Beginning on January 1, 2011 it became illegal in California for anyone to impersonate someone else online. According to Senate Bill 1411, it is now illegal to "knowingly and without consent credibly impersonate another actual person through or on an Internet Web site... for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person." Here is the law: (a) … [Read more...]
Global Baking Companies Swing For The Fences & Strike Out in UDRP Seeking 25 Parked Domains
This is a pretty interesting UDRP as the complainants are some of the biggest bakery companies in the world. The Domain Holder represented himself and beat back a claim on 25 domains may of which contained trademarked terms and were all pointed to a PPC page. Moreover the domain holder rejected an offer by the complainants to buy the domains for $500 each saying "they were worth much … [Read more...]
In 2010: China Shuts Down 60,000 Sites, 4,500 Criminal Investigations & Sends 1,332 To Jail
China was busy this year combating porn. According to a CNN.com story, China closed 60,000 websites related to porn, opened up almost 2,200 criminal cases against almost 5,000 people for "who violated Chinese law by disseminating pornography via the internet or mobile phones." In 2010 1,332 people received criminal punishment with 58 jailed for five years or more. The office in charge, … [Read more...]
TechDirt.com: “Homeland Security Affidavit To Seize Domains Riddled With Technical & Legal Errors”
TechDirt.com spent some time reviewing the Homeland Security Affidavit they used to get the judge to sign off on to seize the 80+ domain names as few weeks ago and concludes: "It's is "riddled With Technical & Legal Errors" Ouch. This comes after TechDirt.com reviewed a partial affidavit of Homeland Security, a few days ago in an article entitled "Homeland Security Knows Little About … [Read more...]
FCC To Vote On Net Neutrality Today Protects Land Lines But Puts Wireless in The Hands of The Carriers
The FCC is voting today on passage of Net Neutrality rules and like anything in Washington the proposal is getting both support and some opposition. The basic premise behind net neutrality is that all sites should have equal and open access to the net. The flip side is a situation where sites could pay to get better access so for example they would load faster for users to the detriment of … [Read more...]
Schilling’s Name Admin & Berryhill Win Another UDRP This Time Beating Visa On: Premiercard.net Giving Domainers A Christmas Present
In a WIPO decision out this morning Frank Schilling and Name Administration represented as usual by John Berryhill, won another UDRP this time on the domain name Premiercard.net beating back a challenge from Visa. In doing so it got a decision full of good language that can be cited by domainers in other cases. (we have highlighted those below). But 1st for the facts as found by the … [Read more...]
Berryhill Wins Another UDRP Defending The Marchex Owned Generic Domain Havanna.com
Havanna S.A. of Argentina, bought a WIPO against Marchex the owner of the domain Havanna.com which was represented by John Berryhill. Amazingly the complainant made the argument that Havanna was not a generic term at all. """"Complainant argues that Respondent’s use of the disputed domain name prior to the dispute is not connected to a bona fide offering of goods or services since Havanna … [Read more...]