FTC Endorses "Do Not Track" Privacy Plan Online

The Federal Trade Commission advocated a plan that lets consumers on the Internet choose whether they want information about their browsing habits to be collected, an option known as "do not track." The FTC's proposal, a framework for commercial use of consumer data, would make consumer privacy the default position and would let Web users decide whether Internet sites and advertisers can build profiles of their browsing and buying habits as well as collect other personal information.

FCC Chair Pushes for Metered Broadband Pricing

The top U.S. telecommunications regulator endorsed the use of metered-broadband Internet pricing as he formally unveiled proposed rules to prevent Internet providers from interfering with traffic. Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said the rules would "preserve the freedom and openness of the Internet" by providing more transparency, requiring basic no-discrimination rules for Internet providers.

FCC Chairman Wants Info on Comcast Streaming Dispute

The top U.S. telecommunications regulator said he wants more information about a complaint lodged by Level 3 Communications Inc. against Comcast Corp. over fees the broadband provider is charging Level 3 for streaming movies over its network. Level 3 hasn't filed a formal complaint with the agency yet, however the FCC doesn't need a complaint to look into the issue.

Software Company Settles Child Privacy Charges

The Federal Trade Commission said it has reached a settlement with a firm over charges that it failed to inform parents that information it was collecting about their children would be disclosed to third-party marketers. The FTC claimed that EchoMatrix did not adequately disclose to parents that information it collected from its Sentry software program allowing parents to monitor their children's online activities also was being shared with marketers through EchoMatrix's Pulse marketing research program.

China Blocks Access to WikiLeaks' Documents

China has blocked Internet access to WikiLeaks' release of more than 250,000 U.S. Department of State cables, with its Foreign Ministry saying that it does not wish to see any disturbance in China-U.S. relations. The ban on WikiLeaks comes as one of the major revelations provided by the the release was a document linking China's Politburo to the December 2009 hack of Google's computer systems.

Europe Launches Antitrust Probe of Google

The top European regulator opened an antitrust investigation into Google, following allegations that the Internet giant has abused its dominance in online search. The move follows complaints by specialized search-related companies about “unfavorable treatment of their services in Google’s unpaid and sponsored search results,” the European Commission said in a statement.

Comcast, Netflix Partner Battle Over Fees

Comcast Corp. and Level 3 Communications, a key network partner of Netflix Inc., launched into a vicious public battle over fees Comcast is levying at Level 3 for delivering content such as movies to the cable company's customers. Level 3, which recently won a deal to help popular video streaming provider Netflix deliver its service to consumers, accused Comcast of charging unfair fees, which it said it agreed to pay "under protest" to avoid service disruption.

Domain Name Seizure Shows New Tactic Against Piracy

A federal crackdown that shut more than 70 websites last week is the latest sign of an escalating war against counterfeit and pirated products, using legal tactics that may be closely scrutinized by civil-liberties groups. Domain names of the affected sites -- which offered such diverse goods as scarves, golf gear and rap music -- were seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, under court-approved warrants.

Supreme Court Won't Hear Music File-Sharing Case

The Supreme passed up a chance to review the appeal of a young Texas woman who was targeted by the recording industry with illegally downloading music on her home computer when she was a high schooler. It was the first music-downloading copyright appeal to go trial and subsequently reach the high court, after the industry sought to stifle what they say is rampant illegal file-sharing, costing companies and artists billions of dollars.

  • Read the article: CNN

Hacker Claims Attack on WikiLeaks Website

A computer hacker who calls himself "The Jester" claimed responsibility for the cyber attack which took down the WikiLeaks site, shortly before it started posting hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables. The Jester, who describes himself as a "hacktivist for good," said he took the controversial site down "for attempting to endanger the lives of our troops, 'other assets' & foreign relations."

  • Read the article: CNN

FTC Settles with Sites Offering Government Grants

The Federal Trade Commission said that it has reached settlements with the operators of websites that the agency claimed were deceptively touting free government grants for personal expenses and debts. As part of an investigation into scams related to the financial downturn, the FTC alleged that the operators promised consumers access to a "members only" website that included information on how they could obtain government grants.

Swedish Appeals Court Upholds Pirate Bay Ruling

In another blow to online file-sharing, a Swedish appeals court upheld the copyright convictions of three of the four founders of The Pirate Bay -- perhaps the world's most well-known and notorious file-sharing Web site. The court agreed with last year's ruling, which found Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde, and Carl Lundstrom guilty of helping Pirate Bay users break Sweden's copyright law.

Customs Officials Shut Down Counterfeit Websites

Federal authorities have shut down more than 70 websites in one the broadest actions yet against companies the government suspects of selling counterfeit or pirated products. Visitors to the affected sites -- which offer such diverse goods as scarves, golfing gear and rap music -- are greeted with a notice stating their domain names have been seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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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.