legal – Techcitement*

Former TigerDirect President Charged With Fraud

Tom Wyrick — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:43:54 +0000

Former President of TigerDirect (and parent company Systemax, Inc.) Carl Fiorentino finds himself accused of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for redirecting $230 million to manufacturers and suppliers who paid him kickbacks or bribes. Prosecutors claim Fiorentino was responsible for the company’s purchasing decisions but rather than going with the low bidder, he […]

NSA Demands Verizon Turn Over Caller Database

Tom Wyrick — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:26:08 +0000

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Do […]

Government Seizes Bitcoin Trading Site’s Bank Account

Tom Wyrick — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:30:09 +0000

The United States Department of Homeland Security shut down Mt. Gox’s ability to accept or send transfers using mobile payment service Dwolla last night. According to the warrant, a Homeland Security special agent believes Mt. Gox is guilty of the crime of operating an “unlicensed money transmitting business.” After an undercover informant used the service […]

Japan Pushes Ban What You Can’t Understand Policy With Tor

Tom Wyrick — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:30:05 +0000

A recent report from The Mainichi claims Japan’s National Police Agency (roughly equivalent to the FBI in the United States) urges ISPs to block internet connections for users found abusing Tor (The Onion Router) clients. Tor’s purpose is to create secure, anonymous connections to internet sites by splitting up the data stream and routing it […]

He Connects… He Shares… Strike!

Tom Wyrick — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:27:55 +0000

The Copyright Alert System (CAS) is here! Brainchild of such industries as the RIAA and MPAA, this new method to curtail illegal content sharing went live last week. An outline for the system began in July 2011, as the recording and movie businesses realized individual lawsuits weren’t accomplishing their goal of reducing or eliminating piracy. […]

Apple’s Motion To Dismiss Denied, For Talking Too Damn Much

Dina Ehrenburg — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:50 +0000

Yesterday, Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in a 56-page decision, denied Apple’s motion to dismiss the federal antitrust complaint filed against it, which alleged that Apple spearheaded a conspiracy among e-book publishers to fix e-book prices by introducing “agency pricing” where the publisher, not the […]

Amazon Wins Sales Tax Scuffle In Colorado

Tom Wyrick — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:27:04 +0000

U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn has tossed out a 2010 Colorado law meant to pressure online retailers to collect sales tax. In his ruling, Blackburn claims the law and regulations required to carry it out “impose an undue burden on interstate commerce” and are unconstitutional. The law was part of a package of Democratic-backed legislation […]

Not So Fast, iPad! Apple Offers Refunds Over Australian 4G Compatibility

Matt Algren — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:21 +0000

Our Reuven Shechter may like his new iPad, but Australian consumer watchdog Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) cried foul yesterday over Apple’s claim of 4G compatibility. It turns out that the iPad isn’t compatible with Australia’s 4G network at all. From the Australian Broadcasting Company: Lawyers for the ACCC accused Apple of breaching consumer law […]

President Obama Calls For Consumer Privacy Bill Of Rights

Tom Wyrick — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:53:28 +0000

With the proliferation of mobile gadgets connected to the internet, President Barack Obama declares it’s time the United States has a privacy Bill of Rights. Administration officials urged consumer groups and technology companies to craft and submit suggested privacy protections to add to guidelines they began crafting on Thursday. Initially, these rules will be voluntary […]

Honeywell Makes A Beeline To Stir Up Nest

Tom Wyrick — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Honeywell Corporation stings Nest Labs and Best Buy retailers this week with a surprise patent lawsuit over the Nest learning thermostat. Honeywell claims their patents were infringed related to “controlling a thermostat with information stored in a remote location,” “a thermostat’s inner design,” “simplified methods for operating and programming a thermostat including the use of […]