Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Jessica Vosgerchian

Phishing Attack Used to Steal Bitcoins

Court Documents Reveal FBI Cellphone Surveillance Tool and Verizon’s Involvement

Google Introduced New Tool for Managing Digital Afterlife

Lithuania Monitors Suspected Tax Fraud with Google Maps Street View

Second Circuit Affirms Streaming Broadcast TV Not Copyright Infringement

WNET, Thirteen v. Aereo, Inc.
By Natalie Kim – Edited by Samantha Rothberg

Last Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the Southern District of New York’s July 2012 denial of a preliminary injunction motion filed against Aereo by several broadcast TV networks.

Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Kathleen McGuinness

Supreme Court of Canada Rules That Text Message Monitoring Requires Warrant

Google Announces Open Patent Non-Assertion Pledge

Legal Challenges to “Stingray” Surveillance Devices Continue to Grow

Jersey Boys’ Use of Ed Sullivan Show Clip Is Fair Use, Ninth Circuit Affirms

SOFA Entm’t, Inc. v. Dodger Prods., Inc.
By Erica Larson – Edited by Alex Shank

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the decision of the District Court for the Central District of California to grant summary judgment and award attorneys’ fees to Dodger Productions, Inc. (“Dodger”) in its suit against SOFA Entertainment, Inc. (“SOFA”). In an opinion by Judge Trott, the court concluded that Dodger’s unlicensed use of a clip from the Ed Sullivan Show fell squarely within the fair use exception.

FilmOn Sues Aereo for False Designation of Origin and False Endorsement under the Lanham Act

FilmOn v. Aereo
By Alex Shank – Edited by Michelle Sohn

Online TV site FilmOn.com, Inc. (“FilmOn”) filed a complaint against competitor Aereo, Inc. (“Aereo”) on counts of false designation of origin and false endorsement under the Lanham Act on February 7, 2013 in the United States District Court of the Central District of California. FilmOn also seeks declaratory judgment that it does not violate the Act and that any trademark right in the name “Aereo” claimed by Aereo is invalid.