Mar
14
First amendment in the digital age
Posted by Dirk Avery at 7:42 am under Internet, Litigation, Technology.
Can an employee mouth off to his friends about something unrelated to work? Of course? What if his “friends” happen to be the worldwide readers of his blog? A couple of days ago, outed Patent Troll Tracker Richard Frenkel was sued for defamation based on comments he made on his blog. His employer, Cisco, was […]
Mar
11
It’s Official: Google Acquires DoubleClick
Posted by Keeley Vega at 1:31 pm under Internet, Technology.
Almost a year after Google announced its intention to acquire DoubleClick, it’s finally official! Today, the European Commission approved Google’s $3.1 billion takeover, removing the final obstacle to the deal. This was a deal opposed by Microsoft and AT&T, arguing that the merger would give Google too much power to set advertising rates.
According to CEO […]
Mar
5
Alexandrians in action: Google Books
Posted by Dirk Avery at 2:14 pm under Copyright, Innovation, Internet, Technology.
Today, here on the University of Michigan campus, I saw the Google folks at work. A huge moving truck was backed up next to the library door. Carts filled with books filled the truck.
The basic task is really pretty simple. They take books and scan them. The complexity comes from the […]
Mar
5
William Blumenthal, live blog
Posted by Dirk Avery at 12:24 pm under Innovation, Internet, Technology.
March 5, 2008, 12:20
12:23: This looks interesting: FTC 2003 Report on Innovation. We are moving away from “balancing” competition law and IP, to “aligning” the two. I like aligning. It’s very business like.
12:28: FTC thought that patent quality was on the decline with negative effects: discouraging innovation, elevating cost and leading […]
Mar
5
Live blog: William Blumenthal, GC of the FTC
Posted by Keeley Vega at 12:24 pm under Events, Internet.
“Recent Issues in IP and the Internet Under Competition Law”
12:23: IP, Internet at the FTC & DOJ. Issues to be covered: FTC Reports on innovation, IP-related case activity, Internet-related reports, Internet-case activity.
12:26: The FTC 2003 “To Promote Innovation…” Report. “Summary of a series of hearings held in the 2002 timeframe. 24 days. 300 panelists. 100 […]
Mar
5
Coming Soon: WordPress Goes Social
Posted by Keeley Vega at 10:39 am under Internet.
WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg recently announced that WordPress parent company Automattic has hired designer and developer Andy Peatling, who has created a WordPress-based social network called BuddyPress.
According to the home page, “BuddyPress will transform a vanilla installation of WordPress MU into a social-network platform.”
The purpose? Mullenweg writes: “Someday, perhaps, the world will have a truly free […]
Mar
5
Live blogging: William Blumenthal, GC of FTC
Posted by Dirk Avery at 9:33 am under Events, Internet, Technology.
In an Addo Vere first, we will be live blogging today! At about 12:30 pm EST, William Blumenthal, General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission, will be speaking here at the University of Michigan Law School. His topic will be “Recent Issues in the Treatment of IP and the Internet under Competition Law.” It promises […]
Feb
27
S. 428: 9-1-1 Bill Passes
Posted by Keeley Vega at 11:47 pm under Internet, Legislation.
Yesterday, the Senate passed the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2007.
Section 2:
“Amends the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 to impose on IP-enabled voice service providers engaged in interstate or foreign communication a requirement to provide 9-1-1 service, including enhanced 9-1-1 service, to its subscribers.”
Full text of the bill is […]
Feb
26
Comcast hires seat-fillers at FCC
Posted by Dirk Avery at 5:53 pm under Internet.
This is hilarious. Comcast admits hiring disinterested people to fill spots at a public FCC hearing held at Harvard Law School. While Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury (pictured) admitted the company hired people to hold places in line for Comcast employees, Comcast opponents claim they also filled seats to prevent interested people from attending […]
Feb
26
Kindle law books?
Posted by Dirk Avery at 12:48 pm under Internet, Technology.
As much as I love the muscles I’ve developed hauling around hundreds of pounds of law books, doesn’t it seem like we should have electronic law books? The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance released a report in May 2007 on the high cost of textbooks. Of its many suggestions to lower costs […]