Toronto Electricians and Electrical Contractors

BMG v. Cox: ISPs Can Make Their Own Repeat-Infringer Policies, But the Fourth Circuit Wants A Higher “Body Count” Last week’s BMG v. Cox decision has gotten a lot of attention for its confusing take on secondary infringement liability, but commentators have been too quick to dismiss the implications for the DMCA safe harbor. Internet service providers are still not copyright police, but the decision will inevitably encourage ISPs to act on dubious infringement complaints, and even to kick more people off of the Internet based on unverified accusations. This long-running case involves a scheme by copyright troll Rightscorp to turn a profit for shareholders by demanding money from users whose computer IP addresses were associated with copyright infringement. Turning away from the tactic of filing lawsuits against individual ISP subscribers, Rightscorp began sending infringement notices to ISPs, coupled with demands for payment, and insisting that ISPs forward those notices to t...

As the housing inventory continues to thin, many people are investing in improvements to their current home rather than moving to a new one. But rather than prettying them up with a fresh coat of paint or adding amenities like wine cellars and swimming pools, homeowners are choosing to make their homes smarter, greener, and more reflective of their lifestyle. Here are top trends driving the home renovation market. Smart home While there’s been a steady rise in smart-appliance adoption , we are on the cusp of a connected-home boom. According to market research firm Statista, the global smart-home market is forecast to reach a value of more than 40 billion U.S. dollars by 2020. More and more home buyers consider the integration of smart home technologies critical to their renovation project. Intelligent home security devices, climate control products, and lighting and entertainment systems top renovators’ wish lists. What once seemed like science fiction is becoming commonplace, th...

Wiretap Orders That Defy Geographical Limitations Mandated by Congress Must Not Be Tolerated The Supreme Court should recognize and give teeth to the critical, privacy-protecting limitations Congress placed on wiretaps, EFF told the court in an amicus brief we filed with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. When law enforcement officials wiretap someone’s cell phone, the law doesn’t allow them to tap any phone they want anywhere in the country. The Wiretap Act (also known as “Title III” because it comes from  Title III of the 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Street Act ) permits wiretapping, but only under the narrowest of circumstances and subject to restrictive requirements carefully drawn to protect extremely sensitive privacy interests.  One of those requirements is that judges can only authorize wiretap orders for interceptions that occur  within their districts...