Use of Another's Trademark in Web Site Metatags
August 28, 2008
A metatag is a coding statement for a Web site in the Hypertext Markup Language that describes the site's content. The information provided in metatags can be used by search engines to determine Web page relevancy and to influence search results. In a surprising development, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has determined that the use of metatags in Web site code does not create initial interest confusion, because current search engines no longer use metatags to determine the relative relevance of a Web site, preferring instead to use algorithms that rank the Web sites by the number of other sites that link or point to them.
Auction Web Site Off the Hook
August 28, 2008
At one time or another, every trademark holder must deal with infringement on the Internet. After years of chasing individual infringers, many brand owners seek relief from those who provide the means for infringement. Yet these efforts have had limited success, at least in the United States. In some jurisdictions, search engines have avoided liability for sales of trademarks as keywords, under the doctrine of non-trademark use.
Establishing Best Practices
August 28, 2008
When it comes to work product production, internal and external communication, or workplace safety, the question becomes: "Is there adequate input when these policies are developed, and who are the enforcers?" As important, is the question, "Do established best practices hamper client relations or staff professional development?"
New Marketing Technology Awaits Your Firm
August 26, 2008
See an intriguing ad for a law firm but no pen and paper on hand? Joseph Mitchell, president of textMyCity, is hoping that soon you'll reach for your cell phone. TextMyCity, which Mitchell started seven months ago, is part of a new movement pushing for marketing strategies built around technology. Mitchell's service uses text messaging to advertise and spread information, also known as "mobile marketing." With textMyCity, companies sign up to become members and are issued a tag; when an interested person sees a member company's ad and sends a text message to textMyCity with the tag, the service sends the customer back a text message with contact information.
Going Green
August 26, 2008
The increased use of electronic communications has in turn increased the need for storage and data backup, space for servers and electricity required for keeping those facilities cool and all that equipment powered. According to CNET.com, the daily power consumption of a typical data center is equivalent to the monthly power consumption of thousands of homes. The effect of law firms' current working environment means, in many cases, the organization is not operating in a "green" manner in terms of its use of IT. This article contains information that law firms should consider in order to use IT more efficiently and, ultimately, in a more environmentally friendly manner.
I COULD LEARN A LOT FROM YOU <i>What Can Product Marketers Teach Us?</i>
August 04, 2008
It's been suggested by several readers that our orientation toward professional services marketing, as opposed to product marketing, is a prejudice. Admittedly, it's at least a bias against a pervasive academic view that the techniques of marketing a product apply equally to marketing a professional service. And indeed, the most successful professional services marketers tend to look to other professional services firms for answers and the best ideas, as well as for validation of their own ideas and processes. Still, it would be foolish to automatically preclude any idea that's been forged in a marketplace of ideas. In a rational world, we take ideas from any reasonable place, accept the good ones, and eliminate the ones that are bad or not applicable. That means that are things to be learned by professional services marketers from the Toyotas and Microsofts and Dells of the world.
Reentering the Workforce After Divorce
July 31, 2008
For matrimonial clients, making their way through the emotional, logistical, financial and practical obstacles in divorce is obviously challenging. One of the most empowering and intimidating of these challenges for some spouses is beginning new employment, especially after years of absence from the job market.
