Internet Access Providers Aren’t Bound by DMCA Unmasking Subpoenas–In re Cox
The DMCA online safe harbor is a notice-and-takedown scheme. Web hosts aren’t liable for copyright-infringing third-party uploads unless and until the copyright owner submits a proper takedown notice to the host, at which point the web host can remain legally…
Google and Roblox Defeat Videogame Addiction Lawsuit–Courtright v. Epic Games
The plaintiff claims that “video games are designed, marketed, and sold in a way that creates and sustains addiction in users.” This becomes the anchor for a mondo 260 page complaint against Epic Games, Roblox, Mojang, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Another…
What’s the Difference Between Copyright Takedown Notices and Spam?–Michael Grecco v. Fandom
The plaintiff in this case is Michael Grecco Productions, a photographer and serial copyright litigant who’s appeared on the blog before (e.g., 1, 2). The defendant is Fandom, which runs the Wikia platform for user-run fan-enthusiast wikis. Grecco alleges that…
The Ninth Circuit Finds Two New Ways to Undermine Section 230–Doe v. Twitter
The Ninth Circuit swiss-cheesed Section 230 with two new exceptions. 📉 * * * This is a FOSTA case. The plaintiffs allege that “traffickers” coerced the victims to produce CSAM, then posted the materials to Twitter. The plaintiffs further allege…
Social Media Services Aren’t Liable for Buffalo Mass-Shooting–Patterson v. Meta
The New York state intermediate appeals court has issued a significant ruling dismissing four lawsuits that sought to hold many social media services (Facebook, Instagram, Snap, Google, YouTube, Discord, Reddit, Twitch, Amazon and 4Chan) liable for the 2022 Buffalo mass-shooting….
Rounding Up Three Recent Section 230 Decisions
I’m trying to clear my blogging queue that backlogged during my China trip. Here are three Section 230 decisions from the last few weeks. Geegieh v. Unknown Parties, 2025 WL 1769766 (D. Ariz. June 26, 2025) The plaintiff claims that…
Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Proceeds Against TikTok and Instagram–Nazario v. Bytedance
This case involves the deadly practice of “subway surfing.” The plaintiff in this case claims her son died doing subway surfing that he tried only because he was encouraged by TikTok and Instagram videos. The court largely rejects the social…
Facebook and Twitter Defeat Account Termination Lawsuit–Castronuova v. Meta
Per Wikipedia, Cara Castronuova is “an American champion boxer, a professional sports announcer, political activist and celebrity fitness trainer.” This topline summary understates her #MAGA bona fides. The Wikipedia entry also notes that she “was one of the organizers of…
YouTube Again Defeats FOSTA Lawsuit–In re YouTube Trafficking Litigation
[Note: my blogging hiatus is due to a trip to China. I will return to the US this weekend and presumably resume my regular blogging cadence then.] This is a confusing lawsuit that has been through several names, including “Sarah…
Reddit Defeats Lawsuit Over WallStreetBets Subreddit–Rogozinski v. Reddit
This is one of those oh-so-stupid hard-eyerolling lawsuits that I blog for coverage purposes, but I blog it joylessly and with annoyance at the wasted time. I previously summarized this case: Jaime Rogozinski, a/k/a “jartek,” created the r/WallStreetBets subreddit, which…