In the Courts
U.S. District Court Judge Refuses to 'Rubber-Stamp' CFTC Settlement AgreementOn Sept. 22, 2016, Judge William H. Pauley III of the United States…
Columns & Departments
Business Crimes Hotline
SEC Settles First Stand-Alone Whistleblower Retaliation CaseOn Sept. 29, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that International…
Columns & Departments
On the Move
Burr & Forman LLP has opened an office in Wilmington, DE. Rick Robinson, who is joining the firm as a partner in the firm's Creditors' Rights and…
Features

Restrictive Covenants and Whistleblowing
<b><i>Warning from the SEC</b></i><p>In two recent orders, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signaled that it is paying particular attention to attempts by companies to prevent former employees from whistleblowing through restrictive covenants contained in severance agreements.
Columns & Departments
IP News
Fed. Cir.: Patent Application Provided Sufficient Written Description to Provide Priority Date<br>Fed Cir: Patent Trial Appeals Board's Decision on Assignor Estoppel is Not Reviewable<br>Fed. Cir.: Automatic Method for Lip Synchronization and Facial Expressions of Animated Characters is Patentable Subject Matter

Photo Agency's Suit Against <i>Oh No They Didn't!</i> At Ninth Circuit
A photo agency that sued the owner of online tabloid Oh No They Didn't! for copyright infringement is hoping to reverse a ruling that threw out its case, prompting Pinterest and others to weigh in and argue that reviving the case could erode legal protections afforded to Internet service providers.
Columns & Departments
In the Courts
Analysis of a case in which a utility company was convicted for regulatory violations based on corporate collective knowledge .
Features

Jeter Endorsement Dispute Examines Role As a Director of Apparel Company
Contracts between a corporation and a corporate director can give rise to certain difficulties in managing expectations of the director's obligations and responsibilities. Such contracts may create obligations that extend beyond those fiduciary duties inherent to the director position. This extension of the director's role may increase the risk of a conflict between a director's contractual obligations and his fiduciary duties.
Features

Beats Headphones Royalty Dispute Saga Heads to Trial
Former hedge fund manager Steven Lamar, who helped launch Dr. Dre's Beats headphones a decade ago, won the right to go to trial against the rap artist and record producer after the California Court of Appeal revived his $100 million case over unpaid royalties.
Features

Supreme Court Term Promises to Be IP Blockbuster
With four IP cases on the docket and several more knocking at the door of certiorari, the U.S. Supreme Court is poised for a banner year of patent, trademark and copyright decisions.
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