Does AskJeeves Have a Spyware/Adware Problem? Diller Says No. I Say…
Ben Edelman leveled two charges at AskJeeves on Monday. First, Ben asserts that AskJeeves targets kids for toolbar downloads. Second, Ben asserts that an AskJeeves distributor exploits security holes to install the toolbar without consent. This follows on the heels…
Congress Mulls Mandatory Security Breach Disclosure Law
Congress is discussing a national mandatory security breach notification law. In a minor surprise, at least one legislator, Rep. Oxley, is asking the right questions. He observes: “consumers may begin to ignore those notices as just that many more pieces…
Declan Interviews Edelman
Interview here. I have a lot of issues with Ben’s positions, and I will have more to say about that later. In this interview, though, notice how Ben conflates adware and spyware. Even Declan found that confusing.
Guest Blogger–John Ottaviani
I’m pleased to introduce John Ottaviani as a guest blogger. John is a partner at Edwards & Angell in Providence, RI. John practices technology and IP law and is co-chair (along with me) of the Intellectual Property subcommittee of the…
McCullagh on HR 29
Declan weighs in against HR 29. He says, “politicians write laws that treat technology as something that’s as easy to define as a food product or an agricultural implement. It isn’t.” Too bad Congress isn’t listening to the many rational…
Gomes on Search Engine Spam
Lee Gomes points out that self-service ad programs like AdSense fund the creation of junky low-value websites that constitute a new form of search engine spam. He hits the nail perfectly when he says: “a kind of schizophrenia exists at…
New Search Engine Keyword Lawsuit–Panicware v. Stopzilla
Panicware v. International Software Systems Solutions (SDNY complaint filed April 27, 2005). Panicware is suing a competitor Stopzilla for purchasing ads triggered by the keyword “POP-UP STOPPER,” which purportedly diverts Panicware’s customers. As the press release says, “There is no…
Calboli on Trademark Assignment in Gross
My colleague Irene Calboli has written a paper on trademark assignment in gross entitled Trademark Assignment With Goodwill: A Concept Whose Time Has Gone, scheduled to be published in the Florida Law Review later this year. She thoroughly recounts the…
Marquette Joins BSA’s DefineTheLine.com Initiative
Marquette’s Announcement Marquette sent out the following announcement yesterday: “Marquette is participating in the launch of “Define the Line,” a national program aimed at discouraging illegal sharing and downloading of software. The program calls upon students, faculty and staff to…
Happy Mother’s Day from Your Loving Son (and Your Friendly FTC Bureaucrat)
Nothing tells your mom that you love her like an e-card with soft piano music, floating butterflies, pretty wildflowers…and some consumer protection tips from the FTC. Thanks to the Washington Post for the pointer.