Internet Law

Feds Ready to Tackle Cybercrime

New law gives U.S. another weapon

Feb 2, 2009 1:20 AM CST

Spammed Lawyers Angered Over Fla. Bar’s Sale of E-Mail Addresses

Lawyers are complaining about the Florida Bar’s sale of their e-mail addresses to third parties who have flooded their in-boxes with unwanted marketing posts. The state bar charges $8,500 for a DVD with lawyer contact information and makes about $200,000 a year on the sales, according to the Daily Business…

Jan 28, 2009 4:14 PM CST

Lawyer Who Sued Company CEO is Target of Claimed Cyber-Attack Campaign

In nearly 20 years as a trial lawyer, Keith Fink has encountered plenty of hardball litigation tactics. But the cyber attacks he has suffered since he began representing former employees of American Apparel in litigation against the company are unique. “I’ve never experienced it, I don’t know any lawyer that’s…

Jan 28, 2009 1:55 AM CST

Copyright Law Struggles to Keep Up in the Age of YouTube

Holden Lenz had just learned to walk when—on Feb. 7, 2007—he stepped into the front lines of the copyright wars. Thirteen-month-old Holden was tottering around his family’s home in rural Pennsylvania, clutching his walker and looking cute. The toddler heard the Prince song Let’s Go Crazy coming from a CD…

Jan 27, 2009 8:26 PM CST

Oops. Internal E-mails Undercut Litigation Position on Fair Use Issue

Lawyers, of course, are well aware of the need to exercise discretion in internal communications that could later come to light in litigation. But an exchange of e-mails among executives at the GateHouse newspaper chain is now an issue in federal fair-use litigation with the Boston Globe. The exchange and…

Jan 22, 2009 7:13 PM CST

Intelligence Court Releases Opinion Upholding Broad Wiretap Law

Updated: A federal intelligence court released an opinion today upholding the power of Congress to authorize wiretaps of international communications with a broad court order. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review issued the secret decision in August, and a redacted version was released today, the New York Times reports.…

Jan 15, 2009 2:38 PM CST

Federal Judge OKs Live Internet Coverage of Illegal Downloading Hearing

A federal judge in Boston who has testified before a House committee on the merits of cameras in federal courtrooms has agreed to allow a live Internet broadcast of a hearing in an illegal downloading suit. U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner said she is not bound by a 1996 recommendation…

Jan 15, 2009 1:45 PM CST

That Facebook ‘Friend’ May Be a Cop

Yet another reason to be wary about interacting with unknown individuals on the Internet: A growing number of police departments and prosecutors are finding social networking sites a treasure trove for evidentiary purposes. Some are seeking messages between individuals; in rape cases where consent is asserted as a defense, for…

Jan 12, 2009 6:14 PM CST

RIAA to Stop Suing Over Music Downloads; ISPs are New Copyright Cops

Ending a controversial enforcement effort in which it appeared to be fighting something of a losing battle, the Recording Industry Association of America says it will stop suing consumers over illegal music downloads via the Internet. “The decision represents an abrupt shift of strategy for the industry, which has opened…

Dec 19, 2008 8:21 PM CST

Hot HLS Hiring Streak Continues: Lessig to Leave Stanford for Harvard

A renowned cyberlaw expert is leaving Stanford Law School, after nearly nine years, to return to Harvard Law School. Lawrence Lessig will not only serve as a law professor at Harvard but direct the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics, reports the Harvard Crimson. Elena Kagan, the Harvard Law…

Dec 16, 2008 12:53 AM CST

Bosses are Making New Rules About Worker Blogging

Concerned about employee blogging that may have an adverse effect on the companies they work for, many bosses are imposing new rules restricting such activities. And, although many employees seem to think they have a right to say what they want in their off-hours, that isn’t true, according to experts.…

Dec 15, 2008 10:45 PM CST

In Seeming First, Aussie Court Says Default Judgment Can Be Served on Facebook

Updated: In an apparent first in Australia and, possibly, the world, a judge has OK’d a plan to serve a default judgment on a non-appearing defendant via a social networking website. Although service previously has been allowed by e-mail and text message, a master of the Supreme Court of the…

Dec 15, 2008 7:06 PM CST

After Libel Suit Against Blogger Fails, Lohan Gal Pal Targets Own Lawyer

A defamation lawsuit brought by a gal pal of actress Lindsay Lohan against a well-known celebrity blogger didn’t turn out the way either the plaintiff or her counsel had hoped. Represented by a high-profile New York lawyer Martin Garbus, disc jockey Samantha Ronson had hoped for vindication against blogger Perez…

Dec 11, 2008 7:58 PM CST

Discipline Over Student’s Facebook Comments Sparks Lawsuit

A student who was suspended for three days by her former high school for criticizing an advanced-placement English teacher on her Facebook page is now suing her principal with the help of the ACLU. Katherine Evans, 18, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., is now a college student. By filing a federal…

Dec 9, 2008 11:09 PM CST

New Federal Cybersecurity Plan Likely to Ignite Privacy Firestorm

A recommended plan by a bipartisan commission of technology experts to strengthen cybersecurity laws and create a new federal oversight post equivalent to the director of national security is likely to ignite a firestorm of debate over privacy issues. The cyber chief would report directly to the president and oversee…

Dec 8, 2008 10:24 PM CST