How to Avoid the Franchise Surprise
In many states, the statutory definition of "franchise" has been, and could be, construed broadly to include relationships between brand owners and their trademark licensees, even though neither party intended to create a franchise relationship. Brand owners can only avoid the franchise surprise if they know the rules of the game.
Defending Your Client's Domain Name
A company's domain name is often the most fundamental basis for trademark and branding efforts. Ideally, the choice of a domain name is made after conducting searches for potentially identical or confusing domains. But even if such due diligence is conducted, with the millions of domain names registered under the various extensions and country codes, it is not possible to guarantee that the domain name will not potentially conflict with someone else's trademark rights.
Use of Another's Trademark in Web Site Metatags
A metatag is a coding statement for a Web site in the Hypertext Markup Language that describes the site's content. The information provided in metatags can be used by search engines to determine Web page relevancy and to influence search results. In a surprising development, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has determined that the use of metatags in Web site code does not create initial interest confusion, because current search engines no longer use metatags to determine the relative relevance of a Web site, preferring instead to use algorithms that rank the Web sites by the number of other sites that link or point to them.
Auction Web Site Off the Hook
At one time or another, every trademark holder must deal with infringement on the Internet. After years of chasing individual infringers, many brand owners seek relief from those who provide the means for infringement. Yet these efforts have had limited success, at least in the United States. In some jurisdictions, search engines have avoided liability for sales of trademarks as keywords, under the doctrine of non-trademark use.
Features
Establishing Best Practices
When it comes to work product production, internal and external communication, or workplace safety, the question becomes: "Is there adequate input when these policies are developed, and who are the enforcers?" As important, is the question, "Do established best practices hamper client relations or staff professional development?"
Features
Becoming a Law Firm Partner
Interviews with senior associates and individuals in their first or second year of partnership (particularly equity partnership) reveal that they frequently face a number of surprises ' even shocks ' when they enter their new, long-desired status. Here's what to do about it.
What Your Firm Can Learn from Toyota
Six Sigma is a disciplined methodology for eliminating defects in any process ' from manufacturing to transactional law. Following this efficiency matrix, LEAN Processing, as developed by Toyota, is without question the most important approach to business process of our times.
Sponsors of Participant-Directed 401(k) Plans Should Not Ignore the Proposed Disclosure Requirements
Employers sponsoring participant-directed 401(k) plans face a quandary with respect to all the new fee disclosure requirements being put forth by the Department of Labor. This article discusses the situation.
Features
In the Marketplace
Who's doing what; who's going where.
Lessee Remains Liable to Lessor Following Failed Mitigation
In <i>Giant Eagle, Inc. v. Phar-Mor, Inc.</i>, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that the lower courts erred in their determination that once a lessor mitigates its damages by entering into a substitute lease, the lessor cannot claim damages from the original lessee for the period covered by the new lease if the substitute lessee subsequently defaults. Here is a discussion of the case.
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
- 'Customary Operations' or A Vacant Building?Many times, courts are faced with the question of whether a loss location is 'vacant' under a commercial property policy when trying to determine if the building owner or lessee is conducting customary operations. This article explores various decisions across the United States as to what is considered 'customary operations,' thereby rendering the property 'vacant.'Read More ›
- Redefining Attorney-Client Collaboration with Technology That Delivers Greater ValueIf savvy law firm attorneys haven't done so yet, they should take this time to adjust their expectations and increase their comfort levels with new technologies, processes, and workflows. Going forward, their clients will expect the emphasis to be on relationships and outcomes, not billable hours.Read More ›
- Mixed Ruling in Jefferson Starship Band Name SuitWhat's in a rock band's name? Plenty, if you are talking about Jefferson Starship, which goes back more than 40 years, has had more than 30 members and was born from the 1960s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.Read More ›
- Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the RoughThere is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.Read More ›
- Authorship and Copyright In Hybrid AI-Human Collaborative WorksThe United States Copyright Office recently issued a letter ruling on the copyrightability of Kristina Kashtanova's comic book-like work, Zarya of the Dawn. The Kashtanova ruling indicates that the Copyright Office's determination of copyrightability of works involving use of AI will rely on whether the author is able to control and foresee with some measure of predictability the output of the authorial processRead More ›