Features
<b><i>Online Extra</b></i>White House Offers Incentives for Cybersecurity Program
President Barack Obama's administration has drafted a potential recipe for sweetening its voluntary corporate cybersecurity program. The program is under development at the White House and is aimed at utility companies and other businesses that are key to U.S. infrastructure.
Features
Accidental Access, 'Catfishing' and Unsecured Wi-Fi
This article discusses several contemporary privacy issues, including: whether accidental access to another's e-mail account constitutes unauthorized computer access; whether the use of a fictitious online identity can lead to civil liability; and whether the account holder of an unsecured home Wi-Fi network can be found liable for infringing activities by third parties using the network.
Features
e-Mail Signature Ruled Valid To Enforce Settlement
Signing an e-mail attesting to the substance of a negotiated agreement with the typed name of the sender constitutes a binding and enforceable stipulation of the settlement under CPLR 2104, a New York state appeals panel ruled.
Features
<b><i>Online Extra</b></i> Court Approves Facebook Class Settlement, Shaves Attorney Fees
In a long-awaited conclusion to Facebook's "Sponsored Stories" class action saga, a federal judge gave final approval to a $20 million settlement on August 26 but took an axe to the $7.5 million in fees requested by plaintiffs attorneys.
Features
<b><i>Online Extra</b></i> Sirius XM Sued Over Pre-1972 Royalties
Music copyright lawyers: Don't touch that dial. Nonprofit SoundExchange Inc., which collects and distributes digital performance royalties and distributes them to artists and copyright owners, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 26 accusing Sirius XM Radio Inc. of underpaying.
Features
Attorney Uses Copyright To Attack Unflattering Web Post
Federal law grants website operators immunity from defamation claims for third-party posts, so Boston lawyer Richard Goren used copyright law to go after a site's parent company over a negative posting.
Features
Best Practices for Formatting Word Documents
Most law firms will say that their users "know" Word. The reality is that most of the documents we have seen could be improved dramatically. Unless you lift the veil and look beyond the printed document, you won't know that you have a "bad" document.
Features
Marketplace Fairness Act May Help Clear Muddy Tax Waters
With my mom probably one of a handful of people who haven't made an Internet purchase, I think it is fair to say that we have all seen certain online retailers almost bragging that there is no sales tax on merchandise ordered from their e-store. The first question this raises is whether the "qualifying order" language refers to the shipping, the sales tax or both.
Features
How Royalties Are Determined for New Material Written for Public Domain Music Compositions
Not as much public domain material is recorded in comparison with original material, but if such a song becomes a hit or is on a successful album, the public performance royalties can be substantial provided the writer/arranger (who is many times the recording artist or record producer) holds the copyright in his or her version and registered it with the performance right society (PRO) with which the writer is affiliated.
Features
Willfulness and Liability, Separate But Equal?
This article summarizes <i>Bosch</i> and highlights the practical implications of the Federal Circuit's decision.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the RoughThere is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.Read More ›
- Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand OwnersBlockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.Read More ›
- Damages In Trademark Infringement LitigationsDuring a time when online marketing, virtual shopping and electronic communication are more widely used than ever, it is critically important for entertainment industry businesses to be highly aware of how they are using trademarks, the scope of a trademark owner's rights and the consequences of infringing them.Read More ›
- Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination SuitsIn recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.Read More ›
- Professional Development: How to Be An Ally In the Legal ProfessionLast year law firms sent out announcements about their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in response to racial tensions. One of the initiatives firms stated they implemented is a formal allyship program. However, allyship in not a program or a mindset. It is a verb.Read More ›