Arwen Spicer

A new semantic search engine, Hakia, promises more precise searching than Google. Hakia is designed to process both keyword searches and natural language queries. Its ScoopBar, currently available only for Internet Explorer, allows the user to click directly to the part of a retrieved document that includes her search terms, a useful feature for documents too long to scan easily. In addition to its technological innovations, Hakia may also score over Google in one purely social aspect: since it does not actively collect personal user information, it may have the edge in protecting user privacy. Currently in a beta form, Hakia is set to debut at full capacity sometime in 2007. For more information, see Hannah’s report in report in Infodoodads and Hakia’s explanation of its potential benefits.

L-net, the Oregon Libraries Network, provides digital reference assistance to individuals, schools, and partner libraries. In conjunction with digital reference services in other states, L-net aims to connect patrons to a reference librarian rapidly, often within a minute. To increase its staffing in pursuit of this goal, L-net is now accepting applications for volunteer librarians. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of two hours work per week for six months. Volunteers receive approximately ten hours of training before being put on the job. Those interested in volunteering may contact Emily Papagni at emilyp @ multcolib.org.

In response to dissatisfaction with FanLib.com‘s model for bringing fan fiction into the mainstream, members of the fan fiction community, especially on LiveJournal, have launched Fan Archive, a project for archiving and cataloging fan fiction from multiple fandoms for easy searchability and long-term preservation. Fan Archive’s originators distinguish the project from FanLib.com mainly on the grounds that 1) Fan Archive is run by fan fiction writers; 2) Fan Archive expresses a willingness to fight legal battles, if need be, to defend public accessibility to fan fiction; 3) while FanLib.com is a commercial venture, Fan Archive founders intend to file for legal nonprofit status. A summary of Fan Archive’s goals has been posted on LiveJournal by gchick.

LiveJournal, which hosts about 13 million web journals, has deleted about 500 journals that suggest an interest in sexual predation or pedophilia, among other illegal activities. Prompted by anti-pedophilia groups, notably Warriors for Innocence, the deletion has resulted in accusations of censorship from LiveJournal users, who observe that some of the deleted journals were fandom communities, fan fiction repositories, or role playing games that discuss sexual abuse and pedophilia in a fictional context without supporting it in real life.

LiveJournal, which hosts about 13 million web journals, has deleted about 500 journals that suggest an interest in sexual predation or pedophilia, among other illegal activities. Prompted by anti-pedophilia groups, notably Warriors for Innocence, the deletion has resulted in accusations of censorship from LiveJournal users, who observe that some of the deleted journals were fandom communities, fan fiction repositories, or role playing games that discuss sexual abuse and pedophilia in a fictional context without supporting it in real life.The maintainer of one such community, an archive of Harry Potter fan fiction, femmequixotic, reports that LiveJournal abuse staff claimed a legal obligation to close communities that had been reported to them and that listed illegal activities as interests. Responding to the outcry from LiveJournal users, Warriors for Innocence asserts that LiveJournal also closed down some communities not reported by their organization. For more information, see Declan McCullagh’s report for CNET News.com.

At least six Polish translators have been arrested for illegally subtitling foreign films that have no licensed Polish translation. Because the translations are not commercial, they might fall under fair use. However, concerns that the free distribution of such films online might undermine legitimate sales has prompted a crackdown on distributors and downloaders in Poland and worldwide. The Polish translators, affiliated with the popular translation site, napisy.org, may face up to two years in prison if convicted of illegally distributing copyrighted material.

At least six Polish translators have been arrested for illegally subtitling foreign films that have no licensed Polish translation. Because the translations are not commercial, they might fall under fair use. However, concerns that the free distribution of such films online might undermine legitimate sales has prompted a crackdown on distributors and downloaders in Poland and worldwide. The Polish translators, affiliated with the popular translation site, napisy.org, may face up to two years in prison if convicted of illegally distributing copyrighted material.

For more information, see Nate Anderson’s “Polish, German Police Bust Subtitle Archive” and Tech.Blorge.com’s “Police Raid Polish Subtitle Site.”