Out-Law.com: “Google to appeal thumbnail copyright defeats in Germany“:

Google has lost two German court cases over copyright in images displayed as thumbnails in search results. German courts ruled in both cases that Google’s display of miniature versions of pictures without permission infringed copyright in the originals.
The search giant will lodge one appeal covering both cases, it told OUT-LAW.COM

McCain campaign letter to YouTube re Copyright Fair Use and DMCA.
Prof Lessig commentary.
UPDATE: NewTeeVee commentary.

EFF Commentary.
and 43(b)log:

if the campaign is really serious about its First Amendment rights to use footage and other people’s songs, then it should do what the EFF and Stanford’s Fair Use Project have been doing and sue the people sending the notices for abuse of the DMCA. They’re the ones causing the problem, right?

Somewhat related: Fox sends C & D to McCain website.
HT Denise.
As IP Czar, I pledge to address the issue of the DMCA being used to chill political speech.
I’m also concerned by the amount of libel, slander and false advertising in political advertising, and the lack of effective remedies. The public has greater protection against lies about floor cleaners than lies about who their leaders will be.

WSJ: Bush Signs Anti-Piracy Bill

President Bush on Monday signed a bill aiming to beef up U.S. enforcement efforts to stop the sale of pirated or counterfeited movies, music, drugs and software.
. . .
The measure creates a high-level administration coordinator charged with protecting the nation’s intellectual property. Originally, that coordinator was housed at the Justice Department, but after the DOJ protested, the bill sponsors placed that position in the Executive Office of the President.

As IP Czar, I will attempt to get iTunes to carry Beatles songs.

WSJ: Lessig: “In Defense of Piracy“:

How is it that sensible people, people no doubt educated at some of the best universities and law schools in the country, would come to think it a sane use of corporate resources to threaten the mother of a dancing 13-month-old? What is it that allows these lawyers and executives to take a case like this seriously, to believe there’s some important social or corporate reason to deploy the federal scheme of regulation called copyright to stop the spread of these images and music? “Let’s Go Crazy” indeed!

Seattle Trademark Lawyer: Eastern District (Washington) Dismisses Lanham Act Claim for Lack of Standing:

Plaintiff Melvin Ott sued Ingenix, Inc., in the Eastern District for listing him as a consultant in a proposal it made to the State of Montana. The State of Montana awarded Ingenix the bid — to develop fee schedules for the state — but Ingenix did not use Dr. Ott as a consultant. This, Dr. Ott argued, amounted to false association and unfair competition in violation of the Lanham Act.
Ingenix moved for summary judgment based on Dr. Ott’s alleged lack of standing to assert such a claim.
On Sept. 30, Eastern District Judge Fred Van Sickle granted the motion because the State of Montana, as the allegedly deceived entity, was not a party to the suit.