The Third Wave of Internet Exceptionalism
By Eric Goldman [I initially wrote this as an editorial for our University magazine and republished that version through InformIT as well. Here’s the original unedited version I submitted.] From the beginning, the Internet has been viewed as something special…
Cook County Sheriff Sues Craigslist for Erotic Services Category
By Eric Goldman Dart v. Craigslist, Inc., 09-CV-1385 (N.D. Ill. complaint filed March 5, 2009) Dart, the Cook County, Illinois sheriff, has sued Craigslist in federal court for creating a “public nuisance” because its “Erotic Services” category facilitates prostitution. Unfortunately…
Facebook Sued Over Private Facebook Group–Finkel v. Facebook
By Eric Goldman Finkel v. Facebook, Inc., 102578-09 (N.Y. Supreme Ct. complaint filed Feb. 24, 2009). A New York teenager has sued Facebook and four Facebook users (plus their parents) for allegedly defamatory content posted in a private Facebook group…
Social Networking Sites and Blogs Talk for Students
By Eric Goldman Today I gave a talk entitled “Social Networking Sites and Blogs” for the on-campus Student Intellectual Property Law Association (SIPLA). My slides. In conjunction with this, I thought it might be useful to organize a bibliography of…
Kentucky Reverses Seizure of 141 Gambling-Related Domain Names
By Eric Goldman Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association v. Wingate ex rel Kentucky, 08-CI-01409 (Ky. Ct. App. Jan. 20, 2009) We see state enforcement agencies freak out about the Internet all the time, so I have a hard time…
December 2008 Quick Links, Part 2
By Eric Goldman Social Networking Sites/Cyber-Bullying/Sexual Predation * More on the Lori Drew conviction: – Wired has a tough behind-the-scenes look at the Lori Drew jury deliberations. – The jury instructions – In case you missed it, my special three…
MySpace Defeats Sherman Antitrust Claim for Blocking Links to Competitor–LiveUniverse v. MySpace
By Eric Goldman LiveUniverse, Inc. v. MySpace, Inc., 2008 WL 5341843 (9th Cir. Dec. 22, 2008). The June 2007 district court ruling in MySpace’s favor. LiveUniverse’s Nov. 2006 press release upon filing the lawsuit. LiveUniverse runs VidiLife.com, which it characterizes…
Stress-Relieving Company Gets Anti-SLAPPed Per 230
By Eric Goldman Higher Balance, LLC v. Quantum Future Group, Inc., 2008 WL 5281487 (D.Or. Dec. 18, 2008). The defendants’ (lengthy) celebratory blog post. If you’re a 47 USC 230 junkie like me, there are few better Christmas gifts than…
Roommates.com Loses Summary Judgment on Remand, and Then Partially Settles
By Eric Goldman Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommate.com, LLC, CV 03-9386 PA (RZx) (C.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2008). Nov. 19 stipulation. The Ninth Circuit en banc ruling in the Roommates.com remains one of the most noteworthy…
Search Engines Aren’t Liable for Gambling Ads Per 230–Cisneros v. Yahoo
By Eric Goldman Cisneros v. Yahoo, CGC-04-433518 (Cal. Superior Ct. “Tentative Trial Decision” Nov. 6, 2008) I am frequently asked if 47 USC 230 protects websites for claims based on the ads they run. My answer is emphatically “yes” unless…