It is widely acknowledged that the financial bailout of the U.S. automobile industry will not be sufficient to return the industry to solid financial condition. Estimates are that manufacturing and distribution capacity is about 30% above likely demand for the foreseeable future, so a broad restructuring and downsizing is probably needed. FBLA asked legal experts what they would do to change laws affecting the relationships of auto manufacturers and auto dealers to accommodate the necessary restructuring.

Any way you look at it, e-communication gives you and your firm exposure in an existing or potential client market. Here are the ins and outs.

With the state of the economy, even a strong business like the franchise industry is feeling the proverbial pinch. While still growing and enjoying measures of success, franchisors are dealing with fewer leads and fewer sales of franchises. In such times, franchisors may look to alternative means to increase sales volume while reducing expenses. One alternative franchisors may begin to consider is co-branding.

Last month, Marketing The Law Firm took a look back at 2008 with pared-down versions of one article each from our January to June issues. In this issue, we continue to look back at 2008 with articles from the July to December issues.

Clean energy is a top priority for the Obama administration and the new Congress. The President's campaign pledges and post-election comments posit clean energy as a key element for advancing the nation's economic recovery, fostering energy independence, addressing climate change, and reinvigorating American leadership in innovation and manufacturing.

Lately there has been increased interest in the use of sale-leasebacks as a financing mechanism for solar projects. While most of the activity to date has involved solar projects, there is no reason that sale-leasebacks could not be used to finance other types of renewable energy or other energy projects eligible for investment tax credits under Section 48, such as fuel cells, geothermal or certain combined heat and power facilities, as well as integrated gasification combined cycle and other advanced coal-based generation projects under Section 48A or gasification projects under Section 48B.

For the first time, a federal appellate court has held that online travel companies cannot be compelled to collect and pay local "bed" taxes on the rooms they sell to consumers. Similar disputes nationwide have been percolating through federal and state courts challenging the application of occupancy tax laws, written before online travel booking took off. The various suits sought payments from online firms.

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An identifiable Internet speaker who sends an unlawful e-mail or posts an unlawful Internet message is subject to traditional litigation tactics. However, countless Internet speakers are not effortlessly identifiable. Hence, novel technical, administrative law and litigation tactics are advantageous for successfully curbing Internet defamation.