The ongoing, multinational debate about so-called “collective bargaining” requirements between dominant digital platforms and news publishers can be downright dizzying. It goes like this: Publishers: “You are stealing from us by linking to our content without paying!” Platforms: “Fine. We won’t link to your content.” Publishers: “No! You have to link to our content!” This debate occurred in Spain (where it went on for eight years); again in France; is being threatened in Canada; may arise in Australia; and is now on our shores, in California. Last week, in anticipation of a June state Senate v ..read more

Today, the House Judiciary Committee marked up the “Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes” (PRO CODES) Act. The bill proposes copyrighting model standards, such as building and electric codes, often referenced in state and local laws. Public Knowledge, along with 22 other organizations, warns that restricting access to laws governing safety and fire standards will imperil the safety of ordinary Americans and drive up costs for basic access to the law. The markup follows a letter warning lawmakers against adopting the bill. The following can be attributed to Meredith Rose, Senior Poli ..read more

Today, Public Knowledge joined more than 200 civil society groups and local, state, and Tribal governments in a letter urging the U.S. House of Representatives to sign a discharge petition filed by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) in support of the “Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act.” The legislation would provide an additional $7 billion to save a successful broadband-subsidy initiative. The Federal Communications Commission, which administers the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), will run out of funding for the program in a matter of weeks if additional federal funding is not provi ..read more

Public Knowledge has the pleasure of inviting you to a multifaceted program focused on training and developing the next generation of tech policy experts and public interest advocates that reflects the diversity of voices and experiences in our society. Please join us for our monthly Career Breakfast Series. This event is designed specifically for students and recent graduates of color, offering insights into tech policy and public interest careers, and providing a platform for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. This month you will have the opportunity to have a great conversation ..read more

Join Public Knowledge, Civic Nation, National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA),  and Digital Progress Institute (DPI) for a public rally on Tuesday, April 30th at 11 am at the Shaw/Watha Library to fight for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)! The Affordable Connectivity Program is vital for many Americans, and we need your help to preserve it. During this rally, you’ll hear from: ACP enrollees: Sharing stories about how the program has made a positive difference in their lives. Digital navigators: Discussing the program’s role in cl ..read more

Today, Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin delivered remarks confirming the organization is working with Congress to enact site-blocking legislation which would force broadband providers, DNS lookups, and other infrastructure providers to refuse public access to websites accused of copyright infringement – risking the ability of all people to communicate freely online. Public Knowledge opposes site-blocking bills for jeopardizing the Open Internet. The following can be attributed to Meredith Rose, Senior Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge: “With today’s announcement, the ..read more

Apple’s response to the antitrust lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice and a coalition of states last month, is to claim that the suit threatens “the principles that set Apple products apart in a fiercely competitive market.” But the DOJ is not challenging Apple’s design philosophy, or saying the iPhone should be more like Android, or anything like that. It argues that Apple shouldn’t use unfair, exclusionary methods to harm competition. I hope Apple doesn’t think it’s those practices that set Apple products apart. As fierce Apple critic Tim Sweeney of Epic Games wrote days before the ..read more

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Last week, Chairman Jim Jordan took another step in his campaign to leverage the House Judiciary Committee and its oversight powers to preserve the ability to use disinformation as a political strategy. The committee issued letters to the CEOs of some of the world’s largest advertisers, seeking records about their communications – companies like Diageo (one of the largest global spirits companies); GroupM (world’s largest media investment company); Mars, Incorporated; Procter & Gamble; and Unilever. What do these companies have in common, besides huge media budgets? They’re all members of ..read more

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and states including California, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Vermont filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. The suit argues that Apple has abused its market power in the smartphone market through a series of anticompetitive actions, such as blocking third-party apps from working, suppressing cloud services for high quality games and services, excluding cross-platform messaging apps, and diminishing functionality of third-party products like smartwatches or digital wallets. The suit follows years of Public Knowledge advocacy urging the ..read more