In this week's post, we see how Google potentially faces billions in alleged fines over its web services that offer or are related to its “private browsing” or “incognito” modes. 

Plus, a white paper discussing Trademark Licensing.

Is Private Browsing Really Private? Google Faces Class Action Lawsuit

With the option for utilizing “private browsing” for searching the Internet, do you know just how private such browsing really is? Google will have to answer, as it recently came under fire after a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against it in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  

With alleged damages adding up to $5,000 per individual, at its minimum, the class action alleges that millions of Google users have had their privacy rights violated by a myriad of Google applications.  At the heart of the lawsuit, however, is the allegation that the “incognito” or “private browsing” mode of Google’s web browser, Chrome, is not private at all.  Instead, the complaint alleges that the “incognito” mode of Chrome actually tracks users even when it purports not to.  When asked about the allegations, Google released a statement noting that users have always been aware that “each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity....”   

Read the full article here.

Brian Casper on Trademark Licensing

While most people lump trademarks in with patents and copyrights when thinking about intellectual property in a general sense, when it comes to licensing, there are some fundamental differences that make licensing trademarks more challenging. 

Unlike patents and copyrights, which can be bought and sold like commodities, trademarks have a much more personal relationship with the goods and services they are associated with. 

This paper offers some general background and guidance for both prospective licensors and licensees, along with some sample language that should be included in any comprehensive license agreement.

Read the white paper here.

Click to read the previous Weekly IP Buzz on Thriving Attorney.

For more posts, see our Intellectual Property Law Blog.

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In addition to Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer.