How Courts Are Defining 'Distribution' In Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Lawsuits
April 29, 2008
In the entertainment industry's efforts to stem the infringement of sound recordings and motion pictures on the Internet, more than 20,000 infringement actions have been commenced against individuals, mostly in connection with their use of peer-to-peer (P2P) services to share recordings with other P2P users. The legal basis for these actions is often misunderstood, however, by commentators ' and sometimes even by the courts. This article discusses several recent P2P cases that deal directly with a central element of most P2P cases, namely the allegation that users violate the plaintiffs' distribution rights under 17 U.S.C. Sec. 106 whenever they place a digital recording or video in a 'share' folder that other P2P users can access.
Local Search Marketing Strategies For Driving Clients To Your Web Site
April 29, 2008
Most people don't seek a lawyer until they need one. If they are buying real estate, suing someone, or have been arrested, then they need a lawyer fast. And when these prospects need a client fast, they turn to the Internet to find one. To get your share of these motivated prospects and turn them into clients, you will need to develop a comprehensive Search-Engine Marketing ('SEM') strategy. An effective SEM campaign ' combined with local search engines ' can reach new clients you're seeking and help you further develop new content for your site that keeps them coming back.
Search Engine Optimization for Law Firm Web Sites
April 29, 2008
'Search engine optimization' and 'marketing' are the hottest buzzwords in the digital agency space in 2008. Why is this? Marketing and IT professionals have been able to track Web site visitors and understand online customers for long enough to confirm that traffic is mainly driven from the major search engines using a combination of keywords and phrases.
iPhone 'Gotchas' And How Apple Addresses Them
April 29, 2008
The iPhone is ranked among the most popular gadgets to hit the market in 2007. According to Forrester Research, with more professionals using the iPhone, demand on internal IT departments to support the device has increased as well. However, there are some limitations with the iPhone that prevent it from being readily integrated as an enterprise-class device within an organization. Although the iPhone is popular with consumers, that does not necessarily mean it will integrate well into a company's complex technology infrastructure. Below is a list of 'gotchas' to be aware of when using the iPhone and considering the possibility of enterprise-wide integration.
Download Ruling May Raise Burden For Record Labels
April 29, 2008
Those who download music to their computers now have two unlikely heroes: Janet Bond Arterton, a federal judge who sits in New Haven, CT; and Christopher David Brennan, a young Waterford, CT, resident who has reportedly downloaded songs by Billy Joel, Hootie and the Blowfish and other artists. Brennan is one of about 30,000 people sued by the music industry in recent years for allegedly taking music from the Internet without paying for it.
SEC Improves e-Capital Raising
April 29, 2008
The Internet provides private companies with a cost-effective way to introduce themselves to many potential investors. It also facilitates efficient capital fundraising opportunities. That stated, the SEC revision of Rule 144 makes raising capital on the Internet easier, and cheaper. The SEC changed Rule 144 to reduce regulation of restricted securities, which, in turn, facilitates Internet capital-raising.
German Federal Constitutional Court Rules on 'Online Search' of Computers
April 29, 2008
Recently, the highest German Court, the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed a new human right regarding a person's 'confidentiality of data and integrity of IT systems.' The judgment is a landmark decision that will have impact on further legislative activity as well as IT jurisdiction in various areas. The new right is being derived from the 'general personal right,' one of the fundamental human rights of the German constitution.
e-Commerce Meets American Idol
April 29, 2008
With review sites, blogs and commentary appearing everywhere online ' and who knows if anyone other than these sites' creators read them ' let's examine the legal implications of online commentary, everything from writing a review of a book you love on Amazon.com, to registering a domain name and creating a Web site.
Technology in Marketing: YouTube for Lawyers 101
April 28, 2008
There is no question that online video has become one of the hottest mediums on the Web. For example, a recent Accustream iMedia study found that user-generated video captured 22 billion page views in 2007. Importantly, the interest in online video is not limited to young viewers, but is also shared by a significant and growing audience of older, more educated, and more affluent viewers.
The Employment Discrimination Class Action Is Alive and Well
April 28, 2008
Just when some thought it might be safe to presume that class action discrimination lawsuits under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act were on the wane, several recent decisions involving the huge retailer, Wal-Mart, Inc., should give many employers pause for thought.
