Internet Law

Nomination for New US Cyberwar Chief to Explore Internet Issues

A confirmation hearing that begins tomorrow for the new United States Cyber Command post is expected to detail what the nominee himself a “mismatch between our technical capabilities to conduct operations and the governing laws and policies.” Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander made that assessment in written material he provided in…

Apr 14, 2010 9:23 PM CDT

Law Prof Sees Privacy Problems with MasterCard’s Online Shopping Mall

Some privacy advocates are expressing qualms about the kind of technology behind MasterCard’s new shopping mall. MasterCard Marketplace will tailor its product offerings based on how customers use the site, the New York Times reports. Site visitors will first be asked to select their favorite retailers, and then a computer…

Apr 12, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

Must Criminal Contempt Occur in Court? 7th Cir. Mulls Judge’s Reaction to E-Mail Flood

As lawyers today debated before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals whether a federal district judge should have sentenced an informercial pitchman to 30 days for flooding his in-box with e-mail, the three-judge panel honed in on whether criminal contempt can occur outside the physical boundaries of a courtroom.…

Apr 8, 2010 9:35 PM CDT

Meddling Mom Charged with Facebook Harassment after Son Complains to Prosecutors

An Arkansas mother is facing a criminal charge of harassment after her son told prosecutors she hacked into his Facebook account, changed his password and posted slanderous things about him. The mother, Denise New of Arkadelphia, told the Associated Press that she accessed her son’s Facebook page after he forgot…

Apr 8, 2010 3:10 PM CDT

Ky. Cites Obscure Law in Suit to Recover Residents’ Online Gambling Losses

The state of Kentucky has sued the Full Tilt Poker website and other online gambling operations in an effort to recoup gambling losses—times three—for Kentucky residents. The suits rely on a state law that says gambling winners have no right to collect, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports. Losers who pay anyway…

Apr 8, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

Judge Sues Newspaper for $50M, Claims Breach of Promised Anonymity re Web Comments

Under fire over anonymous comments reportedly made from her private e-mail account about defendants and at least one lawyer in cases she is overseeing, an Ohio judge has blasted back by filing suit against the Cleveland newspaper that broke the story. Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold…

Apr 7, 2010 10:19 PM CDT

Photographers File New Suit Against Google Over Book-Scanning Project

Photographers and illustrators who say they were left out of a proposed $125 million settlement by Google concerning its massive book-scanning project have filed suit seeking additional damages. While scanning the books into a searchable database, they contend Google also scanned copyrighted photographs and other images, reports PC Magazine. Among…

Apr 7, 2010 5:21 PM CDT

Yelp Makes Some Changes After Class Actions Allege Advertising Extortion

Yelp will allow users to see which reviews are removed from its consumer-rating website after three class action lawsuits claimed businesses were extorted into buying advertising. The suits, all filed in California, had claimed businesses were promised that positive reviews would be highlighted and negative ones removed if they advertised,…

Apr 7, 2010 12:49 PM CDT

D.C. Circuit Rules Against FCC in Net Neutrality Case

A federal appeals court has ruled for Comcast in a lawsuit challenging the government’s authority to require so-called “net neutrality.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Federal Communications Commission does not have authority to require broadband providers to give equal treatment to…

Apr 6, 2010 3:49 PM CDT

Judge Accused of Case-Related E-Mail Declines to Step Down, Blames Media

An Ohio judge accused of making anonymous comments about her cases online under the moniker “Lawmiss” has denied a motion to recuse herself by a lawyer representing a defendant in a serial murder case. Although Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold said today that she hasn’t yet decided…

Apr 5, 2010 10:39 PM CDT

2nd Cir. OKs eBay Use of Tiffany’s Trademark, But Revives False Advertising Claim

The New York City-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with eBay today in a trademark infringement and dilution case brought by Tiffany & Co., finding that a lower court had correctly permitted eBay to list for sale on its website used items from the renowned retailer. However, its…

Apr 1, 2010 11:28 PM CDT

Does Connecticut Hate the Net?

State is a battleground for online legal services

Apr 1, 2010 6:30 AM CDT

Are Criminal Charges the Right Way to Punish High School Bullies in Suicide Cases?

A prosecutor’s unusual decision to pursue criminal charges against a group of high school classmates whose bullying allegedly resulted in the targeted 15-year-old’s suicide has sparked debate about how best to address such situations. Some say the criminal charges—which range from statutory rape to harassment and likely would not have…

Mar 31, 2010 10:39 PM CDT

9 Teens Charged with Harassment That Allegedly Led to Classmate’s Suicide

Nine teenagers in Massachusetts are now facing criminal charges after allegedly harassing a high school classmate so severely that she committed suicide in January after a three-month campaign that included physical attacks, taunting and cyberbullying via social networking websites. Charges against the two boys and seven girls range from statutory…

Mar 29, 2010 11:26 PM CDT

After Web Post About Serial Murder Case, Judge Should Step Down, Lawyer Says

An Ohio judge who has been linked to an anonymous post on a local newspaper’s web page about a serial murder defendant in a case she is overseeing should recuse herself, the defendant’s lawyer says. Attorney Rufus Sims filed a motion Friday seeking the recusal of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas…

Mar 29, 2010 5:56 PM CDT