Primary Sites:
'McJob' offends McDonald's *
Yes, but do you want fries with that?
[More]
Actor sued over leaked Oscar screener *
Two major movie studios sued an actor and longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who allegedly leaked “screener” copies of movies that were then reproduced and distributed on the Internet.
[More]
Agency to review Internet patent *
In an unusual move that critics contend could disrupt millions of Web sites, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is reconsidering a patent affecting Internet pages.
[More]
Amazon sues Toronto company over name use *
Amazon.com Inc. has launched a series of lawsuits against marketers, including a Toronto firm advertising a penis enlargement product, that the on-line retailer alleges are falsely using its name.
[More]
Are we surfers or serfs? *
This week's ruling on uploading music was a start, but we must be vigilant if we want to avoid becoming Internet peasants, says technology journalist GEORGE EMERSON.
[More]
Beatles' company sues over trademark *
The Beatles want to take another bite out of Apple Computer Inc.
[More]
Black Hat, Lynn Settle with Cisco, ISS *
At the conclusion of the Black Hat Briefings yesterday, embattled security researcher Michael Lynn disclosed the agreement he and the conference made with Cisco Systems and Internet Security Systems concerning his presentation on Cisco software vulnerabilities.
[More]
Book copiers raided *
Bailiffs swooped on a Montreal photocopy business Wednesday and seized 2,200 illegally copied study guides and textbooks in one of the largest raids on copyright piracy in the country.
[More]
Box Office Piracy: Scandal in the High Cs -- movie studios still obsessing about Pirates . . . *
. . .and we don't mean the "of the Caribbean" kind, either.
[More]
Bullied by the click of a mouse *
It is insidious, often anonymous and always deeply hurtful.
[More]
Canadian Court sides with music swappers *
Sure to annoy our American neighbours, the Federal Court of Canada ruled Wednesday that Internet Service Providers can't be forced to turn over identities of suspected music swappers, throwing a roadblock in the path of the recording industry's efforts to crack down on the practice.
[More]
Cartoon creators sued *
The creators of a popular Internet cartoon that satirizes U.S. President George W. Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry are being sued by the copyright holder of Woody Guthrie's classic folk song This Land is Your Land for using the tune without proper authorization.
[More]
Children's hospital may sue Disney *
An unlikely feud is seeing the film empire that built its name on cartoons for children -- the giant Disney corporation -- at odds with Britain's most famous hospital for sick children.
[More]
China cracked down on Hero Pirates *
Hero was the movie that started the crack-down.
[More]
Comic-book caper goes back to court with a Twist *
Tony Twist is fighting for his name, which was always one of the best in the National Hockey League.
[More]
Copyrights for freelance writers *
As writers with many freelance clients, my husband John and I are frequently asked how to set standards for dealing with editors, and how much of our work is owned when we pass our work along to publication.
[More]
Could you live with a chip on your shoulder? *
Two states, Wisconsin and North Dakota, recently passed laws prohibiting the forced implantation of microchips in humans. Others -- Ohio, Oklahoma, Colorado and Florida -- are studying similar legislation.
[More]
Croc news from Down Under *
News poll on Steve Irwin vs the Crocodile Hunters
[More]
Dastardly Deeds: The Mis-adventures of Captain Copyright *
It's a bird, It's a plane...it's a conveniently censored, holier than thou, flying A-hole!
[More]
Distributors of DVD-copy software sued *
Hollywood studios Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox sued a handful of small software companies Wednesday, alleging that their distribution of DVD-copying software violates copyright law.
[More]
DVD movie pirates looking for new treasure in Canada *
Just seconds before the start of the summer's first blockbuster, the Warner Bros. epic Troy, a slide appears on the giant screen of downtown Toronto's Paramount theatre explaining that video recording of the movie is illegal and that any one caught taping it will be prosecuted.
[More]
File-sharing doesn't kill CD sales, study finds *
A study of file-sharing's effects on music sales says on-line music trading appears to have had little part in the recent slide in CD sales.
[More]
Fox sues Al Franken for trademark infringement *
Al Franken, the humorist being sued by Fox News Channel for use of the phrase "fair and balanced," said he doesn't mind the legal action. But he does wish it hadn't happened during his vacation.
[More]
Hard-won settlement for freelancers in U.S. thrown out by appeals court *
People on both sides of the dispute said it was unclear what would happen next -- whether the decision would be appealed, a new suit filed, or a new agreement negotiated.
[More]
Karla publisher sues Random House *
The Montreal publisher of a controversial book about serial killer Karla Homolka is suing Random House of Canada for alleged copyright infringement.
[More]
Lawyers join the name game *
The Ontario law society's loosening of naming rules paves the way for firms to brand themselves, BEPPI CROSARIOL writes.
[More]
Long-shot suit charges RIAA with extortion, racketeering *
It's probably not the first time that record company executives have been likened to Al Capone, but this time a judge might have to agree or disagree.
[More]
Lucy Maud provision fades out *
An obscure but controversial clause -- the so-called Lucy Maud Montgomery provision -- in an otherwise popular legislative bill has apparently met a demise that's rife with almost as many questions as its birth.
[More]
Mag on hook for Douglas, Zeta-Jones court costs *
A High Court judge ruled Friday that a celebrity magazine that published unauthorized wedding photos of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones must pay the bulk of the couple's legal costs.
[More]
Malaysia seizes pirated Star Wars DVDs *
Police in Malaysia have seized half-a-million pirated DVDs, according to the country's information ministry.
[More]
Microsoft cracks down on code traders *
Microsoft has sent several letters to people known to have posted Windows source code on the Internet, warning them to stop offering the files and erase any copies.
[More]
Microsoft-Lindows spat heads north *
Microsoft has expanded its legal battle against Linux seller Lindows, suing the software maker for trademark infringement in Canada.
[More]
More Oscar screeners turn up on Internet *
Two additional movies sent to Oscar voters have surfaced on the Internet, with a screener copy of House of Sand and Fog briefly up for sale on an auction site and Cold Mountain available for downloading, studios said.
[More]
Movie studios launch offensive against Internet pirates *
Hollywood studios said Thursday they will file hundreds of lawsuits later this month against individuals who swap pirated copies of movies over the Internet.
[More]
Music industry appeals ruling *
The Canadian Recording Industry Association has filed an appeal of the recent court decision denying CRIA's request for Internet Service Providers to reveal the identities of alleged uploaders of digital music.
[More]
Music industry sues 532 in piracy suits *
New tactic targets downloading John Does.
[More]
Music piracy case tests Net free speech *
Message to chat room orators and e-mail addicts: Legal experts say a record industry campaign to ferret out those who share songs on the Internet may yield the first definite signs of how Canada's courts will approach wider questions of on-line anonymity.
[More]
MyDoom virus targets Utah firm *
A computer virus that exploded on to the Internet this week has been designed to launch a co-ordinated electronic attack Sunday against a Utah software company that has angered hackers in a fight over the Linux operating system, industry observers say.
[More]
New anti-Internet piracy bill causes furor overseas *
Many Spanish Internet users are furious over a government proposal to shut down websites offering peer-to-peer file sharing of music and films without a court order.
[More]
Pact brings peace to the Seinfeld cast *
Resolution of a bitter conflict over royalties clears the way for the release of a DVD collection.
[More]
Pirated disk sellers cross thin blue line *
Chinese police raid pirated CDs and DVDs -- after years of lax activity, authorities in China begin to crack down on pirates.
[More]
Police raid doubles Swedish download site's popularity *
The Pirate Bay, one of the world's most popular websites for illegal downloading of movies, has doubled its number of visitors after Swedish police shut down the site for three days.
[More]
Potter spoiler posted on Internet *
It was news to the newspapers, but frankly, we found a downloadable copy online at the end of May. (We won't divulge where, so don't ask!)
[More]
Push to change piracy laws is unwise *
Not only are Canadian music file-sharers terrified -- so is the Canadian recording industry, which went to court on Monday seeking to force 29 digital music "uploaders" to face the legal music.
[More]
Russian internet pirates offer to block any site -- for a price *
Last summer, Russian pirates offered to paralyse any internet site for a hundred-and-fifty dollars a day, according to a report in the daily business paper, Vedomosti.
[More]
The man with the ink-stained past *
He was once a rising star at the United Nations, writes PAUL WALDIE. Now, Cheickh Bangoura is fighting to clear his name in a legal battle that could change how courts view Internet publishing.
[More]
Zappa chalks one up for copyright crusade *
An out-of-court settlement in the copyright infringement case involving legendary rocker Frank Zappa was reached Tuesday morning in what has been dubbed by his widow as her most “delicious” victory to date.
[More]
Secondary Sites:
* Well Wishers International gets its just desserts *
When we first published our exposé on Well Wishers International of Oak Ridge, TN -- and its founder, Mort Walco (AKA Walcowitz) -- we never dreamed our story would be picked up internationally by Reuters News Service! Cheaters never prosper!
[More]
A Video Clip Goes Viral. . . *
When a video clip goes "viral," spreading across the Web at lightning speed, it can help rocket its creators to stardom. Alas, the clip can also generate work for corporate lawyers.
[More]
Bogus Lawsuit Over The Da Vinci Code *
Following the example of many less-talented typists who imagine their work has been ripped off by real writers who actually write best-selling books, Lewis Perdue, author of a couple of lesser-known books on similar themes says he's going to file his own lawsuit soon.
[More]
Fishing on the other side of the Pond: What to do when you are the victim of a faraway, non-paying business associate *
On the face of it, Tennessee resident Mort Walco looked like a stand-up guy, with a good reputation. When local businesswoman Deborah Faurot started to deal on Well Wishers' (Walco's company's) behalf, she had no hint of the trials and tribulations she would face just to get reimbursed for money she had spent on behalf of this apparent deadbeat!
[More]
Garber on Business: Safe-guarding your reputation *
Should you worry about your reputation? What is your good name worth to you in business? They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but these days the maxim should be amended to "…no fury like a journalist deceived."
[More]
Music industry does not react with one voice *
Executives at the major record labels have always been clear on the matter: File sharing is wrong. Dead wrong. No court decision will ever likely change their minds.
[More]
Networks keen to offer TV shows on-line *
Networks are tripping over each other in the rush to offer everything from individual programs to season subscriptions -- online. Web viewers can even watch some shows for free -- with advertising, of course.
[More]
Recording industry sues StreamCast *
The recording industry is suing the company behind the Morpheus music file-sharing service, alleging it illegally copied thousands of copyright songs as part of a venture to broadcast music over the Internet.
[More]
The full Lucy (Maud Montgomery) *
She was trapped in a loveless marriage. Her son was a philanderer and crook. A female stalker tormented her. Now, with a new bio on the way, new names named from her early journals, and her final diaries losing full copyright protection, Lucy Maud Montgomery may finally become an open book, JAMES ADAMS writes.
[More]
The red-haired girl goes to court *
Sullivan Entertainment squares off against the heirs of the Anne of Green Gables author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, in a $55-million defamation suit
[More]
Your online life is even LESS private than you thought *
AOL is once again in hot water regarding its online consumers' rights policies.
[More]
