GraphOn, which considers itself a "leading worldwide developer of server-based application publishing and Web-enabling software solutions," today announced that it is suing Google for infringing on four of GraphOn's patents. According to the complaint (embedded below), Google Base, AdWords, Blogger, Sites, and YouTube allegedly infringe on GraphOn's patent for a "unique method of maintaining an automated and network-accessible database" - a patent that is so broad, it basically covers the complete Internet as we know it today.

Full story: readwriteweb.com 

Labels: data, database, GraphOn, lawsuit, lawyers

Google is to be forced to release the records of every video watched on YouTube, including user names and web addresses, to entertainment company Viacom after a US federal court ruling.

Viacom, which is pursuing a $1bn (£500m) copyright infringement lawsuit against Google, wants the information to determine the amount of copyright material on YouTube. The disclosure could increase Google's liability if Viacom wins the court case.

Google had argued that turning over the YouTube data would invade users' privacy. However, US district judge Louis Stanton ordered the internet company to hand over video records and information including login names and internet protocol addresses.

Viacom failed, however, in a bid to also secure access to the search engine giant's source code, on the grounds that doing so would threaten Google's business.

Read more: guardian.co.uk 

Labels: lawsuit, lawyers, Viacom, youtube

Actually, Copiepresse is suing Google for publishing and storing their content without permission, but what they obviously don’t understand is that when Google News publishes your headline and a short excerpt linking to the original article, that’s fair use, and it’s a good thing because it sends you tons of traffic.

This is an old story; and if you’ve been following it closely, you know that Google had already lost once. Copiepresse only wanted their content to be removed from Google News and Google.be, however, now they want money - anywhere between 51.7 and 77.5 million dollars will do.

Read more: mashable.com 

Labels: Belgium, Copiepresse, lawsuit, lawyers

An American couple is suing Web goliath Google, claiming photos on Google's popular mapping website violated their privacy, devalued their property and caused mental suffering, media reports say.


Aaron and Christine Boring say they bought their Pittsburgh home in 2006 for a "considerable sum of money", the Associated Press reported. A major reason for the purchase was their desire for privacy, they said.

The couple claim Google used photos taken from their long driveway and put the images online, AP said. Google's mapping website allows people to click for photos of the street taken using cars mounted with digital cameras.

Read more: stuff.co.nz 

Labels: couple, lawsuit, lawyers, photos

Coalition says FTC chair has conflict of interest

A coalition opposing Google's $3.1 billion merger with DoubleClick renewed charges of conflicts and threatened possible legal action over a decision by a regulatory chairman not to recuse herself from reviewing the merger.

In a conference call with reporters today, representatives of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, said they are considering filing a lawsuit in response to a decision last week by Deborah Platt Majoras, chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Majoras denied a request from the groups that she recuse herself from the merger review after the groups learned that her husband, John M. Majoras, is a partner who specializes in antitrust at the Jones Day law firm representing DoubleClick.

Read more: mercurynews.com 

Labels: DoubleClick, lawyers

University, Waltham license holder say they own technology

Northeastern University and a start-up company cofounded by an associate professor have filed a patent-infringement suit against Google Inc., claiming that database technology patented in 1997 was misappropriated by the world's most popular Internet search service.

"This particular patent has to do with the fundamental database architecture, which they use to serve up every single result they serve to you," said Michael Belanger, president of Jarg Corp. in Waltham. Jarg is a privately funded developer of advanced search technology. The company was cofounded by Northeastern associate professor Kenneth P. Baclawski and holds an exclusive license to the patent, which is owned by Northeastern.

Full story: boston.com 

Labels: lawsuit, lawyers, patent, technology, university

Eight more parties join in the copyright lawsuit against YouTube and Google


Google has drawn significant heat from copyright holders of materials uploaded by users to the YouTube video site. A pending class action lawsuit against Google claims YouTube deliberately encourages copyright infringement.

Read more: dailytech.com 

Labels: Copyright, lawsuit, lawyers, youtube

Viacom and Google go to court July 27 to decide which of the two companies should bear the cost of keeping Viacom's copyrighted content off YouTube, Google's video-sharing Web site. Viacom says Google and seeks $1 billion in damages.

Whatever the result, the case will impact most Internet users. According to comScore, nearly 75 percent of U.S. Internet users watched an average of 158 minutes of online video per user during May 2007. Most of those videos came from YouTube. According to web metrics firm Hitwise, YouTube's market share was 50 percent greater than the next 64 most popular Web video sites combined.

Full article: internetnews.com 

Labels: Copyright, lawsuit, lawyers, Viacom, youtube