Legitimate-Content Bay?
I was surprised to see in numerous newspaper (here, here, etc.) that a Swedish firm called Global Gaming Factory signed an agreement to buy the Pirate Bay. For those unaware, the Pirate Bay, also based…
Criminal Law
Law profs throw their weight behind Legal Aid boycott
Here is the story from the Globe. On one side, we have a potential boost for access to justice at the cost of a definite short-term harm to the rights of the accused. On the other, it’s…
Mau Mau to sue the British Government
First Posted on Commercial Law International on June 24, 2009. By Charles Wanguhu The above move by the Kenyan freedom fighters to sue the British government has elicited some very interesting responses from some readers…
A reasonable person’s standard
CBC reports today that a judge in Saskatchevan acquitted a woman who gave birth in a Wal-Mart’s washroom. According to April Dawn Halkett, 22, “the birth happened very quickly and … the child did not look…
Reformed “Computer Terrorist” Kevin Mitnick Reflects on his Crime and Punishment
Elinor Mills of CNET.com has conducted an interesting interview with the famous hacker, Kevin Mitnick. Beginning at 12-years of age, Mitnick primarily used social engineering to manipulate and gain unauthorized access to telecommunications networks; for example,…
Police and the Internet
The government introduced two bills in the House on Thursday that raised some serious allegations in the media this week. The bills concern, among other things, police access to data collected by Canadian internet service…
Who is to blame?
What is it about criminal cases that attracts so much attention of the public? Is it their thou-shall-not nature that many people associate with law in general? Or is it our fear of crime and…
Everything You Need to Know about Canada
Apparently these are real questions posed by foreigners preparing for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Q. I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK) A. We import all…
Beyond democracy
Most people think they know what democracy is or, at least, they know democracy when they see it. But try calling something undemocratic, and debates break out about the definition of democracy. Of course, I…
Shell Decides to Settle
The case we mentioned last week against Shell in allegations of complicity for murdering activists in Nigeria will be settled to a tune of $15.5 million.
Don’t Do Mandatory Drug Sentences
Context is always important in criminal law matters, drug-related crimes especially. There are a number of reasons why people get involved in drug use and trafficking, including poverty, discrimination, mental illness, depression, chronic pain, sexual…
STAND Down on Darfur, You’re Making it Worse
Liu Guijin, China’s special envoy to Darfur, is currently in Doha meeting with representatives from Britain, France, Russia, United States and the European Union in a 5-day conference on how to deal with the situation in…