Electronic Commerce & Law Report Index

FAIR AND ACCURATE CREDIT TRANSACTIONS ACT (FACTA)

– Electronically printed receipts, e-mail confirmations (7th Cir.), 1284

FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA)

– CFTC rulemaking agenda, 1584
– Data broker accused of violations, 1094
– Exemption from national data security standards

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3742

– Receipt redaction claim against U.S. (Fed. Cir.), 1813

FCRA

See FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA)

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

– Authority to regulate internet

– – Communications Act updates, 888
– – Free speech, ACLU report, 1625
– – House bill forthcoming, 1441; prospects slim, 1481; Waxman (D-Calif) intends to introduce, 1481; Barton (R-Tex) support unlikely, 1519; action unlikely in next Congress, 1704
– – Market failure requirement

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 5257

– – National broadband plan, 524; implementation challenges, GAO report, 1589
– – Net neutrality principles, 93; lobbying, 128; support from Obama, 176; consensus points, 348; hearing, 524; comments, 723; negotiations with industry re nondiscrimination, 1231; talks halted, 1260; additional comments sought, 1405; comments on specialized services and mobile broadband, 1587; E&C chair hopefuls against reclassification proposal, 1759; open meeting rescheduled, 1826; industry meeting on agency authority to safeguard net neutrality, 1827; December vote set, 1829; GOP officials oppose FCC regulation, 1831; consumers play vital role in regulation efforts, 1831; new proposal likely successful, says Powell, 1875; lobbying intensifies before vote, 1877; Commissioners affirm positions , 1878
– – Title II reclassification of broadband, 722; transmission only proposal, 769; Boucher (D-Va) prefers congressional action, 811; Republican objections, 813; Boucher sees motivation for legislative solution, 845; Congress unlikely to preempt reclassification, 889; FCC agenda set, 890; House letter opposing reclassification, 896; congressional criticism, 955; notice of inquiry, 995; Democratic Senators support FCC inquiry, 999; compromise possible, 1047; Verizon willing to negotiate, 1049; nondiscrimination principle debated, 1050; closed-door meetings, 1089; comments, 1138; Rush (D-Ill) warns of hindered investment, 1192; Dingell (D-Mich) presses for response on letter, 1193; Dingell (D-Mich) urges abandonment of effort, 1230; House Democrats support “Third Way” proposal, 1293; stakeholder final push, 1294; regulatory limbo, 1406; congressional inaction, 1505
– – Torrent blocking (D.C. Cir.), 50; broadband service as basic utility, 583; ruling says FCC lacks authority, 588
– – Transmission of signal, 768; Title II authority, 768; reaction, 771
– – Verizon urges FCC to assert authority, 526

– Broadband, national service plan

See BROADBAND

– Commerce Dept., inquiry on privacy and innovation, FTC response, 1003
– Decision-making processes, GAO report urges streamlining, 130
– Draft privacy report analysis, BNA Insights, 1943
– Journalism, study of future needs, 131
– Speeds and rates abroad, Comm'n report, 1404
– “White spaces,” wireless device use of, 1442

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC)

– Admission to Intl. Conf. of Data Protection and Privacy Comm'rs, 1672
– Appointments

– – Chief Technologist and Executive Director, 1713
– – Commissioners, Ramirez and Brill confirmed, 400; Brill takes oath, 605; Ramirez takes oath, 605

– Bank reform bill, new powers, 686
– Children, report to Congress on online safety, 569
– Consumer protection

See CONSUMER PROTECTION

– Global Privacy Enforcement Network launch, 1475
– Online privacy policy, Special Report, 145; feedback to be solicited, 680; comprehensive law proposal urged, 1154; do-not-track registry proposal, 1224; self-regulatory best practices proposal, 1815
– Rulemaking authority

– – Business opposition to expansion, 1369
– – Call for hearings, 128; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 4173
– – Data security breaches

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3742

– Social networking, Schumer (D-NY) urges guidelines, 682

FILE SHARING

– Anti-Piracy Caucus, “web wall of shame,” 848
– Australia, ISP authorization of piracy (FCA), 205; appeal, 331; oral argument, 1253
– Compilations, music albums (2d Cir.), 703
– Damages

– – Constitutionality, excessive award (D. Mass.), 1130; BNA Insights, 1449
– – Reform, stakeholder proposals, 1522
– – Statutory award reduced (D. Minn.), 114; third verdict, 1692

– Document sharing, contributory infringement (S.D. Cal.), 1373
– Estimates of costs, GAO report, 603
– Expectation of privacy

– – Attempt to secure shared files (9th Cir.), 332
– – Identity of alleged infringers (D.D.C., D. Conn., D.S.D., N.D. Tex.), 1510
– – In-person search (Me.), 371
– – Passwords and encryption (D. Mass.), 595
– – Unsecured network (D. Or.), 197

– France

See FRANCE

– Germany, passive host liability limitations (OLG), 1254
– Government computers

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 4098, S 3484

– Inducement, secondary liability for LimeWire (S.D.N.Y.), 789; petition for reconsideration, 887; infringement suit filed, 994
– Innocent infringer defense, CD warnings (5th Cir.), 327; (U.S., response requested), 1464
– Ireland, ISP termination of access (H. Ct.), 1571
– ISP account data, privacy interest (D.D.C.), 808
– Italy, reasons for ISP blocking foreign sites, BNA Insights, 1013
– Japan, “3 strikes” proposal, 1631
– Lack of indexing, no prima facie copyright violation (S.D. Cal.), 986
– New Zealand, three-notice system, 676
– Notice to anonymous ISP subscribers (D.D.C.), 126
– Peer-to-peer networks

– – Child-pornography, sentence enhancement (8th Cir.), 1352
– – Recent developments, BNA Insights, 1903
– – Security review urged, 295; FTC inquiry of LimeWire, 1402
– – Spain, networks ruled legal, 472

– Pleading standards (2d Cir.), 704
– Subpoenas, volume of requests (D.D.C.), 807
– Sweden, Pirate Bay website copyright violation, 1801
– Torrents

– – BitTorrent blocking, FCC authority over internet (D.C. Cir.), 50; broadband service as basic utility, 583; ruling says FCC lacks authority, 588
– – Iceland, BitTorrent injunction upheld, 279
– – Independent film actions (D.D.C.), 629; amicus brief to quash subpoenas, 916
– – Inducement by site operators (C.D. Cal.), 7
– – ISP account data, expedited discovery (D.D.C.), 1655
– – Norway, forcing ISPs to block site (Oslo Ct. App.), 237
– – Service deadline extension denied (D. D.C.), 1802

– 2009 year in review, 37
– UK identification rules

– – Amended bill, 486; more user safeguards promised, 565
– – Cost sharing, ISP burden, 1474
– – ISP challenge (U.K. High Ct.), 1129; judicial review, 1733

FILTERING

– Libraries, filters as collection decision (Wash.), 746
– Notice, spam filters present challenges, 109

FINLAND

– Google Street View, complaints and investigations, 296

FOREIGN COUNTRIES

– Generally

– – Anti-Piracy Caucus “web wall of shame,” 848
– – Asia-Pacific privacy protection rules, 679; FTC cooperation, 1157
– – Censorship, U.S. firms urged to challenge, 137; House hearing, 435
– – East African coordination on cyberlaw, 1001
– – Global Privacy Enforcement Network launch, 1475
– – Service of process

See SERVICE OF PROCESS

– Argentina, defamatory search results (CNCiv.), 1350
– Australia

See AUSTRALIA

– Brazil, .br domain registration, 1621
– Canada

See CANADA

– China

See CHINA

– Colombia, registration of .co gTLD, 493
– Czech Republic, intermediary liability, BNA Insights, 1714
– Denmark

See DENMARK

– European Union

See EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

– Finland, Google Street View, complaints and investigations, 296
– France

See FRANCE

– Germany

See GERMANY

– Hong Kong

See CHINA

– Iceland

See ICELAND

– India, compliance deadline for Blackberry services, 1299; real-time access to messages, 1410
– Ireland

See IRELAND

– Israel, social media privacy concerns in banking, 1298
– Italy

See ITALY

– Japan

See JAPAN

– Mexico

See MEXICO

– Netherlands

See NETHERLANDS

– New Zealand

See NEW ZEALAND

– Norway

See NORWAY

– Paraguay, electronic signature validation law, 1005; amendment after veto, 1353
– Saudi Arabia, ban on BlackBerry services, 1233; ban avoided, 1299
– Spain, peer-to-peer networks ruled legal, 472
– Sweden

See SWEDEN

– Switzerland

See SWITZERLAND

– UK

See UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

– United Arab Emirates, ban on BlackBerry services, 1233; ban avoided, 1547

FORUM SELECTION

– AdWords

– – Negligence (D.N.J.), 634
– – Unrelated dispute (S.D.N.Y.), 416

– Browsewrap enforceable (Mo. Ct. App.), 45
– Clickwrap, employee acceptance valid (S.D. Ind.), 48
– eBay, nondelivery of goods (Tex. Ct. App.), 1135
– ECPA claims, state courts (N.D. Cal.), 328
– Facebook terms of service (N.D. Ga.), 161
– Incorporation by reference (D.N.J.), 517
– Invalidation, specific facts required (D. Or.), 321
– Trademark claim unrelated to business relationship (S.D. Tex.), 322
– Unclear clause blocks enforcement (D. Md.), 320

FRANCE

– Advertising

– – Antitrust investigation, 433
– – Google content practices scrutinized, 1097; administrative settlement, 1707; AdWords not trademark infringement, 1805

– Bishop, insulting photograph on Facebook, 662
– Data protection law updates, 343
– Data retention charter, 1621
– Defamation, search results (T.G.I.), 1465
– Dominance report on Google endorsed by Sarkozy, 64
– eBay

– – Broker liability (CA Paris), 1384
– – Liability for seller fraud (T.G.I.), 241
– – Publisher liability (CA Reims), 1187
– – Registration requirements (T.G.I.), 914

– Facebook

– – Firing worker based on posts, 1808
– – “Places,” privacy protections, 1579

– File sharing

– – HADOPI law, BNA Insights, 818; enforcement, 967; 3-strike anti-piracy law, final decree, 1231
– – IP addresses to identify sharers (CA Paris), 380

– Google Books, copyright infringement (T.G.I.), 9; copycat suits possible, 65
– Host service providers, copyright infringement liability exception (Cour Cass.), 117
– Privacy, data protection authority report, 1824
– Surveillance of criminal suspects, 301
– Taxation, patent exploitation and internet services, 1526
– Trademarks, misspelling of luxury brand (T.G.I.), 239

FRAUD

– Advertising

– – Class actions, marketing settlement (W.D. Wash.), 466
– – Credit report advertising, fraud suit (C.D. Cal.), 242
– – Pop-up ads, transfer of billing information to third party (N.D. Cal.), 1576
– – Social media, click fraud disclaimers (N.D. Cal.), 702
– – Ticket resale websites hosting fraudulent ads (N.J. Super. Ct.), 1376

– CFAA

See COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT (CFAA)

– Consumer fraud

– – eBay posting delays (N.D. Cal.), 1616
– – FTC survey, 1400
– – Negative option scheme settlement (D. Nev.), 1569
– – Payday loan marketing, settlement (N.D. Cal.), 1539
– – Standing of corporate client (E.D.N.Y.), 516
– – Website choice of law provision (D.N.J.), 1657

– DMCA, fraudulent takedown notices (N.D. Cal.), 330
– France, eBay liability for seller fraud (T.G.I.), 241
– Preemption, CAN-SPAM fraud pleadings (N.D. Cal.), 591
– Scareware indictments (N.D. Ill.), 883
– Software, reseller discounts deemed “money or property” (9th Cir.), 1394
– Spam, fraud pleading standards (9th Cir.), 1128
– Telecommunications ring, 19 indictments (N.D. Tex.), 52
– Travel companies

– – Fraudulently retaining excess taxes and service fees class claim (S.D.N.Y.), 1765
– – Tax underpayment, town to produce documents (N.D. Ill.), 1813

– Wire fraud

See WIRE FRAUD

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

– Corporations, personal privacy (U.S., rev grant), 1515
– Court filings, immediate access (S.D. Tex.), 207; settlement, 385
– Lobbyist names and e-mails (9th Cir.), 285; transparency interest, 598
– N.Y., worker's compensation records (N.Y. App. Div.), 91
– Privileged communications, patent infringer and Dep't of Justice (4th Cir.), 54

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

– Animal cruelty, video ban (U.S., rev and rem), 659
– Anonymity rights

– – Commercial speech (9th Cir.), 1123
– – Consumption of expressive content (W.D. Wash.), 1645
– – Disparagement of resort (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), 630
– – Expedited discovery of identities (D. Colo.), 953
– – Impeachment of witnesses (W.D. Pa.), 377
– – Prima facie showing to identify (N.C. Super. Ct.), 1124
– – Securities chat board (N.D. Cal.), 835
– – Sex offender registry of online identifiers (N.D. Ga.), 511
– – Small-town newspaper site (Ill. App. Ct.), 909
– – Sources, identity (N.H.), 745
– – Tipster identity (N.J. Super. Ct.), 596
– – 2009 year in review, 37
– – Utah, registration of sex offender online identifiers (10th Cir.), 1647; statute upheld, In Brief, 1933
– – Witness in bankruptcy claim (E.D.N.Y.), 707

– Attorney advertising

See ATTORNEYS

– Filtered internet access in libraries (Wash.), 746
– Foreign censorship, U.S. firms urged to challenge, 137; House hearing, 435
– Foreign works, restoration from public domain (10th Cir.), 1034
– Gripe site, attempt at shutting down by cybersquatting claim denied (E.D. Mich.), 1082
– Hate speech, anti-SLAPP (Cal. Ct. App.), 465
– High school sports tournaments, nonpublic forums (W.D. Wis.), 946
– Journalist shield law, blogger use (N.J. Super. Ct.), 660; review granted (N.J.), 1427
– Libel tourism ban

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2765

– Me. ban on sale of physician prescribing data (1st Cir.), 1257
– Mass., challenge to harm to minors law (D. Mass.), 1176; chilling effect, 1646
– Minors, harmful message dissemination (6th Cir.), 661
– Net neutrality, ACLU report, 1625
– N.C., demands for personal information on Amazon customers (W.D. Wash.), 669; ACLU seeks to intervene, 1044
– Obscenity, community standards (11th Cir.), 202
– Online infringement and counterfeits

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3804

– Parody prosecution, civil rights claims (10th Cir.), 1175
– Political speech online, meritless DMCA claims, 1549
– Pornography, ban on use of company computers, arbitration award (D. Mass.), 1219
– Private companies, legislation to compel best practices, 391
– Racially-themed e-mails, qualified immunity for school employees (9th Cir.), 834
– Republication, prior restraint (N.H.), 745
– Right of publicity, athlete likeness in video games (N.D. Cal.), 229
– Social Security numbers, ban on communication of (4th Cir.), 1220
– Student websites

– – Facebook group criticizing teacher (S.D. Fla.), 279
– – MySpace spoof page, potential for substantial campus disruption (3d Cir.), 231

– Threats to state officials (Md. Ct. Spec. App.), 708
– Video games, graphic violence (U.S., oral arg), 1685
– Wireless communications, UAE and Saudi bans on BlackBerry services, 1233; Saudi ban avoided, 1299; UAE ban avoided, 1547