tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636612217937780132024-03-08T20:05:50.842-05:00Internet IntangibleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-2230153611407233172017-10-27T15:53:00.003-04:002017-10-27T15:53:57.916-04:00Brief Survey of Blockchain Related Lawsuits
I came across this article recently providing an overview of a few recent Blockchain related cases.
As noted in the article, we have yet to see much in the way of actual disputes over the technology itself, but instead we find your more run of the mill contract disputes wherein the contract was related to Blockchain (or, more likely, Bitcoin) performance.
While there isn't a lot Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-40674160876006228582017-04-20T17:25:00.001-04:002017-04-20T17:25:45.661-04:00Blockchain and NotarizationBTC Manager ran this terrible headline recently: Be Your own Notary with the new Blockchain Plugin for Microsoft 10. As someone who participates in the e-notary business and who finds blockchain an interesting new technology, I was pretty excited by this headline.
Well, it turns out this headline is pure clickbait and neither Microsoft nor any sort of blockchain based technology will allow Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-91676412871099304252017-02-10T17:01:00.000-05:002017-02-10T17:01:09.143-05:00Arizona Bill Enabling Smart ContractsThis came up through CoinDesk (an excellent source which everyone reading this should also be reading) and interestingly uses very similar language to that of electronic signatures (a signature may not be deemed invalid simply because it is electronic).
Unpacking a little bit further, we see that a contract cannot be denied enforceability merely because it includes a smart contract term. FurtherUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-87413761118335102042016-12-10T13:05:00.001-05:002016-12-10T13:05:50.755-05:00China to Require Companies to Publish Random Drop Rate OddsA story has been circulating about China's recent move to begin regulating the way games display information about the drop rates of random loot. This PC Gamer article is a solid source of a summary, and if you want to read the original text it is available here.
I haven't been able to locate a full translation myself but the Google machine translation, plus the chatter floating around the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-51583074154109429112016-08-12T15:49:00.003-04:002016-08-12T15:49:57.226-04:00Academic Approach to Smart Contract LanguageBarclays and the University College London recently published this linked academic paper on Smart Contracts and the need for formalized language. Interestingly enough, it is a good step in the right direction, as it seeks to normalize the current tension between Smart Contracts as automated computer code with the legal notion of a Contract as a formal agreement. It is a tough read but Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-53253205932479291662016-07-12T16:48:00.000-04:002016-07-12T16:48:16.076-04:00Another Lawyer's Perspective on Smart Contracts (article and analysis)Finally! An attorney who understands that "Smart Contract" is a terrible misnomer. This article about Smart Contracts by Selachii attorney Richard Howlett was refreshing to read, as I see so much written and discussed about Smart Contracts and how a few lines of computer code will revolutionize the world. Howlett makes insightful points regarding the difficulties faced with both complexity and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-87073837569489221572012-04-15T21:25:00.001-04:002012-04-15T21:25:15.658-04:00.XXX Owner Attempting to Add .SEX, .PORN, and .ADULT to its PortfolioAlthough this in and of itself is not a huge news story, I thought it provided some interesting commentary on possible uses of new gTLDs and business strategies. ICM, the registrar of .XXX, has announced bids for .ADULT, .SEX, and .PORN gTLDs, and presumably filed applications. (PCMag article here and marketwatch article here).
It remains to be seen whether or not they are able to obtain these Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-81053200609194741432012-04-05T20:30:00.001-04:002012-04-05T20:32:04.775-04:00In the Matter of Facebook, Inc.
In the Matter of Facebook, Inc. 2011 WL 6092532
Mark Zuckerberg sweating through that interview, pre FTC privacy case.
Facebook's privacy practices have been in the public's collective consciousness with regularity after it was discovered that personal information was being shared with advertisers and other third parties. Compounding this was Facebook's then Byzantine privacy Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-6992037981091920752012-03-31T21:46:00.002-04:002012-03-31T21:46:59.009-04:00Point-Counterpoint: gTLDs Will NOT Become a Haven for Cybersquatters
Since first learning of the new gTLD program, I have been trying to determine a way for cybersquatting a gTLD to make sense. This is of course the first reaction of every commentator (check IPwatchdog’s coverage here for an example). ICANN comes back with mentions of steps to address this, but they generally ring hollow as descriptions of procedural steps that most do not trust the company to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-70298516459033677982012-03-27T22:02:00.005-04:002012-03-27T22:05:51.802-04:00Behind the Headlines: Can Facebook Trademark "Book" in the User Agreement?
Recently, there has been a series of headlines proclaiming that Facebook is attempting to trademark the word “book” by placing it in the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (pretty much the Terms of Service). The exact language reads as follows:
“You will not use our copyrights or trademarks (including Facebook, the Facebook and F Logos, FB, Face, Poke, Book and Wall), or any Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-30451904474131971332012-03-24T10:21:00.002-04:002012-03-24T10:21:40.242-04:00NYC to Register .NYC gTLD
New York City has formally stepped forward and announced their intention to register a .nyc gTLD with ICANN. (Read articles here and here.) Although the official confirmation is welcome, this cannot be called a complete surprise.
New York has wisely decided to use an existing registry operator to administer the domain. This is also a predictable step. The costs, both financial and technical, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-2279053980849126522012-03-21T14:12:00.001-04:002012-04-05T20:30:47.409-04:00What Happens to Companies that Get Hacked?As our world continues to grow more connected and more of our services move online, a host of new problems have developed. One such problem is hacking, or compromising otherwise secure networks. Interestingly, hacking can take several forms. It may have a criminal elements, such as attempting to gain access to financial records, or hacking to disrupt essential computer systems. It may be Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-32590388676371292882012-03-20T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-20T08:00:08.696-04:00gTLDs and Property Rights: Legal Rights Objection
With the opening of the top level domain space, ICANN and the Internet community face a potential wave of new infringers and cybersquatters. ICANN has openly discussed the possible issues, and has put forth a procedure for addressing them. The gTLD Applicant Handbook describes the “Legal Rights Objection” as the best remedy for a proposed gTLD that infringes an existing legal right.
ICANN Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-49092735790173967072012-03-18T19:02:00.001-04:002012-03-18T19:03:58.706-04:00Are Google Keywords Protectable?
Mary Kay, Inc., v. Amy L. Weber
601 F.Supp.2d 839
This case answers the age old question, “When is a touch of pink a touch too much?”
Mary Kay is a distributor and wholesaler of cosmetics. Mary Kay relies primarily on a network of independent sales representatives to sell the products to consumers. In Mary Kay parlance, they are Independent Beauty Consultants (“IBCs”) and the top one each yearUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-66240157160197637702012-03-15T10:57:00.000-04:002012-03-15T10:57:00.579-04:00Subpoenas Issued for Twitter AccountsApparently New York prosecutors are issuing subpoenas for the Twitter accounts of Occupy Wall Street protestors. Although this is generally outside the scope of this blog, it is interesting to note the new role of the Internet in legal proceedings. It appears that prosecutors are looking towards the tweets as evidence of knowledge of the illegality of the protestor's actions.
The protester Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763661221793778013.post-53259070755184237152012-03-14T18:53:00.000-04:002012-03-14T18:58:39.360-04:00gTLDs and Property Rights: String Confusion
ICANN's Applicant Guidebook (Jan. 2012 revision available here) lists several objections to proposed gTLD domain names. One such possible objection is string confusion. The string confusion objection is designed to prevent similar top level domains from registering, resulting in confusion. ICANN has established that “string confusion exists where a string so closely resembles another Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0