Category: Intellectual Property

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The Business of Surveillance: Balancing Concerns Over Ubiquitous Technology

Since the events of September 11, there has been increased concern regarding security.  To address these concerns, many private and public companies have looked to using various “ubiquitous” technologies to provide surveillance and security services.  For example, the global video surveillance industry has seen a boost in growth.  Joe Freeman, president of J.P. Freeman Co. Inc., expects the $7 billion global video surveillance industry to almost double within the next few years. [1]  As the market for ubiquitous technologies continues to grow and then technology itself improves, some critics grumble that we are ensuring our security at the expense of privacy.

A technology that has come under scrutiny when discussing privacy is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).  RFID draws its foundation in the barcodes and UPC codes found on many products in use today.  A reader sends a radio signal to a RFID tag or transponder.  The RFID tag responds to

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Does MySpace Care About Copyrights?

I. Introduction

They
probably should because Universal Music Group ("UMG") recently filed a
copyright infringement lawsuit against the popular social-networking
website. [1].  Myspace.com is alleged to allow its users to post and
share UMG's videos and songs without permission. [2].  UMG wants an
injunction against MySpace and a hefty damage award of $150,000 for
each individual copyright infringement violation. [3].

II. Analysis

UMG
says that MySpace’s content is “user stolen” intellectual property of
others and that “MySpace is aiding copyright infringement by
reformatting clips so users can transfer them to friends or post them
to other sites.” [4].  UMG attorney’s stated in their complaint that
“[d]efendants have made infringement free and easy. [They have] turned
MySpace Videos into a vast virtual warehouse for pirated copies of
music videos and songs." [5].

It is not like MySpace has been sitting around doing nothing to help
detect the copyright violations.  In October,

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Don’t Mess With Star Wars

I. Introduction

Lucasfilm, Ltd. was recently awarded $20
million in damages from the British company Shepperton Design Studios
for trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and unfair
competition.  [1].  Shepperton was using Lucasfilm's TIE fighter pilot
helmets and Stormtrooper helmets and costumes from the Star Wars
movies.  [2],[3]. The strength of the Star Wars mark and all of the
characters in each movie is very strong, as evidenced by a judgment
like this.

II. Analysis

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California awarded
Lucasfilm the $20 million in damages.  [4]  Shepperton was found to
have made and sold unlicensed copies of Stormtrooper and TIE fighter
costumes and fraudulently said they were authentic items.  [5].  On top
of the damages, a permanent injunction was granted against Shepperton 
permanently barring them from "copying, reproducing, importing,
licensing, marketing or displaying any of its unauthorized Star Wars
products in the United States."  [6]. 

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