Federal Courts in CA, VA Consider Int'l Copyright Laws
To what extent does a foreign country's copyright law affect infringement litigation in the United States? Federal district courts in California and Virginia recently considered different aspects of this issue.
Features
Social Media and Negotiating Celebrity Endorser Morals Clauses
One thing to do when hiring a celebrity endorser is to be certain the contract includes a "morals clause" that permits termination of a contract if the endorser decides to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc., to tweet, post or upload offensive comments and materials. Know, however, that celebrity agents are very careful not to let contracts be terminated for bad behavior.
When Assets Are 'Sold' to Special Purpose Entities
The Seventh Circuit's decision in <i>Paloian v. LaSalle Bank, N.A. (In re Doctors Hospital of Hyde Park Inc.)</i> sheds some new and perhaps disturbing light on the use of special purpose entity structures in corporate finance and also has implications for attorneys who deliver opinions to support transactions involving SPEs.
Features
Attorneys in the Cloud May Get ABA Wake-Up Call With Proposed Rules
For lawyers struggling to cut costs and boost efficiency, Internet-based data storage and client service has been a popular alternative. But those who have their heads in the clouds when it comes to client confidentiality concerns may get a wake-up call by the American Bar Association.
Features
Software Developer's Suit Against ConnectU May Go Forward
A Massachusetts state court judge has ruled that a Boston software developer's case against defunct social media site ConnectU Inc. and its founders and key shareholders, including the Winklevoss twins, can move forward. Also, the Winklevosses' have taken their bid to undo their Facebook settlement to the Supreme Court.
Case Briefs
Highlights of the latest insurance cases from around the country.
Prosecuting Internet Bad Acts Using Nuisance Law
Myriad Internet-related violations of both criminal and civil statutes are not prosecuted because their novelty requires excessive effort by the moving party. When cases of Internet bad acts are brought to court, the prosecution tends to be unsuccessful. Rather than pursuing traditional criminal or civil actions that are based on a specific act, the use of nuisance-law injunctions that are based on generally objectionable behavior may be a better alternative.
Features
Taxing Online Sales
Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed the "Main Street Fairness Act" into law, making Illinois one of a growing number of states seeking to collect sales tax revenues from a retail market traditionally beyond their reach ' the world of online commerce ' by focusing on the role of local online marketing affiliates.
Features
e-Commerce, Total Spending, Rise Again
Economic data often seems like the weather ' fickle and hard to predict, or rely on. But raw revenue data doesn't lie, and according to U.S. Census Bureau, overall preliminary estimated retail spending and e-commerce sales in the first quarter of this year reached record high.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the OfficeA trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.Read More ›
- Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel'Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel is a continuation of the discussion of client expectations and the disconnect that often occurs. And although the outside attorneys should be pursuing how inside-counsel actually think, inside counsel should make an effort to impart this information without waiting to be asked.Read More ›
- Divorce Lawyers' Obligation to ChildrenDo divorce lawyers have an obligation to disclose client confidences when it is in the best interests of the client's child to do so? The short answer of the rules of professional responsibility is 'no' because a 'yes' answer is deemed to be fundamentally inconsistent with the premises of the adversary system in which the divorce lawyer functions. The longer answer is that the rules encourage ' but do not require ' a divorce lawyer to counsel the client to authorize the disclosure because it is in the best interests of both parent and child.Read More ›
- Upping the Legal Training AnteWomble Carlyle's technology training and online learning programs were in need of an upgrade. Unprecedented firm growth, heightened emphasis on developing lawyers' core technology competencies, and a need to streamline and automate existing e-learning processes led the firm to initiate a fundamental shift.Read More ›