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field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Since its founding in 1990, EFF has consistently taken critical cases, challenged tough opponents, and achieved landmark victories. EFF has prevailed in lawsuits against the federal government, the FCC, the world's largest entertainment companies, and major electronics companies, among others. EFF has also beaten bills in Congress and pressured companies to respect your rights.</p> <p>Learn more about some of EFF's key victories below. To support our continued success, consider <a href="/donate"><b>becoming a member and donating to EFF</b>.</a></p> </div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-victories-list"> <div><div class="view teaser-feed"><form class="views-exposed-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><label>Filter by issue:</label> <select class="ctools-auto-submit form-select" name="issue"><option value="" selected="selected">All Victories</option><option value="innovation">Creativity & Innovation</option><option value="free-speech">Free Speech</option><option value="privacy">Privacy</option><option value="security">Security</option><option value="transparency">Transparency</option><option value="international">International</option></select><input class="ctools-auto-submit-click js-hide form-submit" type="submit" value="Go" /></div></form></div><h2 id="innovation"><a href="/issues/innovation">Creativity & Innovation</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/04/supreme-court-upholds-patent-office-power-invalidate-bad-patents"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/04/supreme-court-upholds-patent-office-power-invalidate-bad-patents" class="node-author">Oil States</a></div><p class="node__content">The Supreme Court has upheld the power of the Patent Office to review and cancel issued patents.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/win-public-right-know-court-vacates-injunction-against-publishing-law"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/win-public-right-know-court-vacates-injunction-against-publishing-law" class="node-author">ASTM v. Public Resource</a></div><p class="node__content">A federal appeals court today ruled that industry groups cannot control publication of binding laws and standards. This decision protects the work of Public.Resource.org (PRO), a nonprofit organization that works to improve access to government documents.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/10/new-exemptions-dmca-section-1201-are-welcome-dont-go-far-enough"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/10/new-exemptions-dmca-section-1201-are-welcome-dont-go-far-enough" class="node-author">New Exemptions to DMCA Section 1201</a></div><p class="node__content">The Library of Congress and the Copyright Office have expanded the exemptions to section 1201 of the DMCA. The expansions have added more circumstances where people can legally break digital access controls to do legal things with their own media and devices.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/new-music-modernization-act-has-major-fix-older-recordings-will-belong-public"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/new-music-modernization-act-has-major-fix-older-recordings-will-belong-public" class="node-author">MMA/Classics Act</a></div><p class="node__content">The new “Classics Protection and Access Act” section of MMA clears away most of the varied and uncertain state laws governing pre-1972 recordings.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/02/playboy-drops-misguided-copyright-case-against-boing-boing"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/02/playboy-drops-misguided-copyright-case-against-boing-boing" class="node-author">Playboy Entertainment Group v. Happy Mutants</a></div><p class="node__content">A Federal court dismissed Playboy's claim that Boing Boing had infringed copyright by reporting on a historical collection of Playboy centerfolds and linking to a third-party site.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/01/ninth-circuit-doubles-down-violating-websites-terms-service-not-crime"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/01/ninth-circuit-doubles-down-violating-websites-terms-service-not-crime" class="node-author">Oracle v. Rimini</a></div><p class="node__content">The Federal Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) heeded EFF’s advice and rejected an attempt by Oracle to hold a company criminally liable for accessing Oracle’s website in a manner it didn’t like. The court ruled back in 2012 that merely violating a website’s terms of use is not a crime under the federal computer crime statute, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/cases/playboy-entertainment-group-v-happy-mutants"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/cases/playboy-entertainment-group-v-happy-mutants" class="node-author">Playboy Entertainment Group v. Happy Mutants</a></div><p class="node__content">In a victory for journalism and fair use, Playboy Entertainment has given up on its lawsuit against Happy Mutants, LLC, the company behind Boing Boing.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/cases/viacom-v-youtube"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/cases/viacom-v-youtube" class="node-author">Viacom v. YouTube</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF, along with other nonprofit groups, filed an amicus brief urging the court to reject the plaintiffs' effort to undermine the DMCA safe harbors.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/06/bad-day-bad-patents-supreme-court-unanimously-strikes-down-abstract-software"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/06/bad-day-bad-patents-supreme-court-unanimously-strikes-down-abstract-software" class="node-author">Alice Corporation v. CLS Bank</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed an amicus brief arguing that adding “on a computer” to an abstract idea does not make it patentable.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/07/victory-cloudflare-against-sopa-court-order-internet-service-doesnt-have-police"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/07/victory-cloudflare-against-sopa-court-order-internet-service-doesnt-have-police" class="node-author">Arista Records et al v Vita Tkach</a></div><p class="node__content">Online service providers do not have to police trademarks of others</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/big-victory-atlantic-v-howell-court-rejects-making"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/big-victory-atlantic-v-howell-court-rejects-making" class="node-author">Atlantic v. Howell</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed a brief and argued in Court to stop RIAA's "making available" copyright infringement theory—if someone could have downloaded it from you, you've violated copyright, even if no one ever did.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/05/victory-sliver-light-be-shed-patent-case"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/05/victory-sliver-light-be-shed-patent-case" class="node-author">Bluespike v. Audible Magic</a></div><p class="node__content">A victory in EFF's fight to end excessive secrecy in patent cases.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/06/chamber-commerce-abandon-spurious-trademark-lawsuit-against-yes-men"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/06/chamber-commerce-abandon-spurious-trademark-lawsuit-against-yes-men" class="node-author">Chamber of Commerce v. Servin et al</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF defended the principle that trademark holders can’t use trademark law to punish free speech just because the speaker happens to use trademarks as a necessary part of activism.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/05/eff-wins-final-victory-over-podcasting-patent"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/05/eff-wins-final-victory-over-podcasting-patent" class="node-author">EFF v. Personal Audio</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF invalidated Personal Audio's patents on podcasting, ensuring that everyone is free to create their own podcast on the Internet without the threat of a patent lawsuit.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/victory-fair-use-and-consumer-choice-ninth-circuit-rejects-networks-appeal-fox-v"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/victory-fair-use-and-consumer-choice-ninth-circuit-rejects-networks-appeal-fox-v" class="node-author">Fox v. Dish Network</a></div><p class="node__content">Copyright can't be used to limit consumer choice.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2007/09/court-defends-honest-discussion-proposed-trademark-i-freecycle-v-oey-i"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2007/09/court-defends-honest-discussion-proposed-trademark-i-freecycle-v-oey-i" class="node-author">Freecycle v. Oey</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed a brief upholding the right to engage in open discussion about words companies are trying to trademark, without the fear of being sued by the companies under trademark law.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2009/06/16"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2009/06/16" class="node-author">Hoshiko LLC Patent on Subdomains</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF invalidated a patent on creating subdomains under a parent domain</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/05/supreme-court-victory-right-tinker-printer-cartridge-case"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/05/supreme-court-victory-right-tinker-printer-cartridge-case" class="node-author">Impression Products v. Lexmark</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF, along with allies, filed a brief explaining that allowing patent owners to write a wishlist of anti-competitive restrictions would be a disastrous expansion of patent law, hindering competition, innovation, and your freedom to tinker with and repair your own stuff.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/you-bought-it-you-own-it-supreme-court-victory-common-sense-and-owners-rights"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/you-bought-it-you-own-it-supreme-court-victory-common-sense-and-owners-rights" class="node-author">Kirtsaeng v. Wiley</a></div><p class="node__content">The first sale doctrine applies to works made outside of the United States and doesn't matter where something was manufacture—if you bought it, you own it.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/06/after-more-decade-litigation-dancing-baby-ready-move"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/06/after-more-decade-litigation-dancing-baby-ready-move" class="node-author">Lenz v. Universal</a></div><p class="node__content">Rightsholders must consider fair use before sending DMCA takedowns. Additionally, fair use is a affirmative public rights and not simply a narrow defense to copyright infringement</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/07/judge-copyright-troll-cant-bully-internet-subscriber-bogus-legal-theory"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/07/judge-copyright-troll-cant-bully-internet-subscriber-bogus-legal-theory" class="node-author">Liberty Media Holdings v. Tabora</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF helped block “negligence” theory of copyright infringement for open wireless hosts</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/06/supreme-court-victory-patent-first-sale-doctrine"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/06/supreme-court-victory-patent-first-sale-doctrine" class="node-author">Quanta v. LG Electronics</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed a brief protecting patent first sale—once you buy a product, you own it and the patent owner generally can't interfere with your subsequent use.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110305164459/http://www.eff.org/cases/riaa-v-verizon-case-archive"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110305164459/http://www.eff.org/cases/riaa-v-verizon-case-archive" class="node-author">RIAA v. Verizon</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF, alongside other organization, joined with Verizon to argue that every Internet user’s privacy was at risk if anyone claiming to be a copyright owner could, without ever appearing before a judge, force an ISP to hand over the names and addresses of its customers.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/federal-court-appeals-blocks-use-trademark-censorship"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/federal-court-appeals-blocks-use-trademark-censorship" class="node-author">Radiance Foundation v. NAACP</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF argued that trademark holders can't use their trademark as a tool to censor unwanted online criticism</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/tiffany-v-ebay-what-about-put-back"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/tiffany-v-ebay-what-about-put-back" class="node-author">Tiffany v. eBay</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed an amicus brief arguing that trademark infringement requires specific knowledge.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/05/victory-sliver-light-be-shed-patent-case"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/05/victory-sliver-light-be-shed-patent-case" class="node-author">Traffic Information LLC v. Farmers Group. Inc.</a></div><p class="node__content">A part of EFF's fight to end excessive secrecy in patent cases.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/06/liberation-day-promo-cds-victory-umg-v-augusto"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/06/liberation-day-promo-cds-victory-umg-v-augusto" class="node-author">UMG v. Augusto</a></div><p class="node__content">A copyright owner can't take away a consumer's first sale rights just by putting a labels on a CD</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/11/victory-court-finally-throws-out-ultramercials-infamous-patent-advertising"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/11/victory-court-finally-throws-out-ultramercials-infamous-patent-advertising" class="node-author">Ultramercial v. Hulu et al</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed several amicus brief arguing for the invalidation of the patent on showing ads before Internet content</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/newmark-v-turner"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="/cases/newmark-v-turner" class="node-author">Newmark et al. v. Turner Broadcasting System Inc. et al.</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF helped Replay TV owners stand up to Hollywood to defend digital VCRs</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2006/06/eff-victory-new-decision-protects-privacy-password-protected-websites"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2006/06/eff-victory-new-decision-protects-privacy-password-protected-websites" class="node-author">Snow v. DirecTV</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF helped preserve the legal protections for actually private websites while protecting your right to read public websites.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/ala-v-fcc"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/tivo.png?itok=xok-Pw0t" alt="Old Tivo Logo" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="/cases/ala-v-fcc" class="node-author">ALA v. FCC</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF established that the FCC and Hollywood don't control your DVR - you do.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/03/victory-court-orders-patent-bully-garfum-pay-attorneys-fees"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/tivo.png?itok=xok-Pw0t" alt="Old Tivo Logo" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/03/victory-court-orders-patent-bully-garfum-pay-attorneys-fees" class="node-author">Garfum v. Reflections By Ruth</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF, together with Durie Tangri LLP, defended a photo hobbyist against an outrageous patent suit from a company that claims to hold the rights to online competitions on social networks where users vote for the winner.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/finally-victory-free-speech-garcia-v-google"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/tivo.png?itok=xok-Pw0t" alt="Old Tivo Logo" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/finally-victory-free-speech-garcia-v-google" class="node-author">Garcia v. Google, Inc</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF and others filed a brief arguing that copyright law was not the proper avenue for Ms. Garcia to disassociate herself with the controversial video, and that the initial order was a prior restraint of speech.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/af-holdings-v-does"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="/cases/af-holdings-v-does" class="node-author">AF Holdings v. Does</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF backed Internet service providers (ISPs) in an effort to quash subpoenas to more than a thousand unnamed Internet users issued in a predatory lawsuit over alleged copyright infringement resulting from illegal downloading of adult material.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/11/court-upholds-legality-google-books-tremendous-victory-fair-use-and-public"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/11/court-upholds-legality-google-books-tremendous-victory-fair-use-and-public" class="node-author">Authors Guild v. Google, Part II: Fair Use Proceedings</a></div><p class="node__content">Book Scanning is fair use</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/righthaven-case-ends-victory-fair-use"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/righthaven-case-ends-victory-fair-use" class="node-author">Righthaven v. Democratic Underground</a></div><p class="node__content">Newspaper excerpts are protected fair use.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/righthaven-v-dibiase"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/copyright-trolls.jpg?itok=uLIm6AOo" alt="Copyright Troll" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="/cases/righthaven-v-dibiase" class="node-author">Righthaven v. DiBiase</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF defended a criminal justice blog that provides resources for difficult-to-prosecute murder cases in fighting bogus infringement claims from copyright troll Righthaven LLC.</p> </div></div><h2 id="free-speech"><a href="/issues/free-speech">Free Speech</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/charles-carreon-drops-bogus-lawsuit-against-oatmeal-creator"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/charles-carreon-drops-bogus-lawsuit-against-oatmeal-creator" class="node-author">Carreon v. Inman</a></div><p class="node__content">Online free speech protects criticism by the Oatmeal</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/08/wikipedia-wins-dismissal-baseless-defamation-claim"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/08/wikipedia-wins-dismissal-baseless-defamation-claim" class="node-author">Bauer v. Wikimedia et al</a></div><p class="node__content">CDA 230 protects Wikipedia</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/11/court-rules-effs-stupid-patent-month-post-protected-speech"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/11/court-rules-effs-stupid-patent-month-post-protected-speech" class="node-author">EFF v. GEMSA</a></div><p class="node__content">Stopping libel tourism</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/victory-doj-backs-down-facebook-gag-orders-not-so-secret-investigation"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/victory-doj-backs-down-facebook-gag-orders-not-so-secret-investigation" class="node-author">IN RE: FACEBOOK, INC. v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed an amicus brief in D.C. Court of Appeals arguing that the First Amendment does not allow gag orders that'd prevent Facebook from informing its users that the government had obtained their data, given that the government was seeking the data in connection with users' political speech.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20040301205151/http://www.eff.org:80/Cases/Medinex_v._Awe2bad4mdnx/20010522_eff_dismiss_pr.html"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20040301205151/http://www.eff.org:80/Cases/Medinex_v._Awe2bad4mdnx/20010522_eff_dismiss_pr.html" class="node-author">Medinex_v._Awe2bad4mdnx et al</a></div><p class="node__content">Defended the right of anonymous critics to express their views online without fear of arbitrary disclosure of their identity</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081227081303/http://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/EFF_ACLU_v_DoJ/"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081227081303/http://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/EFF_ACLU_v_DoJ/" class="node-author">Reno v. ACLU</a></div><p class="node__content">The Internet is a place of free speech</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/01/copa"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/01/copa" class="node-author">Ashcroft v. ACLU</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF extended free speech protections online, successfully challenging the constitutionality of Internet censorship laws.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/apple-v-does"><img class="teaser-thumbnail" src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/eff-work-icons-3-COLOR-fix.png?itok=UU7bEZ5P" alt="EFF Work Icons" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="/cases/apple-v-does" class="node-author">Apple v. Does</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF defended online journalists and their rights to protect the confidentiality of sources as offline reporters do.</p> </div></div><h2 id="privacy"><a href="/issues/privacy">Privacy</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/document/naperville-smart-meter-association-v-naperville-seventh-circuit-decision"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/document/naperville-smart-meter-association-v-naperville-seventh-circuit-decision" class="node-author">Naperville Smart Meter Assoc. v. Naperville</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed an amicus brief arguing that the government’s collection of smart meter data is a search, and thus subject to Fourth Amendment protections. The Seventh Circuit agreed, recognizing that because smart meters record thousands of usage readings per month, they implicate the Fourth Amendment in ways that traditional meters do not.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/facebook-warns-memphis-police-no-more-fake-bob-smith-accounts"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/facebook-warns-memphis-police-no-more-fake-bob-smith-accounts" class="node-author">Fake Facebook Profiles for Law Enforcement</a></div><p class="node__content">After years of pressure, Facebook has updated its policy regarding law enforcement using fake profiles on the platform. They outwardly warned agencies that such profiles are contrary to the rules on misrepresentation and will be removed.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/05/victory-location-pri"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/05/victory-location-pri" class="node-author">People v. Weaver</a></div><p class="node__content">Police may not use a GPS device to track the movements of your vehicle without first getting a warrant</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/eff-location-privacy-victory-third-circuit-stands"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/eff-location-privacy-victory-third-circuit-stands" class="node-author">n the Matter of the Application of the USA for an Order Directing a Provider of Electronic Communication Service to Disclose Records to the Government</a></div><p class="node__content">Judges can require warrants for cell-site location information</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2005/08/11-0"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2005/08/11-0" class="node-author">US v. Councilman</a></div><p class="node__content">Service providers violate the Wiretap Act when they monitor users’ content without their consent</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/long-fought-victory-anonymous-email-users-chevron-agrees-withdraw-google-and-yahoo"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/04/long-fought-victory-anonymous-email-users-chevron-agrees-withdraw-google-and-yahoo" class="node-author">Chevron v. Donziger</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF, along with Earth Rights International, represented activists, attorneys, journalists and others in fighting back against subpoenas issued by Chevron to email providers demanding information that would have provided a broad window into the movements as well as personal and political associations of our clients.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/06/victory-supreme-court-says-fourth-amendment-applies-cell-phone-tracking"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/06/victory-supreme-court-says-fourth-amendment-applies-cell-phone-tracking" class="node-author">Carpenter v. United States</a></div><p class="node__content">The Supreme Court cited EFF's amicus brief in this landmark ruling declaring that law enforcement needs to get a warrant before obtaining cell phone location information</p> </div></div><h2 id="security"><a href="/issues/security">Security</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/08/victory-mit-students-mbta-lawsuit-hearing"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/08/victory-mit-students-mbta-lawsuit-hearing" class="node-author">MBTA v. Anderson</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF defended security researchers' right to publicly discuss security flaws</p> </div></div><h2 id="transparency"><a href="/issues/transparency">Transparency</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/10/federal-circuit-finally-makes-briefs-immediately-available-public"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/10/federal-circuit-finally-makes-briefs-immediately-available-public" class="node-author">Patent Litigation Transparency</a></div><p class="node__content">The Federal Circuit has changed its policies to give the public immediate access to briefs.EFF wrote a letter asking the court to make briefs available as soon as they are filed. The court will now allow immediate access to submitted briefs.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/04/victory-fairfax-virginia-judge-finds-local-police-use-alpr-violates-states-data"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/04/victory-fairfax-virginia-judge-finds-local-police-use-alpr-violates-states-data" class="node-author">Neal v. Fairfax Cty. Police</a></div><p class="node__content">Fairfax County (Virginia) Police will be required to purge its database of ALPR data that isn’t linked to a criminal investigation and stop using ALPRs to passively collect data on people who aren’t suspected of criminal activity.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/victory-federal-court-seattle-will-begin-disclosing-surveillance-records"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/victory-federal-court-seattle-will-begin-disclosing-surveillance-records" class="node-author">The Stranger Unsealing</a></div><p class="node__content">Federal prosecutors and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington clerk’s office have agreed to begin tracking and docketing various forms of warrantless surveillance requests and next year will issue reports every six months detailing the cases.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/04/minnesota-supreme-court-ruling-will-help-shed-light-police-use-biometric"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/04/minnesota-supreme-court-ruling-will-help-shed-light-police-use-biometric" class="node-author">Webster v. Hennepin County</a></div><p class="node__content">This decision helps the public learn more about how law enforcement use privacy invasive biometric technology. Law enforcement agencies are required to provide records of how this technology is used and this decision confirmed that the agency cannot refuse to supply email records, even if they find it 'burdensome'.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/08/eff-victory-results-expected-release-secret-court-opinion-finding-nsa-surveillance"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/08/eff-victory-results-expected-release-secret-court-opinion-finding-nsa-surveillance" class="node-author">EFF v. Department of Justice (NSA spying FISC Opinions)</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF sued the DoJ to release FISC rulings that said that some NSA surveillance was unconstitutional</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/06/citing-intense-public-interest-and-concern-over-mass-surveillance-judge-orders-doj"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/06/citing-intense-public-interest-and-concern-over-mass-surveillance-judge-orders-doj" class="node-author">EFF v. Department of Justice (Patriot Act - Section 215 FISC Opinions)</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF lawsuit shedding light on how government used Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect phone records</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/09/eff-victory-forces-government-disclosure-court"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/09/eff-victory-forces-government-disclosure-court" class="node-author">ACLU & EFF v. Department of Justice</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF and ACLU won a ruling that the government must turn over information from criminal prosecutions in which federal law enforcement agencies obtained cell-site location information without a warrant.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/electronic-frontier-foundation-aclu-win-court-ruling-police-cant-keep-license-plate"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/press/releases/electronic-frontier-foundation-aclu-win-court-ruling-police-cant-keep-license-plate" class="node-author">ACLU & EFF v. Los Angeles County</a></div><p class="node__content">California Supreme Court ruled that the license plate data of millions of law-abiding drivers, collected indiscriminately by police across the state, are not “investigative records” that law enforcement can keep secret</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/california-court-orders-county-release-geographic-"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/02/california-court-orders-county-release-geographic-" class="node-author">County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF filed an amicus arguing for the release of geographic mapping data under the California Public Records Act</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/eff-victories-two-foia-cases-court-rules-governments-arguments-are-clearly"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/eff-victories-two-foia-cases-court-rules-governments-arguments-are-clearly" class="node-author">EFF v. CIA</a></div><p class="node__content">In EFF's lawsuit, a judge ordered the government to release previously withheld documents about intelligence agency misconduct.</p> </div><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/eff-victories-two-foia-cases-court-rules-governments-arguments-are-clearly"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/03/eff-victories-two-foia-cases-court-rules-governments-arguments-are-clearly" class="node-author">EFF v. Department of Justice (Expansion of Electronic Surveillance Laws)</a></div><p class="node__content">Court ordered the Department of Justice to hand over documents in our FOIA lawsuit to obtain information that the government may be using to justify an expansion of a law that aids federal wiretapping</p> </div></div><h2 id="international"><a href="/issues/international">International</a></h2> <div class="view teaser-feed"><div class="views-row"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/12/victory-privacy-and-transparency-hrw-v-dea"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline">Legal Case <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/12/victory-privacy-and-transparency-hrw-v-dea" class="node-author">HRW v. DEA</a></div><p class="node__content">EFF represented Human Rights Watch in bringing transparency and privacy in DEA collected telephone records</p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="column side-content"> </div> </div> <div class="onecol column content-footer"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear-block"></div> </div> </div>  <p class="faq-toc"><a href="#main-content">Back to top</a></p> </div> <div id="footer"> <div class="panel-pane pane-footer-logo"> <a href="https://www.eff.org"><img src="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/modules/custom/eff_library/images/eff-logo-1color-blue.svg" alt="EFF Home" /></a> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-menu-tree pane-menu-footer-social-links"> <h2 class="pane-title">Follow EFF:</h2> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-ctools-menu-footer-social-links-1 menu-name-menu-footer-social-links parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-13408"><a href="https://twitter.com/eff" title="EFF on 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