The Internet is the last refuge of free speech, but governments aren’t too keen on keeping it that way. The latest offense comes out of Germany, where police raided the home of a Wikileaks volunteer. The police also seized the wikileaks.de domain, which the man owned.
German Politician Thinks Better Of Blocking Wikipedia
German Left Party politician Lutz Heilmann didn’t like some of the claims printed in a Wikipedia article about him. As a result, Heilmann filed an injunction against the German version of the site, caused a massive outcry, and has now backed down in the face of all the attention.
German Court Comes Down On Google’s Thumbnail Images
Either Google Germany’s lawyers aren’t up to snuff, or they’re just stuck in a really hostile environment. Regardless, a new report indicates that two court rulings would have Google stop showing certain thumbnail images in its search results.
Facebook Wanted To Buy German Site Before Suing
Before Facebook sued the German social networking site StudiVZ last month for copying its "look and feel," it had been in talks to purchase the site.A former StudiVZ executive says Facebook had been negotiating for months to buy the social network.
Facebook Sues German Competitor
Facebook is suing a German social networking site alleging that it closely copies Facebook’s design and layout.Facebook filed a complaint in California federal court on Friday against studiVZ for copying its look, feel, features and services of Facebook.
German Startups Imitated Tribbles In 2007
We know, we know – it’s almost March. But a story a story relating to what ended a few months ago just emerged, and it turns out that in comparison to 2006, the number of German Internet companies created in 2007 more than tripled.
Google Gets Fined, Waves German Flag
Google’s not one to hold a grudge; today, Google.de features a logo celebrating Germany’s 1990 reunification. But yesterday, a German court fined the search giant a little more than $14,000 for using the m.gmail.com domain for mobile search.
German Provider Bans Porn Sites
According to Spiegel.de, German internet provider Arcor has blocked porn sites Sex.com, YouPorn.com and another site for its 2.4 million users.
Schmidt in German Tabloid
Bild, Germany’s biggest tabloid (disliked by many German intellectuals for its often hyped reporting) is running a multi-part interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt this week.
German Government To Give Wikipedia A Boost
This is a stereotype, but at least it’s a positive one: the Germans are an efficient and precise people. Now, for less of a stereotype and more of a fact: Wikipedia can be far from precise. You may be surprised to learn, then, that the German government is going to give resources to the German version of the site.