Year: 2012

Smashwords Restores Content Policies

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Smashwords, one of the independent e-book publishers at the center of the PayPal erotic content censorship scandal, announced that they are returning their terms of service to what they were before PayPal sent letters threatening to close their account if they continued to sell certain types of erotic content. CBLDF was one of many free speech organizations that signed a letter in protest of PayPal’s policy to ban erotic content that featured incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters).

Click through for Smashwords’ full statement.

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This Week’s Doonesbury Strips Relocated or Scrapped by Several Newspapers

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If you usually read Gary B. Trudeau’s “Doonesbury” comic strip on the comics page of your local newspaper, you may find the latest strips moved to the op-ed page or missing entirely this week. This week’s strips feature a young woman who visits an abortion clinic in Texas, a state that requires compulsory ultrasounds before an abortion, and the strips liken Texas’s practice to rape. Because of the contentious nature of the topic, several newspapers have elected to not run the series, or they moved it to their opinion pages or online.

Keep reading…

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Forbes Contributor on Potential Reason for PayPal Erotica Ban: Credit Card Companies

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CBLDF has joined a coalition of free speech advocates in protest of PayPal’s new policy regarding the sale of erotica, banning the sale of material that depicts incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, and bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters). Over the weekend, Suw Charman-Anderson with Forbes.com wrote a pair of articles about what many consider the real culprit behind PayPal’s move to ban the sale of certain types of erotica: credit card companies. The connection to the credit card companies was rumored early on, and further analysis as the story has developed has reinforced the conclusion among many observers. However, at least one credit card company has already denied involvement.

Keep reading…

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THIS WEEKEND: CBLDF & Neil Gaiman Thank Members With Exclusive Signed Poster!

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This weekend only, the first ten members to sign up for CBLDF membership at the $100 Advocate level or higher will receive “A Study In Emerald,” a poster edition of Neil Gaiman’s Hugo Award winning short story, illustrated by Jouni Koponen and signed by Neil Gaiman! You’ll receive this special signed thank you gift in addition to all the other great incentives we offer for our members, and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you’re helping protect the First Amendment! Don’t delay, this thank you is only available while supplies last!

UPDATE: This item is no longer available!

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NCAC Rebuts PayPal’s Response to Criticism of Erotica Policy

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In response to complaints from Free Speech organizations around the country — including a protest letter signed by CBLDF — Anuj Nayar, the Director of Communications for PayPal, blogged in defense of PayPal’s erotic content policy. In their blog, the National Coalition Against Censorship, which was one of the original drafters of the letter that CBLDF signed onto, rebutted several of the points Nayar made. Click through for a point-by-point summary…

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VOLUNTEER WITH THE CBLDF!

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Are you local to the Anaheim/Los Angeles area? Do you want to go to WonderCon, and participate in something important while you are there? Have you always wanted an opportunity to volunteer for you favorite advocacy group?

Now is your chance! March 15-18 the CBLDF will be at WonderCon, in Anaheim, California, and needs local volunteers to help out over the weekend! We need eager folks who believe in Free Speech, and want to help us fight for it, on the ground, and in the convention trenches. If you want to help, please e-mail Alex Cox at alex.cox@cbldf.org with your WonderCon Weekend availability!

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CBLDF Joins Free Speech Groups In Protesting PayPal Censorship

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Last week, we reported on PayPal’s new policy regarding erotic content and their requirement that e-book publishers remove certain types of content — incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters) — or face deactivation of their accounts. In response, the American Book Sellers Foundation for Free Expression and the National Coalition Against Censorship sent PayPal a letter decrying the policy.

The list of organizations signing on to ABFFE and NCAC’s letter is growing, and CBLDF has joined the coalition against PayPal’s erotic content policy. Click through for the full text of the letter CBLDF signed.

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Pakistan Openly Advertises for Web Censorship System

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Free speech advocates are concerned over Pakistan’s recent advertisement for companies to install a nation-wide Internet filtering system that could potentially block access to millions of Web domains. These advocates are apprehensive that this move by Pakistan may lead to broad governmental intervention and the censorship of political discourse in the country.

Click through for a summary and excerpts from an Associated Press report on this developing situation.

Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work and reporting on issues such as this by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

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MOUSE GUARD Volume 1: Fall 1152, Signed by David Petersen

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Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam, members of the fearless Mouse Guard, are dispatched to find a missing merchant mouse. Their search through dangerous terrain for the missing mouse reveals much more than they expect, as they stumble across a traitor in the Guard’s own ranks. Collects the first acclaimed Mouse Guard series from 2007 Russ Manning Award Winner David Petersen, along with special bonus material. The softcover comes bookplated with a signature by series creator, David Petersen.

Join the Guard today!

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BPRD: Plague of Frogs Vol. 1 HC, signed by Guy Davis

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In 2001, Hellboy quit the B.P.R.D., leaving Abe Sapien to lead Liz Sherman and a bizarre roster of special agents in defending the world from occult threats, including the growing menace of the frog army, first spotted in Hellboy: Seed of Destruction. Mike Mignola and Dark Horse present the complete Plague of Frogs saga, from Hollow Earth to King of Fear. This first book explores the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense after Hellboy’s departure, cracks open the secrets of Abe Sapien’s origin, and sets the war on frogs in motion. This hardcover is signed by series artist Guy Davis.

Get your copy here!

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