Preparing Temporary Attorneys For An Online Repository Review
July 28, 2005
Training large document-review teams to consistently apply specified review criteria to millions of pages of often mind-numbingly dull documents has long been a challenge for counsel. The time- and cost-savings offered by online review tools, along with the enhanced automated quality control features of such tools, have made electronic review an increasingly compelling option for large-scale, time-pressured document reviews. While electronic-document review projects have become more common in the last few years, setting up the project and training attorneys in preparation for review remains challanging.
EU and U.S. Data Regulations
July 28, 2005
You have likely already read a great deal more about the implications and requirements of Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) legislation than you would have otherwise liked. The new reporting, data retention and accountability regulations are of obvious import both legally and financially. What is of equal interest, however, for firms that are either multinational or do business overseas is the conceptual differences between this recent U.S. legislation and privacy legislation and regulations adopted in the EU. Essential in understanding where U.S. and EU data regulations conflict or compliment each other is understanding the root motivations behind each set of rules.
Issues in Licensing Music for Podcasts
July 28, 2005
Even amateur podcasters know that there are legal concerns with podcasting music. As the law stands now, a podcaster must secure permission for every copyrighted sound-recording master. This would be extremely time-consuming and expensive ' even for NPR, let alone individual podcasters. On the other hand, acquiring the rights to use the songs embodied in podcasts may not be as big a problem because the statutory compulsory license applicable to the mechanical reproduction of musical compositions probably applies to podcasts. In addition, blanket public-performance licenses are already offered by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
Trademark Law Shapes Internet Pop-up Ads
July 28, 2005
Despite their negative public images and being the target of much private invective, Internet pop-up ads and unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam) have transfigured marketing ' and, like spam, Internet pop-ups can be lawful if they are not deceptive. <br>That said, trademark infringement may be the only successful cause of action against Internet pop-up advertisers and getting them to change their business methods.
Canada Strikes At Spam
July 28, 2005
The Government of Canada's Task Force on Spam concluded that the current laws governing spam are not good enough. While Canada alone is not able to deal with the spam problem nationwide, it must at least deal with the spammers in its own backyard. The current legal framework contains some significant holes and the task force's recommendations call for a spam-specific law accompanied by a new separate body to work on policy and enforcement coordination.
<i>WhenU</i> Helps Keyword Companies See Clearly
July 28, 2005
The recent decision in <i>1-800 Contacts, Inc. v. WhenU.com</i> is an important case in the murky law relating to keywords. Many companies use keywords in some form to generate revenue, from search engines selling keywords to trigger banner ads or the pop-up business described in the <i>WhenU</i> decision. <br>The case is particularly important for companies such as Google not only because keyword sales represent a substantial portion of their revenue, but also because obtaining legal precedent supporting this kind of business has been inconsistent.
Law School To Launch Law Practice Technology Program
July 28, 2005
A select group of New York Law School students will soon begin a unique, hands-on course in the practicalities of cyberlaw designed to make young lawyers extremely attractive to law-firm recruiters who hail primarily from the technophobic generation.
Spyware: The Scourge Of The Internet?
July 28, 2005
The blight of spyware has struck tens of millions of computer users across the globe. In fact, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 91% of Internet users have changed their online behavior for fear of becoming victims.
