Discussion of Google’s patented PigeonRank system here.

Some reactions to the Bean-teaser from yesterday.

1.  The photo, to the extent it copies, copies a curve and reflexity, neither of which are original to the Bean;

2.  The taking is de minimis;

3. Look at the statute;

4.  Look at the law.  On that point, a brilliant colleague (whose employer insists that its employees…

Prof. Lessig on being portrayed by Christopher Lloyd here.

Via How Appealing, the Ninth Circuit has vacated a prior three-justice decision holding that a U.S. Court did not have personal jursidiction over an Anti-Nazi group which had sued Yahoo in France regarding the offering of Nazi paraphernalia via Yahoo.  There will now be an en banc hearing.

Prof. Eric Goldman (no stranger to these pages) has started the TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETING LAW Blog.  Early post topics include bots, spyware, Grokster and the Jewish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Copyfight on the Bean That May Not Be Photographed (and follow the links therein).

Question:  Assuming that it is unauthorized, does the second image of a reflected scene in the bean infringe the copyright of the sculpture?  Note – I’m not talking about breach of license, as in the photographer apparently needed permission from the property…

Lawyers for J.K. Rowling are looking into whether a U.S. Army publication that features a wizard named Motter at a school named Mogmarts headed by a wizard named Rumbledore, infringes the Harry Potter copyright. 

EFF’s Deep Links continues its coverage of the City of Heroes litigation (litigants depicted at right), linking to defendant NCSoft’s motion to strike and motion to dismiss, which motions allege that Marvel fabricated some evidence of infringement.  Marvel allegedly used the City of Heroes software to create Marvel-like characters (which could demonstrate the software’s potential for infringement…