S.D.N.Y Holds that the First Sale Doctrine Does not Permit the Resale of a Digital Music File

Capitol Records, LLC v. ReDigi Inc.
By Charlie Stiernberg – Edited by Andrew Crocker

Internet startup ReDigi—“the world’s first and only online marketplace for digital used music”—recently suffered a setback in the rollout of its digital music resale platform. Judge Sullivan for the District Court for the Southern District of New York granted plaintiff Capitol Records’ motion for partial summary judgment on its claims for defendant ReDigi’s direct, contributory, and vicarious infringement.

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Zynga and EA Reach Settlement over Zynga’s “The Ville”
By Casey Holzapfel – Edited by Andrew Crocker

The Chicago Tribune reports that Electronic Arts (EA) and Zynga have reached a settlement agreement regarding competing lawsuits in the Northern District of California. While the details of the settlement were not made public, both parties agreed to drop their respective lawsuits and pay their own legal fees. According to red Orbit, the settlement does not involve compensation from either company.

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Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Andrew Crocker

DHS Civil Liberties Office Validates Suspicionless Border Searches of Electronics

Obama Criticizes Patent Trolls

Python Software Foundation Fights Competing Trademark in Europe

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Sixth Circuit Approves Warrantless Tracking of Cell Phone Location By Michael Hoven – Edited by Andrew Crocker United States v. Skinner, No. 09-6497 (6th Cir. Aug. 14, 2012) Slip opinion The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a jury’s conviction of Melvin Skinner on two counts related to drug trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, rejecting Skinner’s argument on appeal that the district court had wrongly denied his motion to suppress evidence on the ... Read More...

Illinois Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Provide Social Networking Passwords By Andrew Crocker – Edited by Michael Hoven H.B. 3782, 97th Gen. Assemb. (Ill. 2012) Bill On August 1, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed H.B. 3782, which amends Illinois’ Right to Privacy in the Workplace law to prohibit employers from “request[ing] or requir[ing] any employee or prospective employee to provide any password or other related account information in order to gain access to the employee’s or prospective employee’s account ... Read More...