GeekSugar

No Doubt Suing Activision For Splitting Up the Band

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:20:40 -0800

Although Band Hero was just released with a star-studded lineup yesterday, and there's already word of legal trouble. No Doubt has filed suit against Activision, the maker of Band Hero, for using their likeness for songs they didn't record, as well as splitting up the band in different scenes which weren't approved. No Doubt's band manager Jim Guerinot explains:

The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission. They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band. Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.

I don't know about you, but I'm a little surprised that a band as popular as No Doubt would be complaining about being "split-up" virtually and having their characters performing other tunes. It sounds a little like the other lawsuit Activision was involved in earlier this year over Kurt Cobain's avatar. What's your take on this news?

AT&T Sues Verizon Over a TV Commercial

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:44:00 -0800

Who didn't see this coming? AT&T is suing Verizon over their recent ad campaign, playing on Apple's iPhone catchphrase "There's an app for that," and laying into AT&T's supposed lack of coverage. According to AT&T, the side-by-side view of maps showing each network's 3G coverage areas is confusing to consumers, leading them to believe that there are large parts of the country where AT&T doesn't provide service.

I can see how the side-by-side view of the maps could be misleading, but Verizon isn't fudging any numbers. The maps in the commercial show 3G network coverage for both providers. The difference is, where there are holes in Verizon's maps there isn't coverage. On the AT&T map, much of the white areas not covered by 3G, AT&T's 2G network is offered. Apparently Verizon did add a disclaimer to the ad, but AT&T is still dissatisfied.

AT&T's main goal seems to be to get these commercials off the air. . . Do you think they have a case?

Do You Ever Read Websites' Terms of Use?

GeekSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:45:54 -0800

Lori Drew, the woman who made a fake MySpace profile to torment teenager Megan Meier, which led to the latter's suicide, is currently on trial for fraud. This was the only way to prosecute Drew for her involvement in Meier's suicide - accusing her of fraudulently creating a MySpace account.

However, it already looks like the case could be thrown out, because she has testified that she never read MySpace's terms of use, nor did she agree to them.

I personally cannot remember the last time I actually read a website's terms of use; I agree to them, sure, but it's rare that I actually read the fine print. Am I setting myself up for disaster? Maybe - it could depend on the outcome of this case. Tell me: Do you actually read the terms of use for every website that presents it to you?

Source

YouTube Ordered to Shell Out Viewer Info

GeekSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:30:53 -0700

If you've ever checked out YouTube clips from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report (among many others), your information may soon be released to Viacom - they've been granted access to private user data to find out how many people are watching!

Part of a copyright infringement lawsuit, Google was ordered to release the deets about how many times copyrighted clips are played, and who's watching to determine if damages are owed to Viacom.

Viacom claims that Google knew about the infringements and could do more to stop it. Although the Goog was opposed to handing over the 12 terabytes of data (that's a lot), saying that info should be kept private, Viacom assures us that they will proceed with caution. Here's more:

Any data provided will be used exclusively for the purpose of proving our case against YouTube and Google (and) will be handled subject to a court protective order and in a highly confidential manner.

Thoughts of anonymity and identity theft come to my paranoid mind when companies are forced to hand over user information, but does this case make you think twice before using YouTube if your info and viewing history (no matter how delicately handled) are available for others to see? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

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Have You Ever Been Cyber Bullied?

GeekSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:45:31 -0700

As much as I love the Internet, I'm aware of what a dangerous place it can be since it seems that anonymity can bring out the worst in people. An example of this saddening fact is the story of a 13-year-old Missouri girl who committed suicide after being the victim of cyber bullying on MySpace. The case, which is being tried in a California federal court, has prompted Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to sign a bill that makes Internet harassment against the law.

Previously, harassment laws stated communication had to be written (as in snail mail), or over the telephone. But Monday, the new law took effect includes harassment via text, email, and other electronic devices.

I've never experienced virtual harassment myself, but I'm sure it's not uncommon. Have you ever been a victim of cyber bullying?

Source

Which Do You Like Better: Craigslist or eBay?

GeekSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:35 -0700

Online classified website disputes, oh my! eBay is suing Craigslist because two Craigslist directors took unspecified actions that "unfairly diluted eBay’s economic interest in the company," as eBay owns a minority interest in Craigslist. Yes, lots of big lawyer fightin' words!
Whatever the problem is, I'm feeling very Mean Girls today (blame the return of Gossip Girl), and since the two companies have pitted themselves against each other, I will too: Which do you prefer, Craigslist or eBay? Sure, one is better for local purchases, one better for collectibles . . . blah blah blah. I want to know your gut reaction, on who you just plain like better when you think of them?!

Should Websites Be Liable For Discrimination?

GeekSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:30:32 -0700

A federal appeals court recently ruled that Craigslist would not be held liable for discriminatory ads posted on its site. The lawsuit was brought forth over two years ago, because of housing ads that discriminated against minorities and religion. Though Craigslist was cleared last week as not being responsible, this is another case we've seen lately where a website that has hosted something incendiary or illegal, and we've been forced to question who's to blame. MySpace, in particular, has been under fire - we asked whether it was their fault at all in Megan Meier's case, or Kristin Helms' case.

Websites themselves can either rely on user-policing (like Craigslist's flagging policy) or hope that their terms of use are not violated, but I think it's only a matter of time that these sites are asked to crack down and be more involved. Newspapers running classifieds, for instance, take pains to avoid publishing discriminatory ads, so shouldn't Craigslist be held to similar standards? These sites are no longer small companies, so lack of resources is not a viable excuse anymore. What do you think?

Family Sues MySpace For Their Role in Teen's Suicide

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:06:49 -0800

When 15-year-old Kristin Helms committed suicide in 2006, she blamed Kiley Bowers, the 27-year-old man who traveled across state lines to meet her. Her parents blame MySpace - in fact, they're suing the Internet site for their role in the tragedy.

Though Helms and Bowers didn't meet on MySpace, they did use it to communicate, and Helms's parents called for the policing of sites for sexual predators last Summer. Now, they're taking MySpace on in court.

To learn more about this case as well as another MySpace tragedy, read more.

While Kiley Bowers is serving a nine-year federal prison term in Texas for traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor and transporting child pornography, it's clear that Helms's family needs more - that is, closure in the form of making the Internet safe for minors. I can't help but be reminded of the awful story of Megan Meier, who was taunted by a peer's parent with a fake MySpace profile.

How much responsibility do you think a social networking site should take, both in the event of a tragedy where it's a major player and on a level of prevention?

Source

Apple Files Lawsuit Against Sex Shop

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 06:46:10 -0700

Nowadays it seems as though everything is getting the i makeover. Ever since Apple unveiled the iPod in October 2001, it has become one of the most popular portable media players on the market. And with its popularity came the popularity of all things "i."

Another product getting 'i' enhanced is the iGasm, a vibrator by Ann Summers that connects to any music device through a headphone jack that will...you guessed it...vibrate to the beat.

Needless to say, Apple wasn't overly enthused about this new product which uses the company's recognizable 'i' in its name. But what really irked them was the fact that the iGasm's ads were practically identical to the signature Apple silhouette ads. According to the Product Reviews Net, Apple is now threatening to sue Ann Summers for using this image for her iGasm advertisements.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Apple is suing because of the silhouette ad similarity? Or do you think they want to steer clear from any 'erotic' product associations? Leave your comments below!

AT&T vs. Verizon: Who Will Back Down First?

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:35:33 -0800

AT&T and Verizon clearly don't get along - after several commercials and one lawsuit, the feud doesn't look like it's ending anytime soon. Today in AT&T vs. Verizon drama: a new AT&T commercial features a checklist of reasons AT&T is better than Verizon, and why you, too, should believe that AT&T is the best wireless network in America.

Verizon's response:

"AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon's 'There’s a map for that' advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true, and the truth hurts."

I'm curious if Verizon will launch another counterattack, but at some point, one of these companies will have to give it a rest.