Grokster Wins Peer-to-Peer Battle
September 08, 2004
In what is poised to spark a debate of significant economic impact for the entertainment industry in the United States Supreme Court, a unanimous panel of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that Grokster, Ltd. and StreamCast Networks, Inc. ' distributors of the Morpheus program ' will live another day, as they do not infringe film and music copyrights by facilitating file-sharing over the Internet.
Cases of Note
September 08, 2004
Cases of interest to the Internet law community.<br><b>Commercial Web Site Does Not Violate DMCA <br>Texan's Web Site Not Violative of ACPA<br></b>
Net News
September 08, 2004
Feds Cracking Down On Cybercrime <br>Britain Fires Civil Servants At 'Ministry of Porn' <br>Federal Judge Rules Suit Is No 'Perfect 10' <br>Spike Lee Wins Cyber-squatting Case<br>VeriSign Suit Against ICANN Dismissed<br>California Bill Would Extend Privacy Protection To e-Mail
Oogles Of Google
September 08, 2004
Stories abound as the popular search engine goes public.
Upcoming Events
September 07, 2004
American Bar Association Annual Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries. Los Angeles, October 8-9. Will cover recent case rulings as well…
Case Notes
September 03, 2004
Highlights of the latest product liability cases from around the country.
Successor Liability Claims in Bankruptcy
September 03, 2004
More often than not, bankruptcy filings lead to the sale of a business as a going concern. Such sales are frequently concluded prior to confirmation of a plan of reorganization by resort to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Section 363 authorizes the sale of a bankrupt company "free and clear of any interest in such property." 11 U.S.C. '363(f). Product liability claims, though, can occur suddenly and seemingly at random long after the sale of the assets to the successor. The successful purchaser may have thought that the "free and clear" sale order was a legal barrier to successor liability. The prudent product liability practitioner knows otherwise.
Personal Injury Settlements with Minors: Avoiding Potential Pitfalls
September 03, 2004
You are involved in a products liability matter where one or more of the plaintiffs is a minor, which, in most jurisdictions, is a child under the age of 18. As with most claims, there is a strong likelihood that the ultimate resolution will be a settlement among the parties. Regardless of which party you represent, there are special considerations that come into play when a release and settlement involve a minor. Awareness of these considerations will greatly increase the chances that the release and settlement will withstand any future challenge.
Online: Web Site Addresses Product Safety Issues
September 03, 2004
If you need information on product recalls, unsafe products, or would like publications on a variety of consumer-related topics, visit the Web site for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), <i>www.cpsc.gov</i>.
Practice Tip: Deciding Whether to Involve the Court in Confidential Matters
September 03, 2004
In a litigated dispute, the court is the referee between the parties, and the lawyers will routinely submit matters for its official approval. Agreements between the parties — such as agreements regarding document confidentiality or settlement — are much more easily enforced if entered as court orders rather than left as private contracts. Consequently, it is standard practice to reduce such agreements to orders.
