Thursday, January 27, 2011

Do-Not-Track Web Browsers and Online Privacy

More “fun” for you and your Internet lawyer. Three of the main Web browsers (IE Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome) are jumping ahead of the U.S. federal government by adding “do-not-track” options so that you can surf the Internet without having your browsing habits tracked.

Nice in concept but that won’t be enough for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) because of remaining

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

FTC shuts down Internet marketer

No Web lawyer specializing in Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cases could have saved Daniel Greenberg of Classic Closeouts because of the misconduct involved. This Internet marketer has been put out of business by the FTC.

Because of deceptive billing practices, Greenberg has been banned from...
“any Internet-related business that handles consumers’ credit card or debit card accounts. He

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Privacy Policy Changes And Terms of Service Updates

Your website attorney probably gets asked this question a lot. When you’re updating your website’s terms of service (a.k.a. terms of use, terms and conditions of use) or privacy policy, how do you let your website visitors and customers know about it?

For those who have opted into one of your email lists, send out a brief notice that…

1. Tells them you’ve updated the documents.
2. B

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

How do they get away with it?

I wish I had a nickel for every client who complained to his Internet lawyer about the so-called “gurus” who are getting away with breaking the law.

Here’s the truth. They don’t all get away with it.

Many are licking their wounds behind closed doors while putting on a happy face to the public in order to “sell the dream” of bad actions without negative consequences.

The govern

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

How to fix your email signature

As an Internet attorney, I spot online entrepreneurs making some common mistakes that can be quickly fixed. For example, when you send out individual or autoresponder emails for your Internet business, do you sign your messages as...

Your First Name (e.g. Jim)

OR

Your First Name and Your Last Name (e.g. Jim Smith)?

If your business is a corporation, a limited liability company, or simi

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Will you be sued by these trolls?

As both a Web lawyer and an Internet business owner, I hate spammers. There’s one right now (initials G.A.) who has become such a pain in the butt that my emails now go through a new filtering process to get rid of the 3 to 5 pieces of garbage he tries to send daily to my inbox. Unsubscribe from one list and he’s got you on several more you never opted into.

Clients and friends learn about

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Office Of Fair Trading Wants You To Disclose More

Like the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the UK’s Office of Fair Trading is taking the stance now that you should disclose you’re being compensated (as an affiliate, celebrity, or otherwise) when promoting goods and services online. As an Internet attorney, it isn’t surprising to see government agencies adopt this view.

The goal is to make sure the readers of what you write understand

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace

In the next step to control you and suppress free speech (think 2012 presidential election), the Obama Administration plans to implement an Internet ID program. A government run “trusted identity” program will invade your privacy with all of the inefficiencies and abuse you get from the DMV when applying for a driver’s license.
Known as the “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in C

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Should you 4G your website?

As your Internet attorney can explain to you in detail, when you’re marketing products and services online, there’s a fine line between creating a unique niche for yourself that distinguishes you from your competitors and making dishonest misrepresentations.
Beyond the Internet, this happens in other ecommerce too. For example, there’s been a rush by cell phone companies to advertise new 4G

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act: What You Need To Know

There are too many Internet gurus (lawyer wannabes) sticking their shoes in their mouths yelling the "sky is falling" because of how the new Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (S.3386) will affect their Internet sales and marketing practices. 99% of Internet marketers won't have a problem obeying this law to begin with because they aren't screwing over customers using the deceptive tactics ba

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