US copyright laws are designed to protect the "fair use" of copyrighted content such as mash-ups and remixes—or they were, at least, until the advent of DMCA Takedown Notices. The Dutch government has taken notes on America's IP failures and is reportedly looking to explicitly protect such DMCA fodder, much to the…

"Backscatter" X-ray machines, which bombard your body with radiation at the airport, are a subject of controversy in the US. Not in Europe, Mother Jones reports—the machines are now banned throughout the entire EU over cancer risks. Good.

On May 25, some European governments will activate laws against automatic web cookies. This means that web sites will have to explicitly ask for user permission every time they want to store any information in your browser. Some people are asking for this in the US too, in the name of privacy.

As well as facing possible antitrust claims in the US, the European Union is now taking a look at Apple's closed-shop practises—with EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes claiming makers "cannot just choose to deny interoperability with their product."

Nine chip makers—including heavy hitters like Samsung and Hitachi—have collectively been fined $404 million by the European Commission over DRAM price fixing. Cartels: they're not just for drug lords anymore.

Microsoft's newest attempt to appease the EU is to create a system in which end users can choose their browsers. (Imagine that! Choice!) This is a change from Microsoft's previous offer to remove Internet Explorer completely from Windows 7.

From June 1st, customers of Vodafone, the world's second largest wireless carrier, will be able to text and call from over 35 countries at no extra charge. Attention American carriers: Be more like this.