Internet & Information Security
Graves Dougherty lawyers have broad experience in the fast-developing law governing computers, the Internet and information security.
Our Approach
The firm’s lawyers have counseled clients and handled lawsuits in precedent-setting cases applying libel, privacy and wiretapping laws to computers, electronic communications, and the Internet. For example, Pete Kennedy served as lead counsel in the landmark electronic civil liberties case, Steve Jackson Games v. U.S. Secret Service. Graves Dougherty lawyers are frequent speakers at conferences exploring computers, technology and the law. Browse our focus areas below.
COMPUTER MISUSE
Graves Dougherty’s lawyers regularly advise clients and litigate cases involving questions of computer misuse, “cybercrime” and “cybertorts” – computer hacking and other types of unauthorized access to computer systems, database misuse, misappropriation of trade secrets and invasion of privacy. The firm’s lawyers have extensive experience with the federal and state laws that govern computer communications and computer access, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the Wiretap Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Privacy Protection Act, and Texas’ Harmful Access by Computer law. Pete Kennedy represented parties in the first lawsuit brought in Texas under the federal CAN-SPAM Act, and defended the first lawsuit brought by the Texas Attorney General under the Texas Spyware Act. Our lawyers have handled disputes governing computer misuse ranging from trade secret theft by manufacturers to claims of computer spying between spouses in divorce proceedings.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE LICENSING AND TECHNOLOGY COUNSELING
In addition to their general intellectual property practice, Graves Dougherty lawyers counsel and represent clients regarding computer software licensing, copyright protection and copyright infringement. The firm’s corporate lawyers assist clients in a wide range of technology transaction and licensing matters, and its trial lawyers regularly litigate copyright, trade secret, trademark, and patent infringement cases. Graves, Dougherty also counsels clients in software licensing disputes, Business Software Alliance (BSA) licensing investigations, and disputes under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
DIGITAL COPYRIGHT DISPUTES
Our lawyers have prosecuted and defended a wide variety of cases involving claims of infringement of copyrights in digital works, including infringement claims involving computer software, material posted on the Internet and material organized in computer databases.
DOMAIN NAME DISPUTES
The firm’s lawyers represent individuals and businesses seeking to acquire or defend rights to Internet domain names, and have handled the prosecution and defense of numerous “cybersquatting” lawsuits as well as Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings.
INFORMATION SECURITY
Graves Dougherty attorneys can assist companies in developing their privacy and information security policies, and in performing internal audits, investigations and due diligence related to information security. The firm has counseled clients on a wide range of issues under the Texas and federal wiretap acts, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), PATRIOT Act, and other laws and regulations regarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic data.
INTERNET LIBEL/PRIVACY/FREE SPEECH
Graves Dougherty trial lawyers have extensive experience counseling clients and trying cases involving the media and free speech, including electronic media. The firm’s lawyers have handled lawsuits ranging from defending libel suits against websites to bringing constitutional challenges to laws that prohibit public information from being posted on the Internet.
