Quarterly Revenue Growth For Internet Search Companies

Quarterly Revenue Growth For Internet Search Companies: "The following chart shows quarterly revenue growth for companies involved with internet search technology. (Note: Some companies have other significant businesses).Data in table version: Ticker Stock Revenue Growth Quarter Ending BIDU BAIDU.COM, INC. 169.8% 12/31/05 GOOG GOOGLE INC 86.0% 12/31/05 IACI IAC/INTERACTIVECORP 45.1% 12/31/05 INSP INFOSPACE INC 8.5% 12/31/05 LOOK LOOKSMART LTD -39.4% 12/31/05 MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 9.4% 12/31/05 YHOO YAHOO INC 39.3% 12/31/05 "

Settlement in BlackBerry Patent Case Unlikely Soon

Justice Department Rejects Google's Privacy Concerns

Click Fraud Gets Smarter, Faces Crackdown

Web consultant Greg Boser has an ingenious method for sending loads of traffic to clients' Internet sites. Last month he began using a software program known as a clickbot to create the impression that users from around the world were visiting sites by way of ads strategically placed alongside Google search results. The trouble is, all the clicks are fake. Because Google charges advertisers on a per-click basis, the extra traffic could mean sky-high bills for Boser's clients....

AOL files suit against phishers

AOL files suit against phishers

Ruling May Impact Google Book Search Case

In a recent case, Judge A. Howard Matz of United States District Court for the Central District of California, said Google's use of thumbnail-sized reproductions in its image search program violated the copyright of Perfect 10, a publisher of X-rated magazines and Web sites, because it undermined that company's ability to license those images for sale to mobile phone users ... 'I think it takes the wind out of their sails,' Jan Constantine, the general counsel for the Authors Guild, said of the Perfect 10 decision. The guild and the Association of American Publishers brought copyright infringement lawsuits against Google over its Book Search program...

The Five Biggest Marketing Mistakes Lawyers Make

"Nora Lockwood Tooher of Lawyers Weekly (ntooher@lawyersweekly.com), talked to four marketing consultants about how many law firms waste precious marketing resources. Jim Calloway, Tom Kane, Gerry Riskin gave excellent answers, and I too was asked what are the five..."

Farmshoring - Meme to Watch (Dennis M. Kennedy)

Farmshoring - Meme to Watch (Dennis M. Kennedy): "Farmshoring has a catchy ring to it. According to Wikipedia, 'Where offshoring is the relocation of business labor to foreign nations, farmshoring is the relocation of business labor to small rural American towns.' I've heard the terms 'homesourcing' and 'insourcing' to refer to outsourcing work, including legal work, to the US Midwest and other 'non-coastal parts of the US. It's an idea that starting to get a lot of discussion and some traction, including in the discussion of Law 2.0. One more piece of 'the world is flat' conversation and a new meme to watch.. Thanks to Rob McMay at BusinessPundit.com for the explanation and links. Technorati tags: farmshoring outsourcing insourcing homesourcing Law2.0 "

Burger King’s financial health improving

"The difference at Burger King since Greg Brenneman took over in 2004 is clear: profits are small but growing, the company and its franchisees are in better financial health and the world’s second-largest hamburger chain has lots of advertising buzz and popular new products."

Actor Tries to Trademark 'N' Word

Actor Tries to Trademark 'N' Word: "Performer Daman Wayans tries to use a controversial racial epithet to name a line of clothing...

Microsoft Rivals File New Complaint With EC

Microsoft Rivals File New Complaint With EC: " Microsoft's rivals on Wednesday banded together to bring a new charge against the software giant to the European Commission: unfair competition...

Google Wins Some, Loses Some, in First Round versus Perfect 10

Google Wins Some, Loses Some, in First Round versus Perfect 10: "Back in November 2004, Perfect 10 lobbed a complaint at Google, asserting that the search engine should be liable for indexing infringing images that others had posted. Yesterday, the California Central District issued an order (local copy) that's a mixed bag, but gets a lot right in its description of how copyright works on the web. The court grants in part and denies in part Perfect 10's motion: it finds Google's inclusion of thumbnails of P10 images infringes, but the inclusion of links to infringing sites or the inline framing of infringing sites do not...

Department Of Defense Ups RFID Contract

The DoD said it is extending its contract with Savi Technology for active RFID tags through January 2008...

Judge raps Microsoft for antitrust 'foot-dragging'

Attorney for state government also says complaint about forthcoming Windows Vista will be investigated...

U.S. task force eyes Net censorship in China, elsewhere

State Department says it has set up task force to help U.S. tech companies protect freedom of expression in countries like China...

BlackBerry Use Up, Despite Legal Trouble

"Research In Motion Inc.'s BlackBerry led the global market for data-centric handheld computers last year, despite a high-profiled patent-infringement lawsuit."

Internet Heavyweights Defend China Policies

"Yahoo, Google and other companies under fire for assisting in China's censorship efforts are insisting they must obey Beijing or risk limiting access to their most promising market."

Spitzer Sends New Subpoenas in Probe of Online Music Pricing

See what New York's Attorney General is up to these days...

China Uncovers 172 Internet Piracy Cases (AP)

China said Wednesday that a four-month crackdown uncovered 172 cases of piracy involving movies, music, games, books and software sold or shared illegally over the Internet...

Extradition hearing begins over Nasa hacker

Gary McKinnon has begun what could be his final battle to avoid extradition to the US and the threat of decades in prison...

Microsoft confident of EU antitrust outcome

"Microsoft's top European lawyer said on Tuesday that the company is confident that it has met or exceeded all of the Commission's demands."

Privacy and anonymity

"Just how far does Big Brother's eye see?

Privacy and anonymity on the internet are as important as they are difficult to achieve. Here are some of the the current issues we face, along with a few suggestions on how to be more anonymous...

The BlackBerry dispute may keep going and going and...

The BlackBerry dispute may keep going and going and... "Attorney Eric Sinrod says RIM's work-around could spawn entirely new patent issues to fight about with NTP."

Maybe NYC Can Find A Copyright Lawyer To Advise Them

Interesting Daily News story about how a filmmaker was paid to take Ground Zero footage and somehow gets to keep the rights.

Chinese Claim Internet Censorship Modeled on West

Chinese Claim Internet Censorship Modeled on West:

From Slashdot, "ubermiester" wrote to mention a NYT article reporting on a Chinese Press Briefing. At the event Liu Zhengrong, supervisor of Internet affairs for the Chinese State Council, stated that the state control of Internet access is based on Western models. From the article: 'Mr. Liu said the major thrust of the Chinese effort to regulate content on the Web was aimed at preventing the spread of pornography or other content harmful to teenagers and children. He said that its concerns in this area differ minimally from those in developed countries. Human rights and media watchdog groups maintain that Chinese Web censorship puts greater emphasis on helping the ruling party maintain political control over its increasingly restive society. Such groups have demonstrated that many hundreds of Web sites cannot be easily accessed inside mainland China mainly because they are operated by governments, religious groups or political organizations that are critical of Chinese government policies or its political leaders.'"

Privacy Concerns On Google's 30 Day Data Policy

"darkmonkeh writes ''Google Inc. is offering a new tool that will automatically transfer information from one personal computer to another, but anyone wanting that convenience must authorize the Internet search leader to store the material for up to 30 days', CNN reports.
Although Google's policy states that it can hold data for up to 30 days, 'Google intends to delete the information shortly after the electronic handoff, and will never retain anything from a user's hard drive for more than 30 days', said Sundar Pichai, director of product management. With pressure on Google after the request by the Bush administration for personal information, privacy concerns may be hard hitting.'"

EFF Challenges Clear Channel Recording Patent

"Illegitimate Patent Locks In Artists and Threatens Innovators

San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a challenge Tuesday to an illegitimate patent from Clear Channel Communications. The patent -- for a system and method of creating digital recordings of live performances -- locks musical acts into using Clear Channel technology and blocks innovations by others.

Recent Changes to Mexico´s Franchise Law

A new law has been enacted in Mexico that has significantly changed the provisions of Article 142 of the Mexican Industrial Property Law locally known as MIPL, which is the primary law specifically governing franchising in Mexico...

Toshiba, LG to share CD, DVD, HD DVD toys

Toshiba, LG to share CD, DVD, HD DVD toys: "Global patent cross-licence signed Toshiba and LG have agreed to share their respective optical disc patent portfolios the better to make each company's product development budget go further. The deal covers not only discs, but players and recorders too, and even extends to HD DVD - an interesting move given LG's preference for the Blu-ray Disc format.…"

Vonage Files for $250M IPO

Vonage Files for $250M IPO: "Internet telephone service provider Vonage may raise up to $250 million in an initial public offering to fund efforts to expand its subscriber base, according to a regulatory filing."

U.S. Examines Vista Antitrust Complaints

U.S. Examines Vista Antitrust Complaints: "Federal officials said Wednesday that they've received a complaint about Vista's 'Welcome Center.'"

Lawsuit challenges new 'e-annoyance' law

"Law targeting e-mail, Web posts that 'annoy' will be tested in suit filed by provider of service that lets people send anonymous e-mail."

More surveillance puts strain on carriers

Oracle in talks to consume three open source darlings - report

"JBoss, Zend and Sleepycat targeted Oracle is in talks to buy three open source companies in a strategy that would potentially reinforce the company's middleware against low-priced competitors, according to a report in BusinessWeek.…"

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation

Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation:

"Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop"

San Francisco - Google today announced a new 'feature' of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new 'Search Across Computers' feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

AT&T Warns Apple, Others, Of Patent Infringement

AT&T has begun to name names in its hunt to license its MPEG video compression patents...

BitTorrent creators to enforce trademark

BIT TORRENT'S creator Bram Cohen is considering enforcing the trademark for his software as his outfit moves into legal movie and music distribution. ...

China leads developing countries in trademark applications

International trademark applications from developing countries rose significantly in 2005, with China topping the list of filers, the World ...

Microsoft plan averts U.S. antitrust conflict

Microsoft has averted a looming conflict with U.S. officials by agreeing to disclose more information about its Windows Server operating system, according to documents filed in federal court Wednesday...

China Seen As Key Swing Factor For Yum! Brands

A healthy boost in domestic sales growth spurred Yum! Brands to a better-than-expected fourth quarter, helping the fast-food company shake off an avian flu scare that led to a 20% drop in operating earnings in China.

Pizza Hut spreading base to India's smaller cities

Pizza Hut has announced Immediate plans to open 35 new outlets to add to the existing chain of 125 restaurants across 31 cities in India.

Microsoft Faces First EU Antitrust Fines

The EU's highest antitrust official, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, has given Microsoft until 15 February to comply with the Commission's March 2004 ruling or face a fine of up to €2 (about £1.37m) a day.

Apple Files For Touch-Sensitive Patent

Apple Computer Inc. has filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for touch-screen technology.

Google Sued Over Use Of Check N' Go Trademark

Payday loans provider Check N' Go has filed a federal lawsuit against Google Inc., claiming its trademark was exploited by the leading Internet search engine in advertisement sales.

Quizno's Suitors Drop Out

Equity firms Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and The Blackstone Group LP both have opted not to bid for Quiznos, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Feb. 3.

Panera Bread plans 15 new bakery-cafes in Texas

Panera Bread has reached agreement with a Texas franchise group to develop 15 new bakery-cafes in the San Antonio and Austin markets.

Merger talk to overshadow Boston Scientific results

Wall Street is craving more details on Boston Scientific's road map for integrating its $27 billion acquisition of Guidant, which the company wrested away from Johnson & Johnson last month after a high-stakes bidding war.(ABC)(Reuters)

Virginia Eatery operator hopes to take his BBQ nationwide via franchising

Virginia Barbeques soon may be popping up across the country--fueled with a little help from the National Hot Rod Association.

Former Subway manager sues in Las Vegas claiming HIV bias

A former manager of a Subway sandwich shop has filed a federal disability rights lawsuit claiming he was fired when the store owner learned he had the virus that causes AIDS.

Dunkin Donuts Franchisee Discrimination Suit Settled

A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit in which an Old Town, Maine man claimed employees at a Dunkin' Donuts franchise discriminated against him because he is black.

Ebay, other Auction sites try to knock out knockoffs

If you find a deal at an online auction site for a price that seems too good to be true, look twice....

File: Internet Law

Sunoco to pay $325,000 to settle price gauging lawsuit

Sunoco Inc. became the second oil company to settle a price gouging lawsuit brought by New Jersey authorities, agreeing to pay $325,000 but admitting no wrongdoing.

Game Technology Law Conference Announced

A two-day comprehensive conference on current developments in Gamer Technology Law has been announced for March 16 & 17 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA.

File: Technology Law

Olympic copyright law on right track

Lord Coe is touring the North West this week, speaking to local authorities and chambers of commerce encouraging them to become involved in the 2012 Olympics, and how they will be "Britain’s Games". So what's the issue?...

File: Copyright

Newspapers argue that Google's news service violates copyright law

An international group of newspaper publishers claim that search engine indexing and content distribution constitutes copyright infringement.

Targacept-AstraZeneca deal gets antitrust clearance

Biotechnology firm Targacept has received regulatory clearance from federal antitrust officials to move forward with a research and licensing agreement with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

File: Antitrust

Sprint gets U.S. antitrust nod for Nextel Partners

No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. has received antitrust clearance to acquire its biggest affiliate Nextel Partners Inc., U.S. officials said on Monday.(Reuters)

File: Antitrust

Judge gives initial OK on Exxon settlement

A federal judge granted preliminary approval of a roughly $1.08 billion settlement against Exxon Mobil Corp. to end a long-running lawsuit by a class of 11,000 service station dealers.

iCan't Hear You: Apple sued over potential hearing loss from iPods

A Louisiana man claims in a lawsuit that Apple's iPod music player can cause hearing loss in people who use it...

Whomever Argues That A University Is Not A Business Will Find Disagreement At Princeton

The university that has shared the hoity-toity community's name for more than 100 years says it's drawing the line over a Wall Street investment house's decision to sell "Princeton" mutual funds...

Research In Patent Lawsuit Motion Again...

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd.has scored another victory in its ongoing patent disputes, this time in Britain....

Looking For An Associate With Real World Business Experience?

I graduate from Pierce Law Center this upcoming May. Looking for the right opportunity.

Patent dispute forces Microsoft to push different Office package

Microsoft has started telling companies to begin using different versions of its Office collaboration software, having lost a patent dispute last year.

USPTO Mourns the Death of Former Commissioner Banner

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Jon Dudas issued the following statement upon learning of the death on January 29, 2006, of Donald W. Banner, a former Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks (1978-1979).

Apple trademarks "Mac Pro" in New Zealand - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Apple made a gutsy move kicking creativity in the crotch by axing the "PowerBook" moniker on the pro laptop line and changing it to "MacBook Pro...

Google Slams Into Great Wall of China

In the eyes of the vox populi the bloom has now been cast off the rose at Google as their ambitious mantra of "Do No Evil" has run directly into conflict with their necessary corporate mandate of "Make More Money". As most interested blogophiles know, Google has decided to launch a Chinese language search engine hosted on servers inside the People's Republic, one which complies with local law restricting which content can be retrieved. While many have lambasted Google with scornful indignation and some have pledged to turn away from the giant of Mountain View, I respectfully wish not to repeat the self righteous sentiment reverberating here in the echo chamber.

I suggest we do the opposite and loudly support Google for this decision. My reason is uncomplicated.Google hs entered into China because it makes business sense to them.They believe by entering the Chinese market that they can return a profit to their shareholders. It is axiomatic that business decisions must be made with this underlying principle primary at all times.A decision of Google to turn away from the China opportunity, one that no internet giant has done, and stand on some amorphous morality would be bad business and set a horrible precedent for other companies. United States corporate law is historically and rightfully stern in in its reaction to corporate boards that take actions potentially damaging to shareholder value. Such actions undermine the viabiity of the entire free market system. Now we don't want to do that now, do we?

Microsoft and EU representatives meet in Washington

Microsoft and European Commission officials planned a meeting in Redmond, Washington, on Monday as the software giant tried to avoid the possibility of a daily 2-million-euro fine.

Kahala Corp. buys Blimpie International chain

Kahala Corp. is the new owner of Blimpie International restaurant chain. This acquisition boosts the overall number of Kahala franchised outlets to more than 2,500.

Antone's revamped for revival

Houston investor and developer Neil Morgan has acquired the remains of Antone's LP, a famous Houston sandwich chain, out of bankruptcy following a family feud that split the chain in the 1990s.

Chipotle's IPO Muy Beuno!

BusinessWeek online reports that shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill were hotter than a jalapeño on the New York Stock Exchange at the end of last week. McDonald’s Corp. owned about 92% of Chipotle before the offer and still owns a majority interest. Chipotle sold 6.01 million shares of the 7.9 million shares offered and McDonald’s sold 1.82 million. Chipotle expects to receive net proceeds of over $120 million, which it will use to repay outstanding debt and support business growth.

AtheroGenics clears antitrust hurdle; triggers payout

Drugmaker AtheroGenics Inc.said on Monday it will receive a $50 million payment from AstraZeneca for a licensing agreement after the company cleared an antitrust hurdle.

Federal court won't stop Kentucky Speedway's antitrust suit against NASCAR, ISC

A federal judge ordered Friday that Kentucky Speedway can move ahead with its $400 million antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.

In a 17-page opinion, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman rejected NASCAR's motions to dismiss the case. He also refused a request by International Speedway, which owns several NASCAR tracks, to be dropped from the lawsuit.

Applied Materials hit with $100M antitrust lawsuit

Attorney Mikal Watts of Watts Law Firm LLP, which touts its recovery of $1.5 billion for various plaintiffs over the firm's history, filed suit Jan. 19 in federal court in Austin, alleging Applied Materials froze five microchip equipment refurbishers out of that market.

Has 3M tape verdict dispensed justice?

Thoughtful opinion piece in today's Pioneer Press about the proposed settlement of a class action suit over Scotch Tape.

Today's Buzz: Digital discovery

Electronic evidence gathering has become a key legal service. So how exactly does it work and whose offering it?

Copyright Wars: Breaking the System

Although few students have yet to feel the difference, social life on one college campus is headed for some major disruptions...

Editorial : BlackBerry Dispute E-mail alert: Update patent laws

"If that ubiquitous hand-held gadget, the BlackBerry, is put out of commission due to last week's Supreme Court ruling in a patent case, its devoted users - make that 'obsessed' users - will need a replacement, and soon."

Bill Gates: China will fortify its intellectual property laws

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Gates said it would probably take a decade for China to go through the same process as Taiwan and Korea and implement strict intellectual property laws, but he was confident that it would happen.

Trademark attack on Chinese intellectual property pirates

The US is trying on-the-spot methods to stem plagiarism...

FBI aims to curtail tech spies

FBI agents will be fanning out through Silicon Valley in a new effort to educate hi-tech companies and universities on ways to protect themselves from corporate espionage.

Restoring order, integrity in the marketplace

This interesting in depth article looks at the state of coporate integrity in the Marketplace three years after the passage of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

ConocoPhillips Tempting Oil Industry's Merger Fate

According to columnist David Pauly, James Mulva, chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips, may be attempting one oil industry takeover too many.

In Advance of the Government Leaders Forum, Microsoft Outlines a Worldwide Public Services and Government Stategy

Today, in anticipation of the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe 2006, Microsoft Corp. outlined a worldwide Public Services and eGovernment Strategy that will provide governments with the prescriptive guidance and technology to focus on a seamless service delivery for citizens through technology.

Microsoft May Not Be Off Hook in Europe

Microsoft Corp.'s new offer to let competitors examine some of the blueprints to its Windows operating system may not end the threat of daily $2.36 million fines in the European Union's antitrust case

Google Slams Into Great Wall of China

In the eyes of the vox populi the bloom has now been cast off the rose at Google as their ambitious mantra of "Do No Evil" has run directly into conflict with their necessary corporate mandate of "Make More Money". As most interested blogophiles know, Google has decided to launch a Chinese language search engine hosted on servers inside the People's Republic, one which complies with local law restricting which content can be retrieved. While many have lambasted Google with scornful indignation and some have pledged to turn away from the giant of Mountain View, I respectfully wish not to repeat the self righteous sentiment reverberating here in the echo chamber.

I suggest we do the opposite and loudly support Google for this decision. My reason is uncomplicated.Google hs entered into China because it makes business sense to them.They believe by entering the Chinese market that they can return a profit to their shareholders. It is axiomatic that business decisions must be made with this underlying principle primary at all times.A decision of Google to turn away from the China opportunity, one that no internet giant has done, and stand on some amorphous morality would be bad business and set a horrible precedent for other companies. United States corporate law is historically and rightfully stern in in its reaction to corporate boards that take actions potentially damaging to shareholder value. Such actions undermine the viabiity of the entire free market system. Now we don't want to do that now, do we?

Norway Accuses iTunes of Consumer-Rights Violations

The Consumer Council of Norway (CCN) has accused Apple's iTunes Music Store operation of violating the country's Marketing Control Act, and it has asked Norway's consumer ombudsman to intervene on behalf of digital music buyers.

Isolated complaint or a sign of things to come for Apple in Europe?

Microsoft and Washington AG Accuse Spyware Firm of Deceptive Advertising

Microsoft and Rob McKenna, the Attorney General for the State of Washington, have filed lawsuits against Secure Computer from New York State and several unnamed individuals.Secure Computer is accused of using deceptive advertising to sell its $49.95 Spyware Cleaner software.

The Trademark Bowl: Texas A&M v. Seattle Seahawks

Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne said the Office of Collegiate Licensing is working on having the NFL's Seattle Seahawks cease and desist their use of the trademark after the Seahawks' own 12th Man flag caught the attention of Texas A&M fans who watched the Seattle team advance during the NFL playoffs...

Getting A Handle On The Software Patent Explosion (26/01/2006) from Mondaq

Companies in many different fields – not just Information Technology – are concerned about how to best protect their software technology. Changes in the legal landscape for the protection of computer software have resulted in an avalanche of patents geared toward software-related inventions. Here are answers to some basic questions about protecting software in this new environment.

RIM, NTP get 24 February court date for patent case [New Window]

Cingular Files Emoticon Patent

The application, which is rather lengthy, describes a static set-up that would allow users with any device (television, computer, mobile device, etc.) to choose from a dedicated window of emoticons, without typing in the ASCII symbols that generate visual emoticons.

EU says Microsoft's source codes disclosure does not ensure antitrust compliance

The European Commission said that Microsoft Corp's decision to license some of the source code for its Windows operating system will 'not necessarily' ensure that its long-running EU antitrust dispute will be resolved.

File Under: Antitrust

U.S. Firms Making Steady, Selective Global Gains

Top U.S. law firms are adding a steadily increasing number of attorneys to their overseas offices, but most are remaining cautious about which cities to choose.

File Under: Globalization

Microsoft To Meet EU Antitrust Ruling

Microsoft Corp. said today it will license its Windows source code to comply with a European Union antitrust ruling.

Steve Page Writes on Bulte and Copyrights

Steven Page, lead vocals and guitar for the Barenaked Ladies, adds his thoughts:

This current litigious atmosphere is simply a product of the record business trying to prop up a dying, obsolete business model. The labels aren’t the enemy; they’re often run by people who love music and are passionate about the promotion of Canadian culture, but their responsibility is not to the Canadian people, but to their parent companies’ shareholders. It’s the government’s job to protect us (both creators and end-users) from those who are out to exploit us....

Chair of Whiteman Osterman law group to address biotech patent conference - 2006-01-24

Albany, N.Y., patent attorney and physician Sander Rubin will address the Sixth Advanced Forum on Biotech Patents in San Francisco Feb. 16 through Feb. 17.Rubin, a member of the Convergent Technology Patent Law Group of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, will present a speech entitled "Legal Forecasting for the Post-Genome Era." He will talk to leading patent attorneys from national law firms, the pharmaceutical industry and research institutions.

Microsoft Antitrust Case to Start Apr. 24

Microsoft Corp.'s legal challenge to the EU's 2004 antitrust ruling will be heard by the European Court of First Instance on April 24-28, the court said Wednesday.

The Law, Borders and The Internet

Canadian law professor Michael Geist argues the long-running legal dispute between Yahoo and the French courts reflects the difficulties of international regulation of the internet, argues

US Blackberry Network Moves Closer To Shutdown

The US Supreme Court has refused to hear Blackberry maker RIM’s appeal against a previous court ruling that said it infringed NTP’s patents for push e-mail technology, meaning the US Blackberry network is moving even closer to a complete shutdown...

Illegal File Sharing Still Active

Even after ongoing court battles to illegalize online file sharing, research concludes that the number of users subscribing to illegal p2p networks remains unchanged in the past two years...

Inventing While Writing Patent Applications

Russ Krajec provides some valuable insight on the question of whether a patent attorney/agent should list themselves as an inventor on a client's patent application, when the attorney/agent added to the invention while writing the application.

Unraveling the Big Debate over Small Machines

Behind the public face of nanotechnology—the press releases, science fiction novels and environmental doomsday reports—a debate has been evolving and swirling for the past decade around a fundamental question: Can tiny machines build things useful to humans by moving molecules or even individual atoms?

Limiting I/P Exposure in China

In 'Into the Mouth of the Dragon: Patent Protection and Enforcement in China,' David L. McCombs makes some excellent recommendations for limiting I/P theft when doing business in China.

IMX Wins Patent Trial Against LendingTree; Jury Rules in Favor of IMX, Awards More Than $5.7 Million in Damages

IMX, Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions for the mortgage industry, today announced that it has received a favorable jury verdict in its intellectual property case against LendingTree, LLC in the U.S. District Court of Delaware, finding willful infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,995,947. The patent provides an Internet-accessible, interactive, real-time network whereby borrowers and lenders exchange information in the pursuit of securing a loan.

Microsoft Says Its Been Given More Time To Reply To EU Fine Proposal

Microsoft Corp. said on Monday it had been given extra time by the European Commission to respond to the threat of a $2 million-a-day fine over allegations that it has failed to comply with a landmark EU antitrust ruling.

Legal commentary: Alito would lean toward business interests - Features

This article is primarily concerned with the specifics of Judge Alito's history regarding business interests, but first, an overview of his judicial philosophy relative to the other justices and mainstream political views:

Feds asked to take action against adware maker

An anti-spyware watchdog group has lodged official complaints against 180solutions and one of its partners, dealing a blow to the adware industry's efforts to police itself.

Borderless Internet continues to confound judges

Michael Geist's weekly Law Bytes column examines the recent 9th Circuit Court
of Appeals Yahoo decision involving the long-running battle over Internet jurisdiction. He argues that the majority and dissent present two competing views of the Internet and that that the courts remains as conflicted as ever as they seek to reconcile the challenges of law, borders and the Internet.

Analog Devices Announces New Chief Compliance and Business Ethics Officer

A global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, today announced the appointment of William A. Wise to the newly created position of Chief Compliance and Business Ethics Officer, reporting to the Board of Director's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

IBM Predict 2006 Cyber Crime 'Evolution'

IBM today announced the contents of its 2005 Global Business Security Index Report and provided an early look at potential security threats in 2006

Antitrust Advocates Oppose Whirlpool/Maytag Merger

According to The Chicago Tribune, an antitrust advocacy group wants the Justice Department to block Whirlpool Corp.'s proposed purchase of Maytag Corp.. The group wants the government to at least require the Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company to spin off holdings in its laundry business.

Investor Langone seeks dismissal of NY AG lawsuit

From Reuters, Billionaire financier Kenneth Langone on Monday asked a New York state judge to dismiss him from a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer over his alleged role setting the controversial compensation of former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso.

Bristol-Myers settles lawsuit for $185 million

Today’s tentative settlement is the culmination of nearly six years of lawsuits brought against Bristol-Myers and some executives.

Jury Selection Set to Begin in Second Texas Vioxx Trial

Vioxx on Trial Part Deux...

NCR settles DataTreasury patent infringement lawsuit

DataTreasury Corporation, a small check-processing company, announced today that it has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit brought against NCR Corporation ("NCR"), a leading global technology company.

Edwards settles Medtronic graft lawsuit

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., a maker of heart valves, said Monday that it settled a patent dispute with Medtronic Inc. by granting certain nonexclusive licenses for $37.5 million in cash.

Regulators reject Springer's takeover plans

Germany's antitrust watchdog has blocked plans for Axel Springer AG, the publisher of Europe's top-selling newspaper, to take over broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.

High court won't hear BlackBerry appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from the maker of the BlackBerry in the long-running battle over patents for the wildly popular, handheld wireless e-mail device.

Teaching Tech Skills to Lawyers

One of the hottest topics in the legal profession these days...

Copyright law poses problem for TVMyPod

TVMyPod’s service of conveniently placing customer-selected DVD content to Apple iPods might be violating copyright laws.

Supreme court rules on professor's Copyright case

Judge in Northern California granted a class action lawsuit motion to MTSU Professor Chris Harris Friday, setting a precedent that could potentially affect newspapers and photographers all over the country.

Allergan extends Inamed offer on antitrust issue

Botox maker Allergan Inc. on Monday said it was extending its $3.2 billion offer to buy breast implant maker Inamed Corp. because it has yet to get antitrust clearance from regulators.

SkyTeam Defers Antitrust Quest After DOT Rejection

Six carriers of the SkyTeam alliance this month withdrew their request for antitrust immunity following last month's decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to turn down the carriers' application.

Microsoft asks EC for compliance delay

Microsoft Corp. has asked for more time to comply with a European Commission antitrust ruling forcing it to ensure full interoperability with its workgroup server software, a Commission spokesman said on Monday.

United Kingdom Intellectual Property Law Weekly Roundup

A weekly must for those landed on the European side of the big pond.

Ford asks for ITC investigation into Taiwanese-made aftermarket parts

From ABRN: The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated an investigation of two U.S. auto parts distributors and several Taiwanese manufacturers based on a complaint from Ford Global Technologies, LLC, that the companies are violating its patents for parts used on the F-150 pickup truck.

More From Canada: Stallman Speaks on the Future of GPL 3.0 | Digital Copyright Canada

eWeek has a Q&A with Richard Stallman, founder of the FSF, talks about his goals for the GPL and the hopes and fears of free software advocates.

Proximus Confident Of Positive Outcome In Antitrust Probe

Belgacom's mobile arm Proximus said Friday it is "surprised and indignant" after accusations from rival mobile firm Base that it is abusing its market position...

Portals Give Data to Department of Justice

From Red Herring: While Google refused to comply with the United States government’s request for search data last August, Microsoft, Yahoo, and America Online admitted they provided the government with search data similar to what Google is refusing to grant.

WIPO says Skype affiliate can keep Skyp.com

An amateur photographer, painter and sculptor who uses the domain name Skyp.com to redirect visitors to Skype.com has won a battle to keep his name. He pointed out that the internet telephony company had accepted him as an affiliate.

Preloaded iPods walk on legal thin ice

From PC Pro News, A US company has begun offering iPods for sale with preloaded content ripped from DVDs.

German Wikipedia back up amid lawsuit

Matt Moore, AP Business Writer reports that the German version of Wikipedia returned to the Internet on Friday after three days offline, a blackout prompted by a lawsuit in which the parents of a dead hacker objected to the site's use of his real name.

Albertson's receives second second offer

From Bloomberg, the saga continues as Albertson's Inc., the second-largest U.S. grocer, received a new takeover offer from a group led by Supervalu Inc. and CVS Corp. after abandoning the talks last month.

DSM Dyneema Files Patent Lawsuit against Chinese Company

DSM Dyneema, the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema, has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Hangzhou Pivot International Co. Ltd., of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Mcdonald's Franchisee sued over alleged Blood in Hot Fudge Sundae

From the Associated Press, a Superior Court judge in Georgetown, Delaware is scheduled to hold a hearing today in the case of a local woman who claims her 12-year-old son found what looked -- and tasted -- like blood in a hot fudge sundae they bought 13-months ago at a fast food restaurant.

Video Franchising Détente: The Quicker the Better -

Ray Gifford of the Heartland Institute writes about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning franchising, the gist of which is to speed up competitive entry into video markets.

U.S. Patent System Stifling Competition

Christopher Hayes of the Progress Report has an opinion on the United States Patent System. Here it is...

Top 10 IT News Stories of the Week

CIO.com has just posted its Top 10 IT Stories from the past week. A good synopsis, and right on the mark!

Copyright in Canada: Musings of an Unnamed Politican

From Digital Copyright Canada, a report on the Copyright views of an Unnamed Politician

More from Canada: Bulte caught in the Canadian blogosphere crossfire

On Monday, the eyes of the Internet will be on the Toronto (at least in Canada).

Canadian Election Has Internet Advocates Watching

Going where the buzz takes me, it seems that a big issue floating through the Canadian blogosphere is an argument surrounding copyright laws and the attention being paid by politicians. Here is the conversation continues...

Lawyers Express GPL 3 Concerns

A report from eWeek detailing Lawyer concerns over the new GPL 3.

Nanotechnology requires legal umbrella

Interesting opinion article out of Indonesia on the need for appropriate legal coverage for the nanotechnology industry.

CIC and Valyd Settle Patent Litigation

Communication Intelligence Corporation ("CIC" or the "Company"), a leading supplier of electronic signature solutions for business process automation in the financial industry and the recognized leader in biometric signature verification, announced today that it has entered into a Settlement Agreement with Valyd, Inc. The Settlement Agreement resolves all claims and counterclaims between the parties with respect to allegations set forth in the previously announced litigation without payment of damages by either party.

Bechtel Surrenders in Bolivia Water Revolt Case

Bechtel, one of the world’s largest corporations, reached agreement with the government of Bolivia today, dropping its controversial legal demand over the public water revolt that forced it out of Bolivia in April 2000.

...More on the Amendment to the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

Patricia Ranald, Principal policy officer of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Sydney, NSW warns not to underrate evergreening dangers.

Scrushy Said to Pay for Positive Stories

Jay Reeves reports that A writer who turned out a stream of sympathetic newspaper stories about former HealthSouth Corp. CEO Richard Scrushy during his fraud trial says Scrushy secretly paid her $11,000 through a public relations firm and typically read her articles before publication.

Oh Canada! Part 2: Political fundwraiser draws the ire of copyright watchdogs

A fundraiser for Toronto MP Sarmite Bulte, above, is to be hosted today by the entertainment lobby.That apparently doesn't make some bloggers happy...

Legal experts say lawsuit against Apple is not a far-fetched possibility

Battle of the bloggers in this discussion over whether the MacIntel box exposes Apple to restraint of trade lawsuit.

Missouri Delta Medical Center subject of Antitrust suit

Ferguson Medical Group has bumped up its lawsuit against former partners and Missouri Delta Medical Center by filing federal antitrust claims against the hospital.

Antitrust lawsuit targets Applied Materials

Five U.S. companies that refurbish chip-manufacturing equipment have sued industry leader Applied Materials Inc. alleging it engaged in anticompetitive practices when limited the availabilty of replacement parts for chip gear.

Lights, Camera, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda...UCLA School of Law Presents the 30th Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium

Okay, so I am an east coast guy. Anyway, UCLA School of Law will hold its 30th Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium entitled, Hollywood: By the Number$ on February 10th and 11th.

China puts technology at policy forefront

This according to Shihoko Goto in an article that argues that Semiconductors may be the best way for China to move beyond simply being regarded the factory to the world.

Albertsons jumps nearly 4.5% on renewed buyout bid - Jan. 19, 2006

Shares of grocery retailer Albertsons rallied Thursday after the Wall Street Journal reported that bidders submitted a new offer for the company.

Vlassis sues News America

Valassis Communications Inc. filed suit in federal court Wednesday alleging various antitrust practices by its No. 1 rival, News America Marketing Group of New York City.

Now Showing on Small Screens

In this column Michael Miller of pcmag.com explores the oncoming tidal wave of portable tv and movie viewing.

Shire and Impax Settle all Pending Litigation Concerning ADDERALL XR(R)

Shire has announced that it has settled all pending litigation with Impax Laboratories, Inc. ("Impax") in connection with Impax's Abbreviated New Drug Application and its attempt to market generic versions of Shire's ADDERALL XR(R) (mixed amphetamine salts) for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Feds seek Google records in porn probe

The Bush administration, seeking to revive an online pornography law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, has subpoenaed Google Inc. for details on what its users have been looking for through its popular search engine.

Legal News - Leading International Arbitration Expert Joins Orrick Lawyers in Paris

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that William Laurence "Laurie" Craig, one of the deans of the international arbitration bar, is joining the firm as senior counsel.

RIM argues BlackBerry injunction would threaten public safety

Research In Motion Ltd. urged a Virginia court not to shut down service to U.S. BlackBerry subscribers, claiming such a blackout could threaten public safety and business productivity.(filed by Colin Gibbs)

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. acquires Amoy Food Group

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. announced that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Amoy Food Group Companies (Amoy Food Group) from Danone Asia Pte Ltd (a subsidiary of Groupe Danone S.A.) for approximately HK$1,845 million. This transaction includes the issued stock of Amoy Food Group, a shareholder loan from Danone Asia to Amoy Food Group as well as the intellectual property rights of Amoy Food Group business. On completion of the transaction, Ajinomoto has acquired Chinese soy sauce business and frozen dimsum food business which Amoy Food Group operates in Hong Kong, North America and Europe.

Risk of Globalization for Business

The benefits of a globilization strategy is well discussed. How about the risks?

Report calls for nanotechnology law

Tougher regulatory oversight and new resources are needed to manage the potential adverse effects of nanotechnology, according to report assessing the impact of the technology. (filed by Ahmed ElAmin)

Gordon & Glickson Merges With McGuireWoods

HICAGO, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- McGuireWoods LLP, one of the 100 largest law firms in the world, and Chicago-based law firm Gordon & Glickson LLC,internationally known for its information technology practice, jointly announced plans today to merge and form a new Technology & Business Department within McGuireWoods after the merger is complete.

New Albertson's bid reduces antitrust concerns - 2006-01-19

A new bid for grocery chain Albertson's Inc. is structured to ease antitrust fears, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.

Intellectual Property State of the Union

The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) released its 2006 Digital Music Report, which can only be described as one of the most painful reads since the NPD Group's "Illegal Peer-To-Peer Music File Declines After Supreme Court Grokster Decision."

Encore Medical's Proposed Acquisition of Compex Technologies Clears Antitrust Review

Encore Medical Corporation (Nasdaq: ENMC) announced today that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, relating to its pending acquisition of Compex Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX), expired on January 18, 2006.

Apple Computer seeks trademarks for mobile telephone service - Forbes.com

Apple Computer has requested a set of trademarks for a mobile telephone service featuring music, video, email, and Internet functions, according to applications at the US Patent and Trade Office.

EU surveys citizens on patent law

The European Union is asking for its citizens' views on the future of copyright law among member states.

Students Want Operator to Settle Copyright Infringement Claims

Alex Viega reports that students sued by the recording industry for using the now-defunct i2hub online file-sharing network are demanding that its operator pay to settle music copyright-infringement claims.

NTP woos US government in patent case - ZDNet UK News

Reuters is reporting that in an effort to get the BlackBerry service shut down, NTP is suggesting that any shutdown excludes the US government.Say what?

Artemis Solutions Group Files Trademark Lawsuit

From AGIP News, Artemis Solutions Group (ASG), a global leader in consumer and small business smart card and biometric security solutions, announced in a Thursday press release that it has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court – Western District of Washington at Seattle against Tacoma-based Sagem Morpho Inc. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of French conglomerate SAFRAN group, alleging willful and deliberate trademark/trade name infringement and unfair competition with regard to its registered trademark BioCert.

Feds want Google search records

In a scenario long feared by privacy advocates, the federal government has ordered Google to hand over a broad range of user search material from its closely guarded databases.

New insurgent offer, but McDonald's still won't bite

Eric Herman reports for the Chicago Sun Times that Insurgent shareholder William Ackman presented a new proposal to restructure McDonald's Corp. on Wednesday -- and the company rebuffed him a second time.

World yet to take up India's legal process outsourcing case

Would you offshore your paralegal?

EBay shares fall after forecast falls short of estimates

Online auction house eBay Inc. enjoyed a robust holiday selling season but warned that its future results this year will fall shy of analyst forecasts. Shares of eBay Inc. dropped 2.5 percent in after-hours trading on news of the softer outlook.

Fast food franchising registers annual growth of 27 per cent in Middle East

Moushumi Das Chaudrhy reports in the Khaleej Times on 2005 figures and also how franchising in the Middle East is on the threshold of extraordinary projected growth.

Google Seeks Single-Click Patent

Thomas Hanson of seoproject.com reports that Google
Inc. has filed an application to patent a single-click mobile phone technology.

Antitrust Group Asks Department of Justice To Block Sale of Maytag

The American Antitrust Institute,a Non-profit think tank for promoting competition, asked the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday to block Whirlpool's proposed purchase of Newton, Iowa based Maytag, or at least require the new company to spin off holdings in its laundry business.

US trade official urges China to boost intellectual property protection

Hong Kong, Jan. 16 (AP): A U.S. commerce official made fresh calls Sunday for China to further strengthen intellectual property protection ahead of the 2008 Olympics Games and open up its financial services market to foreign competition.David S. Bohigian, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance, said the United States will closely watch measures by the Chinese government to protect intellectual property in regard to the Olympics.

Courts Rule on Drug Patents

After AstraZeneca’s loss of two patents covering its heart drug Toprol XL, Pfizer announced Wednesday that a federal court in the Northern District of Illinois upheld its U.S. patent for the active ingredient in its blockbuster hypertension drug."

Oh Canada! The Digital Download Debate in The Great White North Rages On

The Great Debate over Digital Copyright Laws in Canada shows no thaw even after CRIA lost its case in front of both the federal court and federal court of appeals.

French copyright law could force changes in iTunes copy protections

"The French bill would be at odds with many CDs and DVDs sold there that contain copy-protection management software, to digitally block efforts to copy them. If the bill becomes law, the copy-protection measures would have to be removed..."

Official Trademark Fees Raised in Bahrain

Analysts say raise within the normal scale compared to those in other Gulf Cooperation Countries.

Starbucks' Trademark Battle In China Rolls On

A Chinese company in a trademark dispute with Starbucks has appealed a court order to change its name in a dispute illustrative of China's struggle to mediate trademark disputes.

U.S. patent office swamped by backlog - The Big Idea - MSNBC.com

New report suggests that U.S. patent process could now take up to five years. Will this chill innovation? Is there any reform on the way?

eBay drop shop going Global

Snappy Auctions, an eBay drop shop franchise based in Nashville, TN is headed to the U.K. and Japan. Wise opportunism or a little too much a little too early?

Qualcomm acquisition of Flarion receives antitrust approval | newratings.com

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.NAS), the second-largest manufacturer of chips for mobile phones, yesterday announced that the antitrust review by the Justice Department on the acquisition of Flarion had been concluded. Could a final deal be only days away?

BREAKING NEWS: Taco franchise coming to London

Okay, I admit it. It's just about dinner time and I had tacos on my mind. It just so happens this is also an interesting development in the world of international foodservice franchising.

Trouble in the land of the Double-Double: In-N-Out accuses top burger executive of fraud

Is there a family rift cooking over at In-N-Out Burger Inc., the Irvine, California company known for its Double-Double and its customers' intense devotion?

International Business Transactions Checklist

In my early morning search for buzz, I stumbled across a useful IBT checklist developed by Lex Mundi back in 2001.

Google Talk VoIP Services Alleged To Infringe Patents

Eric Sinrod of Duane Morris LLP reports in his "The Technology Trade" online column about a small company that has filed suit against Google in federal court in New York, alleging infringement by Google. Is there merit to these charges?

SOX Whistleblower Protection Is Not International

Pamela A. Maclean of The National Law Journal on Law.com reports on the recent U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the applicability of the Sarbanes-Oxley securities law to the protection of foreign workers.

The Two Most Common Mistakes Lawyers Make In Using IP Experts

According to Michael J. Abernathy, chair of the Intellectual Property Department at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, Chicago,The two most frequent mistakes intellectual property lawyers make while working with an expert witness are polar extremes of each other, but either can severely undermine the strength of a case. What are those polar extremes? Read this interesting article. It's very enlightening and perhaps all too common in IP practice.

The Million Dollar Trademark Infringement Page?

Most of us have heard about Alex Tew's Million Dollar Homepage.According to Wendy Seltzer, the question now becomes, how many unrelated commercial gain claims are there?

UK to Hold Global Online Casino Talks

The Internet gambling boom has generated multi-bilion dollar revenues. It has also generated problems that include protection of children, advertising, money laundering and criminal infiltration.According to the UK Government, its time to talk about all this. Too early, Too late, or Just in Time?

TECTONIC: GPL V3 - first draft

It's out! The first draft of version three of the heart and soul of open source software – the GNU General Public License – was released on January 16th.

U.K. judge frowns on software patents

In a report by Ingrid Marson for CNET News.com, A U.K. judge has questioned whether software patents should be granted, and has criticized the U.S. for allowing "anything under the sun" to be patented. Is this judge out to lunch or is there something "under the hyperbole"?

WTO will try again to find agreement on global treaty

From Shanghaidaily.com, top trade officials from 30 countries and regions plan to resume talks this month on a new global treaty based on an agreement made at the World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong, India's commerce minister said yesterday.

WTO will try again to find agreement on global treaty

Globalization Conference at Indiana Law School

Bruce MacEwen posts in his "Adam Smith, Esq" blawg that Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington will be hosting a symposium on "The Globalization of the Legal Profession" Friday, April 6, 2006. The conference will be in a somewhat hybrid format, blending the academic with the practical and hands-on, and all papers and presentations will subsequently be published.

The Agenda

Podcast of Panel Discussion on Google Book Search

Given that Law Buzz bills itself as "multimedia", it is without further adieu that we offer content in the newly ubiquitous form of a podcast. Sticking to one of the themes of the day, Attorney Evan Brown of internetcases.com has posted the audio of a recent panel discussion on Google Book Search.

Core Concepts of Globalization: Why Institutions Matter

Laura Phillips of aworldconnected.org has written an excellent summary about institutions as a core concept in a globalization paradigm. According to Phillips, institutions are one of nine core concepts at the heart of any meaningful study of globalization. Taken from economics, politics, and philosophy, these frameworks are good for the big picture any meaningful study of globalization.

Read Article Here

Business and Technology Trends in 2006: A VC's Perspective

Cindy Padnos at Outlook Ventures has an interesting perspective in her article forecasting emergent trends in Business and Technology for 2006. The focus of her article is on two key business trends which may have the potential to impact a variety of technology sectors significantly: small and mid-size business IT buyer growth and consumer-driven content production and distribution. Informative and potentially instructive, it opens up a variety of legal questions to ponder. Check it out, then ponder away....