E-Commerce Law

Blawg Review #144

We don't make a habit out of pointing out when the most recent edition of the Blawg Review has been posted.  We figure that our readers probably go to Blawg Review to check on that.  However, this week's edition is hosted by one of our alltime favorite Blawg Review hosts, Cyberlaw Central.

You may recall that Cyberlaw Central hosted Blawg Review #42, with its Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy theme, and Blawg Review #93, based on Illuminati by Steve Jackson Games.  This week's edition, Blawg Review #144, has a Lord of the Rings theme and includes some great illustrations from John Howe.

Take Control of Your Online Reputation

At the DC Bar presentation last week, I was asked what practical tips I would give to attorneys who are interested in protecting or enhancing their reputations online. Aside from the usual advice I would give any attorney about protecting their reputation, I suggested the following:

E-Commerce Law Briefs: Week of January 21, 2008

Google's share of the search market declined last month, but it's still comfortably the world's most popular search engine at 56.3 percent of the market.  Yahoo's market share also dropped slightly to 17.7 percent.  Microsoft's market share increased nearly two points to 13.8 percent.

(Link:  Google's share of search market falls, Nielsen says at SilliconValley.com)

Maybe the Internet won't kill newspapers after all.  "U.S. newspapers' online audiences grew about 6 percent last year, an industry group reported Thursday, a rare bit of good news for an industry struggling to adapt as readers and advertising dollars continue to migrate online."

(Link:  Newspapers See More Online Users in '07 at WTOPnews.com)

E-Commerce Law Briefs is a weekly feature appearing each Friday afternoon on E-Commerce Law. Each week, E-Commerce Law Briefs will provide a brief summary and commentary on recent legal news affecting e-commerce businesses.

"David Lat Has a Stupid Fat Face"

This afternoon I spoke at a DC Bar event entitled "Practicing Law in the e-Court of Public Opinion:  How the Internet Can Make Or Break Your Reputation and What You Can Do About It" with David Lat, Carolyn Elefant, Mark Britton, and Andrew Mirsky.  I found it to be a profoundly interesting and educational experience.

Dedon on Estate Planning

After being quoted a number of times in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, my colleague John Dedon has decided to take his message directly to the people.  This month, John launched Dedon on Estate Planning, a regularly-updated discussion of estate planning techniques. 

Though I expect his work to be of interest to estate planning attorneys, financial planners, and insurance brokers, it's plainly written to be accessible to anyone.  Yesterday, he asked Why Do I Need a Will? while today's post addresses more advanced estate planning techniques. 

Aside from the times that we have hosted the Blawg Review (#103 and #140), we rarely have the opportunity to suggest a blog that is wholly unrelated to e-commerce law.  However, we understand that everyone needs estate planning information and John's expertise in the field is well-recognized.  Take a look and let us know what you think.

E-Commerce law Briefs: Week of January 14, 2008

MySpace has agreed to take additional steps to protect young users from online sexual predators and bullies, including improving age verification measures.  "The deal comes as sites such as MySpace and Facebook have grown exponentially in recent years, with teenagers making up a large part of their membership. This has created a new venue for sexual predators who lie about their age to lure young victims and for cyber bullies who send threatening and anonymous messages. But [the] announcement was short on specifics about how improvements would be carried out."

(Link:  States, MySpace agree to new measures on child predators at SilliconValley.com)

E-Commerce Law Briefs is a weekly feature appearing each Friday afternoon on E-Commerce Law. Each week, E-Commerce Law Briefs will provide a brief summary and commentary on recent legal news affecting e-commerce businesses.

Practicing Law in the e-Court of Public Opinion: How the Internet Can Make Or Break Your Reputation and What You Can Do About It

Next Thursday, January 24, 2008, I'll be speaking at a DC Bar event entitled "Practicing Law in the e-Court of Public Opinion:  How the Internet Can Make Or Break Your Reputation and What You Can Do About It."  I'll be on a panel with Andrew Mirsky, moderated by Carolyn Elefant, discussing the role of the First Amendment and defamation law in protecting an attorney's reputation and providing practical tips for attorneys who want to protect or enhance their online reputation.

Other speakers at the event include David Lat, Editor-in-Chief of Above the Law; Mark Britton, CEO, President and Co-founder of Avvo.com; and Carolyn Elefant of MyShingle and Legal Blogwatch.  If you can't be in Washington, DC to attend the event in person, you can sign up to listen in by telephone.

See this press release for more details.

E-Commerce Law Briefs: Week of January 7, 2008

U.S. authorities have arrested eight men in connection with a multi-million dollar online sports gambling operation. "Twelve men face charges including conspiracy and illegal gambling in an indictment unsealed on Monday in Manhattan federal court for their role in operating a gambling Web site and call center that serviced U.S.-based sports bookies."

(Link: U.S. arrests 8 in online sports betting operation at washingtonpost.com)

E-Commerce Law Briefs is a weekly feature appearing each Friday afternoon on E-Commerce Law. Each week, E-Commerce Law Briefs will provide a brief summary and commentary on recent legal news affecting e-commerce businesses.

1-800 Contacts Files Its Latest Keyword Advertising Suit in Utah

Yesterday, Eric Goldman posted that 1-800-Contacts has filed its latest keyword advertising suit in federal court in Utah.  The company is apparently hoping for better luck than it had in its earlier forays into trademark litigation. 

E-Commerce Law Briefs: Week of December 31, 2007

Monday is the expected launch date for Wikia Search, a user-influenced search engine expected to compete with Google.  "According to its creators those searching topics will be able to rank search results using open-source software in order to improve the filtering of search results. The idea is to introduce transparency into the search engine process. However Google supporters argue it will allow humans to manipulate the search process and that computer-generated results are the fairest way to provide people with information."

(Link:  Possible Google rival soon to be launched at vnunet.com)

E-Commerce Law Briefs is a weekly feature appearing each Friday afternoon on E-Commerce Law. Each week, E-Commerce Law Briefs will provide a brief summary and commentary on recent legal news affecting e-commerce businesses.