Defamation, False Information & 47 USC 230 Talk Slides

By Eric Goldman Earlier this week, I spoke at a PLI event, “Social Media 2011: Addressing Corporate Risks,” on the topic of “Defamation, False Information and 47 USC 230” (this link takes you to the talk slides). I tried to…

Web Host May Be Liable for Removing Only 1 of 3 Websites Operated by Its Customer–Hermeris v. Brandenburg

By Eric Goldman Hermeris v. Brandenburg, 2:10-cv-02531-JAR -KMH (D. Kan. Jan. 23, 2011) This is yet another web hosting copyright infringement case where the 17 USC 512 safe harbors aren’t discussed. (For other recent examples, see Rosen v. Hosting Services…

Speakers Announced for “47 U.S.C. § 230: a 15 Year Retrospective” Conference, March 4, SCU

By Eric Goldman On February 8, 1996–just about 15 years ago–President Clinton signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a lengthy law with significant implications for the entire telecommunications industry. As Justice Stevens wrote in Reno v. ACLU (1997),…

Another Copyright Owner Sent a Defective Takedown Notice and Faced 512(f) Liability–Rosen v. HSI

By Eric Goldman Rosen v. Hosting Services, Inc., 2010 WL 5630637 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2010). [This case just showed up for me in Westlaw. It’s not a major case but it’s worth a brief note even 5 months later]…

Top 5 Cyberlaw Developments of 2010, Plus a 2010 Year-in-Review

By Eric Goldman Earlier this Fall, I posted my top 8 trends in Internet law, and that’s a good place to start if you want to see how I think things are developing. Because of that post, this year I’m…

Ad Networks Ordered to Drop Allegedly Infringing Site–Elsevier v. eNom

By Eric Goldman Elsevier Ltd v. Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc., 1:11-cv-10026-RGS (D. Mass. injunction dated Jan. 14, 2011). See the TRO from Jan. 6 and the complaint. On the surface, this seems like a run-of-the-mill copyright enforcement. The plaintiffs…

Second Life Gets Out of Dispute Between Virtual Bunnies & Virtual Horses

By Eric Goldman Amaretto Ranch Breedables v. Ozimals, 3:10-cv-05696-CRB (N.D. Cal.). The Justia page. The case library: * Linden Lab’s opposition to the preliminary injunction * Ozimals’ non-opposition to the preliminary injunction * Amaretto’s preliminary injunction motion * The preliminary…

thedirty.com’s 47 USC 230 Defense Rejected on Motion to Dismiss–Jones v. Dirty World Entertainment

By Eric Goldman Jones v. Dirty World Entertainment, 2011 WL 221836 (N.D. Ky. Jan. 21, 2011). The complaint. On occasion I’ve ended up at thedirty.com. It’s not my kind of site, but clearly I’m not the target audience. Given its…

The Next Digital Decade Book Launch and Event Recap

By Eric Goldman I’m pleased to call your attention to a new book called “The Next Digital Decade: Essays on the Future of the Internet,” edited by Berin Szoka and Adam Marcus of TechFreedom. This is a truly remarkable book….

CA Appeals Court: Claims Under State Spam Statute Not Preempted by CAN-SPAM – Hypertouch v. Valueclick

[Post by Venkat Balasubramani with some comments from Eric] Hypertouch, Inc. v. Valueclick, Inc., et al., B218603 (Cal. Ct. App.; Jan. 18, 2011) A California appeals court weighed in on a long-running debate: whether CAN-SPAM preempts California’s spam statute. This…