On Feb. 23, 2012, a previously sealed decision dated Dec. 9, 2011, was released that illustrates the collision of online digital anonymity, the First Amendment, and prosecutorial prerogative.
March 30, 2012Douglas Wood
As employment disputes commonly involve communications between or among employees, management and customers, it should come as no surprise that social media's role in workplace disputes has drastically increased in the last year. This article discusses recent social media cases and makes recommendations for what employers can do to better protect confidential information and trade secrets.
March 30, 2012Elise Bloom and John BarryDeclaratory Copyright Complaint Can Be Amended After Plaintiff Film Company Secures Financing
Sony/ATV Wins Right to Renewal Terms in Roger Miller SongsMarch 30, 2012Stan SoocherLaw Firm's Push for Sale of George Clinton Copyrights, to Pay for Legal Fees, Will Remain in Western District of Washington
Motion by Nina Simone's Former Husband, to Disqualify Counsel in Estate Litigation, Is DeniedMarch 30, 2012Stan SoocherIt is clear that there is no immunity under the Communications Decency Act of 1996 for copyright, patent and trademark law. What remains an open question ' and the subject of conflicting judicial interpretations ' is whether state intellectual property claims such as appropriation of rights of publicity are barred.
March 30, 2012Alan L. Friel and Jesse M. BrodyThe e-book format continues to be a growing force in book publishing. Worldwide sales are predicted to reach nearly $10 billion by 2016 ' compared to $3.2 billion in 2011. Current publishing agreements offered by book publishers unambiguously transfer electronic rights as well as print rights. But whether licenses granted by authors in older book publishing agreements can be construed to embrace this new technology is a major question for the industry. The answer will determine whether traditional publishers, or authors and the digital startups that some of them now choose to license to, will control e-book publishing of lucrative classic titles. This
March 30, 2012Michael I. Rudell and Neil J. RosiniA class action filed by older television writers alleging widespread age discrimination by the Creative Artists Agency Inc. (CAA) settled recently, marking the end of related litigation against the major players in the entertainment industry.
March 30, 2012Amanda BronstadIn 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California startled copyright owners in ruling that, to comply with the "good faith" requirement the DMCA, content proprietors must conduct a fair-use copyright analysis of unlicensed online uses of their works prior to sending a takedown notice. Now a federal magistrate for the U.S. District Court for the District Montana has adopted the Lenz fair use rule.
March 30, 2012Stan SoocherA recent opinion issued by the DOJ brought New Jersey residents a step closer to being able to participate in legal online gaming. But for the games to begin, the state legislature must pass a bill that Gov. Chris Christie believes satisfies state constitutional requirements.
March 30, 2012Dennis M.P. Ehling, Stephen D. Schrier, and Eric G. FikryA Long Island resident who bought 50,000 pairs of tube socks from a Florida-based "closeout" merchandiser can pursue a claim against the supplier in New York court, a judge has ruled.
March 30, 2012Christine Simmons