New U.K. Rules Mean Telemarketing Just Got Harder
Since June 25, companies in the United Kingdom will for the first time be able to avoid receiving "cold calls" ' unsolicited telemarketing calls ' by registering their phone number on a statutory list that bars the calls. <br>This has caused some consternation in the U.K. telemarketing industry, but it should be seen as just the latest development in information privacy in Europe.
Sale-Leaseback Transactions in the 'Corporate Scandal' Era
In the era following Enron, Worldcom, Tyco, IMClone and Martha Stewart, when fraudulent actions, or even alleged fraudulent actions, can cause significant stock market losses, those operating "on the edge," if found guilty of "going over the edge," may face a sentence that could include incarceration as well as economic punishment. Since the corporate scandal trials almost always involve financial re-engineering, it is no surprise that these trials and the concomitant publicity would have an impact on sale-leaseback transactions ("SLTs") and those planning such transactions. It thus should be expected that in the post-Enron era, all financial and accounting transactions will be examined with a heightened degree of scrutiny, particularly those with an aroma of fancy accounting. Corporate executives and outside advisers now know that it is much harder to obtain a free pass for bad accounting. With the stakes for advising aggressively on SLTs having been significantly raised, it follows that SLTs are now becoming increasingly more difficult and complicated to complete.
Recent Developments in Accessibility to Movie Theaters
For the past 4 years, the subject of accessibility to movie theaters, primarily wheelchair access and captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing, has been the basis of much litigation in the federal courts. For wheelchair-bound patrons, the increasing number of theaters employing stadium-style seating spurred them to the courthouse while for the hearing impaired, it was the development of new technologies that gave impetus to their efforts. Although the plaintiffs have not always been successful, these lawsuits, as well as new Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), are forcing theater owners to make changes to existing theaters and plan new theaters in different ways. (<i>See</i> related article, Proposed Revisions to the ADA's Physical Accessibility Guidelines Released, Sept. 2004 <i>CLLS</i>.)
Net News
U.S. Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns<br>AOL Rejects Microsoft's Anti-Spam Standard
Is Your Online Presence An Afterthought?
Googling" has become the preferred way to check out a potential date, anonymously, and without the target's knowledge. You just put the name into the popular search engine to see whatever may appear, good or bad. <br>But what would a potential customer find if it did the same thing for your business, or your key employees? Would a prospective hire or acquirer be scared away by your firm's online tracks?
Buying Into Or Offering Franchising Opportunities?
Franchise statutes and regulations apply to the Internet. Court decisions clearly state that suppliers who use the Internet to sell goods and services ' with independent distributors, dealers, or sales agents helping ' may be franchisors under federal or state law.
