In the Courts
Category RSS FeedVideo Interview: Discussing the Role of Social Media in the Dharun Ravi Case with LXBN TV
Yesterday, I got the opportunity to speak with Colin O’Keefe of LXBN TV on the subject of the Dharun Ravi/Rutgers webcam spying case. In our brief interview, I explain why this case received the level of attention that it did, what social media’s role was in the proceedings and what we can learn from the case. … Continue Reading
Can I sue the website for criminal acts of a user?
Match.com was sued last week because a male user sexually abused a female user on the second date. Facebook and MySpace already warded off similar suits from parents of children who were stalked online based, at least in part, on Section 230 Communications Decency Act immunity.
These stories are indeed tragic, but it reminds me of the … Continue Reading
Yes, SEO/SEM Firms Can Get Bit When Working With Snakes
A few months ago, I wrote about a case where the search engine marketing firm was being sued for allegedly helping a company sell copycat goods. According to a jury verdict from this week, you can take off the allegedly.
The case is Roger Cleveland Golf Co. v. Prince in South Carolina. In short, the web design/SEO/host … Continue Reading
Not just evidence from social media; but account and passwords too
This weekend, my wife and I traveled to Columbia, Missouri to watch Mizzou beat OU on Saturday night. I’m too old to rush the field, but enjoyed the trip and catching up with some of my old KOMU-TV classmates.
Yes, I wanted to brag about Mizzou’s win, but I also wanted to point out that I did … Continue Reading
Yes, Virginia, Some of the Internet Horror Stories Are True
Yes, it really happens – a Texas criminal case highlights what can happen to that private photograph you took and how the law reacts to posting it on the Internet. You often hear horror stories about someone using the Internet to exact revenge on an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. I am often asked how to unmask … Continue Reading
The Dreaded Software Audit – did you keep that receipt?
Isn’t it ironic? In the high tech software world, your liability some times come down to whether or not you saved the receipt or the box top. The crackdown on sharing music files has gotten all of the media attention as the recording industry is pursuing massive judgments against college kids and moms. A large $675,000 verdict … Continue Reading
The Proof is in the Social Media Pudding
There have been a bevy of cases dealing with whether social media evidence is admissible in court to prove one point or another. You have heard the stories of the accident victim claiming serious injuries posting pictures of themselves fully engaged in athletic endeavors and the philandering spouse caught on a Facebook or MySpace photo.
It … Continue Reading
Viacom-Google Slugfest and Net Neutrality Will Fill the Summer Entertainment Void
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Or should it be Goliath v. Goliath? The lawsuit involves two behemoth companies that goes to the very heart of YouTube’s business model. Viacom sued for one billion (yes, with a b-billion dollars) claiming YouTube purposefully profits from the uploading of copyrighted materials. Viacom claims YouTube has the capability to screen the videos before they are made available … Continue Reading
Texas Court dismissed online defamation claim but may open hole in Section 230 defense
The court of appeals in Beaumont affirmed a dismissal of the all-too-typical online defamation case last week . Plaintiffs Walter Milo and Anthony Shelton sued the Watchdog website because of something put on the site by anonymous posters in the “Guest Book” portion of the site. Plaintiffs also sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The … Continue Reading
Is there a reasonable expectation of privacy in your texts?
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Quon v. City of Ontario, yesterday. I blogged about the Ninth Circuit decision here. The case centers on whether the city violated Quon’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures when the city got the transcripts of his sexts to his … Continue Reading
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