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Features

<b>Decision of Note: </b>Artist's 'Assent' Doesn't Convey Renewal Rights Image

<b>Decision of Note: </b>Artist's 'Assent' Doesn't Convey Renewal Rights

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York decided that a co-publishing agreement between two companies that the 'mysterious and extravagantly garbed street performer' Louis 'Moondog' Hardin signed in assent didn't convey the renewal rights in Hardin's songs.

Features

<b>Commentary: </b>Proposed Digital-Music Licensing Legislation Presents Problems for Songwriters, Publishers Image

<b>Commentary: </b>Proposed Digital-Music Licensing Legislation Presents Problems for Songwriters, Publishers

Wallace Collins

The Section 115 Reform Act of 2006 (SIRA), H.R. 5553, proposes an entirely new structure for the way digital rights will be licensed and online royalties will be collected. The proposed federal legislation to revise Sec. 115 of the Copyright Act may in fact turn out to be the landmark Internet blanket-licensing legislation some claim that it will be. Major record labels, large on-demand streaming services such as AOL Music, Napster and MusicNet, and cellphone companies such as Verizon, believe that the centralized clearance system that SIRA would create streamlines their business model. <br>However, those who represent songwriters as well as large independent publishers and copyright administrators should be concerned that the bill currently pending in the House of Representatives is flawed in several significant ways, and requires substantial amendment in order to better protect the interests of music creators and rights owners.

Patent Injunctions After eBay: The Bidding Is Open on Who Really Benefits Image

Patent Injunctions After eBay: The Bidding Is Open on Who Really Benefits

William R. Overend

When faced with the threat of a crippling injunction, many businesses would rather pay for a patent license than spend millions litigating an uncertain result. This simple principle lies at the heart of what has been called the 'licensing-by-litigation' model, and has led to numerous battles over patent rights.

Mega Fee Ruling in ExxonMobil Class Action Image

Mega Fee Ruling in ExxonMobil Class Action

Julie Kay

This report illustrates the high level of revenue uncertainty that attends suits involving fee disputes.

Additional 2006 Tax Tips and Insights Image

Additional 2006 Tax Tips and Insights

Richard H. Stieglitz & Barry J. Lieberman

following excerpts provide useful additional information on the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, signed into law on May 17, 2006.

Features

Federal Tax Planning and Compliance Update Image

Federal Tax Planning and Compliance Update

Ronald L. Seigneur

Compared with the significant tax legislation of the prior several years, both 2005 and 2006 (to date) have been relatively quiet in terms of legislative changes impacting taxpayers generally ' and law firms and attorneys in particular.

Short-Term Costs of Retiring a Defined Benefit Pension Plan Image

Short-Term Costs of Retiring a Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Robert D. Webb

Jane Austen observed, in Sense and Sensibility, that 'people always live forever when there is an annuity to be paid them.' Increasingly, private employers with defined benefit (DB) pension plans that are designed to distribute benefits as annuities are adopting Ms. Austen's view.

Features

Lies, Damn Lies And M&A Fraud Image

Lies, Damn Lies And M&A Fraud

Todd E. Lenson & David I. Schultz

In <i>ABRY Partners V, L.P. v. F&amp;W Acquisition LLC, et al.</i>, Vice Chancellor Strine of the Delaware Court of Chancery addressed the circumstances in which a seller may contractually insulate itself in a purchase agreement from claims by the buyer for rescission and post-closing damages due to intentional misrepresentations concerning the business or assets being sold. The court held that 'when a seller intentionally misrepresents a fact embodied in a contract ' that is, when a seller lies,' Delaware public policy compels Delaware courts to disregard provisions of a contract that purport to eliminate certain remedies, including the remedy of rescission. <br>This article examines Vice Chancellor Strine's decision in ABRY and highlights some of its implications for buyers and sellers in M&amp;A transactions.

Risks of Hiring Employees from Another Firm Image

Risks of Hiring Employees from Another Firm

Mark Blondman & Brooke Iley

The scenario is a familiar one: An individual decides to leave his current employment and accept employment with a new employer. As it turns out, the employee has signed an agreement with the former employer restricting his or her right to compete with the former employer (non-compete agreement), prohibiting him or her from soliciting employees or customers of the former employer (non-solicitation agreement) and/or requiring him or her to maintain the confidentiality of the former employer's trade secret and/or proprietary information (confidentiality agreement). This article focuses on the risks faced by the new employer in hiring such an individual.

E-discovery As a Litigation Weapon? Image

E-discovery As a Litigation Weapon?

John D. Loveland

The proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) make clear what most companies engaged in complex litigation are already keenly aware of: that 'electronically stored information' is not only discoverable but is essential to the discovery process.<br>The new rules set forth a series of actions related to e-discovery that both parties must abide by or risk the imposition of sanctions. While the exact impact of these new rules, set to become effective on Dec. 1, is unclear, it is safe to say that the millions of dollars spent on e-discovery last year are sure to increase as companies and their counsel struggle to adapt their practices.

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