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 Update 9: September 8, 2003

 

1. Google pulls links to Kazaa Lite

The DMCA used against Google by Sherman Networks (aka Kazaa) ordered it to remove references to 15 websites that contain information related to Kazaa Lite, an unauthorized copy of Kazaa with the pop-up ads removed. Google has complied, but has linked to the notice .at the bottom of the violation-related search result page. "In response to a complaint we received under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 14 results from this page," the statement said. "If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint for these removed results." Removed sites include www.kazaagold.com, www.kazaalite.tk, and www.kaaza.com.

Notices were also filed against Slyck, Zeropaid and several other websites.

 

2. DeCSS Update:

The California Supreme Court ruled that Web publisher Bunner could be barred from posting DeCSS, which can be used to help decrypt and copy DVDs, without infringing on his free speech rights. The state's high court overturned an earlier decision that said blocking Web publishers from posting DeCSS would violate their First Amendment rights. The court ordered the case to be sent back to the appeals court level  and required the Court of Appeal to reexamine the evidence.

  • August 26, 2003: Kuchinskas, Susan, Calif. Court Rules Against DVD Code Poster, internetnews.com:
    "California's Supreme Court ruled in favor of the movie industry Monday in a widely watched DVD trade secrets case."

  • August 26, 2003: Dolan, Maura / Healey, Jon, Court protects DVD encryption rights, sattletimes.com:
    "In a case pitting free-speech rights against trade secrets, the California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that courts can prevent computer users from posting codes on the Internet that allow others to illegally copy DVDs."

  • August 26, 2003: DVD injunction is lawful, BBC News:
    "An injunction against the posting of software on the internet that allows users to download copy-protected DVDs is not a violation of freedom of speech, a court has ruled."

  • August 26, 2003: California Supremes issue DVD crack setback, The Register

The Supreme Court ruling is available here. For more information on the DeCSS cases click here!

 

New in Own Publications:  

Ott, Stephan / Ramming, Bernd, Anspruch auf Aufnahme in eine kommunale Linkliste?, BayVBl 2003, 454 ff.: The article deals with municipal websites and the question under which circumstances they are obliged to link to other websites. The Putnam Pit case has prompted this question. 

Ott, Stephan, Informationspflichten im Internet und ihre Erfüllung durch das Setzen von Hyperlinks, WRP 2003, 945 ff.

 

New in Linking Cases:  

  • August 4, 2003: Jurist nennt Online-Seiten von ZDF-Sendung rechtswidrig, Heise: "Der Rechtsprofessor Christoph Degenhart hat im Focus den Internet-Auftritt der ZDF-Sendung Leute heute als rechtswidrig bezeichnet."

  • August 3, 2003: Grenzenlose Nähe, Spiegel Online: "In bisher einmaliger Weise vermischt ausgerechnet das öffentlich-rechtliche ZDF auf seinen Internet-Seiten Werbung und Inhalt."

  • July 22, 2003: Netzaktivist werden volksverhetzende Links vorgeworfen, Heise: "Wie rechts dürfen Links sein? Wegen Verweisen auf die von der Sperrungsverfügung der Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf betroffenen Internetseiten ermittelt die Justiz in Baden-Württemberg gegen den Internetaktivisten Alvar Freude."

  • Roberts, Janet: Should You Lose Sleep Over Linking Deep?, Ezine-Tips.com

  • December 20, 1997: Stone, Martha, News sites go after framers, ZDNet: "Online news publishers are mad as hell about framing and certain linking by some news index sites, and they're not going to take it anymore."

  • February 25, 1997: Biggs, Brook Shelby, Newspapers Struggle with Online Archives, Wired: "What if the information on the other end of that link doesn't want to be found, or wants to be found, but only at a price? Those questions are at the heart of a debate now raging among the newly wired denizens of the newspaper industry."

 

New in Legal Resources:  

 

 

 

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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

 

 

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