Memex 1.1

Something’s up with the recording studios who eviscerated Napster. According to this New York Times report, “the major record companies, which two weeks ago surprised analysts by seeking a temporary suspension in their copyright lawsuit against Napster, were about to face potentially damaging inquiries into their own behavior on maintaining copyrights. According to transcripts made public today, the judge in the case said on Jan. 16 that she intended to grant a request by Napster to explore whether the record companies might have colluded to prevent Napster and other online music competitors from licensing music to sell on the Internet. The judge, Marilyn Patel of the Federal District Court in Northern California, also said she would allow Napster to explore whether the record companies might not control all the copyrights they claimed to own.”

The battle between AOL and Trillian, Cerulean Studio’s instant messaging application that allows people to chat with users of all major messaging systems through one interface, continues. AOL is claiming that security concerns prevent it making its IM system compatible with others.

“Terrorism really flourishes in areas of poverty, despair and hopelessness, where people see no future.” Colin L. Powell, US Secretary of State, quoted in The New York Times.

Right on, Colin. Now why not do something about poverty, despair and hopelessness?