Features

Calif. Court of Appeal Considers How to Draw Line Between Business Consulting and Legal Services In Entertainment Industry Case
The question has been frequently debated in the legal community: What is the difference between an attorney providing business consulting services or acting as legal counsel? The California Court of Appeal recently issued an opinion on the concern in the context of the entertainment industry. Though issued "unpublished," the decision offers insight and guidance on the business consultant/legal counsel dichotomy debate.
Features

Due Diligence Can Mitigate Trademark Risk
How can one launching a new trademark mitigate the risk of rejection or infringement on the basis of likelihood of confusion with an existing mark? The primary strategy is trademark searching.
Features

How to Obtain Subpoenas for Identifying ISP Users
This article focuses on a recent federal court decision, to explain how the well-developed law provides plaintiffs asserting a wide range of claims with the ability to proceed while protecting ISPs and, correspondingly, how it ultimately means that defendants who otherwise could remain anonymous may have to defend themselves in court.
Features

Change In ADR Provider at Issue In Event-Ticketing Fees Litigation
A new antitrust complaint over ticketing fees has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and Ticketmaster. The plaintiffs in the newly filed suit are challenging Ticketmaster's new arbitration agreement by claiming its protocols for mass arbitrations, laid out in the rules and procedures posted to its website, require "a novel and one-sided process that is tailored to disadvantage consumers."
Features

Update on Bankruptcy Appellate Practice Part Three — Finality
This installment of our appellate practice series reviews recent cases addressing the appellate jurisdiction of district courts and the courts of appeals, referred to as the "finality" doctrine.
Columns & Departments
IP News
Evolusion Concepts, Inc. v. HOC Events, Inc. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Accord Healthcare, Inc.
Features

Bankruptcy Court Gives Pre-Petition Antitrust Claims Administrative Priority Status
The Delaware District Bankruptcy Court ruled that claims arising from pre-petition antitrust cases filed against the debtor could constitute post-petition claims entitled to administrative priority status. The court held that the public policy that favors a "fresh start" for debtors would not preclude damages from post-petition sales of products in violation of federal antitrust laws from receiving administrative expense priority.
Features

Tenth Circuit: Government COVID Closure Orders Do Not Trigger Coverage for Loss of Business Income
In a recent case, the Tenth Circuit joined other circuits in holding that government closure orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic do not trigger insurance coverage for loss of business income, reasoning that the temporary inability to use property caused by COVID shutdown orders doesn't involve a covered physical loss of property.
Features

Will Supreme Court Settle Sale of Tax Liens Issue?
There's a split among circuit courts on whether tax foreclosure sales may be avoidable as preferential and fraudulent transfers by property owners who subsequently seek relief under the Bankruptcy Code. If the Supreme Court eventually weighs in to resolve this circuit split, property owners, municipalities, and potential bidders for tax liens across the country will receive greater clarity on this critical issue.
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