Category Archives: Legal Issues

From Start to Finish: Playing the Social Game – Part II Conceiving The Game

Posted on May 10, 2012 | 1 Comment

I recently wrote an article that was published an article in Aspen Publishers’ May 2012 of The Computer & Internet Lawyer.  This is Part II of that article.  Click here for the full Article. Click here for the footnotes.

Conceiving the Game

The initial task is coming up with the topic for a social game. Many Facebook games are often developed from original IP, and others leverage existing IP. Zynga is an example of the former, developing its popular “-ville” franchises.[3] Kabam’s recently released “The Godfather Five Families” game is an example of the latter, using the five families from the Godfather saga, but situated 10 years before the start of the Godfather story.[4] An example of a successful television-based game is Pawn Stars from the History channel, where players operate their own pawn shops like the show’s stars.[5]

Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Games, Intellectual Property, Social Games, Virtual Economy, Virtual Goods

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Buzz – Comcast and Net Neutrality

Posted on April 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have read a bunch of articles today about Comcast’s policy with charging users’ bandwidth caps for use of over the top video apps, such as Netflix and Hulu, but not charging the same for use of Comcast’s own Xfinity app, which has some overlapping content with some of those services.

Reed Hastings, Netflix’s CEO, has been particularly vocal on the topic.  He summed it up with a Facebook post: “The same device, the same IP address, the same wifi, the same internet connection, but totally different cap treatment.”

I think that Hastings misses the point.  Comcast is offering its XFinity service over its own last-mile connection to its subscribers.  These views never cross the public internet, like Netflix and Hulu.  In short, Comcast is using a computer or 3rd party device to function as another cable box.  When a subscriber watches cable television it doesn’t count against his bandwidth cap.  Same programming, same data, different device.    If Hastings’ point was carried to its logical confusion, used of Comcast’s cable television service and IP telephone service would need to be counted against the cap.

Read more:

Paid Content - Netflix CEO calls out Comcast on net neutrality

TechCrunch - Netflix’s Reed Hastings Chastises Comcast Over Net Netrality And Its Shady Xfinity App

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Net Neutrality, Netflix, Video & Television

Tagged , , , , , ,

Unsolicited Commercial e-mail A/K/A/ SPAM

Posted on August 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

For my personal e-mail I use Google Apps — basically GMail with my own domain.  It is a great tool and my only cost is domain registration.  Once of the most powerful features of Google Apps and GMail is its SPAM filter.  Unlike older SPAM filters that use a formula, the system is crowd-sourced.  If a lot of people mark something as SPAM it goes right into the SPAM folder and you don’t have to deal with it.

I am still amazed at the diversity of the SPAM that is sent to me each day (and captured right into my SPAM folder).

  • Business Services. Despite the facts that I don’t have my own business or handle the phone system at my employer, I am offered may great deals on business phone systems.  There are also billing solutions, tax services and temp services.  I wonder what success this B2S (business to SPAM) marketing has?
  • Dating.  Opportunities to meat my soul mate online abound!  I can find someone near me (married or single) or in another country.  Fortunately, I have already met and married my soul mate, so I don’t have to rely on these generously offered resources.
  • Education. Certainly one of the more innocuous topics.  Apparently I am a great candidate for this increasing my income through a career path as a paralegal even thought I am already a lawyer!  There are also great opportunities for me in medical billing, police, social worker or a doctorate in just about anything.  Naturally these are matched by great offers for financial aid.  I am pretty sure I could save some time and money by making up my own diploma with MS Word!
  • Viagra. You would think this type of e-mail would go away, but I am bombarded with offers for Viagra and many other pharmaceuticals I have never heard of, including those that are longer lasting than Viagra.  I am sure that the supply chain of these pharmaceutical concoctions is pristine ;-)
  • Weight Loss.  There are numerous “supplements” that will finally help me lose weight and keep it off.  I just love the phrase “fat melting”.  To think I have wasted so much time trying to exercise and eat healthier.

Has anyone ever actually purchased one of these from SPAM?

→ Leave a comment

Posted in SPAM

Tagged , ,

Who Is Tracking You On The Web?

Posted on June 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

I had plans with a friend earlier today and we got to talking about how you are tracked on the web.  I was explaining how various networks track you with cookies on the web.  These are not the companies that most web users ordinarily think about, like Google or Microsoft (which also do track you) but companies you have probably never heard of, like Adify, Valueclick and Tacoda.  Fortunately, most of the reputable networks offer op-outs from their tracking.  If you are concerned about being tracked, these links are for you:

  • Network Advertising Initiative.  NAI is is a cooperative of advertising and analytic companies.  This site lets you opt out of a great deal of tracking all in one shot.
  • DoubleClick.  Owned by Google, DoubleClick is probably the most ubiquitous ad server on the web.  You can opt out of their tracking as well.
  • Google Analytics.  Google Analytics is widely used to track web traffic.  I even use it for this blog.  This is another place you might want to opt out.

While there are many places you can opt out of tracking, the links above are a good place to start.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Privacy

Tagged , , , , , , ,