4 out of 5 say ICANN still needs oversight
No end in sight for the the DoC's oversight of ICANN. Just another chapter in the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of ICANN, and the role the U.S. should play in regulation and control.
New Text Mining Technique Could Make E-Discovery More Efficient
A new text mining technique has been
developed by researchers at the University of California, Irvine. If it lives up to the hype it could make e-discovery much more efficient.
(via Slashdot)
The Scorned Screenwriter's New Best Friend
The Times
profiles attorney John Marder, who has made a name for himself representing screenwriters, and others, in their claims against the studios whom they believe listened to their pitch and then stole their ideas. Marder is capitalizing on his success in
Grosso v. Miramax, in which the 9th Circuit did not throw out the writer's claim that his pitch to the studio
created an implied contract between the two parties. With an implied contract theory backing up a more difficult to prove copyright claim, writers appear to have significantly more leverage in these sorts of cases. While this has certainly lead to more claims being brought, it remains to be seen if it will lead to more
successful claims.
I like this last from Marder: “There’s a problem with the system when every time the studios release a movie, they get a bunch of claims,” he said. “There can’t be that many crazy people in the country.”
Or can there?
Update: William Patry provided way, way more detail about all this
yesterday.
Who Owns the Copyright in a Contract?
When you draft a contract for your client, who owns the copyright in that contract ? You, the attorney? Your firm? The client? Ken Adams
explores the question. But wait, you say, is a contract entitled to copyright protection in the first place? Well hey, he's
discussed that as well.
You, Me, Dupree, and Steely Dan
This speaks for itself. Hollywood writer's appropriating ideas and names from songs.....never! Funny stuff.
Sneakers, Recruiters, Blue-Chip Prospects, and of course Money
Bob Hohler's investigative story on the relationship between the athletic shoe industry, recruiters, and young blue-chip basketball prospects. First in a three-part series on the sneaker industry's influence on amateur basketball in New England.
Is "We're So Sorry Uncle Leo" Next?
Offered without comment.
Patent Trolling for Fun and Profit
Interesting, in-depth
profile of Raymond Niro, known to many as the first patent troll. The upshot: the ethics of trolling may appear questionable, and the dollar amounts are certainly staggering, but it can be a lifesaver for small-time inventors. And as a practice, it's here to stay.
Oddly, of the many companies discussed in the article, two are named "Schneider" and one is named "Schreiber."
Gotta Earn That Anti-Piracy Badge
Chinese Boy Scouts have been
recruited into the fight against copyright infringement. This raises a number of questions, foremost among them being: there are Boy Scouts in China? Who knew? Are there Girl Scouts as well? Do they sell cookies? If so, what kind?
Friendster Issued Patent for Aspects of Social Networking
Friendster issued patent on certain aspects of social networking. [T]he patent refers to a “system, method, and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks." “It’s way too early to say” whether the company would pursue licenses and litigation from its competitors, Friendster President Kent Lindstrom told RedHerring.com. “We’ll do what we can to protect our intellectual property.”
The Empire Strikes Out
If the RIAA is going to go after alleged downloaders with such gusto, you'd think they'd be prepared to provide every relevant detail of the infringing activity. As it turns out, not so much. And as a result, they've been
ordered to pay Debbie Foster's attorneys fees.
IP on eBay
Musician
Katherine Schell, who is apparently an up-and-comer of some note, is
auctioning off an exclusive, one-year license for the "commercial rights" to her song "The Gravity Situation" on eBay. The language of the license is not made available, so who knows exactly what the winner bidder will get. Still, interesting move from a buzz-making perspective.
Louis Vuitton v. Dooney & Bourke
Back to the District Court with instructions favorable to LVMH. In rehearing the case, the district court "should consider the precise trademark claimed by (Louis Vuitton) and whether, under market conditions and when viewed sequentially, Vuitton can prove likelihood of confusion between its Multicolore mark and the pattern of Dooney & Bourke's It-Bag," the circuit judges wrote.
Insaaaane!
The Trident Growth Fund has concluded an
unsuccessful ebay auction for the CRAZY EDDIE trademark and domain name.
The firm's founder, high school dropout Crazy Eddie Antar, started with a lone store in Coney Island and built an empire of 43 stores before going bankrupt in 1989 after a massive stock fraud case. Some details of the stock fraud case can be found
here.
'Crazy' Eddie Antar was termed by US Attorney Michael Chertoff "The Darth Vader of Capitalism".
(via Metafilter)
