By Brian Lynch

Here’s a look back at the some of the top media law stories from 2011:

INTERNET PIRACY REGULATION

New Version of ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’ as Controversial as Ever | The Hollywood Reporter   

Fight the Blacklist: A Toolkit for Anti-SOPA Activism Created by the Ever-vigilant EFF | EFF

Harvard Law Professor Explains Why Felony Streaming Provisions Do Put Justin Bieber At Risk Of Jail | Tech Dirt

SOPA Supporter: If You Use DNSSEC You Can Ignore SOPA/PIPA | Tech Dirt

Compromise: SOPA | Future of Internet

The Good and the Bad of the New OPEN Bill From Wyden And Issa | Tech Dirt

Lawmaker Opposition to SOPA Grows | Washington Post 

More And More People Speak Up Against SOPA | TechDirt 

Why Can’t PROTECT IP Supporters Just Admit that It’s about Censorship? | Tech Dirt

OCCUPY WALL STREET COVERAGE

Occupy Wall Street, the NYPD and the Media: Reconsidering the ‘Press Pass’ in a Digital Age | Mediaite 

Media Can Avoid NYPD Arrest by Getting Press Pass They Can’t Get | Wired

Know Your Rights & Protect Yourself: A Cell Phone Guide for Occupy Wall | EFF

Does the NYPD Really Think That Shooting Photos/Videos of Protests is ‘Disorderly Conduct?’ | Techdirt

NEWS OF THE WORLD PHONE HACKING SCANDAL

Quick guide to the News Corp hacking scandal | Reuters

News Corp. Scandal | Bloomberg

News Corp: Phone-Hacking Scandal Could ‘Impair’ Business | Guardian

Tipping points: How the News Corp. scandal blossomed | Washington Post

ONLINE PRIVACY

FTC Proposes Settlement to Address Facebook’s Failure to Keep Privacy Promises to Users | Federal Trade Commision

Facebook’s Settlement with FTC Confirmed: Privacy Changes Must be Opt- In | TechCrunch

Facebook Agrees To Submit To Independent Privacy Audits For The Next 20 Years | TechDirt 

Examination Of Privacy Policies Shows A Few Troubling Trends | TechCrunch

Amazon to Congress: No, Silk Won’t Invade People’s Privacy | Ars Technica

Kindle Fire Draws Privacy Slam from Congressman | Information Week

FTC Privacy Czar To Entrepreneurs: “If You Don’t Want To See Us, Don’t Collect Data You Don’t Need”  

Facebook Accused of Violating US Wiretap Law | The Register

Report: Apple, Google Collecting Location Data on Users | USA Today

NET NEUTRALITY

Why Net Neutrality Is Better for Business | PC World

D.C. Court Will Hear Net Neutrality Lawsuits | National Journal

Public Interest Groups Across Spectrum Oppose Net Neutrality Regs | Technology Liberation Front

The FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules: A Tale of Two Internets | New Media Rights

FCC Finalizes Net Neutrality Rules; Sets Start Date of Nov. 20 | Reuters 

CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM

Suffolk Media Law Joins the Call to Televise Heathcare Law Arguments | Suffolk Media Law

Internet Video Archive of Court Proceedings Challenged in Massachusetts | Suffolk Media Law

Arrested for Videotaping Inside New Hampshire Courthouse (video) | Pixiq

CAMERAS ON THE POLICE

Chicago Police Investigated for Seizing Camera, Deleting Video Footage of Arrest | RCFP

N.H. Judge Upholds Right to Record Police in Public | The New American

Milwaukee Police Chief Says He’ll Meet Media Following Photographers’ Arrests | Journal Sentinel

A Victory for Recording in Public! | Citizen Media Law Project

Police Sued for Wrongfully Arresting Bystander Videotaping Officers | Suffolk Media Law

RIGHTHAVEN 

Righthaven Loses (Big Time) In Colorado As Well | Tech Dirt

Righthaven’s Copyright Trolling is a Bankrupt Idea | Citizen Media Law Project

Copyright Troll Righthaven Goes on Life Support | Wired

Court Slams Righthaven (Again); Refuses to Let It Back into Democratic Underground Case | Tech Dirt 

Righthaven Rocked, Owes $34,000 After “Fair Use” Loss | Ars Technica  

Righthaven Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Its Sham Copyright Transfer And Lawsuits | Techdirt

The Sound of Fury in Recent Righthaven Cases | CMLP