Balough
January 26, 2016
(January 26, 2016) A new study finds Americans are willing under certain circumstances to share personal information for tangible benefits but are frequently unhappy about what happens to the information once they give it out. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey as well as online focus groups in which the participants were given specific […]
Balough
January 14, 2016
(January 14, 2016) In an effort to speed the development of autonomous vehicles, in the next six months the U.S. Department of Transportation will prepare proposed rules for their deployment and operation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx made this announcement at the Detroit Auto Show. The push for new regulations is part of the White House’s […]
Balough
January 9, 2016
(January 9, 2016) Want to know where it is safe (and legal) to fly your new drone? The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) now offers a smartphone app that identifies flying restrictions for you. It is currently available only for iPhones, but an android beta version is available. The B4UFLY app is designed “to provide situational […]
Balough
January 5, 2016
(Jan. 5, 2016) It was a no brainer for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to charge the owner and marketer of the Lumosity brain-training program with deceiving customers through unsupported claims. Lumos Labs, Inc. d/b/a Lumosity, along with its co-founder and its chief scientific officer, agreed to pay $2 million in penalties and will notify […]
Balough
December 28, 2015
(December 28, 2015) Online users must be clearly warned when viewing “native advertising.” If not, the advertiser may be engaging in prohibited deceptive advertising, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns. In a new “Native Advertising A Guide for Businesses,” the FTC notes that “advertisers are responsible for ensuring that native ads are identifiable as advertising […]
Balough
December 23, 2015
(December 23, 2015) The restrictions prohibiting the registration of trademarks that are scandalous, immoral, or disparaging violates the First Amendment and are unconstitutional, the Federal Circuit found. Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act bars the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) from registering marks that consist of immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matters or which may disparage […]
Balough
December 16, 2015
(December 16, 2015) A new surge in ransomware attacks is underway, posing a threat to businesses and consumers, Symantec Corporation says. The computer security company said attackers are encrypting files and demanding ransom by using an updated version of the ransomware program TeslaCrypt. Over the past two weeks, attackers have sent “out massive volumes of […]
Balough
December 14, 2015
(December 14, 2015) After you unwrap that new holiday drone, you’ll need to register it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before you fly it outside. The FAA announced that drones that weigh between a half pound and 55 pounds, including payload, and were purchased for use after December 21, 2015 must be registered before […]
Balough
December 8, 2015
(December 8, 2015) Maybe the Cookie Monster will need to decide this trademark case. Pepperidge Farm, Inc. alleges in a recently-filed lawsuit that Trader Joe’s Crispy Cookies infringes the Milano cookie configuration trademark. The suit claims the cookie’s shape constitutes trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition. Pepperidge Farm has a registered mark for the […]
Balough
December 1, 2015
(December 1, 2015) Cars are computers on wheels and modifying their software may violate copyright laws. But thanks to the U.S. Copyright Office, it will be a “fair use” for owners to make most changes to their car’s software. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. Sec. 1201(a)(1), prohibits unauthorized persons from accessing copyrighted […]
