A judge ruled that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will have to testify in a class action suit over the "Vista Capable" logo program that Microsoft ran ahead of the launch of Windows Vista. Microsoft had sought to limit depositions in the case to former Windows executives Jim Allchin and Will Poole, both of whom have since left the company.
Samsung, InterDigital Settle Mobile Tech Patent Suit
Samsung Electronics entered into a patent licensing agreement with InterDigital, just a day ahead of a U.S. decision on whether or not to bar Samsung 3G handsets from entering the country. The settlement resolves disputes on 2G (second-generation mobile technology) and 3G (third-generation mobile technology) patents held by InterDigital.
In China, Volunteers Target Detective Agency
Millions of people working together as a "human flesh search engine," a bizarre term meant to capture the mix of cutting-edge and old-as-the-hills tactics used in a growing number of Internet vigilante campaigns, are targeting China's most famous detective agency.
Hackers Gain Patience, Seek New Ways to Nab Victims
Internet criminals have been getting more "professional" for years, trying to run their businesses like Big Business to get better and more profitable at selling stolen data online. Now the bad guys of the cyber-underworld are exhibiting other unexpected traits: remarkable patience and restraint in stalking their victims.
Company Seeks to Acquire Patents to Thwart "Trolls"
A new company is launching with the intent of acquiring patents to shield technology companies from costly patent lawsuits. RPX, a San Francisco-based start-up, calls itself a "defensive patent aggregator."
Worsening Economy Leads to More Online Scams
As the economy worsens and more people get laid off, online fraud and financial scams are rising, security experts say. Many of the scams lure people in with promises of quick and easy money.
In Settlement, EHarmony to Offer Gay-Based Website
EHarmony, the dating website heavily promoted by Christian evangelical leaders when it was founded, has agreed in a civil rights settlement to give up its heterosexuals-only policy and offer same-sex matches. It must not only implement the new policy by March 31 but also give the first 10,000 same-sex registrants a free six-month subscription.
Teen Commits Suicide on Internet TV Broadcast
A 19-year-old man has committed suicide while broadcasting himself on Justin.tv, according to a report at NewTeeVee. The teenager took an overdose of pills while on camera and was apparently encouraged to do so by commentators on Justin.tv and a bodybuilding site, according to the report.
MySpace Sucide Trial Explores Cyberlaw Issues
So far, the testimony in the Lori Drew cyber-bullying trial, which began in Los Angeles, has generated headlines for its inherent drama and tragedy: the mother of a teenage daughter, accused of using the MySpace Latest News about MySpace social network to stage an elaborate hoax that ends with the suicide of a troubled 13-year-old classmate, Megan Meier. But the legal foundation for the prosecution's case seems like it belongs to a different court proceeding, one that doesn't involve a mother's tears and stories of teen girl gossip-mongering.
iPhone User Files Class-Action Suit Over Cracks
A New York iPhone 3G user has filed a class action suit against Apple and AT&T Wireless, claiming the device does not deliver promised network capabilities and the smartphone's casing is prone to hairline cracks. The suit, filed September 29 in Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau, by Avi Koschitzki, initially alleged that Apple and AT&T misrepresented network performance speed.
E-Gold Directors Avoid Prison Sentence
A federal judge decided not to impose a prison sentence on the senior directors of E-Gold, an Internet-based digital currency firm, who had previously pleaded guilty to violations of money laundering and running an unlicensed money transmitting business. The three directors of E-Gold, in addition to its Gold & Silver Reserve parent company, were indicted in April 2007 after federal prosecutors accused the online payment site of being a haven for criminal activity like processing investment scams and payments for child pornography.
Cybercrime Damage Estimated at $100 Billion Annually
Cybercrime is likely to wreak as much havoc as the credit crisis in the coming years if international regulation is not improved, some of the world's top crime experts said. Damage caused by cybercrime is estimated at $100 billion annually, said Kilian Strauss, of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Apple Considering More DRM-Free Music on iTunes
A year after iTunes began offering music without copy protection software from EMI, Apple is in discussions with the other three top recording companies about acquiring DRM-free songs, according to two music industry sources. The talks are still preliminary and no deals have been finalized, but one source said one of the major labels is close to a final agreement.
Jury Selection Begins in MySpace Suicide Case
Jury selection began in the case against a Missouri mother accused of taking part in a MySpace hoax that allegedly led to a 13-year-old girl's suicide. Questionnaires completed by prospective jurors prompted an attorney representing Lori Drew to question whether his client could receive a fair trial.
Court Stops Sales of Keylogger Spyware in FTC Suit
A U.S. District Court has temporarily halted the sale of RemoteSpy keylogger spyware at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, which claims the software violates the FTC Act. The FTC filed a complaint against Florida-based CyberSpy Software on November 5, alleging the company has violated the FTC Act by selling software that can be deployed remotely by someone other than the owner or authorized user of a computer, can be installed without the owner's knowledge, and can used to surreptitiously collect and disclose personal information.
U.K. Consumer Warning Site Hit by DDoS Attack
A British Web site that warns consumers about online financial scams was taken down by a distributed denial-of-service attack. Bobbear was being overwhelmed by a "huge" botnet with "over half a million recorded zombie hits from midnight to 8 a.m. today (GMT)," Bob Harrison, administrator of Bobbear, told security firm Sophos.
German Wikipedia Back Online After Complaint Dropped
The German-language version of the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia is back online after a left-wing lawmaker dropped a legal complaint. Luebeck state court had ordered the site shut down after Left Party lawmaker Lutz Heilmann claimed the entry about him contained false allegations.
Judge Dismisses Psystar Antitrust Suit v. Apple
A federal judge has tossed out Psystar's antitrust lawsuit against Apple, one of its most important avenues to remaining in business. Judge William Alsup of the U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of California rejected Psystar's argument that Apple uses anticompetitive practices to prevent companies from selling computers that run Mac OS X, according to court documents spotted by AppleInsider.
Tennessee to Filter University Networks for Music
Tennessee has agreed to filter computer networks for unauthorized music downloads at the state's colleges and universities. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen signed into law a bill designed to thwart music piracy at the state's campuses, the Recording Industry Association of America said on its Web site.
Judge Gives Preliminary OK to Google Book Settlement
Google won preliminary approval of a settlement of copyright lawsuits by publishers and authors in which it will pay $125 million to resolve claims over the company's book-scanning project. U.S. District Judge John Sprizzo in New Yorkissued the order tentatively approving the deal and scheduled a hearing for June 11, 2009, when he will further consider the pact's fairness.
