Newspaper Not Liable for Moderated Online Reader Comments–Gains v. Romkey (Catch-Up Post)

By Eric Goldman Gains v. Romkey, 2012 IL App (3d) 110594-U (Ill. App. Ct. July 3, 2012) [Note: I’m terribly behind in blogging 47 USC 230 cases, and on top of that, this case just showed up in my Westlaw…

What Should We Do About Revenge Porn Sites Like Texxxan? (Forbes Cross-Post)

Periodically, a new controversy springs up about a website that encourages users to post anti-social or distasteful content.  A few years ago it was sites like JuicyCampus or People’s Dirt that requested users to gossip about each other; followed by…

Google and Yahoo Defeat Trademark Lawsuit Over Keyword Ads–Clara Ison v. Google

By Eric Goldman Clara Ison v. Google, 1-10-CV-163032 (Cal. Superior Ct. January 22, 2013), The fourth amended complaint. The case docket. I try to track every trademark lawsuit regarding Google AdWords. Thus, I am embarrassed to admit that I just…

17 USC 512(f) Is Dead–Lenz v. Universal Music

By Eric Goldman Lenz v. Universal Music Corp., 2013 WL 271673 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 2013). This is the long-running case involving a YouTube video of a baby dancing to a Prince song. Universal Music overzealously took the video down…

47 USC 230 Protects Online White Pages for Publishing Incorrect Phone Number–Nasser v. WhitePages

By Eric Goldman Nasser v. WhitePages, Inc., 2012 WL 6858438 (W.D. Va. magistrate report and recommendations December 20, 2012). The judge approved the magistrate report on January 14, 2013. [Note: Venkat represented WhitePages, but he had no role in preparing…

Court Definitively Rejects AFP’s Argument That Posting a Photo to Twitter Grants AFP a License to Freely Use It — AFP v. Morel

[Post by Venkat Balasubramani] AFP v. Morel, 10 Civ. 02730 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 14, 2013) The court *finally* issued its ruling on the parties’ cross motions for summary judgment in AFP v. Morel, the Haiti photo case. Previous posts here and…

Top Ten Internet Law Developments of 2012 (Forbes Cross-Post)

By Eric Goldman I’m pleased to share my list of top 10 developments of 2012: #10: The Push Towards Anti-Class Action Arbitration Clauses.  In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion that businesses may be able to adopt mandatory…

Q4 2012 Quick Links, Part 3 (47 USC 230 and more)

By Eric Goldman 47 USC 230/Review Websites * Sulla v. Horowitz, 2012 WL 4758163 (D. Hawai’i Oct. 4, 2012): “§ 230 does not provide this court with exclusive jurisdiction over defamation claims arising from statements made via the internet….While a…

Section 230 Still Keeping the Pro Se Plaintiffs at Bay–Klayman v. Facebook, and More

By Eric Goldman I’m personally committed to blogging every Section 230 case I see, but I fell off the wagon in the second half of 2012. So what better way to usher out 2012 and ring in the new year…

Court Dismisses Class Action Against Apple Over Its App Developers’ Information Collection Practices – Pirozzi v. Apple

[Post by Venkat Balasubramani with comments from Eric] Pirozzi v. Apple, 2012 WL 6652453 (N.D. Cal.; Dec. 20, 2012) This is one of several putative class actions over the information collection practices of apps. I previously covered how the lawsuit…