tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:10:03 +0000A blog by Asma Vranaki which analyses important legal developments in the field of cyberspace including privacy, defamation, intellectual property, e-commerce and online property in the UK, EU, USA and the Far East.http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)Blogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-7283746337345308127Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:02:00 +00002009-06-23T21:15:06.990+01:00FBHiveFacebookprivacyhacking CyberPanda is loving the new blog FBHive which deals with all things related to Facebook: the news, the rumours, and the controversies!! And this new blog has started with a bang as it has disclosed a major security flaw which enables any user to access the basic information of other users even when such information has been protected by its owner (via privacy settings). Amazingly, the blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/0Fn_4t5XwM0/new-blog-is-born-fbhive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/0Fn_4t5XwM0" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-blog-is-born-fbhive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-6704617416936806812Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:49:00 +00002009-06-22T01:04:30.020+01:00FacebookTwitterIranian electionsDigital BritainIt has been a long time since CyberPanda has written a post but she has been trying to put together a massive chapter and hence the prolongued absence.However these past few weeks have been full of technology-legal news: where does one start? The UK Digital Report has been published last week attracted some criticisms regarding its proposals which many view as just not being enough.The world has http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/BOVvojutrRQ/from-digital-britain-to-twitter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/BOVvojutrRQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-digital-britain-to-twitter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2835486542022679420Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:55:00 +00002009-03-25T10:06:06.452Zsocial networking sitesUK GovernmentprivacyThere is an outcry today by privacy activists about the government`s proposal to monitor social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo. Under the proposal, the details of users of such sites will be kept in a central database which is operated by a private company.The Government is quick to point out that it is not interested by the content of the exchanges passing between users. However, it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/RdLx-tat10w/proposals-for-monitoring-social.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/RdLx-tat10w" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/03/proposals-for-monitoring-social.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-9042704447642201910Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:45:00 +00002009-03-22T14:02:30.079ZGoogle Street ViewInformation Commissionerprivacy The launch of Street View in the United Kingdom was never going to be a quiet affair. Beyond the usual fanfare of publicity and the slogans presenting it as the thing we need most, Street View was also going to attract a lot of issues related to protection of privacy of the individuals who are captured on the displayed images.Hence it does not surprise CyberPanda in the least that Street View http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/HKrP5V83odo/of-blurring-technologies-and-mapping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/HKrP5V83odo" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/03/of-blurring-technologies-and-mapping.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2207943806393010218Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:09:00 +00002009-03-03T00:22:22.580ZFacebookdata protectionprivacy Another week and Facebook is yet again in the news for all the wrong reasons. It has been reported by BBC News that Facebook has been hit by five different security attacks in the past 7 days. The aim of these attacks have been to access the personal information of millions of Facebook users and resale them to third parties as commodities for various purposes including fraud and identity http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/P4yn9fBb3co/another-week-where-facebook-is-in-press.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/P4yn9fBb3co" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/03/another-week-where-facebook-is-in-press.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-418954878283115135Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:35:00 +00002009-02-22T22:57:17.878ZFacebookgovernanceprivacy The Facebook row this week has been a very well documented one. Facebook changed its terms of service earlier this week. The new terms in essence gave to Facebook wider control over its use, storage and dissemination of the personal data of its users. The change was met with a general outcry from its users (who formed a group on Facebook called "People against the new terms of service" which hadhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/Ou5Sgc1wVUk/another-facebook-row.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/Ou5Sgc1wVUk" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/02/another-facebook-row.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-101832570063428434Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:44:00 +00002009-02-20T16:59:05.510ZtresspassGoogle Street ViewSilicon Valleyprivacy Many avid followers and readers of CyberPanda have complained about the lack of posts recently. So after a period of (unwanted and involuntary!) silence due to having only 12 hours in a day (how is a doctoral student suppose to stumble on a good idea with only 12 hours in a day!!), CyberPanda is back and will try to maintain more regular posts!Some breaking news all the way from the Silicon http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/oUhpczkTc-A/case-against-google-street-map-or-case.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/oUhpczkTc-A" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2009/02/case-against-google-street-map-or-case.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-4621027765924804990Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:21:00 +00002008-12-16T19:35:56.732ZFacebookservice of documentsCivil Procedure RulesprivacyThe Times newspaper has reported a recent Australian case which has been making legal history in Australia on the issue of methods of service of court notices. The supreme court judge of the Australia Capital Territory has ruled that court notices served via Facebook are binding. The case is in stark contrast to a previous Australian ruling (by a district judge in Queensland) that service of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/Aclk0vIicB4/facebook-new-way-to-serve-court-notices.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/Aclk0vIicB4" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/12/facebook-new-way-to-serve-court-notices.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-5320091475070814177Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:14:00 +00002008-12-10T20:28:50.385ZDRMbreach of copyrightTorrentFreakpiracySpore TorrentFreak has released the much awaited piracy chart which list the ten most pirated video games in 2008. CyberPanda is not very surprised that Spore tops the piracy charts. The number of illegal dowloads of game is reported to be in the region of 1.7 million. The high level of piracy has been linked by many commentators to the DRM associated with Spore: initially users of Spore could only http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/R23dRBDqGsA/guess-which-games-made-it-to-top-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/R23dRBDqGsA" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/12/guess-which-games-made-it-to-top-10.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-567039490435995626Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:16:00 +00002008-12-05T11:29:35.089Ztrademark infringementWilson v Yahoo UKtrademarkMarks and SpencerThe attention of CyberPanda has been caught by the recent lawsuit filed by Interflora against Marks & Spencer and Flowers Direct Online. Interflora has filed the lawsuit against the two defendants on the ground on trademark infringement. The two defendants have purchased certain keywords from Google AdWords including 'interflora' which means that each time a user searches for the term 'interflorahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/H7rGlUvgK04/sequel-to-wilson-v-yahoo-uk-ltd-anor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/H7rGlUvgK04" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/12/sequel-to-wilson-v-yahoo-uk-ltd-anor.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-4094041979176524400Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:35:00 +00002008-11-19T01:48:57.354ZMySpaceComputer Fraud and Abuse Actcyber-bullyingUSBBC New Technology has reported the start of the much awaited MySpace 'cyber-bullying' hearing in the US. The facts of the case are very much well known to all by now and have been covered by CyberPanda in earlier posts. The Defendant has been charged with conspiracy and unlawful access to protected computers under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The act has traditionally been used to prosecutehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/1T9dowTwlks/first-cyber-bullying-hearing-in-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/1T9dowTwlks" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-cyber-bullying-hearing-in-us.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2263902389024860271Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:03:00 +00002008-10-31T14:20:13.941ZEuropean Court of JusticeE-Commerce Directivewebsite Outlaw has recently commented on the ruling of the European Court of Justice ('ECJ') in the case of Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände – Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband eV v deutsche internet versicherung AG.The Plaintiff sued the Defendants on the ground that the latter did not provide its phone number to its potential customers before the conclusion of a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/98T9tfQMTXA/if-you-are-service-provider-you-better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/98T9tfQMTXA" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/if-you-are-service-provider-you-better.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2138282226587575841Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:24:00 +00002008-10-27T12:46:51.759Zlegitimacyvirtual relationshipsvirtual murderMaplestoryFor those of us who still believe that actions on MMORPGs can never carry any repercussions in the offline world, the recent imprisonment of a Japanese woman who killed her 'virtual husband' online, should make us think twice.The game in question, Maplestory, allows its players to participate in a number of games as well as social activities/relationships including marriage through avatars. The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/neoZzckf_VY/possible-sentence-of-5-years-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/neoZzckf_VY" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/possible-sentence-of-5-years-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-651011850688811934Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:16:00 +00002008-10-15T20:30:30.207+01:00internetCommunications Data BillHome Secretary What is the Government`s answer to the growing and multifold use of internet and mobile phones: a central database of the traffic generated by both technologies!! The Government justifies its proposal on the premise of 'keeping up' with new technologies. CyberPanda is shocked at this very weak and unpersuasive rationale for such a drastic proposal which is very much reminiscent of Big Brother http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/T7UtezSVdpw/one-step-closer-to-orwellian-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/T7UtezSVdpw" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/one-step-closer-to-orwellian-world.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-1226875712786137831Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:02:00 +00002008-10-09T14:13:46.469+01:00Law 62Italyblogfreedom of speechCarlo Ruta The attention of CyberPanda has been caught by an interesting case from the Italian shores covered by The Register.Mr Carlo Ruta has been found guilty by the courts of the offence of 'stampa clandestina' which means clandestine publication, in respect of publications of posts on his blog. In the judge`s view, given that the blog had a headline, it amounted to an 'online newspaper' and hence was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/rzO_VUPxJfM/we-give-thanks-for-not-blogging-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/rzO_VUPxJfM" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/we-give-thanks-for-not-blogging-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-998199018722425121Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:10:00 +00002008-10-09T08:25:56.991+01:00surveillanceGeodeprivacyFirefox BBC News Technology has reported that Mozilla, the creator and developer of the Firefox browser has launched Geode, which is a geolocation technology. As most of Firefox`s features, Geode is an add-on feature which users add if they wish to avail themselves of this technology. It is important to point out that Geode is still at a pilot stage and Firefox is at the moment focussing on how users http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/eD8eVgxnz68/brace-yourself-for-your-encounter-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/eD8eVgxnz68" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/brace-yourself-for-your-encounter-with.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-7618438638969909843Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:16:00 +00002008-10-08T21:33:34.055+01:00patent protectionSeer Systemsonline music filesEFFSeer Systems, a US company, has been awarded patent protection for a system and method of merging various types of data, distributing the data over the internet and playing the media file. The EFF has filed a reexaminiation request with the US Patent & Trademark Office on the grounds that the system in question does not fulfill the requisite elements needed before patent protection is granted. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/e6yjzd989xU/patent-protection-for-online-music-file.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/e6yjzd989xU" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/patent-protection-for-online-music-file.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2649186751644815683Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:11:00 +00002008-10-04T22:37:22.787+01:00eBayTOM-skypesecuritySkypeprivacy The Information Warfare Monitor has published damning evidence of a series of worrying acts related to TOM-skype (the Chinese version of Skype) which are taking place in China. The evidence shows that TOM-skype blocks keywords from chat conversations and more worryingly spies on (and reports!!) the contents of the messages passing between Skype users. The evidence gathered, so far, indicates http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/wExT1URHbr4/beware-of-conversations-with-users-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/wExT1URHbr4" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/beware-of-conversations-with-users-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-1571349272254554155Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:56:00 +00002008-10-01T13:11:47.052+01:00BlizzardWorld of WarcraftcopyrightMDYGlider Blizzard has won $6m in damages in the trial it brought against MDY earlier this year. In a nutshell, Blizzard brought a claim against MDY on the grounds that Glider, a software produced by MDY infringed the copyright of Blizzard in the World of Warcraft ('WoW').The US District Court ruled that Glider did in fact break the terms of the licence which users of WoW agree to before playing WoW. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/A5B9JJjr4Io/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-that-is-question.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/A5B9JJjr4Io" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/10/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-that-is-question.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-1649577373194437370Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:57:00 +00002008-09-30T12:15:18.007+01:00Phormonline advertisingBTprivacy BT will launch its trial of Phorm on the 30th September 2008. Avid readers of CyberPanda will remember the concerns of the Panda on the roll out of Phorm which were covered in earlier posts( here and here).The sample users will see a special webpage when they start surfing online and they will be asked whether they want to opt in, opt out or need more information about the Phorm. BT anticipates http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/GCqDMq9vTDs/phorm-is-coming-to-webpage-near-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/GCqDMq9vTDs" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/phorm-is-coming-to-webpage-near-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-5782608029041393316Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:53:00 +00002008-09-29T17:14:46.287+01:00internetUK Council for Child Internet Safetyharmful contentCyberPanda is back online after a week of holiday: well more hard work than holiday!! News worthy of mention is the launch of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety today. Its aim is to provide a safer online environment for minors by educating children about the dangers online, dealing actively with harmful content online and create a code of conduct for relevant websites.This is right step http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/wk2-Sk-a4DE/panda-is-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/wk2-Sk-a4DE" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/panda-is-back.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-7727466249885085467Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-09-17T14:29:00.559+01:00Phormdata protectionEU CommissionerViviane RedingUK Governmentprivacy The Government has stated that Phorm, the online ad system, will be rolled out in the UK. Avid readers of CyberPanda will remember that this issue was covered earlier this year when the EU questioned the lawfulness of Phorm especially in the context of data protection laws. The EU asked the Government to clarify the manner in which the system tracked the web habits of net users.The Government http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/1E9p0Yc8fVg/phorm-is-being-rolled-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/1E9p0Yc8fVg" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/phorm-is-being-rolled-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-2748491819417180004Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:03:00 +00002008-09-16T08:34:59.548+01:00World Wide Web Foudationfreedom of speechSir Tim Berners-Leedisinformation Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, has told BBC News that measures should be taken to ensure that users of the internet are able to separate 'rumour' from 'real science' online. He is also concerned about the use of the internet to spread 'disinformation' (we all remember the rumours circulated online about the dangers of the MMR vaccine). He has made these comments whilst http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/tIGsrJEe4N0/internet-rumour-mill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/tIGsrJEe4N0" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/internet-rumour-mill.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-7590075508126437350Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:55:00 +00002008-09-13T01:13:36.182+01:00online file sharingconspiracy to defraudOink The Guardian has reported today that the founder of Oink, a filesharing site, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud. In addition, four users of the site have been charged with copyright infringement. Oink has been closed since eleven months and the case is due to be heard at the Cleveland Magistrates Court later in September.Oink has reportedly been one of the biggest file sharing sites http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/SipLR6s3P2c/oink-oink-is-due-to-appear-in-courts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/SipLR6s3P2c" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/oink-oink-is-due-to-appear-in-courts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9204051075503158196.post-1697313639973570214Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:42:00 +00002008-09-10T23:00:28.025+01:00disclosureP2P file sharingUMG Recordings Inc v DoeminorI have come across an interesting US P2P case namely UMG Recordings Inc. v. Doe (N.D.Cal. September 4, 2008).The facts of the case are fairly simple. The Plaintiffs discovered the IP address of the Defendant (a John Doe) who engaged in illegal file sharing and sued the latter for copyright infringement. As the Defendant was only known by his/her IP address, the Plaintiffs sought a court order http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~3/dOC3ay8YIbk/latest-p2p-case-in-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (CyberPanda)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cyberpanda/~4/dOC3ay8YIbk" height="1" width="1"/>http://cyberpanda-cyberpanda.blogspot.com/2008/09/latest-p2p-case-in-us.html