Archive for April, 2015

db@ I have handled untold cases in which the client is a corporation or LLC, but its domain name is both different from the entity name, as well as the site slug/name.  (E.g., Dongle Holdings, Inc. does business as Bob’s DongleLand, with its website at dongles-x3.com.)   This is all fine and good, until you try to clarify it in a lawyer letter or court filing.

When the client’s domain name needs to be emphasized, the tendency is to say “dba dongles-x3.com,” except Dongle Holdings is not doing business as dongles-x3.com. It’s doing business at the domain.   So “db@” is the quick path to clarity.   (Now: Dongle Holdings, Inc., dba Bob’s DongleLand, db@ dongles-x3.com.)  Yeah, I made it up. Yeah, I have not seen anyone else use it.  But over many years, no judge or clerk or attorney has ever questioned it.  Meaning, the point was made.  And that is what language is all about – getting the point across.

When Kevin Bollaert was convicted for running a Revenge Porn site (no … he wasn’t!) in early February, KUSI News San Diego called me for an interview. My info was sketchy – reports that he was convicted for extortion and identity theft, usually accompanied by wrong statements (again) that Bollaert was busted for running a revenge porn site. Of course, the site itself would be immune from liability for user-generated content per the CDA §230. So it must have been the part where the poor victims whose private photos ended up on the site could get them removed for a modest fee; and the part where Bollaert solicited private information from the perps regarding the victims.

Anyway … the news truck came down and I yakked at them for 20 minutes or so. They kept the “Just be careful,” advice. I supposed it plays better on TV than where I advised, “Be alert; be vigilant; be circumspect; be judicious.” (That was a little experiment for my own personal edification.)

And reporter Kristen Cusato paid attention and absorbed and pretty much got it right. Which was refreshing compared to the other reports saying the conviction was for running the website itself (see above).

I’ll embed the video at some point. Meanwhile, > Here’s a Link