With all of the acronyms that are flying around these days, it's hard to think of a reason why we really need another one. But if you haven't heard of the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) before, you're at least one acronym short of a complete set. The EFF describes itself as "a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression in the arena of computers and the Internet." It's an organization that swoops in, like Mighty Mouse, to save the day when Macy's decides to sell personal bridal registry information to marketers, or when corporations try to censor criticism leveled at them on Internet message boards.

Since more and more copyright, free speech, and privacy issues are being fought out in the courts today, especially in the area of online music, the EFF has more work to do than ever before. Read on for the latest information on the EFF's battle in the case of Professor Felten vs. RIAA, as well as an explanation, with an interview, of the nifty Open Audio License that the EFF has developed to let musicians release their work without usage restrictions.