I’ve been following the debate over Net Neutrality rather closely. Since more and more of our economy depends on the Internet for basic functionality, like the reliable functioning of email, VOIP, and telecommuting applications, this debate concerns *everyone.* Higher costs for Internet traffic will be passed along to the economy and end users ultimately. Further,…
Author: Kevin A. Thompson
Kevin A. Thompson practices primarily in the area of domestic and international trademarks, copyrights and internet law issues. He is experienced with prosecuting international applications under the Madrid Protocol. Kevin counsels clients in the selection, clearance, and maintenance of trademarks. He advises them with respect to enforcement of rights, and assists in representing them in disputes around the world to protect their valuable intellectual property.
Kevin received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1998 with Honors and Order of the Coif. Kevin received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993. He is on the Board of Managers for the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, having served in the past as the chair of its Internet Law Committee, and is also past chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Computer Law Committee.
Spyware Installer ordered to pay $4,000,000 in Restitution
Sanford Wallace, former spammer and now spyware installer with his company Smartbot.Net, today was ordered by a New Hampshire district court to pay restitution to consumers in the amount of four million dollars. Co-defendants OptinTrade and Jared Lansky were required to pay $227,000 in restitution. The complaint alleges that the Defendants installed spyware on user’s…
Thoughts on ABA Techshow
I attended the ABA Techshow here in Chicago from Thursday through Saturday, and had a wonderful time. On Wednesday evening I was one of the 100 invited guests of the Lexthink! Lounge, presented by Dennis Kennedy, Matthew Homann and JoAnna Forshee. My bowling was a bit rusty, but the conversation and fellowship was great. Rob…
Check out SavetheInternet.com!
Word is spreading through the blogosphere about a new coalition that aims to protect Network Neutrality. The group, called Save The Internet, is obtaining support across the political spectrum. Here is the Statement of Principles: We believe that the Internet is a crucial engine for economic growth and democratic discourse. We urge Congress to take…
Blawg Review #52 is up at f/k/a
May I suggest adding Blawg Review #52 to your reading list? David Giacalone has added his stylistic touch and haiku to the best in legal blogs for the past week. David describes his edition like this: This Blawg Review edition is set up like most of our posts: a lot of white space, a little…
Fight brewing over Net Neutrality, not Political Neutrality
Network Neutrality is one of the concepts the Internet was based upon. Essentially, one person’s traffic is just as important as the next piece of traffic. The packets of information that are reassembled on the other end back into your email message are not treated any differently than your neighbor’s video streaming packets. Before Congress…
Local Man Pleads Guilty to Unauthorized Use of Wi-Fi
From the Rockford Star, here is a link to an article by Chris Green. David Kauchak, formerly of Machesney Park, pleaded guilty Tuesday to unauthorized use of a computer system. He received a fine of $250.00 and a year of probation. According to the article, Kauchak was in a car at night outside a nonprofit…
Judge to Order Google to Turn Over Search Records
A federal Judge has indicated that he is likely to compel Google to comply with the Justice Department’s subpoena for search engine data. In a 90-minute hearing held yesterday in California, the Honorable James Ware told Justice Department lawyers that it is likely to receive some of the information requested. A written decision is expected…
Website Contact with Illinois Found Sufficient for Personal Jurisdiction
Mark Partridge of the Guiding Rights blog has a great summary of a recent case here in Illinois about personal jurisdiction over an out of state defendant. The court found that there were sufficicent minimum contacts based upon activity performed over the defendant’s website with the state of Illinois to justify holding the defendant subject…
Domain name dispute: Angé v. Templer – State court claims
Angé v. Templer Decided February 21, 2006 No. C 05-05169 WHA, 2006 WL 436139 (N.D.Cal.) Plaintiffs, an individual and a California corporation named Gap International, Inc., sued in state court for the conversion of the domain name Gapinternational.com. Defendants include the hosting company who took the Plaintiff’s domain name and the Pennsylvania company named Gap…