Porn Ruling Could Spell Trouble for ICANN
A case pitting adult entertainment companies against the gatekeepers of Internet domain names cleared a key hurdle when a federal judge in Los Angeles largely allowed antitrust claims over the controversial .xxx domain to go forward.
Features
SPECIAL ISSUE: Same-Sex Marriage, Federal and State--Appellate Court Dismisses Suit Challenging NY Marriage Equality Act
On June 24, 2011, in a dramatic 33-29 vote, the New York State Senate passed the Marriage Equality Act (MEA) legalizing same-sex marriage in the Empire State. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the bill into law the same night, and the first same-sex marriages were performed under the Act on July 24, 2011. The next day, a lawsuit was filed seeking to invalidate the MEA and any marriages performed under it.
Features
SPECIAL ISSUE: Same-Sex Marriage: Federal and State--DOMA and Proposition 8 Move Closer to the Supreme Court
Within a matter of days in late spring, U.S. Courts of Appeals on opposite sides of the country rendered decisions that have set the stage for the same-sex marriage issue to reach the Supreme Court. Will the Court agree to review DOMA and Proposition 8 in its new term?
U.S. Cybersecurity's Path from Legislative Debate to Executive Action
That some action is needed in the realm of cybersecurity is the one thing beyond debate. Over the last year, supporters of various versions of legislation have emphasized that the nation's critical infrastructure ' including electrical grids, water stations and telecommunications systems ' is a target for cyber-attacks.
Upcoming Event
Texas Bar 22d Annual Entertainment Law Institute<br>Austin, TX, October 25-26
Bit Parts
Film Budgets Subject to Public Disclosure<br>"Stronger" Similarities Not Strong Enough to be Infringing<br>Sublicense for U.S. Song Remains Valid in Russia<br>Talent Agent Experience Helps Establish Foundation as Expert on Personal Management Post-Term Commissions
Long Road in China to Protect Cartoon Trademark
Despite its high rate of piracy, the strengthening of intellectual property laws in China has given some hope to owners of trademarks from other countries. The instructive article that follows documents the many twists and turns involved in in seeking to protect the trademark for a Japanese cartoon in China.
Features
Costs of Cashless Transactions Raise Conflicts Between Franchises, Card Issuers, Banks
For merchants of all types, accepting credit card and debit card payments is almost a requirement of doing business in today's increasingly "cashless" economy. However, as the numbers of these transactions have increased, the costs that merchants must absorb on those payments have become a serious issue.
Features
A Primer on Insurance Coverage for Live Events
Even if a concert venue carries liability insurance to cover the scheduled performance, it is important for the musical group to carry its own liability and property insurance. And because cancellations, postponements, and the inability of the performer to take the stage also often occur due to unforeseen circumstances, those with a financial stake in the live event could also benefit greatly through the purchase of event cancellation and/or non-appearance insurance.
The Attorney-Client Privilege
Because in-house counsel may be involved in giving advice on many issues that are more business-oriented rather than legal, conversations in which in-house counsel is a participant ' as well as documents addressed to or from in-house counsel ' are readily susceptible to discovery.
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 ›
- Reining in the Inequitable Conduct DefenseResponding to views from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and elsewhere about the unintended consequences of the current inequitable conduct doctrine, a divided <i>en banc</i> Federal Circuit decision issued on May 25, 2011 adjusted the standard of the materiality element to make this defense harder to establish.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 ›
- 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 ›
- Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTsA federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.Read More ›