EU Questions Google on Privacy

  Further proof that Google can expect more serious oversight on its acquisitions and marketing practices, the European Union has launched an investigation into whether the Google search engine violates European privacy rules.   The primary concern is Google's practice of keeping information on user searches for up to two years after the performed search. The EU believes that this is too long a Read More

US Under Siege for Online Gambling

  One of the Republican Congress’s last actions before being defeated in the 2006 elections was attaching a bill that restricted online gambling transactions to a port security bill. The bill easily passed and a nation that had recently shown a strong interest in online gambling found that it was now prevented from funding their online gambling accounts. Most of the popular services for transferring funds to Read More

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Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2007

  A bill has been introduced in the United States Congress to shore up penalties and provide additional funding for fighting cyber crimes. The bill, HR 2290 in the 110th Congress, expands the scope of 18 USC 1030, entitled “fraud and related activity in connection with computers.” That section provides ramifications, both civil and criminal, for unauthorized computer access. The proposed bill would expand and Read More

Affiliates Sufficient for Jurisdiction over Principal

  Recently, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland heard arguments in the matter of Beyond Systems v. Keynetics. The Plaintiff, Beyond Sysytems, a Maryland Internet service provider, alleged that Keynetics, based in Idaho, is liable for the bulk e-mailing practices of its affiliates, thus conferring personal jurisdiction over Keynetics in Maryland. Keynetics maintains the “Clickbank Read More

Ninth Circuit Finally Gets CDA Mostly Right

  The Communications Decency Act (CDA) has long been unjustly applied by courts all over the nation. Now, the Ninth Circuit may have finally construed the hot-button statute (almost) correctly in its opinion in Fair Housing Council v. Roomates.com.   As the court notes:   The touchstone of section 230(c) is that providers of interactive computer services are immune from liability for Read More

New Top Level Domains on Deck

  ICANN has announced a new opportunity for public comment on new generic top level domains (gTLDs). Top level domains are the suffixes on domain names, such as .com, .net, .tv, .info and similar.   The idea of having more TLDs is attractive to many because there are more options to register and market the best name for a particular registrant. In addition, one of the primary motivations for making Read More

NBC Joins Fray Against YouTube

  In a case fast approaching being titled “The Entire World v. YouTube,” NBC has announced plans to file an amicus brief in the suit alleging copyright infringement against YouTube for allowing users to upload copyright protected content. YouTube is a popular video-sharing site that was recently purchased by Google for $1.65 billion dollars.   This matter features two interesting subplots. First, we Read More

TSA Suit Reminder of Security Concerns

  The union representing most of the airport safety screeners of the nation have filed a class action suit against the Transportation Security Administration for its negligence in allowing an external hard drive to be stolen from TSA Headquarters. The hard drive contained 100,000 records of past and current employees, including social security numbers, banking details and other sensitive data.   The Read More

Supreme Court: Obvious Patents Under Siege

  The Supreme Court recently handed down its opinion in KSR International v. Teleflex. The matter involved an adjustable pedal system for cars, which allows drivers to adjust the position of the gas and brake pedals themselves. KSR developed a model adjustable pedal and was selected by General Motors Corporation to supply the parts. Teleflex, who had previously registered a license for “a position-adjustable Read More