DoubleClick settles consumer privacy class action

Over a dozen separate federal and state suits had been filed against the New York-based Internet advertising company charging that it invaded users' privacy, the first such lawsuit was filed in California by the Rothken Law Firm. The suits were later consolidated into a single federal suit, which was settled in March. A final settlement was approved Tuesday by Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Federal District Court in Manhattan. Among the terms of the deal, DoubleClick is required to create an easy-to-read privacy policy the better protects user privacy rights.

Included in the terms of the settlement are rules that require DoubleClick to do the following:

• Create a privacy policy that is easy to read, outlines the company's use of cookies and pixel tags, and explains its online ad servicing service.

• Launch 300 million banner ads on sites across the Internet that explain how consumers can protect their privacy, opt out of having a DoubleClick ad server cookie placed on their computers and how cookies are used and data is collected.

• Purge various user information that the company has collected on consumers on a regular basis, and

• Hire an accounting firm to audit its compliance with the terms.

Sunncomm cloques music CDs

Sunncomm and Music City records are sued in California for allegedly using cloquing 'DRM" technology on Music CDs, without proper notice, to impair functionality and prevent consumers from copying songs to their MP3 players.

MP3 search engine defends itself against the RIAA

MP3Board search engine defends itself against allegations from the RIAA and Major Recording Studios regarding the issue of whether or not mere passive hyperlinking arising out of Internet search engine results can constitute secondary copyright infringement in Arista Records et al. v. MP3Board, Inc./ MP3Board, Inc. v. RIAA.

RecordTV.com defends itself against the MPAA

Argues that its Internet centric VCR, created out of software code, is just as lawful as a physical VCR and they should not have to pay any Copyright damages in MGM et al v. RecordTV.com, Inc.

California's bulk e-mail statute questioned in class action case

A California state law aimed at reining in unsolicited bulk email is unconstitutional, a judge ruled this week.

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First Consumer privacy lawsuit filed against DoubleClick

For allegedly using invisible web bugs to track what Internet users read and click on in Judnick v. DoubleClick (Co-lead class action counsel).

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Visa settles net gambling case

Visa affliates have agreed to pay the debt of a woman who gambled away more than $70,000 at internet casinos and to warn consumers of the legal risks of using credit cards for internet gambling in the case of Providian v. Haines.

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Mastercard settles net gambling case

Cynthia Haines used her credit cards to gamble over the Internet and was sued by her credit issuer, Providian National Bank, over unpaid bills. She then filed a countersuit against the bank as well as Visa and MasterCard, claiming the companies were trying to collect on gambling debts that were unenforceable under California law.

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Amex and Discover sued over Internet gambling loans

Online gambling is a lucrative multimillion-dollar industry worldwide that's expected to grow to $10 billion in three years, according to Datamonitor PLC, a market researcher in London. Hundreds of Web sites, mostly located outside the United States, currently lure surfers to virtual slot machines, craps and other Las Vegas-style games where the net casinos take major credit cards in in return for virtual chips.

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