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Morning Legal Briefs
A Silicon Valley social media addiction trial has concluded with a verdict, sending ripples through the industry. Separately, a hacker faces up to 30 years in prison for stealing $53 million in cryptocurrency.
Court temporarily blocks US government from labeling Anthropic as a 'supply chain risk'
A court has temporarily blocked the US government from labeling Anthropic as a supply chain risk and banning its AI products for federal use. The judge ruled that the government's actions appeared to be retaliatory for Anthropic's refusal to allow its technology for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, and for criticizing the government publicly. The lawsuit is ongoing, but the court found Anthropic likely to succeed on its First Amendment claim.
Evening Legal Briefs
A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk concerning advertising boycotts on his platform X, formerly Twitter. The ruling suggests it is legally permissible for advertisers to cease advertising on the platform. Separately, Spotify is pursuing $300 million in damages from Anna's Archive, which has reportedly ignored court orders.
Valve hit with a double legal blow over loot boxes | Invision Game Community
Valve is facing two simultaneous legal challenges regarding its use of loot boxes. A class-action lawsuit filed by consumers alleges that Valve operates an illegal gambling scheme through these in-game mechanics. Additionally, New York State authorities have initiated their own proceedings, also linking loot boxes to gambling practices. These cases could set precedents for the entire gaming industry.
Evening Legal Briefs
Meta and YouTube have been found liable in a social media addiction trial. The verdict holds the companies accountable for the alleged negative impacts of their platforms on users.
Jury rules against Meta and YouTube in social media addiction case
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a lawsuit concerning social media addiction, ordering them to pay $3 million in damages to a plaintiff who claimed harm from addictive features during her childhood. Meta was found responsible for 70% of the compensatory damages, with YouTube covering the rest. This case is significant as it's the first time a jury has heard testimony and seen internal documents regarding allegations that social media platforms harmed minors due to their design.
Morning Legal Briefs
A judge has expressed concern over the Pentagon's actions, describing them as an 'attempt to cripple' AI company Anthropic. The legal dispute highlights potential challenges in government-contractor relationships within the technology sector.
Saturday Legal Briefs
A jury found Elon Musk misled investors during his takeover of Twitter but absolved him of certain fraud claims. The verdict concluded a legal battle over Musk's 2022 acquisition of the social media platform.
Morning Legal Briefs
A legal analysis discusses whether Elon Musk's tweets were deliberate or simply foolish, leaving it to a jury to decide. The article touches upon the legal implications of his public statements.
Evening Legal Briefs
Several legal developments are impacting the gaming and tech industries. The FBI is investigating suspicious games on Steam, a fighting game professional detained by ICE has been released on bond, and Adobe has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit.
US: Nintendo’s lawsuit against government automatically paused
Nintendo's lawsuit against the U.S. government concerning tariffs has been automatically paused. The case is pending the outcome of a related tariff case that reached the Supreme Court, which ruled the tariffs illegal. The lawsuit will resume alongside other companies affected by the tariffs, though the timeline remains unclear.
Valve Breaks Silence Over NY Attorney General Lawsuit, Says Loot Boxes Are Like Baseball Cards, Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu - IGN
Valve has responded to a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General, arguing that loot boxes in games like Counter-Strike 2 are akin to baseball cards or Pokémon cards and do not constitute illegal gambling. The company stated that virtual items are cosmetic, transferable, and that they actively combat the use of their items on gambling sites. Valve expressed concerns about the AG's demands, which they believe go beyond existing law and could negatively impact users and developers.
Valve Responds to NY State Lawsuit
Valve has issued a public response to a lawsuit filed by New York State, which accuses the company of its loot box mechanics constituting illegal gambling. The company's statement was posted on Steam, addressing the allegations.
Valve responds to NY Attorney General lawsuit: "We have serious concerns with the alterations the NYAG claims are necessary to make to our games"
Valve has responded to a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, disputing claims that loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2 unlawfully encourage minors to gamble. Valve stated it does not believe its virtual items violate gambling laws and expressed disappointment that the lawsuit proceeded despite their efforts to educate the NYAG. The company also addressed concerns about the transferability of digital items and invasive data collection proposed by the NYAG.
Evening Legal Briefs
Amazon has secured a temporary injunction against Perplexity's Comet browser. This legal decision impacts the ongoing competition and intellectual property discussions within the tech industry.
Evening Legal Briefs
Valve is facing a second class-action lawsuit concerning loot boxes. The legal action follows previous scrutiny over the monetization practice in video games.
It turns out a big Fortnite leaker actually worked for Epic Games
Epic Games is suing Hayden Cohen, an associate producer who worked for the company under the alias AdiraFN, for leaking confidential Fortnite information. Cohen allegedly violated a Non-Disclosure Agreement signed in September 2025 by sharing details in January and February, abusing his access as an employee.
Evening Legal Briefs
Elon Musk has failed in his attempt to block a California data disclosure law that he fears could harm his company xAI. Ars Technica reported on the legal proceedings, highlighting Musk's concerns about the potential ruinous effects of the law on his AI venture.
Why Some Dash Cam Footage Looks Clear on Screen but Fails Under Review
Dash cam footage that appears clear on playback can fail under formal review due to issues like compression, low bitrate, frame rate drops, and lighting glare. Factors such as resolution, sensor quality, and storage card reliability significantly impact the video's evidentiary value. Understanding these limitations helps drivers manage expectations and improve the usability of their recordings for legal or insurance purposes.
Morning Legal Briefs
Elon Musk testified that a tweet leading to a $44 billion lawsuit was "may not have been my wisest," but likely not perjury. Separately, Meta's smart glasses are facing a privacy probe in the UK.