Policing the Internet
The rise of the Internet as a major place of commerce has been both a curse and a boon to owners of brands and other intellectual property. Online business sales are booming, but so are the sales of fake goods and pirated software. Though estimates of the size of the problem vary, all agree it's big. As a result, Internet policing has become a major cost of doing business for many companies.
<b><i>Commentary: </b></i>Playing with Privacy
The policy concerns surrounding virtual communities and social networking are broad and difficult to pin down. Popular social networks typically have well over 100 million registered users. Managing these crowded environments parallels the real-world challenges of managing a major city. So what can U.S. policymakers do to create a safe virtual environment without stifling technological advancements?
Features
Ruling: A Download Is Not a Performance
If a music file is downloaded to a computer, and no one is there to play it, does it constitute a performance? This is not some question from a digital-age freshman philosophy seminar ' it was the legal issue recently facing Judge William C. Connor in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York in <i>United States v. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ('ASCAP')</i>.
Anti-Suit Injunctions: Is the Best Defense a Strong Offense?
In a case of significance to the secondary loan and distressed claim market, a North Carolina state court has entered an 'anti- suit injunction' barring a group of secondary, secured debt holders (the 'Fund Defendants'), from commencing any actions against Wachovia Bank. The case, <i>Wachovia Bank, NA and Wachovia Capital Partners, LLC v. Harbinger Capital Partners, et al.</i>, Civ. Action No. 07-CVS-5097 is pending in the General Court of Justice, Superior Court Division (Mecklenburg, NC) (the 'State Court Anti-Suit Action'), but its parties and the underlying facts arise from the Chapter 11 case of <i>In re Le-Nature, Inc.</i> pending in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania (the 'Bankruptcy Case').
Redemption Payments Salvaged Prior to the Collapse of Ponzi Schemes
What can be worse than crushed expectations? Consider the following: An investor's money was invested with a hedge fund that turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. In a stroke of luck, the investor avoided a huge loss by redeeming his investment and gains prior to the collapse of the crooked company. Now, the trustee of the bankrupt hedge fund wants the money back, claiming that the transfer was fraudulent under ' 548 of the Bankruptcy Code and the N.Y. Fraudulent Conveyance law (New York Debtor & Creditor Law '' 271-276). Is there a quick way out of this nightmarish scenario? No, according to <i>Bayou Superfund LLC v. WAM Long/Short Fund II. L.P. et al. (In re Bayou Group, LLC)</i>, 2007 WL 582530 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.)
Features
Attorneys' Fees Preserved In Bankruptcy Cases
This article discusses the development of the <i>Fobian</i> rule and other courts' treatment of it. The article also summarizes the Supreme Court's reasoning in abrogating the rule in <i>Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (In re Pacific Gas & Electric Co.)</i>, 549 U.S. ____, 127 S. Ct. 1199 (2007).
Prime Brokers, Take Note
A recent decision issued by the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the 'Bankruptcy Court') in <i>Gredd v. Bear, Stearns Securities Corp. (In re Manhattan Inv. Fund Ltd.)</i>, 2007 WL 60843 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Jan. 9, 2007) represents a significant event for securities firms, with potentially far-reaching implications for prime brokers.
The Bankruptcy Hotline
Recent rulings of interest to you and your practice.
e-Commerce for Credit Managers
Collecting bills from firms that exist only on a computer server and monitors is becoming as much a part of Main Street in the 21st century as selling to the corner store was in the19th, and as selling to the mall store was in the 20th century. Suppliers to e-commerce firms, whether of inventory for resale online, or of servers or other equipment used in operations, must be paid, or they will cut off credit or sell only C.O.D.
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
- Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright LawsThis 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.Read More ›
- "Holy Fair Use, Batman": Copyright, Fair Use and the Dark KnightThe 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.Read More ›
- Guidelines for the Role of Therapist for Court-Involved FamiliesAn in-depth look at Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy, recently promulgated by The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts(AFCC).Read More ›
- Removing Restrictive Covenants In New YorkIn 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?Read More ›
- When Is a Repair Structural or Nonstructural Under a Commercial Lease?A common question that commercial landlords and tenants face is which of them is responsible for a repair to the subject premises. These disputes often center on whether the repair is "structural" or "nonstructural."Read More ›