News & Media
The USPTO Embraces the Blogosphere, Lobbies for First-to-File
Kappos: “Hey Ted, can you show me how these here tubes work?” The U.S. Government Agency that is responsible for validating which technologies are new and useful has discovered a not so new, yet highly useful tool: web logs. In an effort to open a line of communication between the USPTO and the practitioners who deal with the office on
Hipcheck16 is no Turk 182 – but Anonymous Political Speech is Sacred
This one is a little disturbing. Political Race Gets Nasty During an election in Buffalo Grove, Ill., an online debate started about a candidate for Village Trustee, Lisa Stone. During that debate, this public official’s 15 year old son, Jed, got a little upset about some harsh statements lobbed at his mother, so he joined the debate — in particular,
Glenn Beck's UDRP Complaint Gets The Smack Down
First Amendment juggernaut Marc Randazza is having a very good week. On Wednesday, Professor Donald Marvin Jones a/k/a the “Nutty Professor”voluntarily dismissed his invasion of privacy lawsuit against Randazza’s client Above the Law. Today, word comes that WIPO Arbitration Panelist Frederick M. Abbot has denied Glenn Beck’s UDRP complaint against another Randazza client, Isaac Eiland-Hall, the man behind www.glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1990.com … Read more
Marc Randazza’s Arbitration Win Over Glenn Beck
Free Speech Wins Again. The Decision is available here: Glenn Beck v. Isaac Eiland Hall, WIPO Case No. D2009-1182 Other case documents available here: Complaint Request for Stipulation Response and annexes. Supplemental Filing Surreply I am delighted that I got this decision today, which is the birthday of my friend and mentor, Larry Walters. Larry, this win is hereby dedicated
Asshat or Imbecile?
Lets say you make $94,000 a year in a great job as a clerk at the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. Lets then say that some kid emails you asking you to write a term paper for him for $300, and you agree to do it. Does that make you an asshat or an imbecile? Now lets say that the “kid”
Sweet Home Trademark Infringement FAIL
The University of Alabama needs to fire its attorneys and fire its public relations department. Daniel Moore is a famous artist who has devoted his painting career to depicting scenes from Alabama football games. Some dim wit at the University of Alabama decided that A) this violated the University’s trademarks (because Moore painted the players in their crimson and white
The domain business is full of sleazes? O RLY?
I am shocked… SHOCKED to hear that in domain name auctions, “SnapNames admitted that one of its executives was shill bidding…” The article accurately states: Anyone who doesn’t know how dirty the domain name business is just doesn’t know the domain name business.(source)
Wonderful Things
Science fact of the day: Blowjobs provide an evolutionary advantage. Boingboing. Quote of the day: “The First Amendment means nothing if we don’t protect reprehensible speech.” Jon Katz.
I shaved my balls for this?
Well, that was fast. This lawsuit got filed, and before I got to have any real fun with it… the Above the Law Lawsuit was dismissed. I got to write one measly letter. Shame… I was really hoping to open up this can of whup ass I have lying around. Now what am I gonna do with it? Hat tip
Shame on Maine
Maine’s citizens have voted to repeal the civil rights of their neighbors. Shame on Maine. I wonder how this vote squares with the Maine Constitution. Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied
Boulder Police Chief, Mark Beckner, You are the Asshat of the Week
Beckner is exactly the kind of petty little douche that becomes a cop because he got beat up too much as a kid. Rod Farva and Salvatore “dude” Rivieri come to mind. Beckner represents exactly the kind of cop that should be stripped of his badge, covered in shit and bees, and then rolled off a cliff in a shopping
Mattel finally learns how to "chill"
by Jason Fischer One of the chores inherent in the practice of law is that one has to read a lot of really REALLY dry court opinions. It’s always nice when you find judges out there who recognize this, and make some effort to keep it interesting. One of my favorites from law school has always been Mattel, Inc. v.
Is the Recession Over?
This seems to suggest that it might be… but what the hell do I know?
Gov. Schwarzenegger tells the California legislature how he really feels
The Governator sent, along with some unsigned bills, the following letter to California lawmakers. (source)
Scientology is a Fraud? No ham for me! Pass the Jesus, please. Nom nom nom
The French decided to indict the Church of Scientology for fraud. If found guilty, the church could be forced to shut down in France, though appeals could see the case continue for years. “This is a process in heresy,” Daniele Gounord, the spokeswoman for Scientology in France, told reporters. The two plaintiffs, both women, say they were defrauded by the
Hiring a Legal Asistant 101
Helpful hints for finding and hiring a legal assistant: Make sure you use an online listing service. Craigslist is always a good one. Always do a good job of describing what you’re looking for. Use explicit language, whenever possible. For example, stating that you are seeking an “energetic woman” for “general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for
Eat Your Dog
Looks like one of the least eco-friendly things you can do is … have a dog. Of course, SUV hating hippies all have dogs. So, what’s a hippie to do?
Constantin Film Produktion GmbH makes movie about Hitler and then turns into a bunch of Nazis
If you haven’t seen a Downfall spoof, or you don’t know what I am talking about, you are not meme-educated enough to keep reading. Go to YouTube, and search for “Hitler” and “Downfall.” Watch a few videos and come back. For the rest of you, come over this way… I got the greatest Downfall video ever. Yeah, right here! It
