Offshore Outsourcing: Trends and Issues
July 07, 2004
It's no longer sneaking up on anyone that outsourcing is not only here to stay, but on the rise. A key part in outsourcing ' whether it's help desk or other IT functions or more involved business operations ' is the transfer and/or licensing of intellectual property and technology. This two-part article looks at outsourcing growth and trends, laws and taxes outsourcers need to know, and special considerations involved in transferring IP. Part One provides a fascinating glimpse where outsourcing is headed and why, the different business models outsourcing companies use, and discusses how outsourcers can maintain quality control over the outsourced functions.
A Primer on Insurance Options for Intellectual Property
July 02, 2004
In the last several years, a number of insurance companies including Chubb, AIG, InsureTrust (through Lloyd's of London), Venture Programs, Intellectual Property Risk Management ("IPRM"), and Litigation Risk Management, Inc. ("LRM") have begun offering insurance that pays costs associated with infringement of patents only, or infringement of some combination or all of patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights and trade secrets. For purposes of this article we will refer to these polices covering intellectual property as "IP infringement policies." IP infringement policies vary by carrier and property covered. The following descriptions are necessarily general.
Electronic Filing: Is Your Firm Prepared?
July 02, 2004
As increasing numbers of law firms realize the benefits of electronic filing. And as more and more courts encourage ' and in many cases mandate ' its use ' law firms are moving quickly to adopt practices in order to prepare for ' and take full advantage of ' the e-filing revolution.
Video-Game Biz Is Growth Area For Law Firms
July 01, 2004
In 2003, the video-game industry generated $7 billion in sales. The continued success of this industry has created opportunities for law firms to expand their services into the video-game field. For example, being on top of developments in the video-game industry is a priority for San Francisco's Morrison & Foerster. The firm recently formalized a 25-lawyer video-game practice in response to its ever-increasing business with the industry.
Electronic Records Management: The Legal Problem That Lurks Behind the Scenes
July 01, 2004
You think your client's company has a good case. From what you can gather, the allegations that your company, or one you represent, stole trade secrets from a rival are completely unfounded. But then you enter discovery. Your opposition requests a whole host of e-mails ' predictable these days. <br>Outside and in-house counsel quickly realize that with all the storage IT departments have added to accommodate the expanding volume of e-mails a company produces, some firms have no systematic program for eliminating no-longer needed e-mails. As a result, you learn that the amount of e-mails and related electronic documents that must be retrieved under discovery is staggering - hundreds of thousands. It soon becomes clear that, although the case should have been defendable, it's more financially sound for the company to begin negotiating a settlement.
U.S. Supreme Court Knocks Out COPA
June 29, 2004
The Supreme Court on June 29, for the second time in 2 years, rebuffed another effort by Congress to restrict minors' access to adult material on the Internet.
