Internet Law

DC Circuit decision is victory for public-access group that posts technical standards online

A nonprofit group isn’t liable for copyright infringement when it posts technical standards online that have been developed by private groups and then incorporated into government regulations, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Sep 13, 2023 3:47 PM CDT

US pressure on social media over misinformation likely unconstitutional, 5th Circuit says

Updated: The U.S. government likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media companies to block COVID-19 misinformation and other content, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Sep 11, 2023 10:42 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark spat resolved; Trump Organization settles with Michael Cohen

‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark abandoned Taco John’s has agreed to give up its “Taco Tuesday” trademark after Taco Bell sought its cancellation in what it described as a “liberation” campaign. Taco John’s CEO Jim Creel said in a statement “paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t…

Jul 21, 2023 2:35 PM CDT

Twitter threatens rival Meta with legal action over popular new app Threads

Twitter is threatening to sue Meta after the release and rapid popularity of its new app Threads.

Jul 7, 2023 8:58 AM CDT

Judge curbs US effort to battle disinformation on social media; will ruling withstand appeal?

The federal government has appealed a federal judge’s curbs on the Biden administration’s efforts to stop misinformation on social media.

Jul 6, 2023 11:58 AM CDT

Lawyer’s racist and anti-Muslim rants on social media entitle defendant to new trial, court rules

The top court in Massachusetts has granted a new trial to a Black, Muslim defendant whose appointed lawyer expressed “vitriolic hatred” and racism in social media posts. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court granted a new trial for Anthony J. Dew in a June 15 opinion. Dew was represented by court-appointed…

Jun 16, 2023 4:10 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: Social media and internet companies likely face more free speech challenges at the Supreme Court

Sometimes there is great significance in what the U.S Supreme Court doesn’t do, and that was definitely so for two cases it handed down May 18 about the internet and social media.

Jun 6, 2023 8:57 AM CDT

TikTok ban might sting legal influencers, but they have plenty of other options

TikTok is trending for the wrong reason these days. In late March, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew after claiming the app, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is a national security threat because of its ties to the Chinese government.

Jun 1, 2023 2:30 AM CDT

School districts sue social media platforms, saying they’re harming youths’ mental health

School districts across the country are joining the fray. They argue they have been forced to hire additional counselors, develop resources and train staff to handle the burgeoning number of students succumbing to what they describe as a youth mental health crisis.

Jun 1, 2023 1:00 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: New ethics rule considered in Virginia; name partner launches new firm

Virginia proposes ban on agreements limiting ethics complaints A proposed ethics rule in Virginia would ban lawyers from making agreements with clients or former clients that limit their right to pursue disciplinary complaints. The Virginia State Bar is seeking public comment on the proposal, which would be added to Rule…

May 26, 2023 10:48 AM CDT

SCOTUS sidesteps Section 230 case after absolving Twitter of liability for terror attack

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to address a long-standing provision that protects technology companies from being held liable for third-party content posted on their platforms after ruling in a related case that Twitter had not aided and abetted a terror attack.

May 19, 2023 8:35 AM CDT

Supreme Court will decide when public officials can block people from personal social media accounts

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday accepted two cases that consider whether public officials may violate the First Amendment when they block people from personal social media accounts that discuss their government roles.

Apr 24, 2023 3:05 PM CDT

Through overseas currency exchanges, California deputy DA helps online romance scam victims get their money back

In the criminal justice world, pig butchering refers to bacon—but not literally. Instead, it’s a term used to describe scamming someone online out of all their money through promises of romance and cryptocurrency windfalls, says Erin West, a prosecutor in the Santa Clara County, California, district attorney’s office.

Apr 24, 2023 8:40 AM CDT

ChatGPT falsely accuses law prof of sexual harassment; is libel suit possible?

A law professor was surprised to hear that he had been accused of sexual harassment during a class trip to Alaska sponsored by his law school, the Georgetown University Law Center.

Apr 6, 2023 10:42 AM CDT

Judge who blocked lawyer on Facebook can’t be sued for First Amendment violation, 5th Circuit says

A Texas judge who blocked a lawyer from his Facebook page and deleted the lawyer’s negative comments can’t be sued for a constitutional violation, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Mar 30, 2023 3:18 PM CDT