HHR New Media, Entertainment and Technology Group

After years of discussion and ongoing debate, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) will begin accepting applications for new generic Top-Level Domains (“gTLDs”) beginning on January 12, 2012.  Up until now, only 22 unrestricted gTLDs have existed across the Internet, among the most popular and well known being .com, .org, and .net.  With this new initiative, ICANN is establishing a process for companies and organizations to apply for new gTLD extensions, which may consist of any term or word, from company, firm or individual names and trademarks (e.g., .digitalhhr, .hugheshubbard, .josel, etc.), to generic categories of goods and services (e.g., law, .music, .baldguys, etc.).   Continue Reading »

As part of the DCIA’s “Content in the Cloud” conference, Wayne will take part in a panel discussion entitled “The Impact on Telecommunications Industries of Cloud Computing.”  The discussion will focus on how cloud computing intiatives impact broadband network providers and their ability to manage their IP, utilize network resources and provision new services.  Joining Wayne on the panel are executives from Acumen Solutions, CSG Systems, Level 3 Communications, Numagic Consulting, Scayl, Verizon Digital Media Services and Virtustream. 

DCIA, the Distributed Computing Industry Association, is an international trade organization focused on commercial advancement of cloud computing and related technologies.  “Content in the Cloud” is part of the 2012 International CES trade show, being held in Las Vegas from January 10 through 13.  CES is the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.  More information on the conference is available here.

Mobile apps have blossomed from nothing into an expanding multi-billion dollar industry in just a few years.  Just last week, the millionth app went on sale somehere in the world.  And the industry is projected to continue to grow despite tough economic times. 

A great deal of this growth stems from the increased access that children have to devices that are capable of supporting mobile applications, such as smart phones and iPads.  So perhaps it is not unexpected that the mobile app industry has started to attract some negative press, mainly from Congress on behalf of parents concerned about violent content and privacy issues. 

In an effort to preempt Congress from stepping in to regulate mobile apps, two industry groups, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (“ESRB”) and the CTIA (a wireless industry trade association), recently announced a voluntary rating system to help parents to make informed decisions about whether or not a given mobile application is appropriate for their children.  The ESRB has considerable experience in this realm, as they have been in the business of rating computer and console video games since 1994. Continue Reading »

A recent panel discussion at the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. on copyright issues arising from emerging cloud technologies, which was moderated by Dan, was featured in BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily.  The panel focused on how the growth of cloud-based distribution platforms and demand for content created novel copyright issues.  As Dan noted, these issues placed in sharp relief copyright holders’ exclusive reproduction and performance rights in their works against  the ability of service providers and consumers to access the works without infringing those rights.  The BNA article can be found here.