A court in Munich has determined that OpenAI’s ChatGPT breached German copyright laws by utilizing popular songs from renowned artists to train its language model, which advocates for the creative industry have labeled a pivotal ruling for Europe.
The Munich District Court supported the German music copyright association GEMA, stating that ChatGPT gathered protected lyrics from well-known musicians to “learn” them.
GEMA, an organization that oversees the rights of composers, lyricists, and music publishers with around 100,000 members, initiated legal action against OpenAI in November 2024.
This case was perceived as a significant test for Europe in its efforts to prevent AI from harvesting creative works. OpenAI has the option to appeal the verdict.
ChatGPT lets users pose inquiries and issue commands to a chatbot, which replies with text that mimics human language patterns. The foundational model of ChatGPT is trained on widely accessible data.
The lawsuit focused on nine of the most iconic German hits from recent decades, which ChatGPT employed to refine its language skills.
This included Herbert Groenemeyer’s 1984 synthpop hit manners (male), and Helen Fischer’s Atemlos Durchi die Nacht (Breathless Through the Night), which became the unofficial anthem for the German team during the 2014 World Cup.
The judge ruled that OpenAI must pay undisclosed damages for unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.
Kai Welp, GEMA’s general counsel, mentioned that GEMA is now looking to negotiate with OpenAI about compensating rights holders.
The San Francisco-based company, co-founded by Sam Altman and Elon Musk, argued that its language learning model utilizes the entire training set rather than retaining or copying specific songs, as stated by the Munich court.
OpenAI contended that since the outputs are created in response to user prompts, the users bear legal responsibility, an argument the court dismissed.
GEMA celebrated the ruling as “Europe’s first groundbreaking AI decision,” indicating that it might have ramifications for other creative works.
Tobias Holzmuller, the company’s CEO, remarked that the verdict demonstrates that “the internet is not a self-service store, and human creative output is not a free template.”
“Today, we have established a precedent to safeguard and clarify the rights of authors. Even AI tool operators like ChatGPT are required to comply with copyright laws. We have successfully defended the livelihood of music creators today.”
The Berlin law firm Laue, representing GEMA, stated that the court’s ruling “creates a significant precedent for the protection of creative works and conveys a clear message to the global tech industry,” while providing “legal certainty for creators, music publishers, and platforms across Europe.”
The ruling is expected to have ramifications extending beyond Germany as a legal precedent.
The German Journalists Association also praised the decision as a “historic triumph for copyright law.”
OpenAI responded that it would contemplate an appeal. “We disagree with the ruling and are evaluating our next actions.” The statement continued, “This ruling pertains to a limited set of lyrics and does not affect the millions of users, companies, and developers in Germany who utilize our technology every day.”
Furthermore, “We respect the rights of creators and content owners and are engaged in constructive discussions with various organizations globally that can also take advantage of this technology.”
OpenAI is currently facing lawsuits in the U.S. from authors and media organizations alleging that ChatGPT was trained on their copyrighted materials without consent.
An artificial intelligence company based in London has achieved a significant victory in a High Court case that scrutinized the legality of an AI model using extensive copyrighted data without authorization.
Stability AI, led by Oscar-winning Avatar director James Cameron, successfully defended itself against allegations from Getty Images, claiming that it infringed on the international photography agency’s copyright.
This ruling is seen as a setback for copyright holders’ exclusive rights to benefit from their creations. Rebecca Newman, a legal director at Addleshaw Goddard, cautioned that it suggests “the UK derivative copyright system is inadequate to protect creators”.
There was evidence indicating that Getty Images were utilized in training Stability’s model, which enables users to generate images via text prompts. In certain instances, Stability was also found to violate Getty’s trademarks.
Judge Joanna Smith remarked that determining the balance between the interests of the creative industries and AI sectors holds “real social significance.” However, she could only address relatively limited claims as Getty had to withdraw parts of its case during the trial this summer.
Getty Images initiated legal action against Stability AI for violations of its intellectual property rights, claiming the AI company scraped and replicated millions of images with “complete indifference to the content of the training data.”
This ruling comes amid ongoing debates about how the Labour government should legislate on copyright and AI matters, with artists and authors like Elton John, Kate Bush, Dua Lipa, and Kazuo Ishiguro advocating for protections. In contrast, tech firms are seeking broader access to copyrighted material to develop more powerful generative AI systems.
The government is conducting a consultation regarding copyright and AI, stating: “The uncertainty surrounding the copyright framework is hindering the growth of both the AI and creative sectors. This situation must not persist.”
Lawyers at Mishcon de Reya, pursuing this matter, are contemplating introducing a “text and data mining exception” to the UK copyright law, which would enable copyrighted works to be utilized for training AI models unless rights holders opt-out.
Due to a lack of evidence indicating that the training took place in the UK, Getty was compelled to retract its original copyright claim. Nevertheless, the company proceeded with its lawsuit, asserting that Stability continues to use copies of visual assets, which it describes as the “lifeblood” of its business. The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement and “spoofing,” as some generated images bore Getty’s watermark.
Highlighting the complexities of AI copyright litigation, the group essentially argued that Stability’s image generation model, known as Stable Diffusion, constitutes an infringing copy, as its creation would represent copyright infringement if produced in the UK.
The judge determined that “AI models like Stable Diffusion that do not (and never have) stored or reproduced copyrighted works are not ‘infringing copies.'” She declined to adjudicate on the misrepresentation claims but ruled in favor of some of Getty’s trademark infringement claims regarding the watermark.
In a statement, Getty Images remarked: “We are profoundly worried that even well-resourced organizations like Getty Images face considerable challenges in safeguarding creative works due to the absence of transparency requirements. We have invested millions with one provider alone, but we must continue our pursuit elsewhere.”
“We urge governments, including the UK, to establish more robust transparency regulations. This is crucial to avoid expensive legal disputes and ensure creators can uphold their rights.”
Stability AI’s General Counsel, Christian Dowell, stated, “We are pleased with the court’s ruling on the remaining claims in this case. Although Getty’s decision to voluntarily withdraw most of the copyright claims at the trial’s conclusion left the court with only a fraction of the claims, this final decision addresses the core copyright issues. We appreciate the time and effort the court has dedicated to resolving the significant matters in this case.”
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, the Supreme Court extended the Trump administration’s substantial reductions to the National Health Grants, part of the federal government’s initiative on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
However, in this intricate ruling, the court upheld another aspect of a lower court’s decision that discarded the administration’s guidance documents related to the policy, raising doubts about its viability going forward.
An emergency request by an administrator aiming to pause the Massachusetts federal judge’s ruling was partially granted, resulting in a 5-4 vote.
While the court did not extensively elaborate on its reasoning, the majority suggested that groups contesting the funding cuts would need to initiate a new lawsuit in a different federal court, specifically the Federal Court of Claims.
The decisive vote came from conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett. All four conservative justices supported the Trump administration’s application, indicating that the other four justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts and three liberal justices, would have completely denied it.
Barrett stated in a concurring opinion, “As today’s order indicates, district courts likely lack jurisdiction to address the funding challenges that pertain to the federal claims court.” She added, “The government is not entitled to a stay of judgment as long as it possesses valid guidance documents.”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a collection of agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, receiving billions of dollars from Congress for medical research funding at universities, hospitals, and various institutions.
When President Donald Trump assumed office in January, he asserted that what is termed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) constituted discrimination mainly against white individuals, rather than fostering equality as intended. He also championed policies recognizing transgender rights, including access to gender transition care.
Subsequently, the NIH conducted a review of grants and concluded that over 1,700 were inconsistent with Trump’s directives, resulting in their termination, which included programs related to teenage HIV prevention and gender identity studies.
Massachusetts, along with 16 states represented by the American Public Health Association, has contested this action.
After the trial, District Judge William Young of Massachusetts ruled that the government had not adhered to the proper legal protocols while enacting the policy, violating the Administrative Procedure Act.
In haste to execute Trump’s agenda, the NIH “failed to comply with legal requirements,” Young noted.
He characterized DEI as an “undefined enemy,” stating that government attorneys could not adequately clarify its meaning.
Young found evidence of “prevailing racism” and “widespread discrimination” against gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals in how grants were awarded. Furthermore, he identified “a distinct pattern of discrimination against women’s health issues.”
He declined to stay his ruling, a decision mirrored by the Boston-based First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Attorney General John Sauer requested the Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of the Trump administration, likening the situation to another incident in Massachusetts where the Trump administration obstructed plans to eliminate teacher training grants based on anti-DEI grounds.
The Supreme Court had blocked this earlier ruling in April with a 5-4 vote.
Sauer asserted, “This application presents a particularly clear case where this court must intervene to prevent the district court from disregarding this court’s previous decision.”
The state’s attorney countered Sauer’s assertion, stating it “bears little resemblance to reality.”
The judge deliberated Thursday on whether the April ruling impacted the latest case’s outcome.
In a brief opinion, Roberts, who had contested the previous case, asserted that Young’s findings fell within the permissible scope of district court jurisdiction.
However, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch criticized Young in a separate opinion for failing to comply with the April ruling.
“While lower court judges may oppose this court’s ruling, they are never free to disregard it,” he wrote.
The Trump administration frequently relied on the Supreme Court when facing judicial challenges to its enforcement actions, generally securing favorable outcomes. Trump and his supporters have also aggressively criticized judges who opposed him.
Taxi operators competing with Uber are now exempt from paying 20% VAT on their earnings outside London, following a ruling from the UK Supreme Court in a long-running case.
The court determined that the private employer would not establish a contract with passengers, thereby rejecting Uber’s appeal. This decision was celebrated by the private employer as a “sector victory” after three years of legal challenges.
Uber initiated legal action after a 2021 Supreme Court ruling declared that the driver was classified as a worker.
The company sought a declaration asserting that a privately employed taxi operator had entered into a contract with passengers, a claim supported by the London High Court in 2023.
Initially, that decision required operators to pay a 20% VAT, but the Court of Appeals overturned this after Delta Taxi and Veezu challenged it last July.
Uber brought the issue to the Supreme Court, which unanimously dismissed the case involving the US company on Tuesday.
Nia Cooper, Chief Legal Officer at Veezu, remarked: “This ruling is a triumph for the UK’s private employment sector. The unanimous decision concludes a three-year legal struggle and affirms that operators can select the business models they wish to adopt.”
She added that the outcome would shield passengers from potential fare hikes and lessen the pressure on licensing authorities. “Uber aimed for a declaration that a 20% VAT would be imposed on all PHV fares,” she stated.
“This ruling also illustrates that UK-based companies can stand firm against global conglomerates that attempt to sway the sector through litigation to suit their business frameworks.”
An Uber representative replied, “The Supreme Court’s ruling confirms that different contractual protections apply to individuals booking rides in London compared to the rest of England and Wales. This ruling does not affect Uber’s VAT, which has been upheld in two previous court decisions.”
In a related matter this year, Estonian mobility and delivery startup Volt successfully contested a claim by the UK tax authorities, HMRC, regarding a 20% VAT obligation.
HMRC has since been granted permission by the Court of Appeal to appeal a ruling stating that Bolt is only accountable for VAT on the margin, not on the full fare of the trip.
The High Court has instructed senior counsels to implement immediate actions to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence, following numerous false cases presented to the court featuring entirely fictitious individuals or constructed references.
While attorneys are leveraging AI systems to formulate legal arguments, two cases this year have been severely affected by citations from fictitious legal precedents, which are believed to have originated from AI.
In a damages lawsuit amounting to £89 million against Qatar National Bank, the claimant referenced 45 legal actions. The claimant acknowledged the use of publicly accessible AI tools, and his legal team admitted to citing non-existent authorities.
When Haringey Law Center filed a challenge against the London Borough of Haringey for allegedly failing to provide temporary accommodation for its clients, the attorney referenced fictitious case law multiple times. Concerns were raised when the counsel representing the council had to repeatedly explain why they could not verify the supposed authorities.
This situation led to legal action over unwarranted legal expenses, with the court ruling that the Law Centre and its attorneys, including the student attorney, were negligent. Although the barrister in that case refused to use AI, she stated that she might have inadvertently done so while preparing for another case where she cited the fictitious authority. She mentioned that she might have assumed the AI summary was accurate without fully understanding it.
In the Regulation Judgment, Dr. Victoria Sharp, President of the King’s Bench Division, warned, “If artificial intelligence is misused, it could severely undermine public trust in the judicial system. Lawyers who misuse AI could face disciplinary actions, including court contempt sanctions and referrals to law enforcement.”
She urged the Council of Lawyers and the Law Society to treat this issue as an immediate priority and instructed the heads of legal chambers and administrative bodies to ensure all lawyers understand their professional and ethical responsibilities regarding the use of AI.
“While tools like these can produce apparently consistent and plausible responses, those responses may be completely incorrect,” she stated. “They might assert confidently false information, reference non-existent sources, or misquote real documents.”
Ian Jeffrey, CEO of the English and Welsh Law Association, remarked that the ruling “highlights the dangers of employing AI in legal matters.”
“AI tools are increasingly utilized to assist in delivering legal services,” he continued. “However, the significant risk of inaccurate outputs produced by generative AI necessitates that lawyers diligently verify and ensure the accuracy of their work.”
These cases are not the first to suffer due to AI-generated inaccuracies. At the UK tax court in 2023, an appellant allegedly assisted by an “acquaintance at a law office” provided nine fictitious historical court decisions as precedents. She acknowledged that she might have used ChatGPT but claimed there were other cases supporting her position.
Earlier this year, in a Danish case valued at 5.8 million euros (£4.9 million), the appellant narrowly avoided dismissal when relying on a fabricated ruling that the judge had identified. A 2023 case in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York faced turmoil when the court was shown seven clearly fictitious cases cited by the attorneys. After querying, ChatGPT summarized the previously invented cases, leading the judge to express concerns and resulted in a $5,000 fine for two lawyers and their firm.
The Utah Court of Appeals has sanctioned the attorney after it was found that he utilized ChatGPT in a filing that referenced a fictitious trial.
Earlier this week, the Utah Court of Appeals chose to take action against Richard Bednar following accusations that he submitted a brief with fabricated citations.
Based on reviewed court documents, By ABC4, Bednar along with Douglas Dalbano, another attorney from Utah who represented the petitioners, filed a “timely petition for dialogue appeal.”
Upon examining the summary prepared by the Law Clerk, it was revealed that the respondent’s counsel noted several inaccurate quotes in the case.
“It seems that parts of the petition may have been produced by AI, including citations that do not exist in the legal database (and can only be found in ChatGPT).
The report highlights that the brief cited a case named “Royer v Nelson,” which was absent from any legal database.
After discovering the false citation, Bednar expressed his “apologies” for the “errors present in the petition,” according to documents from the Utah Court of Appeals. During the April hearing, Bednar and his legal team acknowledged, “The petition contained fabricated legal authority acquired from ChatGPT and accepted responsibility for its contents.”
According to Bednar and his legal team, the “unlicensed legal assistant” drafted the outline, and Bednar did not conduct an “independent accuracy check” before filing. ABC4 further reported that Dalbano was not involved in crafting the petition, and the individual responsible for filing was a law school graduate who was subsequently let go from the firm.
The report added that Bednar had offered to cover the relevant attorneys’ fees to “rectify” the situation.
In a statement made public by ABC4, the Utah Court of Appeals commented: “I concur that employing AI for lawsuit preparation is a developing legal research tool that continues to evolve alongside technological advancements. Nonetheless, all attorneys must ensure that court submissions are accurate, emphasizing that claimants’ attorneys are liable for their filings. They included fictitious precedents produced by ChatGPT.”
As a consequence of the false citation, ABC4 reports that Bednar has been ordered to cover the respondent’s attorneys’ fees for the petition and the hearing, refund clients for time spent on preparation and attendance, and donate $1,000 to legal nonprofits and justice initiatives based in Utah.
The Trump administration has taken steps to revoke federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a vibrant grouse unfortunate enough to inhabit the southern and central grasslands, which have long been targeted for agricultural and energy development.
In a court filing on Wednesday, officials stated that the Fish and Wildlife Service mistakenly made a decision during the Biden era to classify these birds as endangered.
This move exemplifies the ongoing efforts of the White House to dilute or eliminate environmental regulations that hinder Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda.
Furthermore, it marks yet another development in the ongoing struggle for the species, a battle that has persisted for 30 years.
Known for their unique courtship rituals of stomping, tail feather flicking, and “flapping,” the lesser prairie chicken’s population has plummeted from hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to only about 30,000 due primarily to habitat loss.
“President Trump will always advocate for the elimination of burdensome regulations affecting the American agriculture sector, particularly as numerous ranchers voluntarily engage in protecting lesser prairie chicken habitats,” stated White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.
The filing, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, aims to reevaluate the bird’s status by November 30, 2026.
While the species currently lacks protection under the Endangered Species Act, the filing asserted that “there are at least 16 different conservation initiatives and programs administered by state, federal, and private entities.”
Despite this, conservationists foresaw that the service would be under no obligation to reevaluate the species on its own timeline and would likely need to take legal action to prompt a review.
“The Trump administration is once again yielding to the fossil fuel industry, ignoring sound science and common sense while jeopardizing at-risk species,” stated Jason Rylander, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“A political decision to remove protections for endangered species is one that would not hold up in court,” he added, noting his group’s involvement in the issue.
Back in 1998, federal wildlife officials acknowledged that fewer grassland chickens warranted conservation efforts but initially prioritized other species. This led to the bird being tangled in a legal battle, fluctuating in and out of protected status.
In 2022, protections for the lesser prairie chicken were reinstated under President Biden, which split the species into two distinct populations: the southern population (encompassing eastern New Mexico and eastern Texas) and the northern population (covering central Kansas, western Oklahoma, central Texas, and the northeastern Panhandle).
The oil and ranch sectors faced lawsuits in 2023, similar to those filed in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Currently, the Trump administration contends that the Fish and Wildlife Service mischaracterized the species as a cohesive group and is “precisely contaminating” the validity of this assessment.
The major global authority on species, the United Nations List for Nature Conservation, classifies the lesser prairie chicken as vulnerable, similar to the U.S. endangered list.
Rylander from the Center for Biological Diversity stated his intention to challenge federal motions in the days ahead. The struggle over the lesser prairie chicken continues as scientists warn about unprecedented levels of biodiversity loss in human history.
Temperate grasslands are recognized as among the most endangered ecosystems globally.
On Monday, the Trump administration requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at severely restricting access to the abortion pill Mifepristone. This aligns with the stance taken by the Biden administration in scrutinized cases that significantly affect abortion access.
Court filing This request by the Justice Department is unexpected, given President Trump’s and many officials’ strong opposition to abortion rights. Trump frequently claims that he appointed three Supreme Court justices in 2022 who voted to overturn national abortion rights, and his administration has actively sought to reduce programs supporting reproductive health.
This court filing marks the first instance where the Trump administration has engaged in litigation, significantly expanding access to Mifepristone as it aims to reverse various regulatory changes implemented by the Food and Drug Administration since 2016.
The request from the Trump administration does not delve into the substantial issues of the litigation that are yet to be adjudicated. Instead, it contends that the filings do not satisfy the legal criteria for consideration in the federal district court where the case was initiated, echoing the argument made by the Biden administration prior to Trump’s inauguration.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include the Conservative Attorney Generals from Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas, with the suit filed in the U.S. District Court in Texas.
“The state has not objected to the lack of connection between their claims and the Northern District of Texas,” a Justice Department attorney stated in the filing.
“The state cannot pursue this case in this court, regardless of the merits of the claims,” they concluded, emphasizing that the complaint “should be dismissed or relocated due to a lack of proper venue.”
The lawsuit also seeks to impose new FDA restrictions on Mifepristone, including prohibiting its use by individuals under 18. The goal is to address the rapid increase in the prescription of abortion medications through telehealth and the distribution of pills via mail to patients.
Originally filed in 2022 by a coalition of anti-abortion physicians and organizations, the lawsuit advanced to the Supreme Court. However, in a unanimous ruling last June, the judge dismissed the case, stating the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate harm related to the FDA’s decision on Mifepristone.
Months later, three attorneys revived the case by submitting an amended complaint as plaintiffs in the same U.S. District Court in Texas. The presiding judge, U.S. District Court Judge J. Kakusmalik, a Trump appointee opposed to abortion access, harshly criticized the FDA and adopted terminology reminiscent of anti-abortion activists in his ruling during the initial phase of the case.
In the United States, abortion drugs are prescribed up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and currently account for nearly two-thirds of abortions. Women in states with abortion bans are increasingly seeking abortion medications from telehealth providers.
Currently, Roe v. Wade is in effect across 19 states, which have stricter regulations than the standard established by Wade. State support for abortion rights has expanded telehealth options for abortion, and many states have enacted Shield Acts to protect healthcare providers who prescribe and send abortion medications to patients in states with prohibitions or restrictions.
Openai requested a federal court on Wednesday to prohibit Elon Musk from unfairly attacking them through a lawsuit he filed last year.
In a filing in federal court in San Francisco, Openai stated that Musk “initiated his project to defeat Openai.” The company insisted that the tech billionaire cease all actions against Openai and is seeking damages caused by Musk.
This filing highlighted the ongoing conflict between Musk, the founder of Openai, and the company regarding the direction of advancing technology. Last year, Musk sued Openai and its founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, accusing them of prioritizing commercial interests over public interest in technology.
Openai stated: “Elon continues to engage in bad faith tactics to hinder Openai’s progress for his own benefit. These actions are anti-competitive and contradict our mission.”
Musk and his legal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
(The New York Times filed a lawsuit against Openai and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement related to AI Systems. Openai and Microsoft denied these allegations.)
Musk played a role in founding Openai as a nonprofit organization in late 2015, alongside Altman and others. However, disputes over control of the company hindered AI progress, leading Musk to exit the organization. Openai has since launched ChatGpt and become a prominent AI player with millions of users. Altman secured significant funding for Openai to develop AI technology.
Last year, Openai began transitioning from a nonprofit entity to a company owned by investors. Shortly after, Musk sued Altman and Brockman, alleging violations of the company’s incorporation agreement by prioritizing commercial gains over public interest.
This year, Musk and investors proposed acquiring assets of the managing nonprofit for over $97 billion, which Openai’s board rejected.
In a recent filing, Openai criticized Musk’s bid as “deceptive” and misrepresenting the company’s intentions to change its structure.
“Musk is making false claims that Openai plans to convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity,” the filing stated.
Openai clarified that they are considering restructuring as a public benefit corporation (PBC), aiming to serve public and social interests as a for-profit organization.
In another development, a coalition of nonprofit, labor, and charity leaders submitted a petition urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate Openai’s efforts to convert into a public benefits corporation. The petition can be viewed here.
The New York County Clerk recently prevented Texas doctors from taking legal action against New York doctors to provide abortion pills to Texas women.
This groundbreaking decision escalates the interstate abortion conflict to a new level, setting the stage for a legal showdown between states with differing views on abortion rights.
The dispute is expected to reach the Supreme Court, pitting Texas against New York. Texas has almost completely banned abortion. New York, on the other hand, has a Shield Law in place to protect abortion providers who supply medications to patients in other states.
Since the Supreme Court overturned the national abortion right in 2022, eight states, including New York, have implemented the Telehealth Abortion Shield Act. This law prohibits authorities from surrendering abortion providers to other states or complying with legal actions such as subpoenas.
The New York County Clerk’s action marks the first use of the Abortion Shield Act to oppose out-of-state judgments.
Dr. Margaret Daly Carpenter, based in New Paltz, New York, is involved in this case. She collaborates with telehealth abortion organizations to provide abortion medications nationally. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Dr. Carpenter in December for allegedly sending abortion pills to Texan women in violation of the state’s ban.
Dr. Carpenter and her legal team did not appear at a Texas court hearing last month. Consequently, Collin County District Court Judge Brian Gant issued a default ruling, imposing a $113,000 fine on Dr. Carpenter and mandating the sending of abortion pills to Texas.
Citing the New York Shield Act, Ulster County’s Deputy Clerk Taylor Brook refused to process Texas’ motion for enforcing the Collin County order. He also declined to file a subpoena demanding payment of the penalty and compliance with the Texas ruling.
“In accordance with the New York State Shield Act, I reject this submission and any similar future submissions,” Brooke stated in a release. “This decision may lead to additional legal action, and we must refrain from discussing specific case details at this time.”
Texas Attorney General Paxton has vowed to continue his efforts. He criticized New York for not cooperating in enforcing civil judgments against abortion providers who allegedly cross state lines with dangerous drugs.
Legal experts anticipate that Texas may challenge the Shield Act in New York state or federal courts next.
New York Attorney General Letitia James previously issued guidance to courts and officials statewide on adhering to the Shield Act’s requirements and restrictions.
“I commend the Ulster County Clerk for upholding the law,” James declared. “The New York Shield Act safeguards patients and providers from out-of-state attacks on reproductive rights. We must not allow anyone to hinder healthcare professionals from delivering essential care to patients. My office will always stand with New York healthcare providers and the individuals they serve.”
Texas became the first state to take legal action against abortion providers from other states using Shield laws. In a separate case, Louisiana also filed criminal charges against a Shield Act abortion provider earlier this year.
In the recent past, Louisiana officials requested Dr. Carpenter’s extradition, a request that New York Governor Kathy Hochul promptly rejected.
“We will not authorize the extradition request from the Louisiana governor,” affirmed Hochul.
Dr. Carpenter and her legal team have refrained from commenting on the Texas and Louisiana cases. The Abortion Alliance for Telemedicine, an organization co-founded by Dr. Carpenter, issued a statement expressing support for the Shield Act. “The Shield Act is crucial in ensuring access to abortion care regardless of location or financial status,” the coalition emphasized. “It upholds the fundamental right to reproductive healthcare for all individuals.”
The Telemedicine Abortion Shield Act has become a vital tool for advocates of abortion rights. Health providers in states where abortion is legal send over 10,000 abortion medications each month to patients in states with restrictive laws.
The Texas lawsuit against Dr. Carpenter accuses her of providing a 20-year-old woman with mifepristone and misoprostol, standard abortion medications used up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks necessary pregnancy hormones, while misoprostol induces contractions akin to a miscarriage 24-48 hours later.
According to a complaint from the Texas Attorney General’s office, a woman nine weeks pregnant sought emergency care in July due to bleeding. The woman’s partner suspected that the miscarriage was induced by the woman’s mother and found abortion medications provided by Carpenter at their home.
During a court session in Colin County, Ernest C. Garcia from the Texas Attorney General’s Office revealed that the woman’s partner had lodged a complaint.
The Supreme Court on Monday concluded its 10-year journey through the court, refusing to hear appeals in a groundbreaking climate case brought to the federal government by 21 young people.
However, the case provided a blueprint for many other climate-related lawsuits that have achieved greater success.
Juliana v. the United States alleged that the government violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights with policies that encourage the use of fossil fuels. However, it was dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit, and the judge ruled that the court was not the right place to deal with climate change.
“In fact, the impressive case of plaintiff relief must be presented to the political sector of the government,” wrote Judge Andrew D. Harwitz. Opinions for 2020.
The nonprofit law firm in Eugene, Oregon, which represents the plaintiffs, filed the final legal gambit in a lawsuit last year. Last year, she threw the Supreme Court’s decision back on the Court of Appeals and asked Juliana to go to trial in a lower court. The petition was rejected Monday.
Some observers also thought it was risky to ask the Supreme Court to consider appeals, given concerns that conservative courts might use the case to abandon long-standing environmental protections.
The plaintiff in the case is Kelsey Cascadia Rose Juliana, a now 29-year-old Oregon teacher, the environmentalist and longtime climate activist daughter. The story of how she became involved in the lawsuit was documented in the documentary “Youthv. Gov.”
Juliana’s legal framework has since been replicated in numerous lawsuits and legal actions across the country. And last year, our child’s trust, which submitted many cases, recorded two notable victories.
The group has reached a settlement between Navahine v. Hawaii Department. There, the state agreed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas that warms the planet from its transport system within 20 years. And that’s a hold v. We won in Montana. There, the judge ruled that the state must consider climate change when approving a fossil fuel project. The Court of Appeals upheld the decision in December.
The plaintiff named in that case led to the decision to take part in the case as 23-year-old Ricky grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana and saw the effects of climate change firsthand. She is currently a science educator through the Peace Corps of Kenya.
On Monday, she said the Juliana incident paved the way for her. “Juliana left an indelible mark on the climate lawsuit landscape through the unwavering dedication of the plaintiffs and legal team,” she said.
Julia Olson, founder of Our Children’s Trust, had asked the Biden administration to discuss the settlement in the Juliana case. She said on Monday that Juliana “littles a legal movement.”
However, Justice Department lawyers argued that the court was not set up correctly to address climate change as judges were unable to order or enforce “viable relief” on the matter.
Some experts also raised concerns about the organization’s strategy in the Supreme Court, focusing on the risk that a conservative vast majority of courts could adopt Juliana’s case as a way to rethink legal precedents that will take root in environmental protection.
In an interview last year, Vermont law and graduate environmental law expert Patrick Derprue said: “If you need an answer to this question, you probably don’t like the answer you’re trying to get.”
However, he added that he still praises the efforts of the youth and their lawyers.
Olson said environmentalists should not move away from the courts. “If we don’t show up, don’t advance our claims, don’t shed light on injustice, then other forces will always win,” she said.
This appeal will be reviewed by the investigative courts to determine if the national intelligence agency acted unlawfully.
What is the UK government requesting from Apple?
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a “Technical Capacity Notice” under the Investigation Powers Act, requiring businesses to assist law enforcement in providing evidence. The focus is on Apple’s Advanced Data Protection Service, which encrypts personal data stored on Apple’s cloud servers.
The UK government hopes that Apple will provide access to its services’ content through backdoors.
Why is Apple opposing this?
Apple values privacy as a core principle and has removed its Advanced Data Protection Tool from the UK. The tool offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring only the account owner can decrypt the data. Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime services maintain end-to-end encryption.
Apple faces opposition from human rights groups challenging the Technical Capacity Notice as a broad request that compromises billions of users’ personal data to potential threats.
Can Apple succeed in the challenge?
Legal lecturer Dr. Daniella Lock from King’s College London suggests Apple has a chance due to human rights considerations. The requirement for a backdoor to access encrypted data may be viewed as disproportionate, and questions arise about data security.
However, Lock acknowledges that the UK government’s secrecy surrounding the case could hinder Apple’s defense, as courts tend to support national security interests.
Does the US government support Apple?
The US government has expressed concerns about the UK’s demands on Apple, with President Trump likening it to Chinese surveillance practices.
“We told them you can’t do this,” Trump stated in an interview. “We actually said[Starmer]… can’t believe it. That’s what you know, you hear China.”
Would Apple’s defeat create a precedent?
Regardless of the outcome, future conflicts with tech companies are possible as the IPA requires companies to notify the government of changes affecting data access. Services like WhatsApp, committed to privacy, may also face similar requests.
This case represents a critical battleground between law enforcement and technology, balancing users’ privacy rights and overall security concerns.
The Guardian has learned that appeals to the UK government’s request to access clients’ highly encrypted data will be heard in a secret High Court hearing.
The appeal, scheduled for Friday, will be reviewed by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent court with the authority to investigate allegations of illegal actions by the UK Intelligence Reporting Authority.
This goes against a directive issued by the Home Office in February under the Investigatory Powers Act, which compels law enforcement to provide requested information.
The Home Office is seeking the ability to access users’ encrypted data in cases of national security threats. Currently, even Apple does not have access to data protected by Advanced Data Protection (ADP) programs.
ADP allows iCloud users to safeguard photos, memos, and other data with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only users can access it. Messaging services like iMessage and FaceTime maintain default end-to-end encryption.
Apple has argued that removing this tool would make users vulnerable to data breaches and jeopardize customer privacy. Creating a “back door” would enable Apple to access all data and potentially share it with law enforcement agencies.
Last week, Computer Weekly reported that Apple plans to challenge the secret order.
The court took the unusual step of announcing the closed hearing before President Rabinder Singh on March 14th.
The court listing does not mention Apple or the government, and it does not disclose if the court is associated with either party.
The hearing will be held privately due to security concerns, but media outlets like Computer Weekly argue that it is a matter of public interest and should be conducted in open court as details have already been leaked.
News organizations, including the Guardian, and civil society groups are supporting Computer Weekly in their petition.
In a statement in February, Apple expressed disappointment at the situation. They cited increasing data breaches and threats to customer privacy as the reason for ceasing to offer advanced data protection in the UK.
A spokesperson emphasized the urgency of enhanced security with end-to-end encryption in cloud storage and reiterated Apple’s commitment to user data security.
“As we have stated many times before, we have never created backdoors or master keys for our products or services,” the spokesperson said.
Both Apple and the Home Office declined to comment on the upcoming hearing, and the Guardian reached out to the court for more information.
A demonstrator holds a pro-TikTok sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on January 10, 2025.
Alison Robert/Washington Post/Getty Images
The United States Supreme Court supported A ban on the popular video streaming app TikTok is set to come into effect on January 19th.
of Prohibited Unless ByteDance, the app's Chinese parent company, sells TikTok to a U.S. company by a January 19 deadline, the U.S. company will have to restrict users from accessing and updating TikTok through app stores and internet browsers. You will be required to block it.
TikTok's challenge to the law, which the Supreme Court began hearing on January 10, argues that TikTok violates the U.S. Constitution's free speech protections. On the same day, the court heard arguments in a related case, with lawyers representing TikTok content creators arguing that the ban also violates the constitutional rights of these individuals.
However, U.S. Attorney General Elizabeth Preloger argued that the ban on TikTok was not meant to crack down on free speech, but to prevent foreign espionage. The US government's case is that the Chinese government used TikTok to collect sensitive personal data on hundreds of millions of people in the US, which could later be used against them.
The Supreme Court unanimously agreed with the government's arguments and ruled against TikTok and individual creators in both cases. “There is no question that TikTok provides a unique and far-reaching source of expression, participation, and community for more than 170 million Americans. “We determined that division was necessary to address widely held national security concerns regarding relations with foreign adversaries,” the opinion states.
TikTok plans to shut down its app for U.S. users on January 19, the same day the ban goes into effect. According to Reuters. But this may not be the last twist in the courtroom drama.
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to leave office on January 20, the day after the ban goes into effect. Administration officials said Mr. Biden would not enforce the law. According to the Associated Press. Rather, the strength of the ban will depend on the actions of President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.
President Trump initially supported banning TikTok during his first term, but later changed his stance and expressed support for allowing the platform to continue operating in the United States. After taking office on January 20, he could ask MPs to repeal or amend the law, or instruct the government not to enforce it.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Friday regarding the future of TikTok. This marks the latest development in an ongoing debate over whether to ban the immensely popular social media platform in the U.S. The judges will consider the balance between national security concerns and the preservation of free speech.
TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance have appealed to the Supreme Court after a lower court upheld a law banning the app in the U.S. The ban is scheduled to take effect on January 19th, unless ByteDance sells TikTok’s assets to a non-Chinese entity. ByteDance has argued that a sale is not feasible from commercial, technical, and legal standpoints.
The oral arguments are expected to last for two hours, with each side given the opportunity to present their case. The court has outlined that the discussion will focus on whether the ban infringes on the First Amendment.
TikTok boasts 170 million users, approximately half of the U.S. population, making the potential ban a contentious issue. While some believe the app could be exploited by the Chinese government, there is a coalition of influencers, civil rights groups, and even President Donald Trump advocating against the ban, citing concerns about free speech violations.
ByteDance has faced legal challenges from federal and state authorities, with legislation to ban TikTok passing in Congress last year. The company maintains that it operates independently from Chinese influence and handles U.S. user data through Oracle.
Federal law at the center of the case
The law in question, known as the Protecting Americans from Regulatory Applications by Foreign Adversaries Act, was enacted by President Joe Biden. It follows a previous ban on TikTok in federal devices and underscores concerns about national security risks associated with the app.
U.S. lawmakers have expressed apprehensions about China’s potential control over TikTok’s content and user data, citing security threats and propaganda dissemination. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to show that China or ByteDance have manipulated the app for espionage purposes.
Shortly after Biden signed the law, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing that the ban violates the Constitution and impinges on free speech rights. The company emphasized the importance of preserving communication and expression for its vast user base.
Supreme Court review and President Trump’s opinion
Following a recent ruling by a federal appeals court, TikTok sought an emergency motion from the Supreme Court to halt the ban. The court agreed to expedite oral arguments and has received numerous briefs from both sides of the debate.
Notably, former President Trump submitted an amicus brief requesting the court to suspend the ban to allow for negotiation. This stance contrasts with his previous efforts to ban TikTok over national security concerns.
President Trump’s involvement in the case underscores the complexity of the issue, with diverging viewpoints within the political landscape. The upcoming Supreme Court decision will have far-reaching implications for the future of TikTok in the U.S.
A US law banning popular video-sharing app TikTok is expected to take effect in early 2025, but the US Supreme Court has ruled agreed To hear TikTok’s legal challenge to this. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he may take action against the law, raising new questions about whether it will survive.
What does a TikTok ban actually do?
From January 19, 2025, “Act to protect Americans from regulatory applications by foreign adversaries' will prevent US companies such as Google and Apple from allowing users to access or update TikTok through their own app stores unless TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance sells the app to US companies. It turns out. It would also require internet service providers to block the platform on US internet browsers. The bill was approved by the House and Senate with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Joe Biden in April 2024.
If the ban were implemented, it would be virtually impossible for new users in the US to download the TikTok app. Kate Ruan At the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. For the 170 million existing TikTok users in the United States, the app may remain on their phones. However, not having access to updates will reduce functionality over time.
People in the United States may still access TikTok using virtual private network (VPN) services that disguise the user's location. But the experience of using the app could still deteriorate, Ruan said. TikTok content will no longer be stored on nearby U.S. servers, so it will load more slowly.
These restrictions stem from privacy and security concerns. US lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok users' data, pressure the app to change its algorithm, and present content that could manipulate public opinion. , said TikTok is a “national security threat.” However, no solid evidence has been provided to support these claims. TikTok said We are investing heavily to keep U.S. data safe. From outside influences and manipulation.
“It is deeply concerning that a country like the United States, which has always led the world stage in championing a free, open, and interoperable internet, is taking steps to ban access to entire platforms within its borders. 'This is unusual and should be done,' says Luan.
Will the Supreme Court block TikTok's ban?
Previously, he was a judge on the D.C. Lower Circuit Court of Appeals. allowed With U.S. law in effect, the Supreme Court agreed to hear TikTok's appeal. TikTok position That is, the ban amounts to censorship that violates Americans' right to free speech under the First Amendment.
“We hope courts will seriously address how this law violates these rights and how governments should account for the rights of social media users when seeking to regulate these speech platforms. I think so,” Luan said. “Despite the fact that some users have filed lawsuits claiming that this law violates their First Amendment rights, which are different from TikTok, the court did so in the process of considering this particular law.” have not done so.”
The most likely short-term impact, Ruan said, is that the U.S. Supreme Court will temporarily halt enforcement of the law while the justices consider the case. This could delay implementation of the law for months, no matter how long it takes for the Supreme Court to rule in 2025. TikTok specifically seeks such a suspension in its court filing.
Ruane said the ban violates First Amendment rights and that the government would be justified in such an outright ban if the Supreme Court found that the U.S. government had less restrictive options at its disposal. It is possible that an injunction could be issued that would make it virtually impossible to do so. The Supreme Court could also ask the lower D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its analysis of the case. Such a decision could force governments to find more tightly tailored options for regulating TikTok.
How can Trump stop banning TikTok?
President-elect Trump supported plans to ban TikTok during his first term, but has since changed his mind. During the 2024 presidential campaign, he promised:Save TikTok'' he urged American voters to support him in a post on his social media platform “Truth Social.'' On December 16th, President Trump met TikTok's CEO later said in a press conference that the administration would “consider” the ban. Even if the Supreme Court ultimately agrees to keep the ban in place, President Trump could change the law's impact.
For example, the president could meet with U.S. lawmakers and ask for changes, such as repealing or amending domestic laws, Ruane said. She also described a possible scenario in which President Trump could instruct his administration's attorney general not to enforce the law, but warned that it would be outside the norm for how the U.S. government normally operates.
Even if President Trump's attorney general announces that the US government will not enforce the ban, US companies such as Google and Apple remain reluctant to allow people to access apps through their platforms. There is a possibility. “If I were in charge of legal risk at one of these companies, I don't know if I would be able to say, 'We believe in it.' [decision]It’s okay to allow access to this app, which is prohibited,” Ruane said.
What does the US ban on TikTok mean for the rest of the world?
If passed, the U.S. ban could have significant ramifications around the world. First, people in other countries will not be able to access new content from US-based TikTok creators and influencers. But more importantly, the U.S. government's actions could prompt other countries to consider similar restrictions.
The US is not the first country to take action against TikTok, with the Indian government blocking the app since 2020, but Luan said the US ban would lead to “authoritarian regimes” They expressed concern that this could prompt the banning of all apps, including those that are Similar national security justification.
“This will no doubt be used as a justification to ban TikTok elsewhere, and to ban access to other applications that have served as important speech platforms in countries where the internet is less open. will also be used,” Luan said.
Will banning TikTok protect privacy?
The ostensible purpose of the ban is to protect the privacy of U.S. TikTok users and prevent their data from falling into the hands of other countries, as well as to prevent the Chinese government from potentially manipulating the content presented to U.S. app users. It is to address the concerns that there are. But Ruane says there are many alternative steps U.S. lawmakers could take before blocking TikTok completely.
For example, governments could require TikTok to be more transparent about how it collects and shares individual user data and what steps it takes to protect privacy. There is sex. Lawmakers could require platforms to share how their algorithms filter and control the content users see to alleviate concerns about tampering, Ruan said.
The U.S. government may also consider enacting consumer privacy laws that would provide better legal protections for how social media platforms share personal data with other companies and the government. “These consumer privacy and transparency choices are not as extreme as banning the entire platform,” Ruan said.
TikTok made a last-ditch effort to continue operating in the U.S. on Monday, as it passed a temporary law requiring its China-based parent company ByteDance to sell the popular app by January 19. The U.S. Supreme Court was asked to intervene and prevent a ban from taking effect.
Both TikTok and ByteDance have filed emergency requests with a judge to block the impending ban on the social media app, which is used by approximately 170 million Americans. They are appealing a lower court ruling that upheld the law. Additionally, a group of U.S. users of the app filed a similar request on Monday.
The law, passed by Congress in April, was based on concerns raised by the Justice Department regarding TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The department alleges that as a Chinese company, TikTok could access and manipulate vast amounts of data on U.S. users, endangering national security. The ban is aimed at addressing these security threats.
TikTok and ByteDance argued in their Supreme Court filing that Americans should have the freedom to choose whether or not to use the app, without government interference. They criticized the law’s potential impact on freedom of speech and expressed concerns about the future implications if the law is upheld.
If TikTok is shut down even for a month, the companies estimate that they would lose a significant portion of their U.S. user base, affecting their ability to attract advertisers and content creators. The companies stress TikTok’s importance as a speech platform in the U.S. and argue that delaying enforcement of the ban would allow for further legal review.
Despite previous attempts to ban TikTok, President Donald Trump has signaled a shift in his stance and expressed interest in saving the app. He met with TikTok’s CEO and has indicated that his administration will evaluate the law’s legality. The companies emphasize the abrupt impact the ban would have, particularly on the eve of the presidential inauguration.
The companies urged the Supreme Court for a ruling that would allow them to manage the shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. if necessary, and to coordinate with service providers within a set deadline under the law. The escalating tensions between China and the U.S. add further complexity to the dispute.
TikTok has vehemently denied any sharing of U.S. user data and accused U.S. lawmakers of creating unfounded concerns. The company emphasizes the importance of protecting free speech and the potential implications of restricting access to the platform.
In a statement following the lawsuit, TikTok’s spokesman Michael Hughes reiterated the need for the courts to closely scrutinize any restrictions on speech, particularly in cases involving foreign ownership. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities of balancing national security concerns with free speech rights.
U.S. prosecutors have told a judge that Alphabet Inc.’s Google should take steps to end its monopoly on Internet search by selling off its Chrome browser and sharing data and search results with competitors.
This would result in a decade of heightened regulation for Google, as ruled by a Washington federal court that found the company maintained an illegal monopoly on online search and related advertising.
Google currently controls about 90% of the online search market.
In a court filing, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) stated, “Google’s illegal conduct not only deprived competitors of important distribution channels but also hindered their entry into these markets through new and innovative ways, eliminating potential distribution partners.”
The recently filed court papers further detail the U.S. government’s plan to break Google’s monopoly, which Google considers radical and harmful to American consumers and businesses.
Google intends to appeal the proposal.
The Justice Department’s demands include prohibiting Google from rejoining the browser market for five years and potentially requiring the sale of its Android mobile OS if competition is not restored through other means.
Additionally, the department seeks to prevent Google from acquiring or investing in search rivals, query-based artificial intelligence products, or advertising technology.
The Justice Department and a group of states have asked U.S. District Judge Amit to terminate Google’s exclusive contracts paying Apple and other device vendors to make its search engine the default option on tablets and smartphones.
Google will have an opportunity to present its counterproposal in December, with a trial scheduled for April, subject to potential interference by President-elect Donald Trump and the Justice Department’s incoming antitrust chief.
The U.S. Supreme Court discussed Meta’s Facebook’s attempt to dismiss a federal securities fraud lawsuit brought by shareholders. The lawsuit accuses the social media platform of deceiving users about its misuse of user data.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in Facebook’s appeal against a lower court’s decision allowing a 2018 class action lawsuit by Amalgamated Bank to move forward. The lawsuit aims to recover lost value of investors’ Facebook stock. Another lawsuit filed this month involves Nvidia, where litigants accuse the company of securities fraud, potentially making accountability more challenging.
The key issue is whether Facebook broke the law by not disclosing previous data breaches in its risk disclosures, portraying the risks as hypothetical.
Facebook argued in its brief to the Supreme Court that reasonable investors would see risk disclosures as forward-looking statements, eliminating the need to disclose previous risks that materialized.
Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Samuel Alito raised questions during the hearing, asserting that risk assessment is always forward-looking.
The plaintiffs accused Facebook of violating the Securities Exchange Act by misleading investors about a 2015 data breach involving Cambridge Analytica. The case was initially dismissed, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it.
The Cambridge Analytica scandal led to various investigations and legal actions against Facebook. The Supreme Court is expected to reach a decision by June.
Despite the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, there are differing views on how investors interpret forward-looking risk disclosures.
Facebook’s stock price dropped after reports in 2018 regarding the misuse of user data by Cambridge Analytica in connection with President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Company X, owned by Elon Musk, has recently updated its terms of service. These changes redirect disputes from users of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter to federal court in Texas. Federal judges in Texas have a reputation for favoring conservative litigants in political cases.
The updated terms state that any legal action against Company X must be filed exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or the state court in Tarrant County, Texas. This venue clause is a common practice for companies, but it is notable that Company X is located in Bastrop, Texas, which falls under the Western District of Texas.
It is speculated that this choice of venue is related to the political leanings of judges in the Northern District of Texas, which has fewer Republican-appointed judges compared to the Western District. This district is known for conservative activism and has become a preferred destination for lawsuits challenging Joe Biden’s policies, leading some to criticize the tactic as “judge shopping.”
Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, suggested that the new language in the terms of service may be connected to Company X’s recent legal strategy. Elon Musk, known as the world’s richest man, has shown support for conservative causes and was a significant financial backer of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Company X has already filed two lawsuits in the Northern District of Texas, including one against Media Matters for allegedly defaming the platform. Additionally, an antitrust lawsuit has been filed against multiple advertisers for conspiring to boycott and causing revenue loss. These cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, known for controversial rulings on healthcare and gun control.
Despite concerns over potential conflicts of interest, Judge O’Connor has refused to recuse himself from the cases involving Company X. The federal court in Fort Worth, where the cases are being heard, has only two active judges, with the other judge, Mark Pittman, appointed by President Trump.
The U.S. government may seek court intervention to break up Google and challenge its monopoly in the internet search market.
According to court documents filed by the Justice Department, Google is considering implementing “structural remedies” that would restrict the use of products like Chrome, Android, and Play. The government believes this would provide Google with an unfair advantage over its competitors.
Additional measures being considered include prohibiting Google from paying to have its search engine preinstalled on devices like smartphones.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has objected to the lawsuit, arguing that it represents government overreach at the expense of consumers.
The lawsuit stems from a previous court ruling in August which found Google in violation of antitrust laws for building an illegal monopoly in the search market. The Justice Department is pursuing further actions to challenge Google’s dominance.
The filing alleges that Google’s actions have harmed users and emphasizes the need to restore competition in a market crucial to Americans.
The proposed remedies could prevent Google from using its search-related products, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to gain an advantage over competitors through new search features like Artificial Intelligence.
Furthermore, Google may be prohibited from paying major phone companies to make Chrome the default browser on their devices, a practice that has cost the company billions.
Google’s vice president of regulation criticized the Justice Department’s proposals, warning of potential harm to consumers, businesses, and developers.
Apple has lost its high-profile 13 billion euro (11 billion pounds) Irish tax battle with the EU, but the ruling will bolster efforts by the European Commission to crack down on “preferential” tax regimes favoring multinational companies.
The long-awaited ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) came after a years-long legal battle over whether the European Commission was right in 2016 to demand the return of 13 billion euros of “illegal” tax breaks given to Apple for giving the iPhone maker an unfair advantage.
ECJ (European Court of Justice) The verdict was given The Commission argued that a lower court ruling in favor of Apple should be overturned, upholding a 2016 European Commission decision that found Ireland had provided unlawful assistance to Apple in the tax treatment of profits from Apple’s activities outside the United States and that Ireland was required to recoup the money.
In 2020, a lower court, the General Court, annulled the 2016 European Commission decision, finding that it had not been sufficiently established that Apple’s subsidiaries enjoyed a selective advantage. That ruling has now been set aside by the European Court of Justice, which has confirmed the European Commission’s 2016 decision.
The ruling was a victory for EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who concluded: 2016 The iPhone maker benefited from billions of dollars worth of unfair tax breaks from the Irish government.
Vestager, who is due to step down this year, has been seen as a tough enforcer who has boldly taken on powerful multinationals such as Fiat, Amazon and Starbucks over their tax claims. But some of the cases have not stood the test of time, with a 2022 ruling against Fiat that was later overturned.
The case brings to an end a years-long legal battle that began in 2016 when the European Commission ordered Apple to pay billions of euros for significant underpayment of tax on profits from 2003 to 2014. Apple, which has had its European headquarters in Cork since 1980, was found by the EU’s competition watchdog to have benefited from a tax ruling by Irish authorities and to have paid an effective tax rate of 0.005 percent in 2014.
Apple has denied the accusations, saying the government aid money had not been paid, and CEO Tim Cook said: It is called The claim is “political nonsense.”
Apple challenged the Commission at the General Court, the EU’s second-highest court, and won. Conclusion In July 2020, Brussels ruled that Apple had failed to prove that it had obtained an illegal economic benefit in terms of tax in Ireland.
The Commission appealed, and last year the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, Giovanni Pitruzzella, recommended that the Commission overturn the General Court’s earlier ruling. Advocate General Pitruzzella said the General Court had made an error of law and needed to carry out a new assessment. He recommended that the European Court of Justice remit the case back to the General Court for a new ruling on the substance of the case.
Pitruzella’s recommendation was not legally binding and did not have to be followed by the ECJ, but the attorney general’s opinion carries great weight and usually influences the court’s final decision.
Following the ECJ ruling, Apple said: “This case is not about how much tax we pay, but which government we owe tax to. We have always paid all taxes wherever we do business and have never had any special arrangements. Apple is a driver of growth and innovation in Europe and around the world, and we are proud to have consistently been one of the world’s largest taxpayers.”
“The European Commission is seeking to change the rules retroactively, ignoring the fact that our income is already subject to tax in the United States under international tax law. We are disappointed by today’s decision because the European Court of Justice previously reviewed the facts and invalidated this case in its entirety.”
Meanwhile, the ECJ It also ruled He upheld the 2.4 billion euro fine imposed by the European Commission against Google in an antitrust case. Whether Google falsely favored its online shopping service. In this case, the Attorney General said In January, the ECJ ruled that Google’s appeal should be dismissed.
Google said: “We are disappointed with the court’s decision, which concerns very specific facts. We made changes in 2017 to comply with the European Commission’s decision. Our approach has been successful for more than seven years, generating billions of clicks across over 800 comparison shopping services.”
The Supreme Court of Brazil has ordered the suspension of social media platform X’s activities in the country as the company failed to appoint a legal representative within the specified deadline.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, in a continuing legal battle with X’s owner Elon Musk, issued an order on Friday evening for the complete suspension of X’s operations until all court orders are fulfilled, fines are paid, and a new legal representative is appointed in the country.
The National Telecommunications Agency of Brazil has been given 24 hours to enforce the court’s decision, after which over 20,000 broadband providers in the country will be required to block access to X.
The agency’s director, Carlos Manuel Baigorri, confirmed that the order has been communicated to internet providers, with the expectation that all businesses will have implemented the blocks by the weekend.
Initially, Judge Moraes instructed Apple and Google to block X apps and VPN applications. However, these references were later removed pending further information from the involved parties.
Individuals or companies attempting to use X through VPNs will face fines of 50,000 reais per day.
Following X’s failure to appoint new legal representatives, Musk announced that the platform would not comply with the court’s orders.
Musk criticized Brazil’s actions, accusing the country of stifling the truth and intimidating those seeking it.
The conflict between Musk and the Brazilian authorities began in April, with accusations of spreading misinformation and censorship.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized the need for compliance with Brazilian laws and court decisions, warning against disrespect for the country’s sovereignty.
In response to Musk’s actions, local bank accounts linked to Starlink, Musk’s satellite and internet provider, were blocked to enforce fines imposed on X.
As legal experts criticized the decision affecting Starlink, the internet provider assured customers of continued service despite the financial implications.
Starlink has requested the Supreme Court to reconsider Moraes’ decision and lift the freeze on its accounts, or alternatively, limit the freeze to the fine amount imposed on X.
On Monday, a federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws while establishing its dominant position in the internet search industry. This ruling could have significant ramifications for how people engage with the internet.
Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google had breached Section 2 of the Sherman Act, a US antitrust law, by monopolizing search services and advertising.
The ruling declared Google a monopoly that had used its dominance to maintain its grip on the market. It is a major antitrust ruling that comes after a case involving the Justice Department and one of the world’s largest companies.
The trial, which started in September last year, concluded without a jury after an extensive period of deliberation by Judge Mehta. The ruling highlighted the importance of the case for both Google and the general public.
Google’s international operations president, Kent Walker, announced plans to appeal the decision, emphasizing aspects of the ruling that praised Google’s search engine while denouncing its accessibility to competitors.
Judge Mehta described the trial as “remarkable” and commended the quality of the legal teams on both sides. The ruling was hailed as a historic victory for the American people by US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The ruling highlighted Google’s distribution agreements with companies like Apple and Samsung to make it the default search engine on their devices, giving Google an unfair advantage over competitors. The ruling did not specify the penalties Google might face for violating antitrust laws.
Google’s defense argued that the company serves consumers better than its rivals like Microsoft’s Bing. The trial also raised concerns about Google’s record-retention policies and the deletion of internal communications.
New York Attorney General Letitia James celebrated the ruling as a victory against unchecked corporate power. The tech giant still faces another antitrust lawsuit later this year focusing on its advertising practices.
Google has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ruling.
The Department of Justice has requested an appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a law that mandates China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19 or risk a ban.
TikTok, along with its parent company ByteDance and a group of TikTok creators, have filed lawsuits to oppose the legislation that could potentially ban the app used by 170 million Americans.
According to a senior Justice Department official, the government will provide classified documents to the court which will outline additional security concerns regarding ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok, along with statements from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Justice Department’s national security division.
The department is expected to argue that Chinese-owned TikTok poses a significant national security risk to the United States due to its access to vast amounts of personal data on American citizens, enabling China to manipulate information used by Americans through the app covertly.
President Joe Biden signed the law on April 24, giving TikTok and ByteDance until January 19 to separate or face a ban. The White House’s stance is to end Chinese ownership for national security reasons without banning TikTok.
The department clarified that the law is aimed at addressing national security concerns rather than speech issues and intends to address China’s potential misuse of TikTok to access sensitive personal information of Americans. It denies all arguments put forth by TikTok, including claims that the law violates the free speech rights under the First Amendment of Americans using the video app.
The government plans to accuse TikTok of insufficiently safeguarding the data of its U.S. users.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is set to hear oral arguments on September 16, placing TikTok’s fate in the midst of the final week of the 2024 presidential election.
Despite previously signing an executive order threatening to ban the app, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated in an interview in June that he would not support a ban. Additionally, US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president, recently joined TikTok.
The law would prevent app stores like Apple and Google from offering TikTok and prohibit internet hosting services from supporting it unless it is divested by ByteDance.
The bill received strong support from the US Congress amid concerns expressed by lawmakers that China might exploit the app to gain access to Americans’ data for spying purposes.
The Federal Court of Australia mandated that Elon Musk’s content be hidden from users.
X, along with Mehta, was instructed by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant to promptly remove any material depicting “unreasonable or offensive violence with serious consequences or details” within 24 hours or risk facing fines.
The content in question was a video allegedly showing Bishop Mar Mari Emanuel being stabbed to death during a livestreamed service at the Assyrian Church of the Good Shepherd in Wakely.
Although X claimed compliance with the request, they intended to challenge the order in court.
During a hearing, eSafety barrister Christopher Tran informed Judge Jeffrey Kennett that X had geographically restricted access to the posts containing the video, rendering them inaccessible in Australia but available globally through VPN connections.
Tran argued that this noncompliance with online safety laws necessitated the removal of the content globally as an interim step.
X’s legal representative, Marcus Hoyne, requested an adjournment, citing the late hour in San Francisco where X is based and lack of instructions from his client.
Judge Kennett proposed issuing an interim order until the next hearing, requiring the post’s removal and global access blockage until a specified date and time.
Treasurer Stephen Jones criticized X as a “factory of trolls and misinformation” and affirmed the government’s readiness to combat legal challenges from the company.
The eSafety Commissioner clarified that the notice solely concerned the video footage and not any commentary surrounding the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the harmful impact of violent content on social media and condemned X for noncompliance with the removal order.
Meta purportedly followed the directive, while X accused the regulator of “global censorship” and announced intentions to challenge the order in court.
Treasurer Jones vowed to challenge X’s stance, emphasizing the need for online platforms to adhere to laws and maintain safety.
Regulators collaborated with various companies, including Google, Microsoft, Snap, and TikTok, to remove the contentious content.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton voiced support for eSafety’s actions and criticized X for considering itself above the law.
Green Party spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young called upon Elon Musk to address the issue in parliament and urged tech companies to act responsibly.
This confrontation is the latest in the ongoing dispute between X and the eSafety Commissioner, which includes legal battles over compliance with safety regulations.
X faced legal action for allegedly bullying a trans man on Twitter, prompting the company to block access to the content in Australia, while filing a lawsuit challenging the decision.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in a case that may have significant implications for the federal government’s relationship with social media companies and online misinformation. The plaintiffs in Marcy v. Missouri claim that the White House’s request to remove false information about the coronavirus on Twitter and Facebook constitutes unlawful censorship in violation of the First Amendment.
The discussion began with Brian Fletcher, the Justice Department’s acting chief attorney general, arguing that the government’s actions do not cross the line from persuasion to coercion. He also disputed the lower court’s portrayal of events in the ruling, calling it misleading or containing quotes taken out of context.
“When the government convinces a private organization not to distribute or promote someone else’s speech, it is not censorship but rather persuading the private organization to act within its legal rights,” stated Fletcher.
The justices, particularly conservatives Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, pressed Fletcher on where the distinction lies between coercing and persuading a company. Fletcher defended the government’s actions as part of a broader effort to mitigate harm to the public.
Louisiana Attorney General Benjamin Aguignaga argued that the government was covertly pressuring platforms to censor speech, violating the First Amendment. The lawsuit, led by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, accused the government of infringing on constitutional rights.
Several justices, including liberals Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, also weighed in on the government’s efforts to address potential harm and the boundaries of the First Amendment. Sotomayor criticized the factual inaccuracies in the plaintiffs’ lawsuit.
Aguignaga apologized for any shortcomings in the brief and acknowledged that it may not have been as thorough as it should have been.
Elon Musk is concerned about the pace of AI development
Chesnot/Getty Images
Elon Musk asked the court to resolve the issue of whether GPT-4 is artificial general intelligence (AGI). Lawsuit against OpenAI. The development of his AGI, which can perform a variety of tasks just like humans, is one of the field’s main goals, but experts say it will be up to judges to decide whether it qualifies for GPT-4. The idea is “unrealistic,” he said.
Musk was one of the founders of OpenAI in 2015, but left the company in February 2018 due to controversy over the company’s change from a nonprofit model to a profit-restricted model. Despite this, he continues to support OpenAI financially, with the legal complaint alleging that he donated more than $44 million to OpenAI between 2016 and 2020.
Since OpenAI’s flagship ChatGPT launched in November 2022 and the company partnered with Microsoft, Musk has warned that AI development is moving too fast, but with the latest AI model to power ChatGPT, Musk has warned that AI development is moving too fast. The release of GPT-4 made that view even worse. In July 2023, he founded xAI, a competitor of OpenAI.
In a lawsuit filed in a California court on March 1st, Musk said through his lawyer, “A judicial determination that GPT-4 constitutes artificial general intelligence and is therefore outside the scope of OpenAI’s license to Microsoft.” I asked for This is because OpenAI is committed to only licensing “pre-AGI” technology. Musk has a number of other demands, including financial compensation for his role in helping found OpenAI.
However, it is unlikely that Mr. Musk will prevail. Not only because of the merits of litigation, but also because of the complexity in determining when AGI is achieved. “AGI doesn’t have an accepted definition, it’s kind of a coined term, so I think it’s unrealistic in a general sense,” he says. mike cook At King’s College London.
“Whether OpenAI has achieved AGI is hotly debated among those who base their decisions on scientific facts.” Elke Beuten De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. “It seems unusual to me that a court can establish scientific truth.”
However, such a judgment is not legally impossible. “We’ve seen all sorts of ridiculous definitions come out of US court decisions. How can anyone but the most outlandish of her AGI supporters be persuaded? Not at all.” Staffordshire, England says Katherine Frick of the university.
It’s unclear what Musk hopes to achieve with the lawsuit – new scientist has reached out to both him and OpenAI for comment, but has not yet received a response from either.
“It’s in OpenAI’s interest to constantly hint that their tools are improving and getting closer to this, because it keeps the attention and the headlines flowing,” Cook says. But now they may need to make the opposite argument.
Even if the court were to rely on expert viewpoints, any judge would have a hard time ruling in Musk’s favor at best, or uncovering differing views on the hotly debated topic. will have a hard time. “Most of the scientific community would now say that AGI has not been achieved if the concept was considered sufficiently meaningful or sufficiently accurate,” says Beuten.
NSO Group, a maker of advanced cyberweapons, has been instructed by a US court to provide WhatsApp with the code for its Pegasus and other spyware products as part of an ongoing legal battle.
The ruling, issued by Judge Phyllis Hamilton, deals a significant blow to WhatsApp, owned by Mehta, who has been in a legal dispute with NSO since 2019 over allegations that the Israeli company’s spyware targeted 1,400 WhatsApp users over a two-year period, marking a major legal victory that lasted weeks.
NSO’s Pegasus code and other surveillance product codes sold by the company are considered highly classified national secrets. NSO is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which must authorize all sales of licenses to foreign governments.
Despite NSO’s request to be exempt from the case’s discovery obligations due to US and Israeli restrictions, Judge Hamilton sided with WhatsApp. She ordered NSO to produce the spyware code and provide information on relevant spyware features used during a specified period.
However, on another issue, Hamilton ruled in favor of NSO, exempting the company from disclosing client names or server architecture details at this time.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp celebrated the court’s decision, stating that it marks a significant step in protecting users from illegal attacks by spyware companies. NSO declined to comment, and the legal battle continues.
NSO’s Pegasus software, once deployed against a target, grants unauthorized access to calls, emails, photos, location, and encrypted messages on mobile phones. The Biden administration blacklisted NSO in 2021, citing actions contrary to US foreign policy and national security interests.
NSO sells spyware to governments worldwide, claiming that the deploying agency is responsible for its use. Investigations have revealed countries like Poland, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, India, Hungary, and the UAE using NSO technology against dissidents, journalists, activists, and civil society members.
NSO argues that Pegasus aids law enforcement and intelligence agencies in combating crime, protecting national security, and apprehending terrorists, child abusers, and violent criminals.
Concerned about the proliferation and misuse of products like Pegasus, the Biden administration announced a new policy imposing global visa restrictions on individuals involved in exploiting commercial spyware, extending to EU member states and Israel.
The High Court has heard that an Australian computer scientist’s claim to be the author of Bitcoin’s founding documents is a “blatant lie”. Craig Wright, a 53-year-old who claims to be the pseudonymous author Satoshi Nakamoto, is being sued by a group of cryptocurrency exchanges and developers, with Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s Crypto Patent Alliance (Copa) seeking a “negative declaration” that Wright is not Nakamoto.
The President of Copa, Jonathan Hough KC, told the High Court that Wright’s claims were “a brazen lie and an elaborate false narrative backed by industrial-scale fabrications.” Hough also mentioned that elements of Wright’s conduct, including his alleged use of ChatGPT to create fabrications to support his claims, were reminiscent of a “farce”. These claims, according to Hough, have “deadly serious” consequences for individuals who faced litigation based on Wright’s claims. He stated, “Dr. Wright has consistently failed to provide genuine evidence that he is Satoshi. Instead, he has repeatedly presented documents that clearly show signs of falsification.”
Both experts agreed that the original white paper was written in OpenOffice software, while the version Wright provided was created using software called LaTeX. Additionally, Wright’s claims to be Satoshi are met with widespread skepticism within the crypto community. Mr Wright’s barrister, Lord Grabiner KC, stated that he published the white paper after “spending many years researching and researching the concepts underlying Bitcoin” and has a “rare combination of interdisciplinary talent” and extensive experience in the field, which Nakamoto has “uniquely brought together” in the white paper.
The trial before Judge Mellor is scheduled to begin with Wright testifying on Tuesday and is expected to conclude next month with a written judgment expected at a later date.
The Supreme Court has ruled that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be legally considered inventors to secure patent rights.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Britain’s highest court said that under current law, “the inventor must be an individual” to apply for a patent.
In a long-term patent dispute, an American engineer artificial intelligence A system he claims to be the inventor of.
The system, called DABUS, invented a food and drink container and a light beacon, according to Dr. Stephen Thaler.
The problem arose in 2019 when he received these patents and tried to list his company’s AI system as an inventor.
His case and subsequent appeal were rejected in the United States, and on Wednesday, after a three-year appeals process, he received a final dismissal of his appeal from Britain’s Supreme Court.
The bottom line of this case is whether you need to be a human being to obtain a patent.
Dr. Saylor’s team argued that the law does not require you to be the person in question to obtain a patent, and that because the artificial intelligence is the owner of the AI, it can apply for patents on its behalf. .
However, the Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed the case, stating that to be considered an inventor under patent law a person must be a “natural person” and that Dr. Thaler had no idea why he could apply for a patent. He said that he did not state his claim. Instead of AI.
The judges considered the meaning of the term “inventor” in patent law and whether it included machines, but found that Mr. DABUS was not an inventor because only humans can devise inventions. He said he had come to a conclusion.
The judgment does not address whether AI created an invention, only whether AI can be considered an inventor under the Patents Act 1977.
Patents, which provide legal protection, are granted for inventions that are new, nonobvious, and meet a set of requirements.
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Patent rights make it illegal for anyone other than the owner or someone authorized by the owner to make, use, import, or sell the invention in the country where the patent was granted.
Dr. Thaler was unsuccessful in his latest attempt to win legal protection for works produced by AI systems.
But as AI is increasingly used as a tool for creativity across society, such debates are likely to become even more common.
The question for policymakers is whether the 1977 Patents Act adequately describes the nature of invention and the role of technology today.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (Reuters) – Apple (AAPL.O) says it is seeking a judge’s order to turn over information about its customers’ push notifications to law enforcement, bringing the iPhone maker’s policy in line with rival Google’s and allowing authorities to obtain app data about users. The hurdles that must be cleared have been raised.
The new policy was not officially announced, but was announced in the past few days. Law enforcement guidelines published by Apple. This follows revelations by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden that officials had requested such data not only from Apple but also from Alphabet Inc.’s Google. (GOOGL.O) Create an operating system for Android phones.
Apps of all kinds rely on push notifications to notify smartphone users of incoming messages, breaking news, and other updates. These are the audible “sounds” or visual indicators that users receive when they receive an email or when a sports team wins a game. What users often do not realize is that almost all such notifications are sent through Google and his Apple servers.
In the letter, first revealed by Reuters last week, Wyden said the practice gives the companies unique insight into the traffic flowing to users from these apps, and that the two companies can “see how users use specific apps.” “We are in a unique position to facilitate government oversight of what is happening.”
Although Apple did not officially announce this new policy, it was included in Apple’s published law enforcement guidelines within the past few days. Getty Images
Apple and Google both acknowledged receiving such requests. Apple added a section to its guidelines stating that such data can be obtained “via subpoena or larger legal process.” This text has now been updated to refer to more stringent warrant requirements.
Apple has not released an official statement. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Wyden said in a statement that Apple is “doing the right thing by aligning with Google in seeking a court order to turn over data related to push notifications.”
One of Google’s most vocal critics says Google’s “catastrophic” antitrust loss this week to “Fortnite” maker Epic Games is a huge blow to Big Tech companies and other companies. This could potentially change the situation completely, potentially exposing the company to a wave of restructuring. Matt Stoller, director of research at the antitrust watchdog American Economic Liberties Project, said the jury’s unanimous verdict that Google maintained an illegal monopoly through the Android app store was a sign that “the truly powerful Big Apple… This is the first time a “tech company” has lost a major antitrust case. case. “There will be appeals and things like that, but I think over the next five years or so Google will start to settle and agree to splits because they know they’re going to lose.” , it’s not worth it. There is a lot of legal uncertainty.” Stoller told journalist Glenn Greenwald on his show “System Update.” “I know there’s a lot of cynicism, but this is actually how we’re going to rebuild these companies,” Stoller added. “It’s kind of amazing that it actually works.” “It’s over.”Google just lost a major antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the first judgment of its kind against a major tech company.The potential impact on Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other companies cannot be overstated.@MatthewStoller I’ll explain 👇 pic.twitter.com/aaGQ96Bcgu— System Update (@SystemUpdate_) December 13, 2023 Stoller added that the jury’s decision sets an important new legal precedent that is likely to influence the process in a range of antitrust cases facing Google and other large companies. Google is awaiting a judge’s ruling on a landmark Justice Department case targeting its online search empire, as well as separate investigations into its digital advertising business and Google Maps business. “All of a sudden, there’s a precedent and these sneaky judges are going to have to find reasons to rule in favor of Google, whereas before they had to find reasons to rule against Google. Deaf,” Stoller said. “I think all of these lawsuits are going to be overturned, and it’s going to be much harder for Google to win the lawsuits.” As The Post reported, experts say the Google v. Epic ruling could upend the business model that underpins the company’s lucrative Play Store. The Play Store previously charged large companies up to a 30% fee on in-app purchases and required them to: Use your company’s pricing system. Matt Stoller is the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an antitrust watchdog group. X/@SystemUpdate_ U.S. District Judge James Donato will next decide which illegal business practices Google must eliminate. A judge could order Google to stop paying major app developers to discourage them from launching competing app stores and suspend billing requirements, among other remedies. . In May 2024, Judge Amit Mehta will decide Google’s fate in a Justice Department lawsuit that alleges it has maintained an illegal monopoly over online search. The Post reached out to Google for comment on Stoller’s comments. Google faces a series of antitrust battles in the future. EPA Meanwhile, Google has already announced plans to contest the verdict in the Epic lawsuit. “Android and Google Play offer more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform,” said Wilson White, the company’s vice president of government affairs and public policy. “This trial makes clear that we are in intense competition with Apple and its App Store, as well as the App Store for Android devices and game consoles.”
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