Features
How the New Patent Act Will Affect the Way Counsel Practice and Advise Their Clients
The America Invents Act, passed by Congress on Sept. 9, 2011, and signed into law on Sept. 16, 2011, imposes sweeping changes to U.S. patent law. This article focuses on how the new patent laws will require patent practitioners to change the way they practice and advise their clients.
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New Briefs
Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.
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Court Watch
Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.
Fighting Encroachment Claims with Clear Contract Language
Two relatively recent court decisions addressing the common franchise issue of encroachment re-confirm the importance of carefully drafting each provision in a franchise agreement and shed some additional light on how courts will view and address encroachment claims going forward.
Features
Same-Sex Unions: Marriage Equality Is Not Here Yet
There are many ways in which federal and sister-state laws will affect the rights of same-sex couples married in accordance with New York's new Marriage Equality Act (DRL ' 10-A). Here, discussion continues on what some of those laws mean to New York same-sex married couples and how certain problems created by them may be lessened by careful planning.
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Considering Public Policy When Drafting Separation Agreements
Separation agreements differ from other kinds of post-nuptial agreements because they are contracts between a husband and wife who remain married but live separate and apart. Where they contain the provisions required by law, these agreements have long been recognized in New York as being valid and binding, and not contrary to public policy.
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Mirror Orders to Help Prevent International Child Abduction
So-called "mirror" orders can be a useful tool in the arsenal of lawyers who handle cases concerning international child travel and the prevention of potential international child abduction. So, what exactly is a mirror order, and how can it be employed to protect your client's parental interests?
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