Google Books Defeats Copyright Lawsuit Using 512(c)–Avdeef v. Google
The wheels of justice move slowly. To wit, the main Authors Guild vs. Google Books litigation has been percolating in the courts for almost a decade (September 20 is the 10 year anniversary–how do you plan to celebrate?!). Despite the…
The Long-Term Promise of Privacy Federalism, Part 1 (Guest Blog Post)
[Eric’s introduction: as I’ve remarked previously, the academic and policy discourse about privacy focuses principally on the substantive legal boundaries of privacy law and pays comparatively little attention on which policymakers are best positioned to develop and supervise those rules. The…
2015 Internet Law Casebook Now Available
I have posted the 2015 edition of my casebook, Internet Law: Cases and Materials. It’s available in three formats: PDF ($8), Kindle ($9.99) and hard copy ($20 + shipping/tax, and it includes a free PDF on request). The $8 PDF…
Sending Emails Isn’t Workplace Stalking–People v. Marian
Do you remember the 1990s debates over whether cyberspace is a “place,” and why that might matter? Yeah, we’re back to that. This case involves N.Y. Penal Law § 120.45(3), which occurs when a person (emphasis added): intentionally, and for…
Can Lawyers Buy Keyword Ads On Each Others’ Names At Google? (Forbes Cross-Post)
“Competitive keyword advertising” occurs when a company buys the trademarks of its competition as keywords for search engine marketing. In the 2000s, it was one of the most interesting and hotly-contested issues of Internet Law as trademark owners filed many…
Online Dating App Grindr Isn’t Liable For Underage ‘Threesome’ (Forbes Cross-Post)
Many online dating services undertake some efforts to screen out dangerous or problematic members, but what should the law do if those screening efforts aren’t perfect? As a recent case involving Grindr shows, the answer is nothing. Grindr is an…
The Righthaven Debacle, 5 Years Later
You probably recall Righthaven, the now-defunct copyright enforcement entity (some might call it a copyright troll) that purchased newspapers’ copyrights so it could sue small-time bloggers who republished articles; after suing, it would demand financial settlements the bloggers couldn’t afford….
Blogiversary Celebration Part 4: How Internet Law and IP Law Have Evolved
This is the final part of my four-part series celebrating our 10th blogiversary. I asked the following question: What do you think is the most significant change in intellectual property law or Internet law over the past 10 years? This…
Blogiversary Celebration Part 3: How the Blogosphere Has Evolved
We’re continuing our celebration of the blog’s 10 year anniversary. I asked the following question: What do you think is the most significant change to the blogosphere since 2005? Some responses: Anupam Chander: The loss of Chander.com as a blog,…
Blogiversary Celebration Part 2: About the Blog’s Impact
Yesterday, we celebrated the blog’s 10 year anniversary. I apologize in advance for the self-serving nature of this post, but I wanted to know from blog readers: Tell us an anecdote about how the blog has made a difference to…