Verizon Blocks Messages of Abortion Rights Group

"Verizon Blocks Messages of Abortion Rights Group"
New York Times
September 27, 2007
by Adam Liptak

Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group, to make Verizon's network available for a text messaging program. The program is intended to be used to reach supporters of the organization through text messaging. Verizon backs up their decision saying that they don't want to accept these programs that promote issues that may be controversial in issue.

When I first saw the headline for this article the first thing that came to my mind was the First Amendment. I soon came to realize that this was not really a legal issue for this problem at all. Verizon Wireless is a private company and they have the right to reject people from using their services. In a sense then, Verizon is not suppressing the organization's voice.

The real issue though is if it is ethically right to reject the organization from the use of their services. I believe that this is more of a public policy issue than a legal issue.

Apple Defends iTunes in Berlin

So here's a little international commercial law news. Apparently, a commission that oversees music sales in Europe has called out Apple for charger higher prices for songs on iTunes in certain countries in Europe. Now this article doesn't go into much depth about why Apple was charging prices or even why it is wrong but there are a number of possible reasons. There could simply be a higher demand for digital music in certain countries and Apple may be using this to their advantage. Then again, their costs to sell the music in certain countries may be higher. What ever the reasoning is behind this situation, the overseeing commission is not happy.

Now I am not exactly a pro at European commercial law, but it seems to me that such price structuring should not be considered illegal. I mean even in the US, if apple wanted, they could charge different prices to people in different areas of the country. It can relate to the cost of living and of course supply and demand. So what is the problem in Europe? Is there some sort of trade code that doesn't allow price fluctuations from country to country for online purchases? I highly doubt that considering that the standard of living varies so greatly among the countries in the European Union. I guess I just don't really understand what the legal problem is here.

Facebook costs businesses dear

An article through BNA Highlights describes how businesses are losing tons of money from the loss of productivity due to the over use of social networking sites. An employment law firm based in the UK concluded that over 233 million hours of work are lost per month due to these social networking systems. The firm goes on to say that businesses should block the use of these sites during work hours in order to regain this loss productivity. While blocking access to these sites is perfectly legal for businesses to do, is it really the right thing to do? Can't this problem be solved in another way.

Apparently this firm doesn't see the opportunities that are available to fix this problem, and possibly increase productivity and innovation. If companies were to set up their own social networking sites they could adapt them to their own businesses. Ideas could be shared across the board in a more up to date and fun way. This could make employees come together and create large tight knit teams. This could even create a stronger connection between upper management and the staff.

Social networking sites for businesses may be hard to implement but I am really just trying to make a simple point. When a problem comes about especially from new technology or social interests, you should step back and see what positive things can come out of this problem before it is shut down.

In Your Facebook

It seems pretty obvious that some problems regarding privacy and freedom of speech have come from facebook related issues. Facebook can hurt students in a number of ways, including the loss of potential employers and negative legal actions from the posting of "inappropriate" pictures or remarks. Is this okay though? Is it acceptable for the authorities to hold these things against students. While it is very discomforting that this type of stuff happens, I believe that it is up to the students to ensure that any "inapropriate" items don't fall into the wrong hands by limiting the people that can access your account. While this may not be the best long-term answer for these issues, it is important for students to safeguard themselves. Hopefully, stronger privacy policies will be created for facebook and other similar sites.