E-mails Show Google Worried About Movie Industry Pressure

Google Inc. said it’s concerned about reports that the Motion Picture Association of America pushed state attorneys general to pressure the company over anti-piracy efforts, based on information in hacked Sony Corp. e-mails. Steven Fabrizio, MPAA global general counsel, wrote about a plan by he and others in the film industry to persuade several attorneys general to pursue regulatory actions against Google, according to e-mails sent to employees at companies including Sony, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Co., 21st Century Fox Inc., Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal and Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures.

Judge Wants More Facts from Consumers in Android Suit

A judge said she would require consumers suing Google over its Android smartphone operating system to submit more factual details in order for an antitrust lawsuit to proceed, at a time when the Internet search company faces increased regulatory pressure. The lawsuit filed earlier this year says Google Inc requires Android handset manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to restrict competing apps like Microsoft Corp's Bing search, partly by making Google's own apps the default.

N.Y. Regulator Presents Changes to 'BitLicense' Proposal

Benjamin M. Lawsky, New York state’s top financial regulator, outlined revisions to the state’s highly anticipated “BitLicense” proposal, providing the most detail yet on rules that, when finalized, could reshape the virtual currency industry. Although far from sweeping, the revised rules will address or eliminate many of the aspects that opponents had criticized for being vague or strict, including the types of companies that would be subject to the rules, Mr. Lawsky said in keynote remarks at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington.

Obama Signs Five Cybersecurity Bills

President Obama signed five cybersecurity bills into law, after an unexpected spate of legislative activity on the issue. The five bills won’t satisfy the strongest backers of tough cyber protections, but they should help many government officials beef up their networks and were cheered by supporters when they rushed through Congress in the final days of its 2014 session.

Uber Argues Against Disclosing Ride Data in Court

Uber argued that it should not have to turn over ride data in a California regulatory standoff that shows how the transportation service is falling afoul of officials who could threaten its expansion. The issue, which is being heard in a California administrative court and whose outcome will not be known until next year, pits Uber against the California Public Utilities Commission.

U.S. Officials Link North Korea to Hacking at Sony

American officials have concluded that North Korea was “centrally involved” in the hacking of Sony Pictures computers, even as the studio canceled the release of a far-fetched comedy about the assassination of the North’s leader that is believed to have led to the cyberattack. Senior administration officials, who would not speak on the record about the intelligence findings, said the White House was debating whether to publicly accuse North Korea of what amounts to a cyberterrorism attack.

U.S. Official Says Sony Hackers May Escape Justice

Government investigators fear the hackers behind the unprecedented attack on Sony's Hollywood studio may never be caught if they are under the protection of North Korea, a U.S. official said. The law enforcement official, who declined to be identified because the investigation is ongoing, said authorities will require significant time to definitively confirm their suspicions that North Korea sponsored the attack, which severely damaged the movie studio's network.

ICANN Computers Hit by 'Spearphishing' Attack

A so-called spearphishing attack on ICANN has compromised the email credentials of several ICANN staff members and allowed the attacker access to user information, including email and postal addresses. The targeted phishing attack also allowed the attacker to gain access to all files in ICANN’s Centralized Zone Data System (CZDS), a centralized point for interested people to request access to so-called zone files provided by participating top level domains.

Apple Stops Online Sales in Russia as Ruble Fluctuates

Apple Inc. halted online sales of its products in Russia due to “extreme” ruble fluctuations, showing how the currency’s swings are rippling out to international businesses. The iPhone and iPad maker stopped sales from its Web store as Russia’s currency lost as much as 19 percent today, with a surprise interest-rate increase failing to stem a run on the currency.

Former Sony Workers Sue Over Disclosed Data

Sony Pictures Entertainment has been sued by two self-described former employees who accuse the movie studio of failing to protect Social Security numbers, healthcare records, salaries and other data from computer hackers who attacked it last month. The proposed class action lawsuit against Sony Corp's studio alleges that the company failed to secure its computer network and protect confidential information.

Jury Rules for Apple in $1B Class-Action iPod case

Apple Inc. prevailed in a potential $1 billion lawsuit by iPod customers who claimed restrictions in the iTunes library were meant to kill competition, a decisive victory after only three hours of jury deliberations. Firmware and software updates in iTunes 7.0, which were contained in the iPod models at issue, were genuine product improvements, the jury in Oakland, California federal court said.

Tech Companies Support Microsoft Over Stored E-mails

Dozens of large tech companies, business groups and consumer privacy advocates offered support in Microsoft’s ongoing court battle with the U.S. government over customer emails stored offshore, arguing that requiring Microsoft to turn them over will prompt consumers to avoid U.S. companies’ cloud-based services. Verizon Communications, eBay, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were among the companies and business groups that filed amicus briefs today in the case, arguing that requiring Microsoft to turn over the records would set an unfortunate international precedent.

Judges Question Gov't Lawyer in Apple E-Books Case

A U.S. government lawyer faced tough questioning in an appeals court as he sought to defend a judge's ruling that Apple Inc conspired with five publishers to raise e-book prices. In arguments before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, some judges appeared sympathetic to Apple's contention that it engaged in pro-competitive conduct when in 2010 it entered an e-books market largely dominated by Amazon.com Inc.

France Plans to Ban UberPop Car Service

France plans to ban Uber Technologies Inc.’s UberPop car service, three days after a Paris judge rejected a bid to block the smartphone application that lets users get rides with private cars. “We are banning the service where someone can be a driver while not having the training, the background checks and basic requirements,” Pierre-Henry Brandet, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said in a telephone interview.

Google Faces $18.6M Fine Over Dutch Privacy Violations

Google could be fined up 15 million euros ($18.6 million) if it does not stop violating the privacy of Internet users in the Netherlands, the Dutch data protection agency said. The U.S. company is breaching the country's data protection act by using people's private information such as browsing history and location data to target them with customized ads, the Data Protection Authority (DPA) said.

Digital Ad Company Settles Safari Privacy Charges

Attorneys general in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New York reached a settlement with PointRoll, Inc., a digital advertising company, after alleging that PointRoll unlawfully circumvented Safari settings that block the logging of users’ browsing histories. The PointRoll suit also follows a wider debate about online tracking. In many surveys, consumers overwhelmingly say they believe that tech companies are violating their privacy.

Subscribe

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.