Tweet FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski equates universal broadband access with the building of railroads and highways — infrastructure projects that fueled US economic growth in the past, according to an article in The Washington Post. The article says the US government will soon announce the recipients of $7 billion in grants for broadband access projects — as well as …
Monthly Archive: November 2009
Nov 25
Did Courtney Love’s Tweets Libel a Designer?
Tweet When Courtney Love allegedly posted on Twitter that fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir was an “asswipe nasty lying hosebag thief”; and on MySpace that Simorangkir was a prostitute and drug addict; and on the Web site – ”Etsy” (where Simorangkir sold products) that the designer “stole cash and goods” from Love – she probably didn’t have a second thought. After all, Ms. Love was …
Nov 23
WIPO: Anti-Glenn Beck Domain Name Was Not Defamatory
Tweet Legal disputes over allegedly defamatory statements on blogs and social media sites are fairly common. But what happens when an individual claims that the domain name itself is defamatory? On September 1, Isaac Eiland-Hall registered the domain name — glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlinthe1990s.com. The Web site found at this domain name contained the following notice: “This site is parody/satire. We …
Nov 18
News Bits
Tweet > Following Finland’s lead, Spain is codifying the right to broadband access for all Spanish citizens, effective in 2011. > The FBI has issued an advisory warning that hackers are increasingly targeting law firms and PR firms — looking for documents comprising their clients “playbooks for the deal(s).” > Federal employees may soon be prohibited from …
Nov 16
Madoff’s Computer Programmers Face Criminal and Civil Charges
Tweet The Washington Post reports that two of Bernard Madoff’s computer programmers were arrested last week on charges of conspiracy and falsifying records in violation of the federal Exchange Act and the federal Advisers Act. The pair face criminal and civil charges. The article quotes an SEC statement: ”Without the help of O’Hara and Perez, the Madoff …
Nov 09
But Who Gets the Virtual House?
Tweet How can we ensure our online valuables aren’t “erased” when we die? The New York Times had an interesting essay on the legal status of digital assets like Facebook pages and property in virtual worlds — such as items you purchase with “Linden Dollars” on Second Life. The issue is not academic. The article says that the virtual goods …
Nov 04
Godin: We’re All Jacks of All Trades Now
Tweet Seth Godin correctly observes that the Internet has blurred the lines between business roles. For example, it is no longer easy to tell if someone is a journalist or an entrepreneur. Today, everyone is a journalist, and everyone is an entrepreneur (or at least a freelancer). ”Society hates this,” he writes. “It means we need to make up new rules, FTC disclosures, legal principles, safety …
Nov 03
Communications Decency: Was Craigslist “Adult” Area a Public Nuisance?
Tweet An Illinois federal court has dismissed a lawsuit alleging Craigslist’s “adult ads” facilitated prostitution and constituted a “public nuisance.” The Sheriff of Cook County Illinois had sued the popular online marketplace, alleging it facilitates prostitution. The complaint stated that Craigslist users post advertisements “openly promis[ing] sex for money”; and that many ads included nude pictures. The Sheriff …
Nov 02
Affordable iPhone Apps for Your Business
Tweet So you think an iPhone app would be a great way to promote your business, but you fear the development costs? BusinessWeek reports on an increasingly popular and affordable alternative: Do-It-Yourself (“DIY”) iPhone Applications. For a fraction of the price of custom development, you can now create a game, blog feed, quiz, streaming video, or other application, without hiring …
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