LJN Newsletters

This article attempts to provide a practical understanding of derivative works and their importance in structuring business ' including e-commerce ' transactions involving the right to create derivative works. It also discusses several strategic considerations relating to derivative works. This area of law is of critical importance to rightsholders and business partners, and is of particular importance in the growth of up-and-coming e-commerce firms, which need flexibility with intellectual property and rights, and whose principles and counsel need a keen understanding of these issues to promote and sustain healthy expansion.

For e-commerce firms and businesses generally, the ability to maintain a turnaround will be affected by decisions made now, in the depth of the recession. Today, as they struggle to preserve cash flow and stay current on obligations to lenders, landlords and vendors, the helmspeople of too many firms have come to regret decisions they made with hope in their heart for a booming economy 'yet forgot and may still forget to plan prudently for the rebound. Ever more so than before, today's "big deal' may become the liability that leads to tomorrow's bankruptcy filing.

A look at a recent important case.

In-depth analysis of key cases.

Three cases of major importance.

Recent key rulings.

In two recent cases, the Second Department has dealt with a recurring problem in zoning law: What constraint does precedent place on the decision-making authority of a zoning board of appeals? More particularly, what obligations does a zoning board of appeals (ZBA) have when a landowner applies for a variance or special permit that is substantially similar to a variance or permit the ZBA has previously denied?

Everything contained in this issue in an easy-to-find format.