First Amendment Issues In DEA-Use Of Fake Facebook Profile

POSTED BY Natasha Meserve The Drug Enforcement Agency has used a fake Facebook profile to gather information for a criminal drug investigation and is currently being sued by a woman for using pictures taken from her cellphone. This past week, the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) used a woman’s cellphone pictures to create a fake Facebook… Read More First Amendment Issues In DEA-Use Of Fake Facebook Profile

Big Brother?

POSTED BY Alexandra Lowe   In 1994, Police Chief William Bratton introduced computer-driven performance management to policing.  This data-focused management model, originally known as CompStat, is credited with introducing the concept of “predictive policing” to law enforcement and crime fighting.  CompStat and other similar programs synthesize close to real-time crime data in order to identify criminal… Read More Big Brother?

Grandma Could Afford Her Arthritis Medication…If She Lived In Europe

POSTED BY Sardiaa Leney Since the passage of the Hatch-Waxman provisions 30 years ago, a fairly orderly market in generic small molecule drugs has developed, reducing the cost of some of the commonest medicines to a fraction of their pre-competition price points.  Biologics medicines are another matter.   Biologics are drugs comprising molecules so complex that… Read More Grandma Could Afford Her Arthritis Medication…If She Lived In Europe

Virginia Court Installs Video Conferencing System in Regional Jail

POSTED BY Carolyn Kenniston While video conferencing is not a new technology, it is for the Rappahoannock-Shenandoah-Warren Regional Jail in Virginia (“Jail”), which just began using the teleconferencing system to allow inmates to handle minor matters with the court. In August 2014, the Jail began to use such practice and the reviews have thus far been… Read More Virginia Court Installs Video Conferencing System in Regional Jail

Social Media Spies: The Problem with Government Surveillance Regulations on Twitter

POSTED BY Meghan Bonk A recent BBC news article reported that Twitter has initiated a lawsuit against the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, alleging a free speech violation in relation to surveillance. Attorneys for Twitter claim that the suit was brought as an incentive for the government to be… Read More Social Media Spies: The Problem with Government Surveillance Regulations on Twitter

How Much Trouble Can You Get Into For Selling Goods to the Government?

POSTED BY Sardiaa Leney Recently, whistleblowers in ‘qui tam’ actions have claimed that medical devices and drugs with defects in manufacturing or compliance with applicable regulations supplied into government-funded health care programs are actionable under the Federal False Claims Act (FCA).  A recent judgment in a long-running medical device suit in the District of Massachusetts… Read More How Much Trouble Can You Get Into For Selling Goods to the Government?

Will Alibaba be Triumphant in the Global E-commerce Market?

POSTED BY Nicole Cocozza “Most companies, when they’re doing good, they enjoy today’s wonderful life. They don’t worry about five years from later – but I worry about five years later.” ~Jack Ma The preceding quote is the philosophy behind the creator of the new global e-commerce company, Alibaba.  Over the past month, this global… Read More Will Alibaba be Triumphant in the Global E-commerce Market?

Potential Libel Action Against Google For The Autocomplete Feature

POSTED BY Natasha Meserve Recently, Google, the famous search engine, has dealt with international issues, notably with its Autocomplete feature. This serious issue might potentially hold Google accountable for libel lawsuits regarding certain companies and people. More specifically, ones that are searched for and have certain potentially libelous words associated with its name.  Google’s Autocomplete… Read More Potential Libel Action Against Google For The Autocomplete Feature

Tax Aversion

POSTED BY Marion Goodsell Tax inversions predominated media coverage throughout the summer giving voice to those opposed to the 35 percent U.S. corporate tax rate, and to those decrying the dearth of economic patriotism.  From the later group, there were calls for congressional action; however, in July, Harvard Law Professor Steven Shay pointed out that regulation… Read More Tax Aversion

Of Mice and Lawsuits, Disney and Deadmau5 Square Off Over Likeness Usage and Copyright Infringement

POSTED BY Philip Kachajian   The critically acclaimed electronic music artist Deadmau5 has lawyered up in response to a trademark infringement suit launched by media giant Disney, which believes that Deadmau5’s signature mouse-head logo is too similar to their own. Not to be outdone by Disney’s suit, counsel for the artist have filed a cease and… Read More Of Mice and Lawsuits, Disney and Deadmau5 Square Off Over Likeness Usage and Copyright Infringement

What to Know About Your Constitutional Rights to Data Privacy

POSTED BY Anthony Gatto In a recent CNN story, it was reported that Eric Snowden leaked classified information to the press regarding a United States National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program titled “PRISM” which allows the NSA to gather information from such global giants as Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and others.  Additionally, in a recent USA Today… Read More What to Know About Your Constitutional Rights to Data Privacy

A Consumer’s Right to Write—Defending Freedom of Speech For Online Reviews

POSTED BY Jessica Gonzalez On September 16th 2014, the Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2014 (the Act) was assigned to a congressional committee for approval. If approved, this Act would prohibit businesses from adding “non-disparagement” clauses to contracts consumers have to sign. In other words, businesses would not be able to fine or penalize those… Read More A Consumer’s Right to Write—Defending Freedom of Speech For Online Reviews

Facebook Soars into the Future: Plan to Spread Internet Connectivity Through Drones

POSTED BY Jessica Gray Over the past ten years, there have been numerous exceptional achievements in the world of technology and digital communications. However, one might argue that the most influential development was the creation of Facebook. The social media powerhouse has brought interconnectivity to millions of people and has sparked a social revolution. However,… Read More Facebook Soars into the Future: Plan to Spread Internet Connectivity Through Drones