Yelp Defeats Legal Challenge to Its User Review Filter (Forbes Cross-Post)
By Eric Goldman Demetriades v. Yelp, Case No.: BC484055 (Cal. Superior Ct. Jan. 25, 2013). Some supporting documents: * Yelp’s anti-SLAPP motion to strike * Demetriades’s opposition * Yelp’s reply Yelp ($YELP) uses an automated review filter to suppress some user reviews…
Conference Announcement: A 15 Year Retrospective of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, SCU, March 15
By Eric Goldman On March 15, 2013 at Santa Clara University, the High Tech Law Institute is hosting a conference entitled “A 15 Year Retrospective of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.” Our co-sponsors include the advisory committee to the Congressional…
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…
Washington State’s Proposed Employer Social Media Law: The Legislature Should Take a Cautious Approach — SB 5211
[Post by Venkat Balasubramani] [Washington State’s Proposed Employer Social Media Password Legislation – SB 5211] Eric previously posted on his concerns about California’s law restricting employer access to social media accounts. The Washington State Senate recently proposed a law (SB…
Update: Facebook Countersues Profile Technology For Contract Breach–Facebook v. Profile Technology
By Jake McGowan [writings][LinkedIn] Facebook, Inc. v. Profile Technology, Ltd., C 13-0459 (N.D. Cal. complaint filed Feb. 1, 2013) Back in December, we blogged about a suit brought by Profile Technology against Facebook, alleging that Facebook had breached an agreement…
Employee’s Facebook Vacation Photos Supported Termination for FMLA Abuse — Lineberry v. Detroit Med. Ctr.
[Post By Venkat Balasubramani] Lineberry v. Detroit Med. Center, 11-13752 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 5, 2013) [pdf] Plaintiff worked for Detroit Med Center as a Registered Nurse. One day she woke up with excruciating pain in her back, and her physician…
“Privacy Policies in the United States” Presentation Slides
By Eric Goldman I recently guest lectured on drafting privacy policies in the United States. My presentation slides. One of my big-picture takeaway points is that privacy laws and associated industry self-regulation have gotten so extensive that drafting privacy policies…
California Supreme Court: Retail Privacy Statute Doesn’t Apply to Download Transactions – Apple v Superior Court (Krescent)
[Post by Venkat Balasubramani with comments from Eric] Apple v. Superior Court ex rel Krescent, S199384 (Cal. Sup. Ct. Feb. 4, 2013) In a divided ruling, the California Supreme Court held that California’s privacy statute restricting retailers from collecting personal…
Doctor Loses Defamation Case Over Online Remarks–McKee v. Laurion
By Eric Goldman McKee v. Laurion, A11-1154 (Minn. Jan. 30, 2013) Dr. McKee treated Kenneth Laurion. Unhappy with those interactions, Kenneth’s son Dennis critiqued Dr. McKee on various doctor review websites. Dr. McKee sued Dennis for defamation (and related claims)…