November 12th 2007
Northeastern University apparently holds a patent on techniques for parallel data processing, useful in dividing search requests between multiple computers. It exclusively licensed the 1997 patent to a Waltham-based start-up, Jarg Corporation. Lawyers who had seen a presentation on Google’s data search processes tipped off Jarg executives to the possibility of infringement. There are several factors […]
November 11th 2007
Harvard’s Citizen Media Law Project has introduced its newest service, a Legal Threats Database to catalog the growing number of lawsuits, cease and desist letters, and other legal challenges faced globally by those engaging in online speech. It organizes cases using standard forms to make it easy to check their status and trial details. So […]
November 8th 2007
“I wonder how far off we are from ceasing to issue traditional press releases altogether… after all, no news agency could possibly suggest they reach a greater portion of the planet than the internet.” – Jonathan Schwartz, CEO & President Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems President Jonathan Schwartz announced on his corporate blog that financial […]
November 7th 2007
Part 2 in a series of 3. (Read Part 1 | Part 3 ) In addition to the popular Second Life (SL), how many of these virtual worlds exist? Gobs, and it’s getting more gobby every day. The folks over at TechCrunch.com have a chart that describes a number of the more well-known virtual worlds. Still […]
November 6th 2007
The Case: Domain Magic LLC, a Florida-based company, registered the domain chicagoarchitecturefoundation.org. They developed a website about Chicago-area attractions, then passively generated revenue through Google AdWords. The Chicago Architecture Foundation sued for trademark infringement in Illinois. Domain Magic filed a motion to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction, noting they had not conducted […]
November 5th 2007
I’m in Toronto to podcast presentations of three expert trade-mark professionals: Keltie Sim, Brian Wynn, and Catherine Douglas. I hope to share some specifics they discussed, and link to the recordings over the next few weeks. //And yes, while here in Canada, I’m spelling trademark “trade-mark” in respect of local practice.// Here are some thoughts […]
November 3rd 2007
This week, two diverse publications–The Christian Science Monitor and Wired Magazine–asked the same question: “Are we going overboard in regulating adult content?” I attend at least a dozen online-industry events a year, and listen to podcasts, read blogs and pay for research from countless industry pundits. And in each case, the online adult entertainment industry, […]
November 2nd 2007
Virtually Blind reports a group of leading content creators on Second Life have filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York against Thomas Simon, aka Rase Kenzo. The items in the complaint represent nearly every type of product for sale in Second Life including avatar clothing, skins and shapes, scripted objects, furniture, and […]
November 1st 2007
Executives of bricks and mortar stores take note. In fact, anyone conducting online commerce should review Judge Marilyn Hall Patel’s opinion in the National Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp. This is the first ruling to suggest that a retailer may be sued if its website is inaccessible to the blind. Until this ruling, […]
October 31st 2007
Part 1 in a series of 3. Virtual worlds are online environments where people interact with others using graphical representations of themselves called avatars. These avatars can be just about anything, and you can be male or female, tall or short, green or blue. You design what you want, and can change it whenever the […]
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