Don't Roll The Dice On Defamation Suits Against Gripe Sites, Especially In California--Ocean's Eleven v. Anders

This case involves the now defunct website www.oceans11.info. There’s one archival version in Archive.org from 2012, though I found it confusing. The website was a gripe site created by Tim Anders (a/k/a “Dr. Hope“), a professional poker player. Anders protested…

IP Expert Brian Love to Become Co-Director of SCU Law’s High Tech Law Institute (Cross-Post)

[Apologies for cross-posting this press release, but it’s topical.] SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 19, 2014 — Santa Clara University School of Law Assistant Professor Brian Love has been named co-director of the university’s highly regarded High Tech Law Institute. Love joined the…

Apple May Be Liable For Privacy Violations by Third Party Developed Apps

There are so many privacy lawsuits around the iOS ecosystem that it’s tough to keep track of them all. This particular (consolidated) lawsuit involves privacy claims against Apple and also against various apps, including Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Facebook,…

Advertiser May Have Claims Against SEO Firm Using Undisclosed Spammy Practices

A law firm bought SEO services from an organization called “The Rainmaker Institute.” The relationship didn’t end well. The law firm now says the SEO firm used undisclosed spammy techniques that had a high risk of triggering Google penalties. Allegations…

Dead Sea Scrolls Impersonation Case Convictions Partially Affirmed

I previously blogged about the Dead Sea Scrolls impersonation and harassment case, involving some rather elaborate schemes implemented by the son of Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Norman Golb. (“Conviction Upheld for Impersonating Dead Sea Scrolls Scholars by Sending Out Emails…

Linking to Defamatory Content Protected by Section 230—Vazquez v. Buhl

Teri Buhl posted allegedly defamatory content about Vazquez to the Internet. A CNBC editor linked to that post in an article entitled “The Sex and Money Scandal Rocking Hedge Fund Land.” The CNBC article characterized Buhl as a “veteran financial…

Privacy Claims Based on LinkedIn’s Security Promises Survive Motion to Dismiss

This is a lawsuit filed in the wake of a widely reported data breach at LinkedIn. Plaintiffs alleged benefit-of-the-bargain type claims against LinkedIn, saying LinkedIn failed to live up to its security practices. The first time around, the court rejected…

Yelp Wins Another Section 230 Case--Kimzey v. Yelp

This is such an easy case, it could have only been brought pro se. The suit involves two Yelp reviews by a user named “Sarah K.” that were allegedly defamatory and otherwise tortious. The court’s substantive discussion (some citations omitted):…

Conviction for Cyberstalking & Revenge Porn Survives First Amendment Challenge

There’s no way to look at what Shawn Sayer did and think that he should not suffer some criminal consequences. After breaking up with his girlfriend of a couple of years (Doe), he engaged in a vicious and ongoing campaign…

California Moving To Protect Consumer Reviews--AB 2365 (Forbes Cross-Post)

Consumer reviews play a critical role in our marketplace today, and existing consumers can have significant influence over prospective consumers. Many businesses have accepted this new competitive reality, but not all. For example, some businesses ask their customers to contractually…