OUT-LAW Radio archive

Interviews, news and views

OUT-LAW Radio is a free 10-minute podcast, updated every Thursday. You can download and listen to the latest episode now (on your computer or on the move) or follow the instructions below to subscribe and receive each new episode every week.

All the podcasts so far

TV phone scandals claim another victim OUT-LAW Radio, 8/05/2008
As ITV faces a £5.7m fine, we ask an industry rep why nobody noticed the abuses while they happened

Is content scraping legal? OUT-LAW Radio, 1/05/2008
We ask whether the website scraping that underpins the emerging aggregator industry falls foul of the law

Why blind users are having trouble with PDFs OUT-LAW Radio, 24/04/2008
We find that few authors of PDFs know how to make them accessible to the blind

RSS re-publishers are liable for unlawful content OUT-LAW Radio, 17/04/2008
We report on the French court ruling that could put many a publisher off using RSS feeds

Google's trade mark tweak could cost businesses dear OUT-LAW Radio, 10/04/2008
We investigate the change Google has made to trade mark rules in its AdWords system, and find it could increase ad costs by a factor of six.

Will UK courts bridge the software patent divide? OUT-LAW Radio, 03/04/2008
We look at whether or not the UK courts are trying to make UK patent law more like that in Europe, where software can sometimes be patented. Plus we find out how large companies can save time and money implementing the Companies Act

Can remote software be private? OUT-LAW Radio, 27/03/2008
Software as a service is an emerging trend, but can you use US-based services and keep your documents from the prying eyes of the US authorities?

Has the internet failed on the law? OUT-LAW Radio, 20/03/2008
The internet has brought free, valuable information to people all over the world, so why has it not brought free access to the most basic building block of society, the law?

Is off the record legally protected? OUT-LAW Radio, 13/03/2008
As an Obama aide resigns over off the record comments, we investigate if a law that protected Prince Albert can do the same for journalists' sources. Plus we talk to an MEP who wants to decriminalise file sharing

Is trade mark law censorship? OUT-LAW Radio, 06/03/2008
After a woman reported that plastic surgery left her ears in the wrong place, we look at whether trade mark laws are being used to censor customer review websites

Second hand software OUT-LAW Radio, 28/02/2008
We see how one company is dealing with Microsoft's apparent clampdown on second hand software sales. Plus we ask: is it worth suing spammers?

Are software licences unfair?, OUT-LAW Radio, 21/02/2008
We investigate complaints that user licences for software are unfair and draconian. Plus: we look at a conflict between UK authorities on what exactly counts as personal data

World of phishing exposed, OUT-LAW Radio, 14/02/2008
We talk to the security reseracher who delved deep into the world of phishing scams and found that the crooks are stealing from each other as well as us. Plus: a software amnesty breaks out in Glasgow

Copyright battle and ISPs, OUT-LAW Radio, 07/02/2008
We investigate the shifting of the main front in the music industry's battle against piracy: they now want ISPs to police networks for them, and look to have government backing. Plus: a software amnesty breaks out in Glasgow

IP addresses and privacy, OUT-LAW Radio, 31/01/2008
Can your internet address be protected under privacy law? We talk to the leader of the EU's privacy watchdogs about the controversial question. Plus we hear how social networking sites are failing disabled users.

Human rights challenge to RIPA, OUT-LAW Radio, 24/01/2008
We investigate whether or not a new law compelling UK citizens to hand over encryption keys on pain of being jailed might strip them of their right to a fair trial.

Commission: solid legal ground?, OUT-LAW Radio, 17/01/2008
We look at whether the court case underpinning the European Commission's anti-Microsoft case is really as solid as was thought, and we look at how front-running landed Network Solutions in hot water.

Microsoft dominance challenged, OUT-LAW Radio, 10/01/2008
We talk to the small European browser maker which is taking an ambitious case against Microsoft, and we look at the future of mobile phone tracking.

Battle for content control, OUT-LAW Radio, 13/12/2007
We look at a new technology to help content producers control their material and ask: will search companies allow it to flourish? And we talk to the man charged with potentially re-writing data protection laws.

Are libel laws wrong?, OUT-LAW Radio, 06/12/2007
We look at claims that free speech on the web is silenced too easily by threatening a host without ever having to prove defamation.

Is drinking a disability?, OUT-LAW Radio, 15/11/2007
Employment experts tell us how alcoholism is getting disability discrimination protection through the back door, and talk to a Dutch man who is spying on his whole town.

Privacy battle rages, OUT-LAW Radio, 08/11/2007
The privacy chiefs of Europe and Google battle over privacy rights and whether technology or the law should protect us.

FOI for private sector, OUT-LAW Radio, 01/11/2007
We talk to the Scottish Information Commissioner about plans north and south of the border to extend freedom of information laws to private companies.

Amateur vs Amazon, OUT-LAW Radio, 25/10/2007
We talk to the amateur patent sleuth who felled Amazon's one-click patent, and find out how emails in court cases can cost companies millions.

Secrecy law gutted, OUT-LAW Radio, 11/10/2007
We investigate how a recent ruling could undermine Freedom of Information laws, and look into how BT is finally making Wi-Fi sharing safe.

The long wait for WCAG 2.0, OUT-LAW Radio, 04/10/2007
We hear that new web accessibility guidelines are on the way. But is it too late for them?

CCTV in the dock, OUT-LAW Radio, 27/09/2007
We hear how the cameras that try to catch us misbehaving are mostly themselves operating illegally.

A patent revolution, OUT-LAW Radio, 20/09/2007
We go behind the scenes at a pioneering project which hopes to use internet collaboration to save an ailing US patent system.

A music revolution and tank hacking, OUT-LAW Radio, 13/09/2007
We talk to the founder of the music world's anti-label, which allows you to choose how much to pay for music, and find out how to stop a tank being hacked.

Rate-a-lawyer site under attack, OUT-LAW Radio, 06/09/2007
We talk to both sides in a battle over a web-based system which gives US lawyers a score out of 10 and we ask: can a number be libellous?

The Facebook conundrum, OUT-LAW Radio, 30/08/2007
We ask why half of employees are now blocked from Facebook, how the site can cause companies trouble and why users are making friends with a frog.

The best of OUT-LAW Radio, OUT-LAW Radio, 23/08/2007
We present the highlights of the first year of OUT-LAW Radio, from wireless security in a paint can to the plight of Gary McKinnon to protests from Billy Bragg.

The inside story of selling security secrets, OUT-LAW Radio, 16/08/2007
We talk to the man behind a new market with a difference: it sells IT security secrets to the highest bidder.

The mysteries of the typosquatters, OUT-LAW Radio, 09/08/2007
We investigate one of the web's dirty secrets: typosquatting, and ask just how bad it is for established business.

Second hand software comes of age, OUT-LAW Radio, 02/08/2007
We talk to a man who trades software like second hand cars, and ask: is it wise to trade mark your home town?

The flaws in data protection law, OUT-LAW Radio, 26/07/2007
We look at how data protection laws from Europe are implemented poorly.

Belgian ISPs fight for their lives, OUT-LAW Radio, 19/07/2007
We investigate an unexpected landmark ruling which threatens the legal protections ISPs enjoy in Europe.

Second Life's first IP fight, OUT-LAW Radio, 12/07/2007
We talk to the lawyer taking on the first copyright spat to hit virtual world Second Life, and we hear why your boss might own your Facebook profile.  

Google privacy chief talks, OUT-LAW Radio, 05/07/2007
We hear why Google privacy chief Peter Fleischer thinks European data protection officials should stop meddling with its search log retention policies.  

Web activists beat TV industry, OUT-LAW Radio, 28/06/2007
We hear about the web activism campaign that changed WIPO policy, and talk to a publishing exec who took the law temporarily into his own hands.

Blur drummer on file-sharing, OUT-LAW Radio, 14/06/2007
We ask music industry renegades including Blur's drummer what they think should be done about file sharing and copyright.

New anti-phishing tech, OUT-LAW Radio, 07/06/2007
We investigate a new anti-faker technology that hopes to beat phishing, and we hear about some quirks in the UK's anti-smoking laws. 

Personal numbers in scam claim, OUT-LAW Radio, 31/05/2007
We talk to the person behind a one-man campaign against the sometimes shockingly-high cost of calling personal numbers, and hear what Ofcom is doing about it.

A new domain to combat phishing, OUT-LAW Radio, 24/05/2007
We hear from a leading light in the security industry on a planned top-level domain that aims to scupper phishing attacks. 

Mumsnet's net libel battle, OUT-LAW Radio, 17/05/2007
We talk to Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts about an epic web forum libel battle and to an academic who wants to turn copyright on its head. 

TiVo inventor on changing TV, OUT-LAW Radio, 10/05/2007
We talk to Mike Ramsay, the man who invented the TiVo, the machine that redefined television and put the wind up the entertainment industry. 

Bringing Yahoo! down with blogs, OUT-LAW Radio, 03/05/2007
We talk to the man whose blogs, wikis and YouTube videos aim to bring down Yahoo! management, and to the lawyer taking on Google's AdWords system.

The story behind the Gowers IP Review, OUT-LAW Radio, 26/04/2007
Andrew Gowers speaks exclusively to OUT-LAW Radio on World Intellectual Property Day on the story behind his influential Government-commissioned review of IP.

The end for internet radio?, OUT-LAW Radio, 19/04/2007
We look at the devastating effect a new licensing regime will have on internet radio and warn against war driving in the UK.

Wireless security in a paint can, OUT-LAW Radio, 12/04/2007
We investigate a computer security system you paint on your walls and catch up on big news from punter-papparazi company Scoopt.

Last chance saloon for European patents, OUT-LAW Radio, 05/04/2007
As Charlie McCreevy gives European patent reform one last chance, we ask: can he break a 30-year deadlock? 

Font theft: the forgotten piracy, OUT-LAW Radio, 29/03/2007 We unveil the scale of font theft, the invisible, forgotten wing of software piracy, and we ask: will corporations soon own all the colours of the rainbow?

Premium phone operators need a licence, OUT-LAW Radio, 22/03/2007
We discover that operators of now-controversial premium rate phone quizzes will soon need lottery licences, and we find out when it's OK for one game developer to copy another.

Schemes to skirt copyright law, OUT-LAW Radio, 15/03/2007
We look at two imaginative ways that companies are trying to give copyright law a body swerve, and talk to the lawyer helping one German millionaire stand up to Google.

Spam battle rages in court, OUT-LAW Radio, 08/03/2007
We talk to the two sides in one of the few spam suits to reach court in the UK about the case and its disputed aftermath. 

Porn's search for a home, OUT-LAW Radio, 01/03/2007
The man behind proposed porn domain .XXX talks about government influence on ICANN and self regulation in the adult realm, and we get the inside story on Gary McKinnon's daring new defence. 

Craigslist boss talks, OUT-LAW Radio, 22/02/2007
Craigslist has taken the US by storm and its pages are read 6 billion times a month. CEO Jim Buckmaster explains why he and founder Craig Newmark don't want your money. 

Making money with mobile photos, OUT-LAW Radio, 15/02/2007
We talk to the man behind a company that represents the growing legion of citizen photo-journalists to the big boys of old media, and keeps a few Royal Family secrets along the way.

DRM, the law and the social cost, OUT-LAW Radio, 08/02/2007
As Apple's Steve Jobs calls for DRM free music, we look at the legal basis and social impact of copy control technology, and we look at a looming battle between the relatively new information access and privacy laws. 

Landmark accessibility ruling, OUT-LAW Radio, 01/02/2007
The disability discrimination ruling that could change cross-border e-commerce, and why the Information Commissioner is not like the traffic police.