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January / 2012

Internet Update: New Web Domain Suffixes

An internet revolution is now underway as ICANN begins to accept applications for new top level domains.

This update gives you a quick summary of the domain name system, lets you know how things are about to change, and offers tips on what you should be aware of and ways to protect your brand and trademarks.

The full update is available through the PDF icon.

Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
August / 2011

It’s Official: Israel Provides an Adequate Level of Data Protection

The European Commission has formally approved Israel’s status as a country that provides an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU.
David Mirchin explains the EU decision and its importance for Israeli businesses.
The full update is available through the PDF icon.
Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
May / 2011

Israeli Privacy Update: Landmark Case Establishes Guidelines for Monitoring Employee Online Activity

Typically, Israeli employers do not have an “email use” policy for their employees. If they do have a policy, it usually grants them wide-ranging powers to monitor and review their employees’ internet usage and email correspondence.
According to a recent major decision by the Israeli National Labor Court, however, this situation is likely to dramatically change. Generic, sweeping or vague internet use policies of employers will no longer be allowed. In this Privacy Update, David Mirchin reviews the court’s decision and the new guidelines for monitoring and examining the content of employee email and online activity.

The full update is available through the PDF icon.

Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
January / 2011

Privacy Update: Class Action Permitted to Proceed

A recent US federal case permitted a class action to proceed based on a site’s violation of users’ privacy. The problem was that the site’s privacy policy was not sufficiently well- drafted.
In this Privacy Update, David Mirchin explains what websites need to do to minimize their exposure for violations of users’ privacy.
The full update is available through the PDF icon.
Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
October / 2010

Viacom v. YouTube Big Victory for Content-Based Websites

If a website is full of infringing material posted by third parties, can it still enjoy immunity from copyright infringement claims? Yes! In perhaps the most closely watched case on this subject for the last 15 years, a U.S. court recently awarded YouTube a clear-cut victory.
The court held that the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) protects website operators from infringement claims even if they had general knowledge that infringement is “ubiquitous” on their site. David Mirchin analyzes this case and suggests how Israeli websites may take some tips on how to handle material posted by their users.

The full update is available through the PDF icon.

Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
September / 2010

Israel Internet and New Media Update: 2009 Year in Review

In this annual update from Meitar’s Technology and Intellectual Property Group, David Mirchin, head of the practice group, presents what he considers to be five of the most important developments during 2009 in Israeli law impacting e-commerce and technology companies.
The five topics are:

  • The Premier League Loses Big: Streaming of Sport Events is a “Fair Use”
  • The Score is Tied at 2-2: Initial Judicial Decisions under the new Israeli Spam Law
  • Proposed Electronic Commerce Law Withdrawn
  • Courts Regulating ISP Liability in Light of Failure to Enact Electronic Commerce Law
  • Liability of Cell Phone Companies for Third Party Content

The full update is available through the PDF icon.

Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property
September / 2010

Recent Ruling on Employee Claims for Royalties for Inventions

The Israeli Compensation and Royalties Committee issued a new ruling that raises questions as to the ability of employers to obtain royalty-free assignments of inventions developed by employees during their term of service.
The full update is available through the PDF icon.
Technology and Intellectual PropertyTechnology and Intellectual Property