IP in the News Archive
August 2010
The Atlantic explains why bartenders enjoy scant intellectual property protection, and asks–failing to mention Flaming Moe’s–whether they deserve more.
Spam Accounts for a Whopping 92% of All E-Mail
A recent report shows that mailings from botnets, networks of infected computers, account for the vast majority of e-mail traffic.
Google and Yahoo Win Defamation Appeal
An Argentine appeals court has cleared the companies of defamation charges brought by an entertainer seeking the removal of explicit Web results.
24-hour Delay For Aggregator News Postings Proposed
Suggestions for changes to copyright law have sparked debate about the essence of online news reporting.
Facebook Introduces Location-Sharing Service
Amid privacy concerns, Facebook has released a system that allows users and their friends to “check-in” their physical locations.
Ontario funds medical, media tech startups
Three Canadian high-tech startups have received government help to bring their products to market.
Blizzard Wins $88M Judgment Against WoW Private Server Owner
Blizzard Entertainment won a default judgment against the operator of an unauthorized World of Warcraft server.
The Globe and Mail runs a piece on privacy in the digital world.
California Bill Makes Internet Impersonation A Crime
A bill that would make it a misdemeanor to maliciously impersonate someone on the Internet was passed by the state legislature.
Oracle sues Google over Android and Java
Oracle issued a press release saying it has filed suit against Google for infringing on copyrights and patents related to Java.
Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live
Security experts and privacy advocates have recently begun warning about the potential dangers of geotags, which are embedded in photos and videos.
Web Plan Is Dividing Companies
In an emerging battle over regulating Internet access, companies are taking sides.
Defending Its Doughboy Trademark, Pillsbury Pounces on Tiny Bakery
‘Dough Girl’ to Change Name of Cookie Shop
OLG to bring online gambling to Ontario in 2012
Ontario will start offering online gambling in 2012, with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. promising a secure environment that will protect young people and problem gamblers.
WiLAN, UTStarcom wrap up license dispute
Technology licensing firm Wi-LAN Inc. settled a two-year-old patent litigation case against US company UTStarcom Inc.
Schumer Bill Seeks to Protect Fashion Design
The American fashion industry has been pushing hard over the last four years for copyright protection for its designs.
‘Gray market’ for counterfeit gadgets is red hot in China
Global explosion of smartphones and personal devices has taken fakery to a more sophisticated level.
‘Google Alarm’ plug-in tries to wake the world up to privacy issues
Web users who install browser plug-in hear a loud, buzzing noise whenever they visit a website that relays information to Google.
What’s next for FCC on net neutrality?
Industry insiders and analysts say FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will go back to square one.
Google to implement new ad policy in Europe
March court decision favoured search company’s ad policy over brand owners’ trademark complaints.
RIM says it won’t sacrifice security for sake of expansion
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion says it won’t sacrifice data security to satisfy developing-world governments looking to keep tabs on their citizens.
Economic Indicator: Even Cheaper Knockoffs
Counterfeiters are discovering there is money to be made in faking the more ordinary and not just top luxury brands.
Android Market adds licensing service to combat app piracy
Google introduced a new Android Market licensing service in response to developer concerns over unauthorized use of premium Android applications.
Business has been very good for Donald E. Stout, the U.S. patent lawyer who, in addition to practicing law, controls the earliest patents on wireless email.
The Web’s New Gold Mine: Your Secrets
Investigation finds that one of the fastest-growing businesses on the Internet is the business of spying on consumers.
July 2010
RIM vs. Indian government continues
The Indian government has issued another warning to RIM that its BlackBerry operations in India will be suspended unless it respects Indian laws.
No need for net neutrality action, says UK regulator
UK telecoms and media regulator Ofcom has produced a report into the issue.
USPTO Seeks Comments On Post-Bilski Guidelines
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has posted supplemental interim guidance for determining subject matter eligibility in light of the US Supreme Court’s holding in Bilski.
Momentum builds for federal rules on Internet privacy
Senator John Kerry said that he will introduce an online privacy bill that will create standards for how consumer data is collected and used for marketing.
Ruling Allows ‘Jailbreaking’ of iPhones
Owners of the iPhone will be able to legally unlock their devices so they can run software applications that haven’t been approved by Apple Inc., according to new US government rules.
Mattel Victory Over MGA Bratz Doll Overruled by Court
The Court of Appeals overturned a December 2008 order that gave Mattel the rights to most of MGA’s Bratz products.
Who, What, Why: Can a joke be copyrighted?
Keith Chegwin has come under fire for allegedly plagiarising other comedians’ routines. But does intellectual property law protect jokes?
BCLC’s online gambling site compromised personal info of 134 users
PlayNow.com shut down after breaches on information
Netflix to launch streaming video service in Canada
American online movie rental giant Netflix is coming to Canada, a move that is set to send shockwaves through the country’s entertainment industry.
Data breach reporting law set for four-year rollout
A law forcing all organisations to publically declare data breaches is expected to be in place in the UK within four years.
New Zealand says no to software patents
New Zealand has decided not to make any modifications to its patents bill and this means that software will not be patentable in the country.
Newspaper story did not qualify for responsible journalism defence, says Court of Appeal
The Court confirmed that operators of online news archives must change defamatory stories if new information comes to light.
Radio Stations to Pay More Royalties After Copyright Board of Canada Ruling�
New tariffs will force commercial radio stations to pay Canadian music rights owners about $13 million more, according to a July 9 decision by the Copyright Board of Canada.
EBay Sued for $3.8 Billion for Alleged Patent Infringement
The suit alleges infringement of six XPRT patents covering e-commerce payment systems and that eBay misappropriated information provided in confidence.
Bidding for rivals’ AdWords can be infringement, sometimes
A company can stop other companies using its trademarks to trigger search engine adverts if those adverts do not allow a web user to tell which company is behind the ads, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has said.
Rachael Ray Lasers Delayed Indefinitely: An Update on the State of Cybersquatting
Ms. Ray recently had instituted an UDNRP arbitration proceeding against an Indian company that had registered www.rachelray.com
Facebook installs ‘panic button’ for children
Facebook has joined forces with a child protection agency to create a “panic button” application on its site.
$675,000 downloading fine slashed
A judge has drastically reduced a $675,000 US verdict against a graduate student charged with illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs.
NTP files patent suits against technology giants
NTP, a US patent-holding company, has filed suit against Apple, Google, HTC Corp., LG Electronics, Microsoft and Motorola accusing the technology giants of infringing its email patents in mobile phones.
ISPs not broadcasters, court finds
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected the notion that internet service providers are broadcasters.
Monsanto Soybean Patent Cannot Stretch To Processed Soy Meal, European Court Says
The European Court of Justice ruled in a case pitching Monsanto against European importers of Argentinean soy meal, denying the US seed giant intellectual property rights over the exports of soy meal from Argentina to the European Union.
Jim Brown Files Appeal in Video Game Case
The retired football player Jim Brown asked an appellate court to reverse a decision by a federal judge dismissing his lawsuit against the video-game publisher Electronic Arts.
Google, Bing search engines turn to music
Microsoft and Google increasingly are turning to their search engines to help drive their entertainment content strategies.
Domain name use not enough to keep trade mark rights alive, says German court
A German music festival dedicated to the work of unconventional rock musician Frank Zappa can continue to use a version of his name without infringing on the trade mark rights of his estate, a court has ruled.
Internet now ‘basic right’ for Finns
Finland has become the first nation in the world to make access to broadband Internet a “basic right” of its citizens.
Facebook facing lawsuit in Canada over privacy
A Canadian lawyer has launched a class-action lawsuit against Facebook, claiming the Internet site duped users into letting their private information be sold for profit.
House votes to ban some drug patent settlements
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a ban on some patent agreements between brand name and generic drug companies.
US cracks down on online film piracy
US officials have shut down nine websites accused of offering free access to films, including Toy Story 3.
June 2010
Proposed Amendments to the Trade-marks Regulations Pertaining to Opposition Proceedings
The Canadian Trade-marks Opposition Board has announced a consultation on proposed amendments to the Trade-marks Regulations.
Hulu starts up subscription TV service
Free video website Hulu is trying its hand at a paid subscription model, unveiling a monthly payment plan called Hulu Plus.
Google tweaks rerouting in fight for China business
Google Inc said it will stop automatically redirecting Web searchers in China to an uncensored portal in Hong Kong.
Justices Take Broad View of Business Method Patents
The door to the patent office should remain open to those who create methods of doing business, the US Supreme Court said in a long-awaited decision released on Monday.
ICANN Approves Chinese Domain Names
Domain names written entirely in Chinese script are expected to make sites more accessible to Chinese language users.
Twitter Settles F.T.C. Privacy Case
Twitter has settled a Federal Trade Commission investigation into the security and privacy protections it offers its users.
Kodak Chief Perez Plans to Curtail Patent Lawsuits
Eastman Kodak Co. Chief Executive Antonio Perez said he plans to curtail the aggressive patent lawsuits that have generated cash for Kodak as it struggles to reinvent itself.
Charges dropped for ‘ambush marketers’
South African prosecutors have dropped charges against two Dutch women accused of participating in an “ambush marketing” campaign for Dutch brewer Bavaria NV at a soccer World Cup match.
Google wins legal fight with Viacom
A federal judge sided with Google Inc. in a $1-billion (U.S.) copyright lawsuit filed by media company Viacom Inc. over YouTube videos.
More Delay To ICANN Introduction Of New Internet Domains?
Applicants for new top-level internet domains may face another round of discussions before the long-awaited application period.
Berkeley Law Survey Challenges Thinking About Startup Patents
The Berkeley Center for Law & Technology surveyed high-ranking officers of more than 1,300 software, biotech, medical devices, and computer hardware startup firms founded within the past decade.
Google, Twitter go to bat for website
Theflyonthewall.com posts research reports on their site before banks can share information with clients.
Supreme Court Rules in Precedent-Setting Electronic Privacy Case
Employees do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy on employer provided devices.
Legit LimeWire Service Coming This Year?
LimeWire has plans to create a legitimate music service which will tentatively arrive in 2010.
Flickr-Getty deal gets new photo sales option
Flickr has added a new option by which people can turn their images at Yahoo’s photo-sharing site into revenue.
Manual of Patent Office Practice – Chapter 16 available for review
A draft Chapter 16 of the Manual of Patent Office Practice (MOPOP), entitled “Computer-Implemented Inventions” has been released for public review.
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage presents report on digital media
The report on “Emerging and Digital Media: Opportunities and Challenges” covers the testimony heard to date.
U.S. to reconsider net neutrality rules
U.S. regulators are reconsidering the rules that govern high-speed internet connections — wading into a bitter policy dispute that could be tied up in court for years.
Yahoo Settles Lawsuit and Gets Flicker.com Domain Name
Yahoo now has Flicker.com for Flickr.com web site.
Australia may force ISPs to store web surfing history
The Australian government plans to force internet service providers to keep a record of their customers’ web surfing history.
RIM, Motorola resolve patent case
BlackBerry maker agrees to make upfront payment, in addition to continuing royalties.
Online video sites embrace live concert streams
Live music is making its way to the Internet with increasing frequency, bringing with it new opportunities for fans, artists and rights-holders alike.
Judge deals possibly final blow to SCO over Linux
The judge presiding over the company’s legal battle with Novell rejected SCO’s request for a new trial and upheld an April jury decision that determined Novell, not SCO, is the rightful owner of key Unix copyrights.
TiVo hits setback in patent dispute against Dish
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled against digital video recording pioneer TiVo Inc. in a dispute over a key piece of technology that has changed the way millions of people watch television.
China vows to continue internet censorship
China vowed Tuesday to keep a tight grip on the internet, saying it would continue to block anything considered subversive or threatening to “national unity.”
Privacy Commissioner tables annual PIPEDA report
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has tabled her annual report for 2009 addressing PIPEDA.
Judge To Coke: Credit World Cup Songwriter
The Coca-Cola company was required to credit the songwriter who wrote the Spanish language version of it’s World Cup campaign song.
Legal action challenging a patent over BRCA1 gene is being launched in Australia
The Australian action follows a lawsuit in the United States against patent holder Myriad Genetics.
Inventors frustrated with waiting for a decision on their applications from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may soon be able to pay for expedited review.
Dell loses Taiwan consumer lawsuit: report
A group of Taiwanese consumers have won a lawsuit forcing US computer giant Dell to honour bargains the firm says it offered in error on the Internet.
Double-Barrelled Databases: WIPO GOLD And USPTO-Google
Two separate search engines for intellectual property rights were announced in Geneva and Washington, DC, both of which have the potential to significantly ease searches for patents, trademarks and other IP.
Tories unveil tougher copyright bill
Legislation strengthens protections for content creators.
Canada’s privacy czar launches Google investigation
Canada’s privacy commissioner said she was probing Google’s inadvertent collection of data from unsecured wireless networks as its cars photographed streetscapes.
AT&T, T-Mobile infringe patents, U.S. lawsuit says
The easy access to voice mail that AT&T and T-Mobile offer their mobile phone subscribers when abroad infringes patents held by a Swiss company, a lawsuit filed in federal court in Delaware says.
GM sued over ad featuring Einstein
University that owns rights to scientist’s likeness unhappy with underwear-clad image.
May 2010
Conservatives seek support on copyright
The Conservative minority government is looking to recruit allies across the Commons floor to deal with an expected public campaign against new copyright legislation.
‘Hurt Locker’ execs file lawsuit
The producers behind The Hurt Locker have filed a lawsuit against thousands of film fans who allegedly illegally downloaded the movie from the internet.
Class action lawsuit launched on behalf of Canadian lawyers against Thomson Reuters
Statement of Claim alleges that Thomson Reuters breaches copyright by making available original lawyer created legal documents for fee or subscription without permission.
Pakistan eases curbs on YouTube
Pakistan has partially unblocked the YouTube video sharing website, but hundreds of its links to “blasphemous content” remain barred, officials say.
U.S. Department of Justice considering antitrust inquiry into Apple
DOJ is in the early stages of looking at Apple’s iTunes music store and the way the company operates in the market for digital music.
Facebook backs down on privacy
Social media giant tightens privacy settings in response to consumer backlash.
Canada announces two steps it is taking to enhance the safety and security of the online marketplace
Government of Canada tables legislation to amend PIPEDA and reintroduces anti-spam legislation.
Supreme Court denies NFL increased antitrust protection
The court said that the NFL should be considered as 32 individual, independent teams when it came to selling licensed items such as jerseys and caps.
U.S. judge slams Canada’s Isohunt over copyright infringement allegations
Judge Stephen Wilson issued a permanent enjoinment against Isohunt.
Court of Appeal follows EU trade mark ruling despite disagreeing with it
The Court of Appeal has said that a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that it must follow is unfair, undermines free speech rights and damages competition.
Copyright bill may spark battle over who owns what
With new copyright legislation set to hit the House of Commons, possibly next week, a fresh round of controversy over who owns what is starting to heat up.
Wall Street banks lose court ruling on hot news ban
A federal appeals court in New York has put on hold a ban on financial news service Theflyonthewall.com Inc from quickly reporting “hot news” about analyst research from three Wall Street banks.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office is developing a new initiative that would expedite the examination of patent applications related to green technology.
New ‘model clauses’ for exports of personal data now in force
Model clauses governing the exporting of personal data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) have come into force.
Are internet previews of music a fair dealing under copyright?
The Federal Court of Appeal released an important decision on the scope of the fair dealing exception in the SOCAN Tariff 22 case.
Appeals court to hear EchoStar, TiVo patent fight again
In yet another twist on the years-long patent dispute between TiVo and EchoStar, an appeals court has agreed to a fresh hearing of the case.
Germany raps Google for privacy breach
Google Inc. issued an apology Friday, acknowledging it has been collecting fragments of people’s online activities broadcast over public Wi-Fi networks.
Blog libel suit thrown out because potential damage was so small
A UK libel suit against a website has been thrown out of court because the potential damage to the reputation of the person making the claim was so small.
HTC countersues Apple over patents
Taiwanese cellphone maker HTC Corp. is filing a patent complaint against Apple Inc. over its popular gadgets, escalating a legal dispute.
Facebook to hold staff meeting on privacy
Facebook CEO and other executives will meet with employees to discuss privacy practices as criticism grows about the way it treats personal information.
RIAA wins big in LimeWire lawsuit
A federal court has found the company that operates file-sharing service LimeWire liable for copyright infringement.
Tony Chapman of Capital C delivered a keynote presentation at Canada 3.0 forum about how Canada can be a leader in the knowledge economy.
Smart grid data must be protected: Privacy czar
What time you cook, shower or go to bed can all be tracked by smart grid.
i4i clears hurdle against Microsoft
Canadian software company says U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has confirmed its patent is valid.
Clement invites input on digital economy
Industry Minister Tony Clement has announced a nationwide consultation on the digital economy – “All Canadians have a role to play in shaping Canada’s digital future,” he told the audience at the Canada 3.0 Digital Forum in Stratford, Ontario.
Garage name causes friction in world of auto lubrication
Mr. Lube, a nationwide chain, sues upstart garage Ms. Lube to protect its identity.
FCC allows blocking of set-top box outputs
US federal regulators are endorsing Hollywood’s efforts to let cable and satellite TV companies turn off output connections on the back of set-top boxes to prevent illegal copying of movies.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee Moving Toward Legal Agreement
committee tasked with finding an international instrument to prevent the misappropriation of traditional knowledge, folklore, and genetic resources has begun in earnest text-based discussions.
Why popular works warrant weak copyright
Professor Carys Craig was recently quoted in the Lawyer’s Weekly.
Facebook privacy snafu exposed user chats
Private chats between some Facebook users were briefly viewable by other users.
Reversionary interests create challenges.
House privacy bill draws fire from all sides
Draft US Internet privacy bill published.
Open-source codecs face patent challenge?
Apple and Microsoft could be preparing to challenge the validity of open-source video codecs.
Alberta amends privacy legislation
Changes came into force on May 1, 2010.
Google Wins Ruling in Rosetta Stone Trademark Suit
Google Inc. won a court judgment against language-learning software maker Rosetta Stone Inc. over claims the search engine infringed trademarks.
CBA demands changes to parallel importation laws
The Canadian Booksellers Association is asking the federal government to consider amending the laws that restrict the import of foreign books into the country.
J.D. Salinger copyright case to be reconsidered
A lawsuit blocking publication of a purported “sequel” to J.D. Salinger’s classic novel “The Catcher in the Rye” will be reconsidered.
April 2010
HTC Cuts Patent Deal With Microsoft Over Android
Microsoft and HTC did not disclose specific details of the agreement but they have said HTC will pay Microsoft an undisclosed sum for the patent rights.
Global music sales fell 7 percent in 2009
The IFPI said the 2009 figures — which compared with an 8 percent drop in 2008 — showed a mixed picture.
High Court: football fixtures are copyrighted
Betting companies and newspapers will have to pay to use and publish lists of football fixtures after a Britain High Court ruling.
Klausner Sues YouMail, HTC Over Visual Voicemail Patent
Klausner Technologies is suing YouMail and HTC over alleged infringement of its visual voicemail patent, which allows users to read their voicemail messages from handsets and computers.
Scotiabank fails in bid to snag Caribana domain name
As sponsor of annual Caribbean festival, bank took case to international panel for control of already registered site.
Top court to rule on California video game law
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether a California law banning the sale and rental of violent video games to minors violates constitutional free-speech rights.
World Intellectual Property Day 2010
This year’s World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2010 focuses on how innovation technologies have created an interlinked and global society.
Facebook Accounts Hacked; 1.5 Million Login IDs For Sale?
Russian Hacker Claims He Stole Accounts of 1 in 300 Facebook Users.
Media lawyers not warm on climate scientist’s lawsuit
Case could force newspapers to police bloggers, social networkers.
Tech licensing company Wi-LAN settles patent lawsuit filed by Telus
The Telus lawsuit was filed in January and claimed ownership of several Wi-LAN patents linked to wireless communications.
News Corp.’s Dow Jones Sues Briefing.com Claiming Content Theft
Dow Jones & Co. sued Briefing.com to prevent what it claims is theft of its news articles and headlines.
A prepared-for-the-public version of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement under negotiation by leading economies has now been released online.
Ottawa deluged with form letters
The vast majority of the online submissions sent to Ottawa last year as part of a public consultation on copyright laws were form letters from just one interest group.
Privacy commissioner leads global group slamming Google
Canada’s Jennifer Stoddart joins nine other privacy watchdogs in letter accusing Google of overlooking privacy values.
UN split on cybercrime conventions
Some countries want the existing European convention to be adopted worldwide, while others want a completely new agreement to be created.
Copyright bill to be tabled this spring: heritage minister
The Canadian federal government may soon unveil its latest version of copyright legislation.
Internet privacy attitudes shifting: report
A new study shows people are becoming wary and more cautious about Internet privacy.
Countries to release anti-piracy text as deal nears
ACTA text to be made public.
Halifax paper told to ID online commenters
A court has ordered a Halifax weekly newspaper to release information that could identify seven anonymous online commenters.
Google backs Yahoo in privacy fight with DOJ
Google and an alliance of privacy groups have come to Yahoo’s aid by helping the Web portal fend off a broad request from the U.S. Department of Justice for e-mail messages.
Facebook furor as nursing mother paintings censored
Paintings by Kate Hansen, part of her “Madonna and Child Project,” were bounced off a Facebook group for portrait and figure artists.
Aga Khan files lawsuit against Toronto lawyer
Philanthropist alleges his works were reproduced and sold without permission.
High Court ruling serves as a warning against any moderation of user comments
A blog owner can avoid liability for user-generated content that appears on his site without being checked or moderated.
WIPO to Provide Dispute Resolution Services for TV Show Format Industry
WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center and the Format Recognition and Protection Association are to join forces later this month in providing alternative dispute resolution services.
Canadian firm sues 20 top tech firms for patent infringement
Ottawa-based WiLAN Inc., accuses the technology firms of violating a patent its holds on Bluetooth technology.
Industry Ministry Seeks Public Feedback On Proposed Digital Economy Strategy
Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement said Ottawa will soon seek public feedback on a discussion paper drawn up by IT experts on the federal government’s proposed Digital Economy Strategy.
The U.K.’s Digital Economy Bill has been passed.
Canadian researchers reveal online spy ring based in China
Espionage network is breaching servers of dozens of countries and groups and focusing on India and the Dalai Lama.
FCC can’t enforce net neutrality
A U.S. federal appeals court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission doesn’t have the authority to enforce net neutrality rules on internet service providers.
Google to face copyright lawsuit by visual artists
Google is expected to be sued by photographers, illustrators and other visual artists who claim the company is infringing their rights by scanning and displaying their work without compensation.
Internet link case to go before Supreme Court
Can posting a link to someone else’s website constitute defamation?
Appeals court sides with eBay in Tiffany suit
A New York appeals court has ruled in eBay’s favor over whether the auction giant is responsible for policing the sale of counterfeit goods.
March 2010
Coalition wants US privacy law revamped for Internet Age
Internet giants have joined US privacy groups and academics in a campaign to get US privacy laws revamped.
Copyright levy would protect artists in a world of downloads
Proposal deserves serious response, NDP critic argues.
Google says China services partly blocked
Company said the availability of its mobile services had started to ‘fluctuate’.
Court ruling seen to guard online content
Broadband providers will have to do more to help music labels and movie studios protect their content online.
Judge in New York dismisses human gene patent
The ACLU and other groups sued to invalidate a patent on two genes held by Myriad Genetics.
Apple now owns “iPad” trademark
Trademark acquired from Fujitsu.
Social media undermines publication ban
Bloggers, social media users violating publication ban in missing N.B. woman case.
US newspaper ad revenue down 27% in 2009
US newspaper advertising revenue plunged more than 27 percent last year, with both print and online registering double-digit declines.
Stance by China to Limit Google Is Risk by Beijing
Will Google’s recent actions cause major problems for China in the long run?
EU Court Hands Google a Victory in Trademark Tussle
Google gets a favorable ruling in a dispute over the way it sells keywords to advertisers, but the search giant still may have to modify its practices going forward.
Ariad says court rules for Lilly in patent case
An en banc session of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Ariad’s patent claims are not adequately described in writing.
TV gets nod to negotiate signal fees
CRTC calls on broadcasters, cable and satellite companies ‘to establish the fair value’ of television signals.
In effort to skirt censorship, Internet search engine is sending traffic to Hong Kong.
Judge: Site must delay copying of broker reports
Theflyonthewall.com Inc. must wait to publish the financial recommendations of financial services firms long enough so that the firms can alert their clients first.
Sony Fends Off Copyright Lawsuit Against God Of War
A screenwriting pair lost their lawsuit against David Jaffe and Sony for copying their screenplay idea in the story of the first God of War.
YouTube and Viacom in war of words over copyright infringement claims
A new war of words has erupted between Google and Viacom after court documents in their long-running copyright dispute were made public.
The Industrial Production Committee of the Italian Parliament has approved a draft bill which enforces use of a ‘made in Italy’ label on every product belonging to the textile, wear, footwear and leather industrial sectors.
Prof warns of arms race on the Web
IT World Canada reports on the recent Workshop on Media Suppression presented by IP Osgoode and the Nathanson Centre.
Conservatives launch protest against proposed iPod levy
The proposal is New Democrat MP Charlie Angus’ private member’s bill.
Prior rulings favour Monsanto as it faces anti-trust probes.
Montreal movie pirate gets jail time
Prosecutors heralding two-and-a-half month sentence as the toughest of its kind in Canada.
China Issues Warning to Major Partners of Google
The Chinese authorities have warned major partners of Google’s China-based search engine that they must comply with censorship laws even if Google does not.
Microsoft loses appeal in Word patent case
Microsoft has lost an appeal against a court judgement that told it to pay $240m (£160m) in damages.
Pink Floyd Wins Court Battle With EMI Over Downloads
The British rock band has won a court ruling that prevents the record company from selling single downloads on the Internet from the group’s concept albums.
Why Lindsay Lohan’s at war with an Oakville toddler
The actress has sued E*Trade Financial Corp saying a “milkaholic” baby girl who appeared in a commercial was modeled after her.
Google to scan books in Italy’s libraries
Google has reached a deal with Italy, which would allow the online search engine to digitize the contents of that country’s two national libraries to be made available for free over the internet.
Allegations against artist David Burdeny spark debate about the hazy line between inspiration and appropriation.
Supreme Court Takes ‘Informational Privacy’ Case
The U.S. Supreme Court is agreeing to decide how much personal information the federal bureaucracy may acquire on its workers.
Vancouver restaurateur sues over Avatar story
A Vancouver restaurant owner is filing a copyright infringement lawsuit over the mega-blockbuster Avatar.
Four in five believe Web access a fundamental right
Of the 27,000 surveyed, more than half agreed that the “Internet should never be regulated by any level of government anywhere.”
U.S. Army bomb expert sues arguing ‘The Hurt Locker’ was based on him
Master Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver claims that the main character in the film was based on him.
Rescuecom drops trademark suit against Google
PC support company Rescuecom has dropped a trademark lawsuit against Google.
Court Sees DVR Case TiVo’s Way
TIVA has won its long-running patent case against sister companies Dish Network and EchoStar.
Lords’ change to copyright law could see content sites blocked
A proposed change to UK copyright law could force ISPs to block access to content sites such as YouTube.
The Canadian government’s Speech from the Throne included a focus on intellectual property and the digital economy.
Demand for standalone intellectual property insurance outstrips capacity
There is growing interest in buying standalone intellectual property insurance, Lloyd’s of London says.
Justices Reinstate Settlement With Writers
The US Supreme Court resurrected a possible settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought by freelance writers.
Apple Sues Nexus One Maker HTC
Apple has sued HTC, the Taiwanese company that is the largest maker of smartphones running Google’s Android operating system.
German high court says telecom, e-mail data cannot be retained
Germany’s highest court overturned a law allowing authorities to retain data for help in tracking criminal networks.
Postal Service must pay sculptor
The U.S. Postal Service should compensate the sculptor of a column of marching soldiers at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington for an image on a 37-cent stamp.
Severity of Chinese Google attack revealed
Investigators from US security company iSec Partners say at least 33 other companies were hit by the “Aurora” exploit, and probably more than 100.
British Library creates archive of defunct Web
Aim is to preserve snapshots of ever-changing Internet for posterity.
February 2010
Facebook wins US patent for ‘news feeds’
Facebook has won a US patent on news feeds behind the kinds of real-time updates that make social-networking websites a hit with users.
Microsoft wins legal battle against spammers
Computer giant Microsoft has emerged triumphant in its battle against a major source of internet spam.
EMI Appeals Men At Work Plagiarism Ruling
EMI has appealed against a court ruling that found Men at Work had plagiarized a children’s song in their ’80s hit “Down Under.”
It’s fashionable to hold up the Internet as the road to democracy and liberty in countries like Iran, but it can also be a very effective tool for quashing freedom.
Xerox sues Google, Yahoo over search patents
Xerox Corp has sued Google Inc and Yahoo Inc, accusing them of infringing the document management company’s patents related to Internet search.
Google bosses convicted in Italy
An Italian court has convicted three Google executives in a trial over a video showing an autistic teenager being bullied.
Medical Paper Trail Takes Electronic Turn
A recent New York Times piece discusses benefits and concerns of electronic medical records.
School Webcam Spying Holds Lessons for Businesses
The Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania is getting a crash course on the limits of what is acceptable when monitoring computer activity.
Textbooks That Professors Can Rewrite Digitally
Readers can modify content on the Web, so why not in books?
The U.S.-based International Trade Commission is mulling a ban on imports of Research in Motion Inc.’s signature BlackBerry device because of patent complaints by Motorola Inc. and Eastman Kodak Co.
Google book settlement draws fire in court
The disparate and dissenting constituencies that showed up to federal court to comment on Google’s plan to create a digital library illustrated just how polarizing and far reaching the effort has become.
Broadcasters Association to shut down
CAB Chairman Elmer Hildebrand says local TV operators, cable companies could not reach common ground.
Microsoft/Yahoo partnership cleared by EU and U.S.
Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc said they have won unconditional approval from regulators in the United States and Europe for a planned search deal.
Rogers stands behind its Internet advertising as ‘fastest and most reliable’
Rogers says it will defend advertising claims that its Internet service is the “fastest and most reliable” in Atlantic Canada.
Privacy watchdog rebukes Google for Buzz
Google says it wouldn’t be practical to brief Canada’s privacy commissioner on every product launch.
eBay loses another suit over Louis Vuitton brand
The Paris District Court ruled that eBay was liable for harming the reputation of LVM’s trademarks, company name, and domain name.
Industry experts estimate the wireless assets could fetch as much as $1-billion if a bidding war is triggered.
U.S. announces intellectual property watchdog
US Justice Department creates intellectual property task force.
Action needed to recognize the value of intellectual property for Canada
Canadian businesses and governments both undervalue the potential of intellectual property (IP) to contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity, according to report authored by Dr. Ruth M. Corbin.
International Patent Filings Dip in 2009 amid Global Economic Downturn
WIPO has released 2009 patent filing statistics.
Marc Jacobs is locking horns with Ed Hardy over the design of one of its handbags.
Macmillan books coming back to Amazon
After a week-long absence, books published by Macmillan are available for purchase on Amazon.com.
FBI wants website visits recorded
The FBI is pressing US ISPs to record which websites customers visit and retain those logs for two years.
IOC will allow Australians’ boxing kangaroo flag to stay
The cheeky flag will keep flying proudly from the team’s balcony at the Vancouver 2010 athletes village.
Cavoukian’s order to encrypt health data not enough
Security vendor says Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian’s mandate that all 36 Ontario health authorities encrypt data in motion is barely enough to avoid data loss.
Google book deal still troubles U.S.
The U.S. Justice Department still thinks a proposal to give Google the digital rights to millions of hard-to-find books threatens to stifle competition and undermine copyright laws.
’80s hit Down Under copies kids’ song: court
Australian band Men at Work copied a well-known children’s campfire song in its 1980s hit Down Under and owes the owner years of royalties, a court ruled Thursday.
Rulings Leave Online Student Speech Rights Unresolved
Do American students have First Amendment rights beyond the schoolyard gates?
ISP cleared of copyright infringement
An Australian court has ruled that an internet service provider cannot be responsible for illegal downloading.
Where is Canada’s plan for the digital age?
Marc Garneau asks this question in an opinion piece in the National Post.
Judge hears arguments over rights to gene patents
A judge weighed whether a lawsuit should proceed that seeks to invalidate a company’s patents on two genes.
Italy Plans to Extend TV Rules to Web Videos
Italy’s government is forging ahead with plans to extend television-broadcasting regulations to Web sites that host videos.
U.S. patent office gets boost in Obama budget
USPTO would get budget increase, keep fees it collects.
Appeals court lets Google Street View suit continue
A US federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit that a Pennsylvania couple filed against Google for taking a panoramic photograph of their secluded home.
January 2010
Super (Bowl) fight heats up over who owns ‘Who Dat’
Some T-shirt makers were hit with cease-and-desist letters from the NFL demanding that they stop selling shirts with the traditional cheer of New Orleans Saints fans.
RIAA preps for third trial in music piracy case
Defendant Thomas-Rasset ready to fight to the ‘bitter end,’ says defense lawyer.
Supreme Court limits Apotex patent-suit damages
The Canadian Supreme Court has refused to hear appeal of Apotex’s dispute with Merck over sales of osteoporosis drug.
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Probes Facebook Over Users Private Information
Canada is again taking on Facebook and once again privacy issues are at the heart of its dispute with the social networking behemoth.
Nike and partners launch The GreenXchange
What the Xchange is and why it is such a good idea.
China court sides with Baidu in music piracy case
A Chinese court has ruled in favour of the nation’s top search engine Baidu, saying its links to music downloads do not constitute piracy.
Conan O’Brien’s Comedy Characters Are Caught in Contract Drama
Conan O’Brien will relinquish the intellectual property rights to several characters created during his 17 years at NBC.
Apple Tries to Wrangle iPad Trademark
The fight for the iPad trademark could be heating up.
Privacy official sounds ‘urgent’ alarm
Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis resigned to take job as deputy attorney general.
Judge Cuts $2M Penalty in MN Song-Sharing Case
Federal judge reduces $2M penalty for Minnesota woman who shared songs on Internet.
COC trademark watchdogs eyeing heart group’s logo
It may not be a medal sport, but trademark protection is an integral part of the Olympics.
Google, Verizon Cooperate On Net Neutrality
Google and Verizon joined forces to submit a joint letter to the Federal Communications Commission.
UK gov cuts ribbon on public datasets site
The Cabinet Office has officially taken the wraps off its data.gov.uk web portal, which is intended to serve as a central repository for British citizens to gain access to some government data.
China to Scan Text Messages to Spot ‘Unhealthy Content’
Cellular companies in Beijing and Shanghai have been told to suspend text services to cellphone users who are found to have sent messages with “illegal or unhealthy content”.
Eric Baptiste named CEO of SOCAN
The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada announced its board of directors has named Eric Baptiste to serve as the organization’s CEO.
Privacy commissioner looking at how Facebook gets data
Canada’s privacy commissioner is launching a series of public consultations to investigate how personal data is being mined online through social networking sites.
Privacy concerns persist on national e-health plan
Concerns have been raised with the Australian government’s proposed Healthcare Identifiers regime.
Courts to rule on fan-created music videos
A number of cases winding their way through the US courts may bring a bit of clarity in 2010 to one particularly fuzzy area of the law: fan-created online videos that contain music.
Faking it: Why we hurt the brands we love
Is luxury goods marketing feeding the frenzy for knockoffs?
Smash hit Avatar has been likened to popular fantasy books written by Soviets Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
China says ways to resolve Google issue, U.S. cautious
China sought on Friday to play down a threat by Google to quit the country.
Ontario privacy commissioner orders ‘strong encryption’ of health records
Ontario’s privacy commissioner has ordered the Durham Health Region to make sure computerized health records are “strongly encrypted” to avoid another embarrassing loss of health information.
Ministers offer concessions on copyright changes
Ministers have given a concession over what critics claimed were “draconian” powers which would enable them to crack down on online copyright infringement.
The Madness of Crowds and an Internet Delusion
Jaron Lanier, an early proponent of the Internet’s open culture, is now examining the downsides.
Microsoft Word injunction goes into effect
Although Microsoft was largely ready for an injunction that went into effect on Monday against selling certain versions of Microsoft Office, there were a few visible impacts.
France wants to forget; Facebook doesn’t
The French are debating a new law that would give Internet users the option to have old online data about themselves deleted.
Spain presents new Internet anti-piracy law
The Spanish government presented a proposed new Internet anti-piracy law to shut down websites offering illegal downloads.
More businesses test Olympic trademark rules
With tens of thousands of potential customers coming to town, every Vancouver business wants to be associated with the Olympics.
Authors want out of Google deal
A group of writers wants Canada out of the Google Books settlement and has started an online petition.
Climate change pranksters accuse Canada of wiping out 4,500 websites
The orchestrators of a climate-change hoax that involved crafting fake Environment Canada websites have accused the Canadian government of temporarily shutting down thousands of other websites.
Digital search revives rights debate
Body scanners set to be installed at airports across Canada are an invasion of privacy, an international privacy advocate says.
Mexican government says Starbucks owes for using pre-Hispanic images on coffee mugs
Mugs show images of the Aztec calendar stone and the Pyramid of the Moon.
Apple Resolved iPhone Trademark Conflict in China
The company that owned the trademark “i-phone” in China has yielded it to Apple.
Bono’s 10 ideas for the next decade includes a comment on intellectual property.
Mosaid signs new patent agreement with global electronics giant Samsung
Ottawa based patent licensing company Mosaid Technologies Inc. says it has entered into a standstill agreement with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Digital piracy hits the e-book industry
Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” was downloaded for free more than 100,000 times within its first days on sale.
U.S. issues standards to spur e-health records
U.S. health officials released standards for electronic medical records, seeking to spur the technology in hopes of cutting health costs and reducing medical errors.
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