The Citizen Media Law Project has published a guide to using Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks and live-blogging tools in the courtroom. Many states have rules forbidding the use of cell phones and laptops in court, and even in the absence of such laws, some judges just can’t stand the idea of it. I was on a jury for a criminal trial in September, and the judge was firm on “No Twitter or Facebook in the courtroom” and actually, not when we returned home, either, until the trial ended.

New Yorkers, this week, the New School presents a conference that will approach “dramatic shifts restructuring leisure, consumption, and production since the mid-century.” Participants come from a variety of backgrounds, including, of course, cyberlaw. The panel sessions are each so fascinating that you may have a hard time deciding where to go. Find more info at digitalabor.org. The event is free but requires advance registration.

The BBC technology correspondent, a British sociologist, and blogger discuss protecting blogger anonymity. The episode comes in light of the Liksula Cohen case, in which Google revealed the identity of the woman behind a blog that mocked her, as well as countless similar cases in the past few years. Download it here.

A French actress likens some movie pirating to Robin Hood’s renegade heroism.

RIAA scare tactics

youmakemesohappy

Mark Polansky

Perhaps Mom and Dad and even Grandma are now more likely to be signing up for a Facebook account than your 20-year-old cousin. iStrategy Labs claims a 513.7% growth in the 55+ Facebook user category, whereas numbers for college and high schoolers have fallen.

Trent Reznor of the Nine Inch Nails on how newcomer bands can promote themselves successfully online:
“My thoughts on what to do as a new / unknown artist.”

Forget thinking you are going to make any real money from record sales. Make your record cheaply (but great) and GIVE IT AWAY. As an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your work. Word of mouth is the only true marketing that matters.

To clarify:

Parter with a TopSpin or similar or build your own website, but what you NEED to do is this - give your music away as high-quality DRM-free MP3s. Collect people’s email info in exchange (which means having the infrastructure to do so) and start building your database of potential customers. Then, offer a variety of premium packages for sale and make them limited editions / scarce goods. Base the price and amount available on what you think you can sell. Make the packages special - make them by hand, sign them, make them unique, make them something YOU would want to have as a fan. Make a premium download available that includes high-resolution versions (for sale at a reasonable price) and include the download as something immediately available with any physical purchase. Sell T-shirts. Sell buttons, posters… whatever.”

via