Connection lost
Server error
In Re DoubleClick Inc. Privacy Litigation Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Internet users sued online advertising giant DoubleClick for using cookies to track their web browsing. The court dismissed all federal claims, finding that DoubleClick’s data collection practices did not violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Wiretap Act, or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Legal Significance: This seminal case established that standard online advertising practices using cookies did not violate key federal privacy and computer crime statutes, narrowly interpreting concepts like “authorization,” “electronic storage,” and “tortious purpose” in the context of early internet technology.
In Re DoubleClick Inc. Privacy Litigation Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Defendant DoubleClick, Inc. operated a massive online advertising network. It contracted with over 11,000 websites to place targeted banner advertisements. When a user visited an affiliated website, DoubleClick placed a “cookie”—a small text file with a unique ID—on the user’s computer hard drive. As the user browsed the network of affiliated sites, the cookie collected information about the user’s activities, such as search queries (GET submissions), information submitted in web forms (POST submissions), and pages viewed (tracked by GIF tags). This data was sent to DoubleClick’s servers, which used it to build detailed user profiles for targeting advertisements. Plaintiffs, a class of internet users, alleged that this practice constituted unauthorized access to their computers and communications. They sued DoubleClick, asserting violations of three federal statutes: the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Wiretap Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). DoubleClick moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim, arguing its conduct was authorized by its affiliated websites and did not meet the statutory requirements for a violation.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does an online advertising company’s use of cookies to collect user browsing data across a network of affiliated websites violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Wiretap Act, or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?
No. DoubleClick’s conduct did not violate the ECPA, the Wiretap Act, or Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut a
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does an online advertising company’s use of cookies to collect user browsing data across a network of affiliated websites violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Wiretap Act, or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?
Conclusion
This decision significantly insulated online tracking for advertising from liability under existing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in
Legal Rule
For a claim to stand under the ECPA, Wiretap Act, or CFAA Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lore
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on statutory interpretation, narrowly construing federal privacy laws Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id es
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The court dismissed all federal claims against DoubleClick for its use