Boring Couple Sues Google over Street View
April 30, 2008
Aaron and Christine Boring say they enjoyed the, well, quiet life in the countryside outside Pittsburgh ' until Google showed up in the driveway. The couple is suing the Mountain View, CA, search giant for invading its privacy by snapping a photo of the Boring house for Google Street View, a map feature that allows users to see pictures of streets. It caused the Borings 'mental suffering and diminished value of their property,' according to the complaint filed in Pennsylvania state court. They're seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Blogs Are Afforded Unequal Protection
April 30, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court created a bit of a problem when it ruled that commercial speech is entitled to limited First Amendment protection, but failed to clearly identify what commercial speech is. So, it often comes down to this: If a business elects to engage in a debate on important social issues, its principals ' and counsel ' have no way of knowing the level of constitutional protection that speech will receive. This issue is becoming especially important to owners of blogs.
An Overview of Twombly on Patent Pleading Disputes
April 30, 2008
In <i>Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly</i>, an antitrust case, the U.S. Supreme Court put to rest the five-decade-old pleading standard from <i>Conley v. Gibson</i> that 'a complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim that would entitle him to relief.'
<b><i>Online Exclusive:</b></i> Comcast and Pando Networks to Create Peer-to-Peer Bill of Rights
April 30, 2008
Comcast Corporation and Pando Networks, Inc. announced late last month that they will lead an industry-wide effort to create a peer-to-peer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities ('BRR') for P2P users and Internet Service Providers. The two companies plan to collaborate and engage with industry experts, other ISPs and P2P companies, content providers and others to set a framework for the BRR that can serve as best practices. The purpose would be to clarify what choices and controls consumers should have when using P2P applications as well as what processes and practices ISPs should use to manage P2P applications running on their networks.
How Courts Are Defining 'Distribution' In Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Lawsuits
April 29, 2008
In the entertainment industry's efforts to stem the infringement of sound recordings and motion pictures on the Internet, more than 20,000 infringement actions have been commenced against individuals, mostly in connection with their use of peer-to-peer (P2P) services to share recordings with other P2P users. The legal basis for these actions is often misunderstood, however, by commentators ' and sometimes even by the courts. This article discusses several recent P2P cases that deal directly with a central element of most P2P cases, namely the allegation that users violate the plaintiffs' distribution rights under 17 U.S.C. Sec. 106 whenever they place a digital recording or video in a 'share' folder that other P2P users can access.
Local Search Marketing Strategies For Driving Clients To Your Web Site
April 29, 2008
Most people don't seek a lawyer until they need one. If they are buying real estate, suing someone, or have been arrested, then they need a lawyer fast. And when these prospects need a client fast, they turn to the Internet to find one. To get your share of these motivated prospects and turn them into clients, you will need to develop a comprehensive Search-Engine Marketing ('SEM') strategy. An effective SEM campaign ' combined with local search engines ' can reach new clients you're seeking and help you further develop new content for your site that keeps them coming back.
Search Engine Optimization for Law Firm Web Sites
April 29, 2008
'Search engine optimization' and 'marketing' are the hottest buzzwords in the digital agency space in 2008. Why is this? Marketing and IT professionals have been able to track Web site visitors and understand online customers for long enough to confirm that traffic is mainly driven from the major search engines using a combination of keywords and phrases.
iPhone 'Gotchas' And How Apple Addresses Them
April 29, 2008
The iPhone is ranked among the most popular gadgets to hit the market in 2007. According to Forrester Research, with more professionals using the iPhone, demand on internal IT departments to support the device has increased as well. However, there are some limitations with the iPhone that prevent it from being readily integrated as an enterprise-class device within an organization. Although the iPhone is popular with consumers, that does not necessarily mean it will integrate well into a company's complex technology infrastructure. Below is a list of 'gotchas' to be aware of when using the iPhone and considering the possibility of enterprise-wide integration.
Download Ruling May Raise Burden For Record Labels
April 29, 2008
Those who download music to their computers now have two unlikely heroes: Janet Bond Arterton, a federal judge who sits in New Haven, CT; and Christopher David Brennan, a young Waterford, CT, resident who has reportedly downloaded songs by Billy Joel, Hootie and the Blowfish and other artists. Brennan is one of about 30,000 people sued by the music industry in recent years for allegedly taking music from the Internet without paying for it.
SEC Improves e-Capital Raising
April 29, 2008
The Internet provides private companies with a cost-effective way to introduce themselves to many potential investors. It also facilitates efficient capital fundraising opportunities. That stated, the SEC revision of Rule 144 makes raising capital on the Internet easier, and cheaper. The SEC changed Rule 144 to reduce regulation of restricted securities, which, in turn, facilitates Internet capital-raising.
