Friday’s OpenNet Initiative Conference concluded with a debate in the stately halls of the Oxford Union: “This House believes that the Internet is the greatest force for Democratisation in the World.” Point of information: the Internet is not just about porn; people frequently get to this blog searching for “Perfect 10,” only to learn about legal cases, not nude models. (I suppose there’s some discussion of “naked licensing” from time to time.)

In proof that lawyers are perhaps the greatest force against democratisation, the Noes carried (lawyer/lawprofs Palfrey, Zittrain, and Amsterdam against Jimbo “Wikipedia” Wales, Ron “Psiphon” Deibert, and Chairman Bo Aung Din of the Burma PDP). Tobias Escher has the full scoop.

The OpenNet Initiative will be presenting its collected research on worldwide Internet filtering here in Oxford tomorrow at the conference, The Future of Free Expression on the Internet:

The OpenNet Initiative is holding its first public conference to discuss the current state of play of Internet filtering worldwide. The conference will be hosted by the Oxford Internet Institute and held at St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford on May 18, 2007. The conference is free of charge and open to the public.

Join us if you can, in person or online.

I’m in Oxford, at the Oxford Internet Institute, for Trinity Term. (More photos coming soon and at flickr.)

Among email, web, and skype, I can stay in pretty close touch with the U.S. — so long as I know when it is. FoxClocks is a handy little Firefox plugin that puts a multi-time-zone clock into the Firefox or Thunderbird status bar.

On October 3, I’ll be heading out to the USC Center on Public Diplomacy to take part in their Technology and Public Diplomacy Speaker Series with a a talk on copyright as a regulation of technology and creative expression. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come hear what Chilling Effects and MythTV have in common.

I’ve learned that’s also been declared a Day Against DRM. I’ll see how many DRM’d products I have to avoid on my way there.

OneWebDay, an “Earth Day for the Internet,” kicks off today. Celebrate by enjoying the creativity the Internet enables. Post a blog entry or a video; update a Wikipedia entry; remix a music track; learn something new. Tag entries with “onewebday” to let others find them.

In New York, there’s also an offline celebration, New York - Wiki

In New York, we’ll be having a lunchtime, outdoor event featuring Craig Newmark of Craigslist fame, talking about how the Internet is changing people’s lives every day.

Where: The Battery, near Castle Clinton

When: Friday, Sept. 22, noon to 2pm

Visit the onewebday wiki for information about other in-person events.

I’m heading up to Cambridge for the Berkman Center’s Beyond Broadcast gathering Friday and Saturday. I’ll be demoing my MythTV and talking about the technology mandates that could take it and similar disruptive user-driven tech away from us.

Though the conference is full, there are plenty of remote participation options. If you’re in the area, stop by for Friday evening’s alliterative tech fair, Beyond Beta: Demos and Drinks.

I’ll be speaking at the NY City Bar Association’s panel DRM: Digital Rights Management or Digital “Restrictions” - DRM in the wake of the Sony “Rootkit” controversy from 6-7:30 (42 West 44th Street, New York). The event is free and open to the public.

Star-lights at the Time-Warner Center, against snow. Dec. 31, 2005.

Lighthouse on Vancouver Harbor, as seen on a chilly morning run.

The Berkman Center asked me a few questions about yesterday’s broadcast flag hearing. Messrs Glickman and Bainwol spoke in favor of greater control, while Ms. Sohn and Mr. Petricone talked of the need to protect innovation and fair use, and the public’s concerns were picked up by Reps. Boucher and Lofgren. See the Berkman Center site for more.

The question that left Dan Glickman cold came from Rep. Meehan, asking about the compulsory licensing of technology standards: (paraphrase) Do you think tech companies should have to surrender their intellectual property to protect yours?