Google’s Spam Rating Guide
I previously posted how Google uses humans to QA search results. Henk van Ess has subsequently posted the training manual for people doing the QA. There’s nothing too shocking in the guide. Some of the techniques it specifically addresses include:…
AWOL Opinions
While we are on Grokster watch, I also have been thinking of two opinions that seem to have disappeared into the void: * Second Circuit opinion in 1-800 Contacts v. WhenU. The district court ruled in December 2003, the parties…
FTC Settles Another Case for Failure to Use Reasonable Security
In the Matter of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., File No. 042 3160. The FTC settled with BJ’S Wholesale Club over BJ’s allegedly deficient security practices. This is the second settlement of its nature in three months (the last being an…
FTC Votes Against Mandatory Spam Labeling
The FTC has recommended against adopting a mandatory label for spam like “ADV.” The FTC concluded that recipients have better filtering mechanisms for law-abiding emailers and the law will have no effect against law-breaker emailers. I think this quote sums…
New Reality TV Show IP Case
RDF Media Ltd. v. Fox Broadcasting Co., 74 USPQ2d 1769 (C.D. Cal. May 11, 2005) [BNA subscription required]. The producers of “Wife Swap UK” sued Fox for its “Trading Spouses” TV show, alleging copyright infringement and direct/contributory trade dress misappropriation….
Grokster Watch
So just about all of my professional peers are on a Grokster opinion watch. Unless something weird happens, the opinion should come out either this Monday (June 20) or next (June 27). As this Monday grows closer, our collective anxiety…
Enhanced Consumer Protection Against Spyware Act of 2005 (S 1004)
Sen. Allen’s anti-spyware law has finally hit Thomas (the law was initially announced in April). Description The law has several substantive provisions, mostly revolving around a central provision making it illegal “to install through deceptive acts or practices software on…
Public Domain Enhancement Act (HR 2408)
I’m a little late catching this, but Rep. Lofgren has introduced the Public Domain Enhancement Act (HR 2408). The law would require copyright owners to pay $1 after 50 years (and each 10 years thereafter) to maintain their copyright; otherwise,…
Intermix Says It Has Settled NY Enforcement Action Over Adware
Intermix issued a press release today claiming to reach an “agreement in principle” to settle the Spitzer enforcement action over Intermix’s alleged distribution of illegal adware. Have the Parties Settled? On the same day, Intermix announced improved earnings. The combination…
More on the Adware Advertiser Witchhunt
I’ve been traveling for 3 weeks, so I missed a lot of good stuff while I was gone. One posting I missed was this one, discussing which stocks should be shorted because of Elliott Spitzer’s enforcement action against Intermix Media….