Socially Aware

May 20, 2014 - Privacy, Litigation
French Consumer Association Takes on Internet Giants
Earlier this year, the French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir initiated proceedings before the Paris District Court against Google Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc., accusing these companies of using confusing and unlawful online privacy policies and terms of use agreements in the French versions
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May 15, 2014 - Privacy, Litigation
European Court of Justice Strengthens Right to Be Forgotten
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a quite surprising decision against Google which has significant implications for global companies. On May 13, 2014 the ECJ issued a ruling which did not follow the rationale or the conclusions of its Advocate General, but instead
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May 02, 2014 - Privacy, Litigation
If You Host Videos on Your Website, Read This Blog Post Regarding the Video Privacy Protection Act
By: Julie O'Neill
In a much anticipated decision in the class action In re Hulu Privacy Litigation , U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has shed new light on the meaning of “personally identifiable information” (PII) under
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April 24, 2014 - Copyright, IP, Litigation, Supreme Court
Which Way is Aereo Pointing? The Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Public Performance Copyright Case
In a case that could have a broad impact on how companies deliver content to consumers, the Supreme Court heard oral argument on April 22 in American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Aereo, Inc. (No. 13-461). At issue is whether Aereo’s service engages in public performances under
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April 10, 2014 - FTC, Privacy, Litigation
Jerked Around? Did the FTC’s “Jerk.com” Complaint Just Turn API Terms Into Federal Law?
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) announcement that it had filed a complaint against Jerk, LLC and its websites like “jerk.com” (“Jerk”) looks at first glance like a run-of-the-mill FTC Section 5 enforcement action involving allegedly deceptive practices online. But hidden in the facts of
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April 01, 2014 - Copyright, IP, Litigation
The Umpire Strikes Back: European Court Rules That ISPs Can Be Forced to Block Pirate Websites
By: Alistair Maughan
On March 27, 2014, the highest court in the European Union—the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU)— decided that copyright owners have the right to seek injunctions against Internet service providers (ISPs) requiring the ISPs to block access to pirate websites illegally
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March 31, 2014 - E-Discovery, Discovery, Litigation
U.S. Courts’ Evolving Approaches to Social Media E-Discovery
By: J. Alexander Lawrence
Courts across the United States have now made clear that discovery of social media is fair game. At the same time, courts have consistently found that litigants will not be permitted to engage in social media fishing expeditions; rather, litigants will be required to
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March 27, 2014 - Copyright, IP, Litigation
Google Ordered to Remove All Copies of Anti-Islamic Film From YouTube After Actress With Bit Part Threatened by Outraged Muslims; Decision Puzzles Copyright Attorneys
By: J. Alexander Lawrence
An aspiring actress moves to California and finds her life threatened. While standard fare for pulp fiction, the case of Garcia v. Google involves a twist on this well-worn plot line that not even the most imaginative Hollywood scriptwriter could invent. Cindy Lee Garcia
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March 03, 2014 - Privacy, Litigation
German Court Rules Against Facebook’s “Friend Finder”
On January 24, 2014, in a case filed against Facebook by German consumer protection association VZBV , the Berlin Court of Appeal (“Court”) upheld a lower court ruling that Facebook’s “Friend Finder” function is unlawful. The Court agreed with the Berlin Regional Court’s 2012
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January 27, 2014 - Trademark, Litigation, Supreme Court
You May Not Necessarily Be the Master of Your Domain
The ability to associate goods and services with a specific domain name can make or break a business, so much so that companies are still willing to fork over millions to purchase domain names. And although you may consider yourself lucky to have registered
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Topic Archives: Litigation

French Consumer Association Takes on Internet Giants

European Court of Justice Strengthens Right to Be Forgotten

If You Host Videos on Your Website, Read This Blog Post Regarding the Video Privacy Protection Act

By: Julie O'Neill

Which Way is Aereo Pointing? The Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Public Performance Copyright Case

Jerked Around? Did the FTC’s “Jerk.com” Complaint Just Turn API Terms Into Federal Law?

The Umpire Strikes Back: European Court Rules That ISPs Can Be Forced to Block Pirate Websites

By: Alistair Maughan

U.S. Courts’ Evolving Approaches to Social Media E-Discovery

By: J. Alexander Lawrence

Google Ordered to Remove All Copies of Anti-Islamic Film From YouTube After Actress With Bit Part Threatened by Outraged Muslims; Decision Puzzles Copyright Attorneys

By: J. Alexander Lawrence

German Court Rules Against Facebook’s “Friend Finder”

You May Not Necessarily Be the Master of Your Domain