Supreme Court says it's okay to knock on the door without a permit
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an ordinance requiring Jehovah's Witnesses or other door-to-door advocates for religious or political causes to get a permit violates free-speech rights. [Story Link] Not that it is the same thing, but if I don't need a permit to knock on someone's door, is it even conceivable that I would need permission to link to someone's website? Check page 3 of that link (which relates to the LSU student who is being sued by his own lawschool).
1:30:54 PM
100+ arrested in prostitution bust on golf course in California
We know about prostitution in New Orleans, but somehow we haven't figured out how to tie it in with golf. [Story Link]
1:24:31 PM
Just because President Clinton plays the sax and can pick up women doesn't mean that you can.
Ames, Iowa - Mulford A. Barlow, an accountant for the Schneidemann Meat Packing Company and an amateur saxophonist, is suing the Selmer Musical Instrument Corporation for an undisclosed sum of money for what he is terming “gross violations of an implied contract.”
Mr. Barlow’s attorney, noted civil rights lawyer Ron Kuby, alleges in papers filed today with the 2nd Circuit Court of Central Iowa that “in their glamorous print advertisements that feature beautiful women gazing longingly at men playing the saxophone, the Selmer Corporation creates the expectation that all one has to do to gain favor with said beautiful women is to purchase and learn how to play one of their extremely expensive saxophones. After spending more than $6000 on a Selmer Mark VII Eb Alto Saxophone and assorted accessories, as well as two years’ worth of private lessons, my client, Mr. Barlow, is no closer to going on his first date than the day he passed his CPA exam.” [Story Link]
Perhaps it isn't Selmer's fault. I'm sure at his deposition he'll be asked about whether he practiced the correct fingering technique.
11:35:42 AM
From Denise: "The Milberg Wiess law firm, known for its pursuit of shareholder derivative class actions, filed a lawsuit against five record labels last week on behalf of consumers injured by anti-copy protection incorporated into music CDs. [Via Law.com] This should get people's attention... More from the Mercury News and the Manila Business World. I haven't read the complaint, but I'm assuming California Business & Profession Code Sections 17200 (unfair business practices) and 17500 (false advertising) receive at least honorable mentions. And as Kevin Marks pointed out awhile ago on Reading Gonzo Engaged, it is not inconceivable that California Penal Code Section 502 might eventually get some play over this issue." [Bag and Baggage]
Now this is interesting!!!! What about a antitrust tying claim for selling CDs only and not individual songs? I rarely want all of the 10 or 11 songs that come on a CD. Why can't I just buy the ones I want? I think I know the answer. And I'd like to see that issue litigated in court.
11:27:55 AM
News of the demise of Joseph Nacchio
Qwest Pulls the Cord on CEO Nacchio - "Open season on high-profile CEOs continued Monday with news that Joseph Nacchio was ousted as chief executive of Qwest and replaced by Tellabs CEO and former Ameritech chief Richard C. Notebaert." [Doc and Buzz should find this of interest!] via [The Shifted Librarian]
I blogged about this awhile back, and I guess that explains why my "referers" show 18 people accessing my site through a Google search for "Nacchio + Qwest + Compensation". I checked my old post and there was a link to an MSNBC article (which I recall was by Steven Levy) about the perils of blogging. It recounted the now-famous story in which Doc Searls was blogging about the incident and got fresh information from Buzz which had a deleterious effect on Nachio's presentation. Anyway, the link to the MSNBC article, like Nacchio, is no longer working. I've updated the link with this one.
11:22:23 AM
Supreme Court Updates from Howard Bashman
"IN MONDAY'S NEWSPAPERS: The Washington Post reports that Justice Anthony M. Kennedy would like to be the next Chief Justice of the United States. And while many people might share that ambition, Justice Kennedy has a far better chance of accomplishing it than most. You can access the Post's article here." via "howard"
From LLRX.com comes word that the American Lawyer is available online. 12 issues for just under $149 (that's 50% off the regular price of $298 per year). Oh, and the single issue cover price is $49. WOW!!! I must be missing something. Architectural Digest doesn't cost that much. Do they really get people to pay $50 an issue for a specialty publication? And I download it so they don't have print costs (it's a PDF), and only marginal distribution costs (the cost of maintaining a server and an Internet connection). What planet are these guys on?
9:34:15 AM
Daily Quote ....
George Carlin. "I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect." [Quotes of the Day]
Lawrence Lessig has extremely thought-provoking comments in his recent Reason interview, "Cyberspace's Legal Visionary": Lawrence Lessig on the fate of copyrights and computer networks in the digital future. via [kuro5hin.org]
Lessig understands the impact of technology and the legal issues that arise as a result of new tech, and...as an added bonus, he knows how to explain it all in everyday language.
7:20:20 AM
