The Murky World of Online Privacy
February 28, 2013
This article examines the compliance issues raised by California's Online Privacy Protection Act, and the FTC's recent changes to the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and what companies must do to ensure they are not in violation.
Court Battles over Digital Television Distribution
February 28, 2013
Aereo Inc.'s pitch is this: With one of its tiny antennas, no bigger than a dime, viewers can watch television through the Internet. But this is erupting into a litigation nightmare for broadcasters. Appeals are pending in two federal courts over this type of technology, and at least one of the cases could well reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Newegg Scores in Federal e-Commerce Patent Case
February 28, 2013
After six years of litigation, the online retailer Newegg Inc. has delivered a major blow to Soverain Software LLC, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars asserting patents related to e-commerce. Siding with Newegg in a 25-page decision issued on January 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit invalidated three of Soverain's patents on obviousness grounds.
Integrating Trans-Atlantic Internet Medical Law
February 28, 2013
Technological developments such as videoconferencing, the Internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media and terrestrial and wireless communications have caused rapid changes in how electronic transmission of patient information ' <i>i.e.</i>, telemedicine ' is conducted. So, too, have legal developments in America and Europe.
3-D Printing: Strategies to Anticipate the Next Disruptive Technology
February 28, 2013
One could be forgiven for believing that 3-D printing ' essentially the ability to design and "print" three-dimensional objects ' remains either in the scope of far-fetched science fiction, or out of reach for the masses on account of being hopelessly expensive and complicated. Both of those assumptions, however, are wrong.
Cybersecurity Report Spotlights Risks to U.S. Business from China
February 28, 2013
Mandiant, a Virginia-based cybersecurity firm, gave America a wake-up slap across the face last month by detailing how Chinese military hackers are infiltrating U.S. companies. And on Feb. 20, President Barack Obama's administration responded by announcing a broad plan to fight the cyber theft of trade secrets that included diplomatic pressure to discourage it.
Patentable Software: Will We Know It When We See It?
February 26, 2013
As the pressure mounts and public concern rises, we await further clarification, by Supreme Court or congressional action, as to whether software is patent eligible. In the meantime, patent applicants should hedge against any potential outcome by drafting applications having claim sets that attempt to comply with future adoptable patent eligibility tests.
MS Windows 8 ' First Look
February 26, 2013
From the sole practitioner to the attorney or legal assistant at a large law firm, I hope to provide some useful points to get you started and keep you out of trouble.