Website video streaming subject to US privacy laws
In light of the recent decision In re Hulu Privacy Litigation, it is likely that the Video Privacy Protection Act (“VPPA”) applies to a website operator’s use of video streaming technology to distribute its content, reports Edwards Wildman. ... Read the full post ...
Another six-figure damages award for illegal music downloading
For the second time in under a month, a court has confirmed a six-figure statutory damages award against an illegal music downloader, reports Baker & Hostetler. In the latest development in a six-year long dispute, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision reinstating a $220,000.00 jury verdict against Ms. Jammie Thomas-Rasset for illegally downloading and distributing ... Read the full post ...
User-generated ‘Top Ten Dirtiest Hotels’ list is not defamatory
A ‘Top Ten Dirtiest Hotels’ list of an online travel ratings site, based upon user comments and data, has been held not defamatory because a reasonable person would understand the list to be “unverifiable rhetorical hyperbole” rather than a statement of fact, reports Holland & Knight. In Seaton v. TripAdvisor, LLC, the defendant aggregated opinion of the site’s millions ... Read the full post ...
ITU makes clear it’s not trying to “take over the Internet”
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in a 17 September press briefing, tried to dispel what it is describing as “myths and misinformation” about the upcoming World Conference on International Communication, IP Watch reports. “Although there are many important issues before the conference, unfortunately they are not receiving the media attention they deserve due to a ... Read the full post ...
High Court rejects Optus’ appeal in TV Now case
The High Court of Australia has refused Optus’ application for special leave to appeal the Full Court of the Federal Court’s decision in the TV Now case, National Rugby League Investments Pty Limited v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd. K&WM reports that, after hearing argument from counsel for the applicants as to why special leave should be ... Read the full post ...
Google sued again for defamation by suggested search terms
Bettina Wulff, wife of former German President Christian Wulff, claims she has been defamed by Google’s automatically-generated suggested search terms “bettina wulff escort” and “bettina wulff prostituierte”. Ms Wulff maintains that she has never been a prostitute, and wants the imputation that she has been scrubbed from the search terms that are suggested when people enter ... Read the full post ...
UK film studios take the law into their own hands
UK movie studios are taking justice into their own hands by initiating criminal proceedings against copyright pirates, reports King & Wood Mallesons. ... Read the full post ...
Google ‘AdWords’ case in the Australian High Court
Google’s appeal to the High Court of Australia against the ruling that its ‘AdWords’ service is misleading and deceptive has been heard, and the transcript published. The decision has been reserved, with judgment to be delivered in due course. You can read my post on the decision being appealed here. ... Read the full post ...
Chinese official gains oversight of UN Internet Governance Forum
IP Watch reports that the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, which is responsible for the UN Internet Governance Forum, has a new boss: Chinese career diplomat Wu Hongbo. ... Read the full post ...
Linking to unauthorised videos is not contributory infringement
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has ruled that myVidster’s linking to illegally uploaded videos is not an act of contributory copyright infringement. According to the ruling, which vacated a decision granting a preliminary injunction, linking to streamed videos does not contribute to infringement by copying, because there is no copying occurring. ... Read the full post ...
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