Archive for the ‘Legislation’ Category
Dump GoDaddy Day Movement Picks Up Momentum
Mashable reports that Reddit user SelfProdigy’s declaration that December 29 should be Dump GoDaddy Day is gaining momentum across the online community. The suggestion is based on frustration with GoDaddy’s initial support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which is making its way through Congress. The proposed provisions of the anti-piracy SOPA are [...]
Camden Adopts Business Curfew
Camden’s City Council has unanimously voted for a business curfew with the goal of stamping out crimes such as drug trafficking that occur near late-night takeout restaurants. The next step for the ordinance is a review by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and then if approved and published, would take effect 20 days [...]
Teacher-Student Online Communications Restricted in Missouri
Missouri State Capitol by David Shane on Flickr Missouri Governor Jay Nixon recently signed into law the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, which restricts online interaction between students and teachers. The law is named for Amy Hestir, a former student in the Missouri public school system who was a minor when she was sexually assaulted [...]
Caylee’s Law Considered After Casey Anthony Verdict
Just because the verdict has been handed down in the Casey Anthony trial doesn’t mean the legal world has stopped feeling its effect. To wit, at least 12 states are considering passing a version “Caylee’s Law,” which would make it a felony for a parent or caretaker to fail to report missing children in a [...]
Amazon Ending Affiliate Agreements with California Residents Over New Sales Tax
A California law set to take effect July 1 will require retailers like Amazon with presences in California to charge sales tax on purchases made by state residents. One way that “presence” would be established is through popular affiliate programs through which companies pay out commissions for customer referrals; the other is if the company [...]
President Urges Congress to Send Him Patent Reform Bill
Each chamber of Congress has pushed the country one step closer to what many consider a major reform of patent law—and the President is ready to see it. In a press conference earlier today, President Obama urged Congress to send him the “America Invents” patent reform bill to encourage innovation, and both House Speaker John [...]
Tennessee Law Outlaws Netflix Password Sharing
A new law recently passed in Tennessee will make it illegal for people to share online subscriptions to entertainment services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Rhapsody. Once the law goes into effect on July 1, Tennessee residents could face a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail for using someone else’s log-in information [...]
California’s “Do Not Track” Bill Clears First Hurdle
California is currently weighing legislation that would require websites to gain user permission before collecting data through cookies in what is believed to be the country’s first “Do Not Track” bill. SB 761 was introduced by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D – 27th District) and is sponsored by Consumer Watchdog, a California-based advocacy group. It passed [...]
Maryland Considers Outlawing Use of Credit Reports in Employment Decisions
Back in April, we discussed how some states are outlawing the use of credit reports in hiring decisions, and now Maryland may become the next state to do so. Maryland State Delegate Kirill Reznik (D-Germantown) recently re-introduced a bill that would prevent employers in the state from using credit reports in hiring and firing decisions; [...]
P2P Car Sharing Won’t Invalidate Insurance in California
A new law that allows car owners to rent out their vehicles without invalidating their insurance policies recently went into effect in California. The change means that so-called “peer-to-peer” or P2P car sharing has become easier for those who would like to participate. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill last September, but before January 1 [...]
