Search

Categories

Total Results

No Record Found

View All Results
DONATE

donal brown

Lady Gaga goes to extreme on photo copyright demands

donal brown March 8, 2011

Pop stars routinely limit photojournalists at concerts imposing rules including allowing only three shots, forbidding flashes, and pushing them far from the stage, but Lady Gaga has gone to the extreme by demanding ownership of the shots. From her Photo Release Form: “Photographer hereby acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest (including copyright) in and to the Photograph(s) shall be owned by Lady Gaga and Photographer hereby transfers and assigns any such rights

Read More »

U.S. Supreme Court rules for transparency in Navy records case

donal brown March 7, 2011

The Supreme Court gave open government a significant victory by reversing decades of practice in discrediting a prominent interpretation used by government agencies to reject Freedom of Information Act requests. The Navy had tried to use an FOIA exemption for records “related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency” to reject a request for data showing where damage might occur in Puget Sound if explosives were detonated there by accident or

Read More »

Survey uncovers link between transparency and well-being

donal brown March 7, 2011

A survey funded by the Knight Foundation found a possible link between transparency in government and the well-being of citizens. Those who thought the information systems were working well to keep them informed were more likely to be engaged in and happy with their communities. Over 15,000 citizens from Philadephia, Macon, Georgia and San Jose, California participated in the survey. From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, March 3, 2011, by Kacey Deamer.

Read More »

California: Tustin City Council alleged to have violated open meeting law

donal brown March 7, 2011

The Tustin City Council scheduled a closed meeting to evaluate the city manager but instead voted to fire him, prompting criticism from the public and allegations that the council violated the Brown Act, California’s open meeting act by not allowing public comment on their action. The city manager had only been on the job for four months and according to his contract should get severance pay amounting to at least $187,500. -db From a commentary

Read More »

California: District attorney finds Oxnard school board in violation of open meeting law

donal brown March 7, 2011

The Ventura County District Attorny warned the Oxnard School District that they had acted improperly in deciding not to renew its business manager’s contract. The assistant DA sent a letter saying it was appropriate to take action in closed session on some personnel issues, but once the decision was made, it should notify the public of their action in the ensuing open session with details about how each trustee voted. -db From the Ventura County

Read More »