on “interim guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media”.
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06 March, 2013
Background on the Communications Data Bill
“Before re-drafted legislation is introduced there should be a new round of consultation with technical experts, industry, law enforcement bodies, public authorities and civil liberties groups … Meaningful consultation can take place only once there is clarity as to the real aims of the Home Office, and clarity as to the expected use of the powers under the Bill.
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01 March, 2013
Data Protection Regulation: Key amendments in the JURI Committee
The Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee in the European Parliament will vote on amendments to the proposed Data Protection Regulation on March 18th-19th.
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14 February, 2013
Data Protection Regulation: “LobbyPlag” briefing
Source: http://www.
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14 February, 2013
Data Protection Regulation: A brief guide to the issues
The General Data Protection Regulation was put forward by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.
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11 January, 2013
Response to Ofcom white space consultation
(Ofcom: TV white spaces – A consultation on white space device requirements)
We welcome the ‘license exempt’ approach to white space exploitation taken by Ofcom.
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07 January, 2013
Response to Nominet direct.uk consultation
Our response offers general comments on the proposals set out in the consultation document, rather than addressing the consultation questions specifically.
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18 December, 2012
Digital Privacy
Response to the DfE National Pupil Database consultation
Context
In late 2012 the Department for Education launched a consultation looking at who is able to access and use the information held in the National Pupil Database.
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17 December, 2012
Parental controls and Internet filtering fact sheet
Context
Over the summer of 2012, the Department for Education consulted on whether Internet filters should be turned on by default for the purposes of online child protection.
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11 December, 2012
Briefing on the Joint Committee’s final report into the draft Communications Data Bill
December 11th 2012
Key points from the Committee’s report:
The Joint Committee say the draft Bill pays “insufficient attention to the duty to respect the right to privacy, and goes much further than it need or should.
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07 November, 2012
Response to the CMS committee inquiry on the creative economy
For more information contact Peter Bradwell, peter@openrightsgroup.org
November 2nd 2012
We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Committee’s call for evidence.
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28 September, 2012
Response to Ofcom’s consultation on the Digital Economy Act Sharing of Costs Order
September 2012
Context
The Sharing of Costs Order basically sets out who pays for what bits of the setting up and running of the obligations under the Digital Economy Act.
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28 September, 2012
Response to the Midata consultation
September 2012
Context
The ‘midata’ agenda is an attempt by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to empower consumers through a right to request their personal data back from businesses.
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28 September, 2012
Response to the ICO consultation on the draft anonymisation code of practice
August 23 2012
Context
In May the Information Commissioner’s Office launched a consultation on their draft anonymisation code of practice.
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24 September, 2012
Digital Privacy
Response to DfE consultation on parental controls
September 2012.
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24 August, 2012
Submission to Joint Committee on the draft Communications Data Bill
A Joint Committee of MPs and Peers are scrutinising the draft Communications Data Bill (CDB).
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27 July, 2012
Response to Initial Obligations Code consultation
In June 2012 Ofcom published its revised Initial Obligations Code.
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29 June, 2012
Digital Privacy
Internet censorship and child protection
What’s happening?
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29 June, 2012
Communications Data Bill – aka the ‘Snooper’s Charter’
In the 2012 Queen’s Speech the Government announced that they would “bring forward measures to maintain the ability of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access vital communications data under strict safeguards to protect the public, subject to scrutiny of draft clauses.
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04 June, 2012
Response to Government Open Standards consultation
Introduction
We welcome the opportunity to respond to this Open Standards consultation.
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23 May, 2012
Public Administration Committee: Open Data strategy
For the last 18 months, ORG has been watching the coalition’s Open Data policy.
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16 May, 2012
Analysis of proposed changes to the EU PSI Directive
The paper can be downloaded here
At the end of 2011 the European Commission presented a proposal for the review of the EU Directive on the reuse of public sector information (hereafter referred to as Commission’s Review) that updated the directive and strengthened certain provisions (1).
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14 May, 2012
Digital Privacy
Mobile Internet censorship: what’s happening and what we can do about it
This report is about mobile Internet censorship.
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09 May, 2012
Briefing on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Open Rights Group.
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04 April, 2012
Submission to the All Party Parliamentary IP Group Inquiry
Context:
The All Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group announced in early March 2012 that they would hold an inquiry into the ‘role of Government in protecting and promoting intellectual property’.
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22 March, 2012
Submission to the IPO’s Copyright Consultation
Context
In 2010 the Prime Minister asked Professor Ian Hargreaves to review the intellectual property law and its impact on growth and innovation.
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06 March, 2012
MoJ Data Protection call for evidence
Consultation website here
Question: How will these proposals impact you or the bodies you represent?
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07 December, 2011
Open Data, Privacy and Anonymisation Briefing
Background
The UK government has been following a policy of opening up public data, carrying on from the previous administration and the recommendations of the highly influential Power of Information Review.
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21 November, 2011
Submission to Universal Periodic Review
Human rights and technology in the UK
“Do not treat cyberspace as if it belongs to you….
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27 October, 2011
Public Data Corporation
Public information and private investment
Reform of the trading funds providing public sector information is a welcome initiative.
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27 October, 2011
Open Rights Group Consultation Response: Making Open Data Real
Introduction and general issues
Open Rights Group broadly welcomes the consultation paper, as it makes a clear commitment to generalise proactive disclosure of data by public bodies, under an open license, complemented by a new ‘Right to Data’.
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19 October, 2011
Can’t look now: finding film online
Last week YouTube announced the opening of its movie rental service.
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13 October, 2011
Briefing on the Public Data Corporation
The PDC Consultation
The coalition government is running two consultations in the summer of 2011.
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05 July, 2011
Digital Privacy
Briefing to Ed Vaizey: website blocking
Open Rights Group believes that website blocking and the filtering of content should be avoided.
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05 April, 2011
Freedom Bill: Data Protection amendments
Background to Data Protection Act Amendments
April 2011.
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16 March, 2011
Our view on the Public Data Corporation
PUBLIC DATA CORPORATION ENGAGEMENT
Open Rights Group
1 Introduction
The stated objectives of the PDC are:
Making data freely available and setting consistency on charges
Centre of excellence, efficiency and lower costs
Attracting private investment
As a starting point ORG believes that government should enable the development of data services and not compete with the private sector in the provision of these.
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07 March, 2011
Hargreaves Review of IP and Growth
22nd February 2011
Outline
Introduction and recommendations.
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01 March, 2011
Effective use of IT by Government
ORG’s response concentrates on these four questions:
How well is IT used in the design, delivery and improvement of public services?
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01 March, 2011
Submission to the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act
1st February 2011
Here you can download our submission to the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act, which was filed and served on February 22nd.
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17 December, 2010
RIPA consultation response
Introduction
The Consultation process has been extremely flawed.
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26 November, 2010
Letter to Pauline Neville Jones re: RIPA consultation
Pauline Neville-Jones Home Office 2 Marsham Street 25 November 2010 London SW1P 4DF Dear Pauline Neville-Jones,
RIPA Consultation
Your Department recently issued a consultation on changes to RIPA, which we believe are very important to UK privacy regulation.
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24 November, 2010
Annual Report 2010
Contents
Foreword — Harry Metcalfe, Vice Chair
1.
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02 November, 2010
Open Data – a quiet revolution
There is a quiet revolution taking place in some of the corridors of power, and it gathers under the banner of Open Data.
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26 October, 2010
Copyright and web blocking in the UK
Web blocking and injunctions for copyright infringement in the UK
Contents
Introduction
Ethics and practicalities
Legal analysis of UK blocking Injunctions
Introduction
Multinational, industrial-scale copyright holders continue to pursue a number of inappropriate means of enforcing their rights.
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18 October, 2010
Call for evidence: Data Protection Act
Introduction
The Open Rights Group actively campaigns on digital privacy and technology issues.
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28 September, 2010
Ofcom Net Neutrality consultation
Introduction
ORG welcomes the discussion paper, but is concerned that Ofcom is not minded to ask for the power to set a “minimum quality of service on the Internet”.
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03 August, 2010
Response to the Ofcom Consultation on the Initial Obligations Code
PDF (530kb)
Response to the Ofcom Consultation on Online Infringement of Copyright and the Digital Economy Act 2010
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Why we need another round of consultation: severe errors and omissions in the consultation document
No definition of the process by which evidence is collected
The code does not currently require evidence to be robust
No definition of the process by which customers are identified
No provisions explaining how ISPs keep information about subscribers
Threshold for determining a ‘relevant subscriber’ is not set
No justification or explanation of data protection concerns
Content of notifications needs standardisation, as required by the Act
Appeals are misimplemented, requiring stronger burdens of proof on subscribers than the Act requires
Definition of “copyright owner” is incorrect and could lead to incorrect advice, privacy abuses and unfair release of personal data
Ofcom must explain how their code meets the Act’s criteria for approval
WiFi operators still face problems and the Code could lead to closure of networks
Summary of problems
3 Specific problems with the code other than non-compliance with the DEA
Effect of CIRs on future technical measures / the failure to warn about consequences of a CIR
Advice to subscribers
Subscriber Appeals
Specific missing defences
Evidential requirements of Copyright owners and ISPs
4 Answers to Ofcom’s own questions
5 Bringing Ofcom’s work back into line with their broader objective and those of the DEA
6 Summary: another round of consultation is needed
1 Introduction
ORG believes another round of consultation is essential to meet Ofcom’s obligation to properly consult on these proposals.
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25 May, 2010
Response to the Consultation on Cost Sharing
Online Infringement of Copyright (Initial Obligations) Cost Sharing Consultation Document
Response of the Open Rights Group
The Open Rights Group (ORG) has been a consistent respondent to the Government’s consultations on the issues of copyright and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the BIS cost consultation.
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27 April, 2010
Response to the Gowers2 Consultation
Taking forward the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property: Second stage of commentary on copyright exceptions
Response to the Intellectual Property Office Consultation
The Open Rights Group (ORG) has consistently responded1 to the Government’s consultations on copyright exceptions and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the second stage of the Gowers Review.
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22 March, 2010
Ofcom BBC DRM Consultation Response
Ofcom BBC DRM consultation response
Signatories:
Open Rights Group
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Free Software Foundation
Somethin’ Else!
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19 March, 2010
Brief on Digital Economy Bill
Friday 19 March 2010
What we are calling for
We want a debate.
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08 January, 2010
EU Copyright Reflection Paper
Introduction
ORG thanks the Commission for the opportunity to comment on this important reflection paper, in advance of any more detailed proposals for copyright reform that might be forthcoming.
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01 December, 2009
The Digital Economy Bill – a first critical look
Prepared by Francis Davey – 1 December 2009
This is an explanation and analysis of the “copyright infringement provisions” the Digital Economy Bill — strictly speaking this means clauses 4 to 15 which amend the Communications Act 2003 to add new sections 124A to 124L, but I am also considering clauses 16 (definitions) and 17 (amendments to copyright law) as well.
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30 November, 2009
Digital Economy Bill: Briefing
Digital Economy Bill: Brief to Lords on Second Reading
Summary
The Bill needs considerable work.
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27 November, 2009
Annual Report 2009
Contents
(i) Chair’s foreward
About the Open Rights Group
(ii) Copyright and online rights
Copyright term extension
P2P and ‘disconnection’
BBC and HD DTT
(iii) Open Internet
Telecoms Package and Blackout Europe
(iii) Privacy
Phorm and behavioural advertising
Intercept Modernisation, Statebook
RIPA
Database State
(iv) E-voting
London Assembly
(v) Democratic engagement
European elections project
(vi) Health of our organisation
AC and board recruitment
New volunteer activities
Website and recruitment
(vii) ORG’s future plans
Supporter growth
New grants and staff
(viii) The international movement
(ix) Financial report
Chair’s foreward
As we at the Open Rights Group celebrate our fourth birthday we do so in a world where the issues and rights that our founders established us to inform and defend are now no longer the preserve of the fortunate few towards the top of the education and economic pile, but are of direct and every-day relevance to a growing majority of this country’s population who touch the digital world whenever they search for information, listen to music, watch television, travel, walk through a city centre and live and vote in a democracy.
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20 October, 2009
Letter to Commissioner Neelie Kroes
Neelie KroesCommissioner for CompetitionEuropean Commission1049 Brussels, Belgium
October 19, 2009
Dear Commissioner Kroes,
Oracle should not be permitted to acquire its competitor, MySQL
Introduction
We are writing to express our opposition to the proposed acquisition of MySQL as part of the larger merger between Sun Microsystems and Oracle Corporation.
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30 September, 2009
Consultation on (P2P) file-sharing
CONTENTS
Executive Summary
SECTION ONE: LICENSING IS THE SOLUTION1.
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23 September, 2009
Response to London Elects’ Manual Count vs Electronic count cost benefit analysis
Open Rights Group
The Open Rights Group (ORG) welcomes the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) having taken up the recommendation by ORG and the Electoral Commission to examine the cost benefit of manual versus electronic counting of ballots.
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16 September, 2009
DTT High Definition Licence
PDF (160kb) of submission to OFCOM
Dear Sir,
We would like to raise an objection to the BBC/Ofcom consultation of Sept 3rd 2009, “Enquiry to Ofcom from BBC Free to View Ltd concerning its DTT High Definition Licence”.
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02 September, 2009
Keeping the right people on the DNA Database
Published 10 August 2009
1.
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02 September, 2009
Copyright the Future
Published 6 February 2009
We hope the anger of groups representing consumers, citizens and information professionals did not escape the notice of the UKIPO at the launch of this consultation in London’s Institute of the Contemporary Arts in December 2008.
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02 September, 2009
Consultation on Legislative Options to Address Illicit Peer-to-Peer (p2p) File-sharing
30 October 2008
Introduction
When the Gowers Review was published in December 2006, the Open Rights Group welcomed it as “the most important critique of intellectual property in the UK of recent years”1.
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01 September, 2009
Digital Britain: Final submission
03 April 2009
Executive Summary
The Digital Rights Agency discussion paper is a flawed approach to public engagement and undermines the legitimacy of the Digital Britain consultation.
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01 September, 2009
Digital Britain: Interim Report
Published 21 March 2009
ACTION 10In the final report we will examine measures needed to address the challenges for digital content in more detail, including opportunities for providing further support to foster UK creative ambition and alternative funding mechanisms to advertising revenues.
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01 September, 2009
Internet Advertising Bureau Guidelines
Comments published 4 March 2009.
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31 August, 2009
Google Books Hearing
Google Book Search Settlement
European Commission Information HearingSubmission of the Open Rights Group
24 August 2009
1.
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27 August, 2009
Knowledge Economy
11 August 2008
The Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy represents an important opportunity to update European copyright law to maximise social welfare and citizens’ opportunities in the information society.
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27 August, 2009
Gowers Exceptions
Published 8 April 2008
Introduction
The Open Rights Group exists to defend the interests of citizens and consumers in the digital age.
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27 August, 2009
Data Sharing Review
Data Sharing Review: a consultation on the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors
8 February 2008
Introduction
In a speech to the UK e-Summit in November 2002, Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, outlined his intention to harness the power of information technology to create “a new relationship between citizen and state”1.
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15 July, 2009
Interception Modernisation or ‘Protecting the Public’
Published 15 July 2009.
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19 November, 2008
Annual Report 2008
Contents
Chair’s foreword
About the Open Rights Group
Digital Rights Issues
Achievements this year
The year ahead
How you can help
Financial Report
Appendices
Chair’s Forward
Open Rights Group is a wonderful, spontaneous creation of the people who most care about the information age.
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01 January, 2008
Annual Report 2006/2007
Table of content
Chair’s Foreword About the Open Rights Group How ORG started Digital rights issues Achievements in our first two years Data retention Digital Rights Management Gowers Review and copyright term extension Electronic voting Bedding into the grassroots Creating tools for future campaigners Getting voices heard Working with the media The year ahead New issues Building the organisation How you can help ORG Support ORG Volunteer Standing Order form Financial Report Treasurer’s statement Accounts: Income and expenditure Accounts: Balance sheet Accounts: Notes to the accounts Independent Examiner’s report Appendix I: ORG people Appendix II: Company information Appendix III: Publications
Chair’s Foreword
Little more than two years ago, what is now the Open Rights Group (ORG) was just an idea in the heads of half-a-dozen individuals.
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