MGM Resorts Wins Trademark Suit for newyorknewyork.com

MGM Resorts International has won a trademark infringement lawsuit involving its New York-New York hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, with MGM Resorts winning rights to the potentially valuable Internet domain name newyorknewyork.com. Attorneys for MGM Resorts' 2,024-room New York-New New York resort prevailed July 29 when U.S. District Judge Lloyd D. George in Las Vegas issued a default judgment against a company called NewYorkNewYork.com Inc.

Privacy Groups Want Congress to Probe Internet Explorer

Six privacy groups have called on the Senate and House Commerce committees to examine whether the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser makes it easier for firms to track a consumer's Web surfing habits for advertising purposes. In a letter to the leaders of the Senate Commerce and House Energy and Commerce committees, the privacy groups called on the panels to not only investigate claims included in a recent Wall Street Journal investigation of Internet Explorer but to examine online surveillance in general.

Defense Department Wants Wikileaks to Return Documents

The U.S. Defense Department formally demanded that Wikileaks return all military records that it possesses, saying they are the "property of the U.S. government." Geoff Morrell, the department's press secretary, said the military "demands that Wikileaks return immediately to the U.S. government all versions of documents obtained directly or indirectly from the Department of Defense databases or records" and permanently delete them. Read the article: CNET News

FCC Cancels Industry Meetings on Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission called off its closed-door meetings with big Internet companies aimed at reaching agreement on protecting consumer access to the Web, after drawing criticism for attempting to broker a deal with limited public input. The breakdown of the talks followed news of a separate agreement between Verizon and Google that would let Verizon give priority to certain Web content on its fixed-line networks.

Google to Sell Trademarks as Keywords in Europe

The Internet giant Google said that it would change its search policy for most of Europe to allow advertisers to buy and use terms that have been trademarked by others as keywords. Previously, brand owners could file a trademark complaint with Google to prevent third-party ads from being returned alongside the results of a search of a trademarked name, such as Louis Vuitton or Prada.

Intel, FTC Settle Anticompetitive Charges

The Federal Trade Commission and Intel announced that they had agreed to settle charges of anticompetitive behavior that the agency claimed stifled competition in the market for computer processing and graphics chips. The settlement prohibits Intel from the practice of paying customers to buy its computer chips exclusively or to refuse to buy chips from other manufacturers.

Security Firms Identify Flaw in iPhone Software

A newly discovered vulnerability in the software that runs Apple's iPad and iPhone could allow hackers to enslave the popular mobile devices, three security firms said. The flaw affects Apple's iOS, which also runs the iPod touch, and could allow hackers to take complete control of a vulnerable device, according to Symantec Corp as well as privately held Lookout and Vupen.

RIM Says It Won't Allow BlackBerry Access

A top executive of Research In Motion, the Canadian company that makes BlackBerry smartphones, said that his company would not give in to pressure from foreign governments to provide access to its customers' messages. That pressure increased as Saudi Arabia ordered local cellphone providers to halt BlackBerry service because it did not meet the country's regulatory requirements.

Wikipedia Denies Demand to Remove FBI Seal

The FBI wrote a letter in July to the Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of Wikipedia, demanding that it take down an image of the FBI seal accompanying an article on the bureau, and threatened litigation. The problem, those at Wikipedia say, is that the law cited in the FBI's letter is largely about keeping people from flashing fake badges or profiting from the use of the seal, and not about posting images on noncommercial Web sites.

Judge Won't Force Newspaper to Identify Online Commenters

A judge's ruling in a pre-trial motion involving a Gaston County murder case affirms that First Amendment protection extends to those who make anonymous comments about stories on news websites. Attorneys for Michael Mead had sought to force The Gaston Gazette to reveal information that could have been used to help reveal the identity of an anonymous commenter on the news organization's website.

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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.