derivative work

privacy:

• Florida 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that “Rush Limbaugh’s medical records were properly seized by” the investigators looking into Rush’s drug-buying habits. The ACLU had come in on the side of Limbaugh.
• The First Cir. has granted en banc review [pdf] of the US v. Councilman decision. [Oct. 5] Oral argument scheduled for Dec. 8 and amicus filing opportunities are welcome.

copyright:

• Compaq v. Ergonome, 5th Cir., 10/5. The 5th Circuit affirmed a $2.7 million award of attorney’s fees to the alleged infringer.
  

  On July 11, 2001, after a seven-day trial, the jury concluded that any copying by Compaq was de minimis and constituted fair use according to 17 U.S.C. &sec; 107. The district court subsequently held that the doctrines of laches and equitable estoppel also barred Ergonome’s claim. Based on these findings, the district court awarded Compaq its attorneys’ fees of $2.7 million.

  The 5th Circuit reviewed only the fair use finding, which it affirmed. In combination with Diebold‘s DMCA 512(f) slap at silly claims, the backlash against copyright misusers’ seems to be going full speed ahead.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 6th, 2004 at 11:11 am and is tagged copyright, privacy ACLU, blinkographies, Compaq v. Ergonome, copyright, copyright misuse, Councilman, de minimis, drug war, ECPA, fair use, Fifth Circuit, First Circuit, Fourth Circuit, litigation, medical records, privacy, Rush Limbaugh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. 2,082 views.