Internet Law, Technology, and Property
27
Aug
So it seems that the long smoldering American fascination with Australian culture has flared up again. Not limited this time to obsession with quirky entertainment giants and bland rock style bands, this go-round has seen the frenzy extend to that most American of pastimes: the lawsuit. Following closely on the heels of an Australian consumer […]
20
Aug
As the new media vs. old media battle continues to unfold, it has been interesting to watch how each vacillates between courageous innovator and meek victim. First we had the DMCA and the proliferation of semi-hidden, contract based schemes of reservation and denial of traditional rights. Then the old media guys started suing their customers. […]
12
Aug
So I know I’m supposed to finish my missive about compliance by certain service providers with certain subpoenas that seek to unmask John Doe defendants…and I will get back to that. In the interim, I came across an interesting (and tangentially relevant) development out of law and technology powerhouse Oklahoma. In another flare-up in the […]
10
Aug
The John Doe Lawsuit is nothing new to the Internet playing field. Plaintiffs have used them for years to pursue actions against otherwise anonymous Internet posters. Typically used to fight whistleblowers, trade secret violators, files sharing kiddies (and their Snoop Dogg loving grandmothers), John Doe Lawsuits have typically been used to pierce the anonymity of […]
8
Aug
Remember that time I noted that provisions of the DMCA could be used to oppress and stifle innovative activity once protected under copyright law (that time yesterday…and the day before…and last week…and probably again tomorrow)? Well here we go again! After being verily crushed as plaintiff in a trademark infringement suit, Healthcare Advocates, Inc. brought […]
7
Aug
Well…as promised, I have started my two prong attack on the ol’ website thief. We have contacted an IP lawyer and gotten him started with the relevant details. I’ve also started doing a little research of my own. More later on the outcome of things with the lawyer. What I can say upfront is that […]
5
Aug
So Second Life creator Philip Rosedale says that virtual worlds will be bigger than the Internet in 10 years. Whatever. The fact is that they’re big…and getting bigger. But what will happen as these MUDs continue to mature into something more than late night nerd playgrounds? It’s already happening: Second Life is quickly becoming a […]
3
Aug
Well, it’s finally happened - after years of following Internet property issues from the comfort of the sidelines, today I found myself right in the middle of a juicy Internet IP issue of my own.
Turns out some guy has…ahem…infringed…on intellectual property contained in my employer’s website. “Infringed” is perhaps too genteel a term: this was […]
1
Aug
So it looks like it’s time for another clash between global “free market” interests and national sovereignty - and this time its not over something so mundane as steel tarriffs or a little lead paint. Today’s beef is over internet gambling — recent U.S. law prohibits cartain transactions related to online gambling, ostensibly taking a […]