Aereo Makes Unusual Move in Networks' Bid for S. Ct. Review
December 31, 2013
In an unusual move that raised the stakes in the major copyright battle between broadcast television networks and the upstart Aereo TV service, Aereo Inc. is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the dispute, even though it won in the court below.
How Metadata Changed the Outcome of a Complex Employment Case
December 31, 2013
By definition, metadata is data about data. For computer files, it includes metadata fields that are hidden to typical users. This information can be valuable for a court case, and it goes beyond standard electronic discovery data collection: it must be gathered and analyzed by a digital forensics specialist.
Another Look at Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
December 31, 2013
By establishing a prearranged plan to trade their companies' stock in compliance with SEC Rule 10b5-1, corporate executives avail themselves of the only formally codified affirmative defense against a charge of insider trading. However, statistical evidence demonstrating that executives in trading plans outperform their peers by 6% to 10% have twice brought trading plans under academic and journalistic scrutiny.
When Online Harassment of Tenant Turns Violent
December 31, 2013
Does a landlord have an obligation to act once it learns a resident is being harassed by another tenant on Facebook or similar social media site? According to a recent Ohio state appellate decision, not only is liability possible, but landlords who ignore warning signs may be doing so at their own peril.
Are States Taking the Lead to Enforce Digital Privacy Laws?
December 30, 2013
Recently, 37 states and the District of Columbia reached a $17 million dollar settlement with Google over its intentional circumvention of Internet users' privacy settings. The case stemmed from 'Google's bypassing of privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser to use cookies to track users and show them advertisements in 2011 and 2012. In total, Google has paid approximately $40 million dollars to federal and state regulators for intentionally harming the personal privacy rights of Internet users.
The 'Right to Be Forgotten'
December 23, 2013
How do the fast-spreading "Right to be Forgotten" and "Ban the Box" initiatives affect employers looking to screen for criminal activity among their job applicants? You'd be surprised.
Selling Municipal Securities via the Internet
November 30, 2013
Traditionally, municipalities depend upon property taxes to constitute the largest source of local governments' own revenue. Charges, sales and gross-receipt taxes, individual income taxes and other revenues make up the remaining local general revenues.Normally, municipal bonds can be purchased through an investment broker. However, municipalities may lawfully sell municipal bonds directly to the public via the Internet and potentially save money.
