Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Kathleen McGuinness

Congress Passes Symbolic Resolution: “No UN Control of the Internet”

Supreme Court Will Hear Case on the Legality of Pay-for-Delay Practices

Preliminary PTO Finding Invalidates Key Apple Multitouch Patent

Fifth Circuit Says First Amendment May Protect Domain Names

Gibson v. Texas Dep’t of Ins. – Div. of Workers’ Comp.
By Michael Hoven – Edited by Daniella Adler

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part the Northern District of Texas, which had dismissed John Gibson’s claim that a Texas law barring him from using the words “Texas” and “workers’ compensation” or “workers’ comp.” in his domain name violated the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Judges Approves Google’s $22.5 Million Settlement with FTC for Safari Privacy Violation

United States v. Google, Inc.
By Casey Holzapfel – Edited by Charlie Stiernberg

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California approved a proposed consent order between the United States and Google that requires Google to pay a $22.5 million civil penalty. Amicus curiae Consumer Watchdog was granted leave to submit a brief challenging the stipulated consent order, after it was filed in August. District Judge Susan Illston was not persuaded by Consumer Watchdog’s brief, however, and rejected its challenge.

Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Craig Fratrik

USPTO Director Kappos to Leave in January

SCOTUS to Hear Case on Patentability of Human Genes

Syria Cut Off from Internet for 38 Hours

District Court Rules Against Injunctions from RAND Standards Patents

Judge Orders Plaintiffs in Sexual Harassment Case to Produce Social Media Passwords

EEOC v. Original Honeybaked Ham Co. of Georgia
By Jessica Vosgerchian — Edited by Geng Chen

The magistrate judge in a sexual harassment class action against The Original Honeybaked Ham Company of Georgia (“Honeybaked Ham”) has ordered plaintiffs to produce passwords to their social media and email accounts as well as surrender their cell phones to a court-appointed special master who will review the materials for discoverable information.