Suit Over AT&T's Unlimited Data Plan Adds iPad Customers

A lawsuit that was filed on June 9 against Apple and AT&T over the discontinued unlimited data plan for the iPad 3G has been amended and re-filed to include additional iPad 3G customers. The suit, which is being presented as a proposed class action lawsuit, currently names three individuals who claim that Apple and AT&T "baited" them into purchasing an iPad 3G with the promises of a flexible unlimited data plan, "only to have that promise reneged upon within weeks of their purchases."

Twitter Settles with FTC for "Misleading Consumers"

Twitter has settled charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission that it "deceived consumers" by allowing hackers to obtain administrative control over Twitter because of loose security. The FTC said that the popular social networking site allowed hackers in 2009 to obtain "tweets," the 140-character micro-blogs users sent out, that were designated private and send out phony tweets pretending to be from then-President elect Barack Obama and Fox News, among others.

Google, Twitter Urge Court to Reverse News Ruling

Google Inc. asked a federal appeals court to reverse a lower court's order blocking online financial news service Theflyonthewall.com Inc. from issuing immediate reports of banks' stock upgrades and downgrades. The March ruling by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in New York could impair the distribution of factual information over the Internet and have a negative impact on a wide variety of online services, Google, joined by Twitter Inc., said in a so-called friend-of-the-court brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York.

FCC Staff Discussing Compromise on Internet Regulation

U.S. regulators are holding talks with phone and cable companies about a compromise that would give the government authority over Internet lines without adopting controversial new rules the industry opposes. Edward Lazarus, the chief of staff at the Federal Communications Commission, and other senior FCC staffers are holding closed-door meetings with a small group of lobbyists representing Internet providers, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and Internet services companies such as Google Inc. and Skype Ltd.

U.S. to Target Foreign Counterfeit Websites, Biden Says

The United States will go after foreign websites that pirate American music and movies as part of a new national strategy to stop sales of counterfeit and pirated goods, Vice President Joe Biden said. "This is theft, clear and simple," Biden said at a meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other Cabinet officials to discuss the new strategy, which also includes steps to reduce piracy and counterfeiting within the United States.

FTC Attorney Says Privacy System "Isn't Working"

A Federal Trade Commission representative delivered a stern indictment of current privacy laws, saying they fail to protect American consumers and instead place too much of a "burden" on them. The existing constellation of privacy laws, which relies heavily on disclosure of data collection and use practices and informed consumer choice, "in some very basic sense isn't working," said Kathryn Ratte, a senior attorney in the FTC's consumer protection bureau.

Four Months After Hearing, Google Books Case Lingers

The Google Books case drags on with no hint of when the six-year dispute might finally be settled, four months after a final hearing was supposed to decide the issue once and for all. Google and the plaintiffs -- representatives of authors and publishers -- agreed to settle the massive case in October 2008 but delays after delays have prevented Google from offering out-of-print yet copyright-protected books in its Google Book Search product.

Ashcroft Encourages Business to Help with Tech Security

Just as the intelligence and law-enforcement communities rely on tips from vigilant citizens, enterprises too must broaden their approach to information security, former Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a speech. Enterprises that relegate their security operations to a siloed department cordoned off from the rest of the organization do so at their own peril, Ashcroft warned an audience of IT security professionals at the Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit.

Connecticut to Lead Multistate Probe of Google's Wi-Fi Practice

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office will lead a multistate investigation into Google's unauthorized collection of personal data from wireless computer networks. Connecticut and states including Massachusetts and Illinois are demanding information on what Google calls the inadvertent gathering of data from wireless networks, such as e-mail and passwords, as it took pictures of streets and houses for its Street View service.

Music Group Wants Google to Remove File-Sharing Links

The British Phonographic Industry, the trade group for the music industry in Great Britain, has requested that Google remove links to some popular file-sharing sites, including Megaupload.com, 4shared.com, Zippyshare.com, and Mediafire.com. "We have identified the following links that are available via Google's search engine," the BPI wrote to Google in a June 11 letter, a copy of which was obtained by the blog Chillingeffects.org.

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The GigaLaw Firm helps companies of all sizes protect their brands online, using domain name dispute policies – such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) – and other legal tools available to copyright and trademark owners on the Internet.