Ask Mike Godwin About Internet Law

Mike Godwin is probably best known to Slashdot readers for Godwin's Law, but that's one of the most minor reasons you should know him. In this blurb for his book, CYBER RIGHTS, he's (correctly) described as "one of the first lawyers to 'live and work in cyberspace.'" Naturally, Mike can't give specific legal advice, but he's certainly about as expert as they come about the development of law and legal hassles surrounding the Internet. We'll send him 10 of the highest-moderated questions, and publish his answers as soon as we get them back.

My question

[MarsDefenseMinister]

Don't you think that some of today's Internet laws are suspiciously reminiscent of the laws the Nazis used to have? What? What did I say? Why are you looking at me like that?

Nazi.

[bmongar]

Who do you think you are Hitler? Going around with some Nazi law that supresses free speech whenever someone uses Hitler or Nazi in a conversation.

ok that does it

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm finished with this thread

Ask Mike Godwin about Internet Law?

[That's Unpossible!]

Can't I ask Mike Internet about Godwin Law?

You NAZIs!

Re:Godwin's Law

[Anonymous Coward]

Damned Nazi.

Re:Other work

[artg]

How many 'o's are there in Godwin ?
And how many 'o's are there in Goodwin ?

Can't anyone count past 1 ?

Another GOdwin.

How much for the senator?

[sys49152]

It seems that the best way to influence legislation is to buy yourself a government official. Based on your experience can you ballpark how much the following type of decision makers cost (in USD)?

1. President
2. Cabinet Member
3. Other Executive Branch Member
4. Supreme Court Justice
5. Circuit Court Judge
6. State's Attorney General
7. Senator
8. Congressman
9. Governor
10. Mayor
11. Local Councilman
12. Cop
13. IT Administrator

Re:Other work

[AndroidCat]

And if you were re-doing Godwin's Rule* today, would it involve hot coffee and hamburger chains?

* I remember when it was Godwin's Rule. The DejaGoogle archive is patchy about the reason for the change.

Re:Gotta ask

[wastaz]

how about if we'd de-legalize corporate lobbying?

Re:Individuals vs. Major ISPs

[buttahead]

I don't know where you live, but in the US, it is likely that once the shooter is convicted, the family of the victim might try to sue the gun owner for not securing it. They might also try to sue the gun manufacturer, McDonalds for making the victim too fat to escape, and anyone else that even remotely contributed to the death of the victim.

Dude!

[rwiedower]

Say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism...at least it's an ethos!

Definitions.

[Civil_Disobedient]

joke -- (joek) n.
1. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. A mischievous trick; a prank.
3. Your penis.

Re:Gotta ask

[PGillingwater]

Great idea! Let's form a lobby group, and get funding, so we can get this law passed.