E-Commerce Law Briefs: Week of February 25, 2008

Some eBay sellers called for an extension of an eight-day boycott meant to protest recent fee increases and rule changes.  eBay says that the boycott has had no impact on the company's bottom line.

(Link:  EBay says sellers boycott had no effect on listing at SilliconValley.com)

"Nearly half of all teenagers bought no compact discs in 2007, accelerating the music industry's painful transition from CDs to digital downloads, according to a report released Tuesday."

(Link:  More teens ignore CDs in buying their tunes at SilliconValley.com)

After a six year battle, eBay has settled the "Buy It Now" patent case.  "The deal with MercExchange of Great Falls, Va., gives eBay control of three disputed patents, including the "Buy It Now" feature that enabled shoppers to buy items at a fixed price with a click of the mouse."

(Link:  EBay patent case settled at SilliconValley.com)

"Leading Internet scholars at Harvard Law School will head a task force exploring the safety of users at MySpace and other popular online hangouts amid growing fears that youngsters have become targets of sexual predators. The creation of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force is part of an agreement that MySpace, a unit of News Corp., reached with all attorneys general except Texas' in January."

(Link:  MySpace picks Harvard scholars to lead task force on Internet safety 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.