<b>Case Study:</b>Building a Collaborative Network
May 31, 2006
To increase the effectiveness of our network of attorneys, efficiency and collective strength, and eliminate duplicative legal costs we needed to leverage the resources and intellectual capital of this national team of attorneys. Our solution was ultimately a two-pronged approach: First to provide counsel with technology to enable collaboration and sharing of resources in real time; and second, to gather the data to analyze the effectiveness and efficiencies of counsel and identify, encourage, and enforce best practice collaboration.
<b>Practice Tip:</b> Preparing for the Malware Epidemic: Working in the 21st Century
May 31, 2006
Malware (Wikipedia): Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system, without the owner's consent. <br>Nothing can be more disruptive, costly and frustrating than being a victim of malware. Being the victim of an attack can be particularly devastating in terms of lost productivity for attorneys and staff, missed filing deadlines, reduction in billable time and loss of client confidence.
Net News
May 31, 2006
New Internet Phone Wiretap Rules Challenged<br>Congress May Consider Mandatory ISP Snooping <br>Movie Piracy Losses Bigger Than Expected, Says a Recent Study<br>House Panel Approves Bill to Ban Cyber-gambling <br>Group Sues NY to Overturn Law Banning Internet Tobacco Sales
Cases of Note
May 31, 2006
Alleged Movie Pirate Claims Innocence<br>Online Legal Scrivener Guilty of Unauthorized Practice of Law
Supreme Court Ruling for eBay a Major Victory for Big Patent Holders
May 31, 2006
A Supreme Court ruling on May 15 in favor of eBay Inc. in a closely watched patent dispute made it harder for those claiming infringement to win permanent injunctions against major patent holders and manufacturers.<br>The unanimous decision was a major win for eBay and other big patent holders that frequently face crippling litigation from parties that get injunctions to protect one of thousands of patents used in a complex product.
Artists Seek Greater Share From Label Of Revenues From Digital Downloads
May 31, 2006
Two highly successful rock groups from the 1970s and '80s recently commenced a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against their former record company, claiming a larger share of revenue derived from paid digital downloads of their recordings. <br>The essence of the plaintiffs' claim is that Sony is calculating the artists' shares of revenue from digital download sales through services such as iTunes, in the same manner that the label calculates royalties for physical sales of CDs through traditional retail outlets. The plaintiffs claim that these are not physical sales, but are instead sales of digital copies of recordings that have been licensed to music download providers by Sony, and the royalty rate payable for licensing income, which is much higher than for physical sales, should apply.
Employee Handbooks
May 30, 2006
Employee handbooks can be an essential tool for communicating company policies and procedures to employees of any type of enterprise.
Cyber Rentals
May 30, 2006
The Internet has profoundly changed the way real-estate rental transactions are executed, mostly for the better. Besides putting significant amounts of rental information into the hands of potential tenants and allowing virtual tours of available rental properties, the Internet allows prospective renters and landlords to submit rental applications and negotiate contracts online. Properly executed, an Internet real-estate rental application may save time and money for the potential tenant and landlord. Improperly executed, such an application may result in legal difficulties, including unenforceable contracts and negligence claims.
