FBI Harassing Core Tor Developer, Demanding She Meet With Them, But Refusing To Explain Why | Techdirt

Word got to my lawyer in the US, who decided to call FBI Special Agent Mark Burnett, on that Friday, saying that he represented me and my family. Burnett said the FBI simply wanted to ask me some questions. My lawyer responded by stating that, as my invoked representation, all questions should be directed to him rather than to me or my family. The agent agreed, paused while some muffled male voices were heard in the background, and asked to call back in five minutes. Five minutes later, Burnett called back and said, “I don’t believe you actually represent her.” Burnett stated additionally that a phone call from me might suffice, but that the FBI preferred to meet with me in person. After a pause he said, “But… if we happen to run into her on the street, we’re gonna be asking her some questions without you present.”

Source: FBI Harassing Core Tor Developer, Demanding She Meet With Them, But Refusing To Explain Why | Techdirt

FBI Told Cops to Recreate Evidence From Secret Cell-Phone Trackers

Feds tell locals that they need to find other ways “to corroborate information concerning the location of the target obtained through the use of this equipment” if they want to introduce it at trial.

Source: FBI Told Cops to Recreate Evidence From Secret Cell-Phone Trackers

Vice Media Sends Cease And Desist To ViceVersa Over Trademark Infringement | Techdirt

Vice Media, a company valued at $2.5 billion whose CEO once spent $300,000 on dinner, wants ViceVersa, an unsigned Los Angeles indie band whose members are struggling to pay rent, to change its name — or else. In a cease-and-desist letter sent to the band, a copy of which was obtained by The Huffington Post, the media behemoth says the three-piece rock outfit’s name and logo both sound and look too similar to Vice’s own name and logo. The band, the letter argues, is “infringing on the exclusive rights held by Vice Media in the VICE® Mark” and is “likely to confuse consumers as to the source of services offered under [ViceVersa’s] mark, and wrongly implies that Vice Media sponsors, endorses or is otherwise affiliated with [ViceVersa].”

Source: Vice Media Sends Cease And Desist To ViceVersa Over Trademark Infringement | Techdirt

“A good day for Martin Shkreli,” who may try to pin fraud on former counsel | Ars Technica


Feds mulling additional charges as CEO’s former company, Turing, gets sued.

Source: “A good day for Martin Shkreli,” who may try to pin fraud on former counsel | Ars Technica

Zappa Threatens Zappa Over Zappa Plays Zappa | Techdirt

This month, the Zappa Family Trust, which owns the rights to Mr. Zappa’s music, informed Dweezil that he did not have permission to tour as Zappa Plays Zappa — the name is a trademark owned by the trust — and that he risked copyright infringement damages of $150,000 each time he played a song without proper permission.

Source: Zappa Threatens Zappa Over Zappa Plays Zappa | Techdirt

NYPD Using ‘Nuisance Abatement’ Law To Force Small Businesses To Install Cameras, Agree To Warrantless Searches | Techdirt

He agreed to pay a $2,000 fine, maintain cameras that the NYPD can access at any time, and to allow the police to conduct warrantless searches. If anyone is even accused of breaking the law at his business again — whether a store employee or not — he faces escalating penalties: closures that would increase from 30 days to 60 days to 90 days to a full year with each alleged offense; fines climbing as high as $15,000.

Perhaps most damaging of all, the terms continue in perpetuity, even if the business changes hands.

Source: NYPD Using ‘Nuisance Abatement’ Law To Force Small Businesses To Install Cameras, Agree To Warrantless Searches | Techdirt