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Counsel Concerns
Ninth Circuit Upholds Sanctions Against Copyright Lawyer<br>Attorney Fees Awarded To Prevailing Defendants in Memorabilia Case<br>Manatt Petitions CA Supreme Court over Ruling Against Firm
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New Ninth Circuit Rulings on Implied-Contract Claims Provide Guidance for Idea-Submission Cases
In 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided that state implied-in-fact contract claims weren't preempted by federal copyright law. <i>Grosso v. Miramax Film Corp.</i> The ruling resulted in a predictable increase in idea-submission suits over TV and film productions. But few judicial opinions since have cited <i>Grosso</i>. In June 2010, however, the Ninth Circuit issued two decisions ' with differing results ' that, by also drawing from precedents from decades before, illuminate how a court should consider the elements of an implied-contract case.
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News Briefs
Highlights of the latest franchisig newsw from around the country.
Court Watch
Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.
Txt2Win and Mobile Promos
Advertisers and marketers taking advantage of text messaging to promote ' such as motivating consumers to buy products or services, or enter a contest or sweepstakes ' should clear efforts with experienced counsel. Unlike with commercial e-mails, text messages may cost consumers, and commercial texts require a recipient's express, specific, advance notice and consent, and could convert a sweepstakes into an illegal lottery.
Concerns for Licensees of e-Commerce Software In Cross-Border Bankruptcies
Insolvency of a multinational corporation with U.S. and foreign assets brings the prospect of complex bankruptcy. A recent case illustrates some concerns a licensee of e-commerce-related software and other intellectual property could have when a foreign licensor files for bankruptcy outside the United States.
Online Board Games
Nostalgia for board games whose outcome meant nothing more than bragging rights and an opportunity to have fun made the online versions top hits in the dawn of the Internet era. Today, the children who once played those games ' and their parents ' have grown up and done serious, responsible things, like forming e-commerce companies. Unfortunately, many of them are still playing board games when they fail to see the benefits of having a traditional board of directors, but they're now playing a game with much more potentially serious consequences.
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The New Legal Workplace
The speed and shape of the American economic recovery is a matter of great debate. What is not up for speculation is the dramatic effect the downturn had on all businesses, including the legal industry. Workers and managers alike are struggling to figure out what will be expected from them in the coming business quarters, and how to deliver on these expectations. Here are three highlights for legal professionals which just may make the difference between being in the black or in the red.
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MOST POPULAR STORIES
- The 'Sophisticated Insured' DefenseA majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.Read More ›
- The Brave New World of Cybersecurity Due Diligence in Mergers and Acquisitions: Pitfalls and OpportunitiesLike poorly-behaved school children, new technologies and intellectual property (IP) are increasingly disrupting the M&A establishment. Cybersecurity has become the latest disruptive newcomer to the M&A party.Read More ›
- A Lawyer's System for Active ReadingActive reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.Read More ›
- Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric CodeIn an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.Read More ›
- The New York Uniform Commercial Code Comes of AgeParties in large non-consumer transactions with no connection whatsoever to New York often choose its law to govern their transactions, and New York statutes permit them to do so. What most people do not know is that the New York Uniform Commercial Code is outdated.Read More ›