Is Your Client A Spammer?
We've covered the CAN SPAM Act fairly extensively from a "what is it" type of perspective. In this article, Board of Editors member Jonathan Bick provides some practical advice on how to advise those clients who want to send marketing e-mails lawfully (it just doesn't seem right to say "spam lawfully.
NY Federal Court Sends 'Typosquatter' To Prison
Several months ago, U.S. District Judge Michael Mukasey of the Southern District of New York sentenced one of the most notorious "typosquatters," John Zuccarini, to two and a half years for violating the Truth in Domain Names Act, which was enacted by Congress last year. <br>Although his arrest and conviction remain the most significant actions taken under the statute, the Domain Names Act adds another possible step that can assist companies that are victimized by typosquatting on the Internet.
Workplace E-mail: Employers Beware!
E-mail has become a way of life. Its advantages in the business world are widely known: It is an inexpensive, easily distributed medium, which can be accessed, even wirelessly, almost instantaneously anywhere in the world. In this fast-paced global economy, these features are highly desired. E-mail in the workplace is a double-edged sword, however, and the problems associated with workplace e-mail, particularly in connection with litigation-related discovery, have been recognized with increasing frequency by courts and litigants around the country.
Viruses, Adware and Spyware Attack Legal Framework
Back in the good old days, electronic evidence for civil cases could be gathered from a custodian's computer, processed to TIFF, Bates numbered and introduced into evidence. Concerns over chain of custody and authenticity were talked about, but rarely argued in the courtroom. <br>It's not so simple anymore. Viruses, spyware, adware and hijacking are attacking our legal framework for electronic evidence and impacting specific areas of law, such as privacy, attorney client privilege, trade secret, criminal law and products liability.
SEC's New Disclosure Rules
On March 16, 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued final rules amending Form 8-K to increase significantly the number of events that trigger the requirement to file and shorten the deadline for filing. The new rules became effective on Aug. 23, 2004 and significantly expand the filing and disclosure requirements applicable to public companies with respect to mergers and acquisitions and other material transactions. The rules are another in a long series of measures adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and are intended to improve the dissemination of information regarding public companies to investors in a timely manner.
Problems Proving Infringement of Method Claims When Multiple Actors Involved
How many actors does it take to infringe a patent? At least in the case of a U.S. patent, the answer is "One — and only one." This question is more than just a not especially amusing riddle. Rather, it calls attention to an issue that is likely to assume much greater importance in coming years: the need, as a prerequisite to showing infringement of a U.S. patent, to identify a single legal "actor" to whom each and every of the infringing elements of an accused system or process may be attributed.
Reinsurance Arbitration: A Discussion of Neutral Panels and Reasoned Awards
Traditionally, arbitration panels in the reinsurance industry have been tripartite panels with each party choosing its own arbitrator and the party-appointed arbitrators choosing a neutral umpire. Courts have recognized that party-appointed arbitrators may be advocates for the appointing party. <i>Sphere Drake Ltd. v. All Am. Life Ins. Co.,</i> 307 F.3d 617, 620 (7th Cir. 2002). ("In the main party appointed arbitrators are supposed to be advocates.") While the industry has become accustomed to the system of advocate arbitrators and there are those who champion this system, there has been a growing consensus that neutral panels may be preferable to advocate arbitrators.
Case Notes
Highlights of the latest product liability cases from around the country.
