News & Media
Not Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”
If you enjoy this post, click here to let my blawg directory know. Adult Video News and The Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports on the suit between International Media Films Inc. and Manhattan filmmaker Andrei Treivas Bregman. The complaint alleges trademark and copyright infringement for the X-rated films he made under his industry name, Michael Lucas. The lawsuit seeks
Army Shuts Down Soldier Blogs
I am not entirely convinced of the correcntess of either side of the debate on this issue. Wired reports here: The U.S. Army has ordered soldiers to stop posting to blogs or sending personal e-mail messages, without first clearing the content with a superior officer, Wired News has learned. The directive, issued April 19, is the sharpest restriction on troops’
Where “I am more moral than you” gets us.
This is probably the worst thing that I have ever seen. From the Assyrian International News Agency. According to the Kurdish website Jebar.info up to 1000 men from the Yezidi Kurdish community of Mosul killed a teenager who’s only crime was running away to marry a Muslim man whom she loved and converting to his religion. For four months the
Can You Digg It???
This story has shades of the 2600 fiasco as well as shades of 1984. Over the past few days, there has been quite a hissy fit over this: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 That is apparently the “key” to unlock new HD DVDs. Well, it was. The Trademark Blog
What War Really Looks Like
I personally can not look at these. I looked at a few and began to feel sick. Yes, they are that bad. I’d like to force every piece of garbage senator and representative who voted to authorize the moron who calls himself “our president” to view these, Clockwork Orange style, and then ask themselves if they are proud of their
Good Ol’ Grady Judd
Florida’s favorite anti-First Amendment crusader, Polk County sheriff Grady Judd, recently said one of the most foolish (and if you think about it — scary) things I’ve ever seen in print. Judd said. “I could write the inside story on criminals who hide under the cover of free speech.” Hide under the cover of free speech? Is this guy for
Invincible Summer “Protest”
A Hyjacked Performance of “Invincible Summer” at The American Repertory Theatre: An (In)Appropriate Form of Protest? On April 19, 2007, Mike Daisey performed his spoken word piece, Invincible Summer in Boston. A group of 87 audience members, described as “members of a Christian high school visiting from Northern California” got up and walked out because Daisey was using the word
Professor Fired for Controversial Comments
No, don’t worry, not me. Barry is very tolerant of wide open and robust debate – as an academic institution should be (and that’s the second most important reason why I love teaching here). But, check this out: Nicholas Winset said he was terminated and permanently barred from campus following a Wednesday lecture in which he dramatized the massacre to
Aaah Throw Pizza in Your General Direction!
I had a link to the youtube video of the Fenway Pizza Throwing Fiasco. Unfortunately, MLB doesn’t think that this was fair use, and it has been removed. Honestly, the best part is the announcers’ commentary about it. Here is the video, until someone cries about it: Part 1 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCHge7a-PmY] Part 2 (This is the really funny part) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0IacRFJMgY] What
Overreaching Copyright
I don’t know what “Clever WOT” means, but I’ve never asked. Nevertheless, this guy is a law student somewhere who nails copyright issues a lot better than most IP professors. This is probably one of his better discussions. With that, I’ll provide you with a reaction I sent out today to the IP Professors’ list serv. to an article written
Free Speech and Bigotry
The Washington Post reports that EU officials are working on pushing new regulations to combat hate crimes and racism. A laudable goal. A bad way to get there. The documents urge E.U. nations to impose prison sentences of up to three years for individuals convicted of denying genocide, such as the mass killing of Jews during World War II or
The “Prinz”
As a follow up to my posting on “Prinz” von Anhalt. I was forwarded this email from a source that will remain confidential. From: EMAIL ADDRESS REDACTED Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 6:06 PM Subject: Re: question from journalist Dear Sir, In our homepage www.anhalt-askanien.de you can find all the details about the real family members. There are a lot
Veranda Partners v. Giles Case
I will not comment upon this litigation, as it is ongoing and I am one of the attorneys handling the case. Nevertheless, for your education and edification, I will provide the documents pertinent to the Veranda Partners v. Giles case that are already matters of public record. News Articles About the Case Resident: Suit Filed to Silence Criticism, Orlando Sentinel,
Imus and Free Speech
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8_jVPjRtA0]
Making Money
Jonathan Katz wrote a great article about the profession and focusing on money vs. the pursuit of justice: My view remains, though, that the law practice is not the place to pursue money interests at the expense of protecting social justice. Lawyers are artificially protected from competition by laws prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law, which, I believe, obligates lawyers
Indiana Principal Smacked Down!
An Indiana juvenile court judge held that a juvenile who posted expletives about her high school principal on someone else’s myspace page had not only violated the State anti-harassment statute, but that her comments were legally obscene. Check out this little gem from the lower court. The [juvenile court] finds that the words “Fuck Mr. Gobert” and “Hey you piece
Don’t Date Him Girl Suit Thrown Out on Jurisdictional Grounds
This is interesting from an internet jurisdiction perspective – but also as another reminder that there is no better way to make sure that lies about you are repeated, ad nauseum, than by filing a lawsuit over them. Nevertheless, this stuff is probably defamatory and the defamed individual certainly has a point. Some bitter ex girlfriend posted that he was
How Many Defamation Suits Must There Be Before…
How many defamation suits do you think need to be filed before plaintiff-side defamation lawyers remove their heads from their colons? CNET reports: (full story here) A Pennsylvania school principal has filed a lawsuit against four former students, claiming they falsely portrayed him as a pot smoker, beer guzzler and pornography lover and sullied his reputation through mock MySpace profiles.
Charlie Crist Gives Back the Vote
I never really harbored distaste for Charlie Crist. The fact that he failed the bar three times actually endears him to me (I never failed one, but some of my best and smartest friends have). It’s also nice to have a bachelor in the governor’s mansion — cuts down on the hypocritical “family values” rhetoric. But Gov. Crist has truly