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Daily Archives: December 4, 2003

Google Seeks Ruling on Trademarks and Keyword Searching

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In anticipation of widely reported plans for a initial public offering (IPO) in early 2004, Google is seeking a ruling from District Court in San Jose, California to determine whether keyword searches associated with advertising sold by the site constitute trademark infringement. (Google, Inc. v. American Blind & Wallpaper Factory, Inc. (Complaint) , ND Ca)

  • From Computerworld, this statement on the case issued by Google on December 5: “Google filed this action because we were being threatened with an imminent lawsuit by American Blind and Wallpaper Factory. We seek to have the court confirm our view that this methodology properly respects trademark owners’ rights while at the same time simplifying the ad targeting process for our advertisers. Such a decision will ultimately benefit the online advertising industry at large, as well as Google.”
  • Additional commentary: Google Asks Judge to Lay Down Trademark Law

    • President Signs Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003

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    President Bush Signs Identity Theft Legislation From the Congressional Record, H.R. 2622 White House Fact Sheet on the Act, which provides that consumers may obtain each year, free of charge, a personal credit history report, that merchants must omit from sales receipts all but the last five digits of a customer’s credit card number, and… Continue Reading

    History of FOIA Includes Denial and Exemptions

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    From the November/December 2003 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: How agencies thwart the Freedom of Information Act, by Jeffrey T. Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive, Washington, D.C. “Although the Freedom of Information Act has been a blessing to academics, journalists, and activists, it is seen as a curse by some in… Continue Reading