Federal Judge Says Zediva’s Rent-a-DVD-and-Player Online Business Infringes, OKs Injunction

A creative concept for providing instant access to movies as soon as they are available on DVD, by renting both a DVD and a player to a single customer via the Internet, arguably complied with copyright law. But a federal judge in central California agreed with movie studios that it…

Aug 3, 2011 6:02 PM CDT

‘Battlestar Galactica’ ‘Revenge, Payback’ Facebook Post Gets Ex-Sheriff Deputy’s Bail Upped by $200K

A former San Bernardino County, Calif., sheriff’s deputy got slapped with a $200,000 increase in his bail on teen-sex charges after allegedly putting a “revenge, payback” post on Facebook. Nathan James Gastineau, 31, whose bail is now $350,000, said during a hearing in San Bernardino County Circuit Court yesterday that…

Aug 3, 2011 5:10 PM CDT

Missouri Outlaws Teacher-Student Facebook Friendships

Updated: A new Missouri law set to take effect later this month is aimed at more clearly defining teacher-student boundaries. But critics say portions of Senate Bill 54, also known as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, go too far in limiting social media contact between teachers and their students.…

Aug 2, 2011 2:15 PM CDT

Judge Dismisses Pro Se Paralegal’s Suit Against Facebook Friend

A judge in Michigan has dismissed a lawsuit brought by paralegal Cheryl Gray, who claimed she was dumped and defamed by a Seattle man she met on Facebook. The 50-year-old Livonia woman, who represented herself in court, wanted to recoup more than $8,000 for gifts she bought for Wylie Iwan,…

Aug 2, 2011 1:40 PM CDT

Admitted Miley Cyrus Hacker Beats That Rap But Reportedly Pleads on 2 Other Charges

A 21-year-old who admittedly hacked into Miley Cyrus’ email and Myspace accounts and posted private images of the young singer hasn’t been charged with doing so. However, Josh Holly, also known online as “Trainreq,” pleaded guilty today in federal court in Nashville, Tenn., to other charges related to his possession…

Aug 1, 2011 11:19 PM CDT

With Law Firm’s Aid, Studio Strikes Back by IDing Alleged Culprit in Hacking of ‘Twilight’ Images

Heartbroken to see images on the Internet earlier this year from its latest, as-yet-unreleased film in the Twilight Saga vampire romance series, a movie studio went the extra mile. Summit Entertainment put the Kroll Inc. private investigator and law firm Keats McFarland & Wilson on the case to try to…

Aug 1, 2011 6:20 PM CDT

In-House Approach: Corporate Lawyers Say E-Discovery Software, Savings Are There

Aug 1, 2011 6:10 AM CDT

Ex-Law Dean at Kaplan Gets 1 Year for Sending Threatening Internet Messages

A former law dean at Kaplan Inc. has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for sending threatening messages concerning the online educational institution and its chief executive officer. Bennie Wilcox, 45, maintained that he did not send the 2007 emails and Internet postings at issue…

Jul 22, 2011 6:41 PM CDT

Feds Arrest 14 Suspects in ‘Anonymous’ Hack Attacks on Corporate Targets, Raid Dozens More

Executing 35 search warrants in a nationwide sweep today, federal agents arrested 14 suspects in a probe of alleged distributed denial of service (DDos) hack attacks on corporate targets by the group known as Anonymous and raided dozens more. An alleged cyberattack on PayPal, after the online payment conduit terminated…

Jul 20, 2011 12:21 AM CDT

Ex Harvard Ethics Fellow Accused of Hacking Into MIT Network, Stealing 4M Docs with Intent to Share

An activist programmer and former fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics is facing federal criminal charges for allegedly hacking into the computer network at Massachusetts Institute of Technology between September of 2010 and January 2011 to access a subscription service that provides published academic articles. Aaron…

Jul 19, 2011 9:56 PM CDT

Facebook Banned My Ads After I Promoted My Google+ Profile, Web App Designer Says

A British Web app designer says Facebook banned all his ads and suspended his advertising account after he used the social networking site to promote his Google+ profile, reports the Los Angeles Times on its Technology blog. “Generally, we disable an account if too many of its adverts violate our…

Jul 18, 2011 11:04 PM CDT

Man in Phishing Scheme Claims to Be Calling from Identified Law Firm, BBB Warns Consumers

A Texas law firm focusing on serving the needs of individuals and small businesses has been impersonated by a group of Internet scammers who are trying to trick people into paying them money under the guise of collecting a debt. Using fictitious names, they purport to be calling from or…

Jul 18, 2011 10:38 PM CDT

Suspension Recommended for Lawyer Who Sought Secretary via ‘Adult Gig’ Craigslist Ad

A one-year suspension has been recommended for an Illinois sole practitioner who advertised for a secretary/legal assistant in an ad posted on the “adult gigs” section of Craigslist. Samir Zia Chowhan also mishandled an immigration case while he was an associate at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick and Dym and did…

Jul 18, 2011 8:49 PM CDT

Alabama Bar Group Files Suit to Ban LegalZoom

The DeKalb County Bar Association asked a judge Friday to permanently prohibit online forms company LegalZoom from doing business in the state of Alabama for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. LegalZoom, founded by O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Shapiro and partners, offers standardized legal documents such as wills and…

Jul 15, 2011 8:48 PM CDT

Cooley Sues Law Firm and Bloggers, Says Law School Falsely Accused of Misstating Grads’ Success

Criticized online for claimed misrepresentations about the success of its graduates, a Michigan law school has filed suit for defamation against a New York law firm and anonymous bloggers that it blames for the communications. The Kurzon Strauss firm and two of its lawyers posted online comments, including requests for…

Jul 14, 2011 8:59 PM CDT