Domain Names

On 20 November, Covington hosted its webinar looking at developments in Net Neutrality and Zero-rating from both a US and a European perspective. Our presenters included ex-FCC Bureau Chief, Partner Matt DelNero from our DC office, and ex-DG Competition Head of Unit, Partner Kevin Coates and Senior Associate Siobhan Kahmann from our Brussels office. The
Continue Reading Covington’s Net Neutrality and Zero-Rating Webinar

A recent study reports that country code Top-Level Domains (“ccTLDs”) belonging to Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are the most commonly used for online copyright infringement.  The study, published in January by Internet researcher Cedric Manara, focuses on data provided by Google regarding the requests it receives to remove search results that link to websites hosting infringing content.

Other ccTLDs rounding out the top ten sources of online infringement include Samoa (.ws), the Czech Republic (.cz), the European Union (.eu), India (.in), Russia (.ru), Tonga (.to), and Montenegro (.me). 
Continue Reading The Geography of Online Infringement: Study Names Sweden as Hotspot for Infringement

On 30 October, 2012, press reported that the Finnish Supreme Court had rejected an appeal from Elisa, a Finnish internet service provider (ISP), against a court order that required Elisa to block its users from accessing the well-known file-sharing website, The Pirate Bay.

The order, which was granted in October 2011 in response to a
Continue Reading Rights Holders Find Increasingly Favourable Climate for Requests for Website-Blocking Orders from Courts in Europe

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is ramping up efforts against the illegal distribution of cell phone applications.  On August 21, 2012, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Lamkin announced a first of its kind seizure of three website domain names used to engage in the unlawful distribution of copyrighted Android cellular phone apps.  All three of the domain names—applanet.net, appbucket.net and snappzmarket.com—now resolve to websites displaying a message warning that willful copyright infringement is a federal crime.

Assistant Attorney General Breuer explained:  “Software apps have become an increasingly essential part of our nation’s economy and creative culture, and the Criminal Division is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the creators of these apps and other forms of intellectual property from those who seek to steal it.”  Special Agent in Charge Lamkin added that this type of intellectual property theft “cost[s] companies millions of dollars and can even inhibit the development and implementation of new ideas and applications.”Continue Reading DOJ Seizes Domain Names To Prevent Theft Of Copyrighted Cell Phone Apps