Links & Law - Information about legal aspects of search engines, linking and framing

Hyperlink & Search Engine Law News  Decisions & Court Documents Worldwide Legal Resources (Hyperlink & Search Engine Law Articles) Linking Law Cases Search Engine Law Publications by Dr. Stephan Ott Technical    Background

 Update 7: May 20, 2003

Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act was approved by the House Judiciary crime subcommittee. The bill could require Internet service providers to delete hyperlinks to offshore gambling sites.

New in Legal Resources:  

New in Technical Background

New in Decisions:  

Decisions from Germany

Copyright Law, Framing

Anknüpfungspunkt für eine urheberrechtlich relevante Nutzungshandlung beim Framing ist das Aufrufen der Webseite durch den Nutzer, der dabei ein Vervielfältigungsstück erstellt. Dieser Vorgang ist von § 53 I UrhG gedeckt. Mangels rechtswidriger Haupttat kann der Framesetzende nicht wegen Teilnahme an der Vervielfältigungshandlung zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden. 

Bei der Beurteilung der Frage einer Einwilligung zum Framing ist die Zweckübertragungslehre heranzuziehen (§ 31 V UrhG). Eine konkludente Einwilligung zu Framing ist anzunehmen, wenn einem Nutzer ohne weiteres erkennbar ist, dass er die ursprüngliche Website verlassen hat und nun eine inhaltlich unveränderte andere Internetseite vorliegt. Dabei muss die Werbewirksamkeit der verknüpften Seite im Wesentlichen unangetastet bleiben. 

New in Linking Cases:  

New Section: Paid Listings / Fake Error Messages

When is it necessary to label links, search engine results, advertising banners?

Commercial Alert Complaint & Federal Trade Commission Investigation

The consumer advocacy group Commercial Alert, which was founded by longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader, filed a complaint in July 2001, requesting that the Federal Trade Commission investigate whether search engines are violating Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"), 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)(1) by failing to disclose that advertisements are inserted into search engine results lists.

After 11 months, the FTC said that paid listings must be clearly marked. The FTC choose not to take formal action at this time.  

Complaint

A list of more articles is available here: Sullivan, Danny, Pay For Placement, SearchEngineWatch

Also see: Schulzki-Haddouti, Christiane, Die Suche nach Geld, C’t

Bonzi Software

On November 25, 2002 a class action lawsuit was filled against Bonzi Software, Inc. because of its allegedly deceptive advertising banners that impersonate computer error messages.

„Trennungsgebot“ according to German Law (MDStV / TDG)

Mark Nutritionals against Overture, AltaVista, FindWhat.com and Kanoodle

Mark Nutritionals filed suit against Overture, AltaVista, FindWhat.com and Kanoodle for selling their trademark, "Body Solutions," to their competitors, seeking $440 million in damages for alleged trademark infringement and unfair competition. All sued search engines have paid-placement listings that appear when searches are conducted for the term "body solutions." Body Solutions believes the ads are misleading consumers and infringing its trademark.

Complaints:

 

Newsarchive

The Links & Law website is updated regularily, so  check back for updated information and resources about search engine and linking issues.

You are currently in the archive with older news. A complete list of the updates can be found here!
 

Latest News - Update 71

Legal trouble for YouTube in Germany

Germany: Employer may google job applicant

EU: Consultation on the E-Commerce-Directive

WIPO Paper on tradmarks and the internet

The ECJ and the AdWords Cases

 

 

Masthead/Curriculum Vitae
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