Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights, Rules in Favor of Oregon Church in Homeless Meal Service Case

Brookings, Oregon – A federal judge has ruled in favor of a church in a First Amendment case, preventing a southern Oregon city from shutting down the church’s homeless meal service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke deemed an ordinance passed by the city of Brookings to be a violation of the religious freedom rights of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. The church has been providing meals to the homeless since 2009. The ordinance required a permit to serve free food in residential areas and limited the church’s meal services to only two days a week. In … Read more

Spanish Court Orders Temporary Block of Popular Messaging Service Telegram Amidst Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

Madrid, Spain – A court in Madrid has ordered the temporary blocking of the popular messaging service Telegram in Spain, following a lawsuit filed by multiple companies alleging copyright infringement. The move has sparked criticism from consumer advocates in the country, who argue that the measure is disproportionate given the large number of Telegram users in Spain. The lawsuit, brought by various media companies, claimed that Telegram was being used to illegally distribute copyrighted content. In response, the court deemed it necessary to temporarily block the entire Telegram service in an attempt to address the … Read more

Americans File Lawsuit Against National Park Service Over Cashless Entry Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three Americans have filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service, claiming that the agency’s refusal to accept cash payments for park entry violates federal law. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., asserts that the park service is infringing on the Americans’ right to pay with cash at various parks, monuments, and historic sites across the country. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are from California, New York, and Georgia. They have cited instances where they were denied entry at National Park Service locations in states including Arizona, New York, … Read more

Appeals Court Vacates $1 Billion Jury Award in Copyright Infringement Case, Orders New Damages Hearing for Internet Service Provider

Richmond, Virginia – The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a $1 billion jury award in a copyright infringement case against Cox Communications Inc., an internet service provider. However, the court affirmed Cox’s liability for repeated copyright infringement on its network. The decision came after the court found insufficient evidence to establish vicarious liability, which requires a causal link between the defendant’s financial interest and the copyright infringement. The case, Sony Music Entertainment v. Cox Communications Inc., was remanded for a damages hearing as the jury award did not specify the amount between … Read more