STLR Link Roundup – September 26, 2011

Chris Seelinger — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:26:10 +0000

The FCC has filed its finalized net neutrality rules, set to take effect on November 20. The rules will almost certainly face legal challenges from Verizon and MetroPCS over the extent of the FCC’s jurisdiction.
David Ignatius writes on legal uncertainty and difficult questions facing the future “rules of war” for drone strikes. The debate has gotten fresh attention over last week’s report that the Obama administration’s legal team is split on the extent of our ability to use lethal force in countries like Yemen and Somalia.
In contrast to Sprint’s approach to AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile, Verizon’s CEO has stepped up and defended the deal as a necessary outcome – “like gravity”.
Samsung is seeking to ban iPhone 5 sales in South Korea for violating Samsung’s wireless technology related patents. The move comes on the heels of Apple’s latest success in banning Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Germany and an escalating international patent battle between the two tech giants.
With an eye toward stock market volatility, the troubled GroupOn IPO is back on track with a late October-early November goal for going public.
Three Boston University researchers have estimated that patent litigation by non-practicing entities, aka “patent trolls”, have cost publicly-traded defendants half a trillion dollars since 1990.

Columbia Science and Technology Law Review » Chris Seelinger