Category: Law
Justice Department Ferguson Report Now Online
The Justice Department has released the results of its investigations into both the shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, and into the Ferguson Police Department itself, along with an online statement regarding its investigation into the shooting, and the atmosphere of fear and racism, in Ferguson, Missouri. Here is an overview, and links to the reports online.
Sony PlayStation Network Hack Settlement Payout Announced for PSN Subscribers
Back in May of 2011, the Sony PlayStation Network (PSN) was hacked, compromising as many as all user accounts, as well as those of Qriocity and Sony Online Entertainment. A class-action lawsuit was filed, and now there is a settlement, in which all subscribers at or before that time stand to share.
Digital Driver’s License Coming to Some States
Hold on to your hats – and your phones. Some states, such as Iowa, are experimenting with digital drivers licenses which can be carried and displayed on your iPhone, Android phone or other smartphone.
Facebook Privacy Disclaimer Not Worth the Paper It’s Written On
There is another rash of the Facebook privacy notice disclaimer hoax going around Facebook. This is the disclaimer where the Facebook user takes a stand and says that Facebook cannot use their content. Bullpuckey, of course they can use your content – you agreed to that when you signed up for a Facebook account.
Lawsuit Over Facebook Breaching Users’ Privacy to Move Forward, Court Rules
A Federal court has denied Facebook’s motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit, brought on behalf of users whose privacy Facebook breached when it scanned the content of their private Facebook messages to other users, for advertising purposes.
With Chevy’s In-Car Wifi Hotspots in 2015, What Mixed Messages?
General Motors (GM) has announced that many 2015 Chevrolet automobiles will have native, on-board 4G LTE wifi next year. The list of cars that will have onboard wireless hotspots includes the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevy Impala, Malibu, Volt, Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Spark and Spark EV, and in Canada the Chevrolet Trax.
FTC Sues AT and T for Throttling Data of Unlimited Data Plan Customers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against AT and T, alleging that by throttling the data of their unlimited data customers (who were grandfathered in to the old unlimited data plan) once those customers reach a certain level of data usage, they are violating their offer of “unlimited data”, which offer was used to induce those customers to renew their contracts with AT and T, and to upgrade to new phones.
Paternity Notice on Facebook not Enough for Termination of Parental Rights, Rules Court
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has ruled that telling someone on Facebook that they are the father of your baby is not sufficient notice of paternity to then be able to put the baby up for adoption without their consent. The ruling came in the case of Billy McCall and Marshall and Toni Andrews, the putative adoptive parents of his two-year-old daughter, who was surrendered to them by her unnamed teenage mother (identified in the case only as “T.Z.”) with no notice to McCall.
Federal Courts Finally Providing Relief from Patent Trolls
At last, software patent trolls are getting a smackdown. A few short months ago, the Supreme Court rendered an opinion in the case that has come to be known as Alice vs. CLS Banks. In that ruling, the Supremes held that taking an already widely-used practice, and moving it to a computer, does not create a new, patentable invention deserving of a software patent.
Studies Show Nobody Reads Terms of Service
Do you take the time to fully read every Terms of Service (TOS) before you click your consent to them? If you said “No”, well, you’re not alone. In fact, if you said “Yes”, then studies suggest you are probably lying, as studies show that nobody reads those Terms of Service.
Parking Finder Apps Let You Find or Scalp a Parking Spot
If you often find yourself driving around and around while seething “I have got to find parking near me”, then the good news is that there are now ‘find parking apps’ that allow someone just leaving a parking spot to, in essence, scalp the parking spot to someone trying to find parking.
The Truth Behind New York’s Ban on Tiger Selfies
You may have heard that New York is banning Tiger Selfies after a spate of them on dating app Tinder. What, you may be asking yourself, is a tiger selfie (and for that matter, what is Tinder), and why would NY pass a law to ban them? We explain, and clear up some misconceptions.
Burgler Uses Victim’s Computer While in Home: You Won’t Believe What He Did Next!
Nicholas “Nick” Wig broke into James Wood’s home, and while there, he used Wood’s computer. To log into Facebook! And when he left Wood’s house, he left the computer logged in to his Facebook account!!
The Supreme Court Cell Phone Search Decision in Riley in Plain English
Today the Supreme Court unanimously held that a warrant is required to search a cell phone, in the case of Riley v. California. Warrentless searches of a cell phone are not ok.
The Aereo Supreme Court Decision in Plain English
This morning the Supreme Court handed Internet television service Aereo their head on a platter. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held that Aereo was in violation of copyright law when it rebroadcast network television shows without permission from, or paying royalties to, the networks and other copyright holders of the material that Aereo was rebroadcasting to its subscribers.