WLS-TV Taps Balough As Privacy Expert

WLS-TV interviewed Richard C. Balough as a privacy law expert in a report aired October 4, 2005, on the Chicago Bulls’ request that Eddy Curry take a DNA test. The interview was conducted by WLS-TV Anchor/Reporter Rob Johnson. The story concerned what privacy rights the former Chicago Bulls’ star might be foregoing if he consented […]
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Pop-Up Advertisements Are Not Use Under Trademark Law

A company that places pop-up ads on your computer when you search for a competitor’s website is not using the competitor’s trademark, a federal appellate court ruled. 1-800-Contacts, Inc. sued WhenU.com for the company’s practice of placing pop-up ads of other contact lens companies on a computer when the user types in 1-800-Contacts. The trial […]
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Company Agrees to Stop Deceptive Spyware Marketing Practices

A company that falsely claimed to have scanned consumers’ computers and detected spyware when, in fact, no scanning occurred, has been barred from making such false claims in the future. Trustsoft, Inc., which does business as Swanksoft, SpyKiller and SpyKiller.com agreed to a preliminary injunction that bars the Texas company from engaging in deceptive advertising […]
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HGH Spammer Avoids $6 Million Damage Payment

A spammer who caused nearly $6 million in consumer injuries has agreed to pay $485,000 to the Federal Trade Commission to repay consumers, in return for which he will be able to keep his Florida estate valued at over $2.4 million. Creaghan A. Harry who did business as Hitech Marketing, Scientific Life Nutrition and Rejuvenation […]
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Businesses Must Ensure Records Destroyed to Avoid Identity Theft

If you are throwing away any records or an old computer with consumer personal information, you must now take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is deleted or destroyed. Under Federal Trade Commission rules effective June 1, 2005, any business that maintains or possess consumer information must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access […]
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New York Daily News Quotes Balough on Privacy Issues

People need to be careful of credit information that they give or throw away, Richard C. Balough said in an article appearing in the New York Daily News. In an article discussing what steps consumers can take to protect their credit, the Daily News cited Balough as an expert in privacy rights. Balough told the […]
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Balough Interviewed as Privacy Expert on NBC 5 Chicago

Richard C. Balough was interviewed as a privacy expert as part of the NBC 5 special report “Getting Personal, Web Sites Provide People’s Personal Data.” The broadcast was aired on May 5, 2005. Balough was interviewed by Anna Davlantes who was conducting an investigation on how easy it is to obtain personal information on the […]
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Court Trims Hair Replacement Clinic Lawsuit for Infringement

It’s a hairy situation, but the Ninth Circuit has trimmed the ability of a hair replacement clinic to sue for trademark infringement. A dissatisfied customer of the Bosley Medical Institute, Inc. decided the best way to get even with what he felt was a bad restoration and replacement of his hair by the clinic was […]
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Ranchers Can’t Beef About Generic Beef Ads

Those ranchers who had a beef about paying the government for generic advertising promoting beef had their First Amendment claims butchered by the Supreme Court. In a 6-3 decision, the court said that promotions urging people to eat beef funded by a mandatory $1 a head tax on all cattle sold or imported into the […]
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No Need To Verify IP Address To Admit Email Reply at Trial

There is no need to authenticate emails using the internet protocol address, an Illinois appellate court has ruled. To the court, emails are no different than reply letters. The ruling came in a criminal case where a 22 year-old was found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 16 year-old. The court found that […]
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