Wikipedia and Rules Proliferation
By Eric Goldman I have previously mentioned how rule sets tend to expand over time. We’ve seen this with legislation; for example, consider how the Copyright Act has grown over time. Personally, I’ve seen code expansion over and over again…
Google Goes on Offensive in AdWords Trademark Lawsuit–Google v. John Beck Amazing Profits
By Eric Goldman Google, Inc v. John Beck Amazing Profits, LLC, C09 03459 (N.D. Cal. complaint filed July 27, 2009). [Warning: 1.4MB file] The Justia page. A couple of interesting developments in John Beck Amazing Profits v. Google, the putative…
Republishing Third Party Ratings in Marketing Material Might Be Copyright/Trademark Infringement–Health Grades v. Robert Wood Johnson Univ. Hospital
By Eric Goldman Health Grades, Inc. v. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Inc., 06-CV-02351-JLK (D. Colo. June 19, 2009) A Colorado judge has reached the remarkable conclusion that a hospital publicizing its star ratings and other recognition from a third…
Facebook Sued for Click Fraud–RootZoo v. Facebook
By Eric Goldman RootZoo, Inc. v. Facebook, Inc., 5:09-cv-03043-HRL (N.D Cal. complaint filed July 7, 2009) Facebook appears to have run into some trouble with click fraud recently. Last month, TechCrunch had a series of articles about Facebook click fraud….
June 2009 Quick Links, Part 2
By Eric Goldman State Regulation of the Internet * iAWFUL, the Internet Advocates Watchlist for Ugly Laws * Texas HB 2003. Part of the anti-cyber-harassment mania. Very broad statute with lots of room for prosecutorial mischief. * BNA (BNA subscription…
ABA Antitrust Section Consumer Protection Conference Recap
By Eric Goldman Last month I attended the ABA Antitrust Section’s Consumer Protection Conference. This post recaps some highlights from the event. A few overarching themes: * in light of the country’s economic malaise, the FTC is focusing its enforcement…
June 2009 Quick Links, Part 1
By Eric Goldman Just a reminder that I post some items to Twitter that don’t make it into these monthly recaps. If you want even more, you can track a superset of my online activities at Friendfeed. Search Engines *…
Securities Fraud Case Premised on Click Fraud Allegations Dismissed–Brodsky v. Yahoo
By Eric Goldman Brodsky v. Yahoo, Inc., 2009 WL 1766002 (N.D. Cal. June 18, 2009). The legal battles over click fraud are pretty much played out, but some legacy cases are still working through the system. This lawsuit was a…
Stop Saying “We Can Amend This Agreement Whenever We Want”!–Harris v. Blockbuster
By Eric Goldman Harris v. Blockbuster Inc., 2009 WL 1011732 (N.D. Tex. April 15, 2009). The Justia page. [I’ve been sitting on this case for a couple of months, but it’s such an important case that it still deserves a…
May 2009 Quick Links Part 1
By Eric Goldman Just a reminder that I’m posting some quick links exclusively to my Twitter account. Trademarks * Texas International Property Associates v. Hoerbiger Holding AG, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40409 (N.D. Tex. May 12, 2009). Domainer loses ACPA…