Last year, we informed readers of the rediscovery by some partners in multi-state partnerships of the benefits of becoming a professional corporation ('PC') partner in their law firms, primarily to obtain state income tax savings. New York recently enacted legislation that would potentially adversely affect that strategy, including those who incorporated long before the legislation was passed, and it is unclear whether other states may follow.
On the strength of a substantial body of real-world experience with arbitration as a dispute-resolution norm, many franchisors are asking whether their dogged pursuit of arbitration was actually a mistake.
John Edward Connelly, William L. Killion
&
Brian B. Schnell
For franchisors who do business consistent with a few critical (and largely common-sense) rules, freedom from excessive lawsuits and from truly damaging litigation results is not out of reach.
Reverse engineering of competitor products has always played a large and important role in any successful assertive patent licensing program. However, new developments in the patent licensing arena are making reverse engineering much more vital and often necessary for any company seeking to capitalize on its intellectual property assets.
The track to the CEO's office has changed as the key determinants of competitive advantage have changed. Over the past few years, sales, marketing, engineering, and most recently, finance have serially been the corporate lines through which proto-CEOs have risen through the ranks. With intangibles now providing the competitive advantage, perhaps the next trend in CEO-spotting will take place in the IP suite.
The copyright for the original versions of Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse have expired. Now, members of the public can create — and are busy creating — their own works based on these beloved characters. Suppose, though, we want to tell stories using Batman for which the copyright does not expire until 2035. We'll review five hypothetical works inspired by the original Batman comic and analyze them under fair use.
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.
As consumers continue to shift purchasing and consumption habits in the aftermath of the pandemic, manufacturers are increasingly reliant on third-party logistics and warehousing to ensure their products timely reach the market.
