Overall
Key cases
Industries
Intellectual Property
Labor & Employment
Corporate
Practice Areas
Media & Entertainment
-
March 5, 2013
Hawaii Senate Approves Steven Tyler Privacy Bill
The Hawaii state Senate on Tuesday passed the Steven Tyler Act, a bill allowing celebrities to sue reporters and photographers who take pictures of their private lives, according to the Hawaii Legislature’s website.
-
March 5, 2013
NJ Faces Uphill Battle In Appeal Of Sports Wagering Ban
Arguing that a federal ban on state-sponsored sports gambling amounts to unconstitutional commandeering could be New Jersey's best bet at overturning a recent decision blocking such wagering in the state, but convincing the Third Circuit to strike down an act of Congress will be no easy task, attorneys say.
-
March 4, 2013
Cellphone Unlocking Should Be Legal, White House Says
The Obama administration said Monday that consumers should be allowed to legally “unlock” their cellphones so they can be used on different networks, so long as they are not bound to contracts with specific wireless carriers.
-
March 1, 2013
FDA's Facebook Slap Gives Drug Industry Little To Like
A recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning letter scolding a supplement company for "liking" a Facebook post should remind drug companies to be extremely cautious about their social media activity, experts say, with the FDA clearly on the lookout for behavior that may run afoul of its marketing restrictions even though it has yet to issue formal guidelines.
-
March 1, 2013
Leagues Score Win In NJ Sports Betting Suit
A federal judge late Thursday upheld the constitutionality of a federal ban on state-sponsored sports gambling and blocked New Jersey from authorizing such wagering in the state, marking a win for the NCAA and four major professional sports leagues in the United States.
-
February 28, 2013
Obama Backs Gay Marriage At High Court
The Obama administration urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to uphold a decision finding California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional, arguing the law violates same-sex couples' right to equal protection.
-
February 28, 2013
Texas Bill Would Let Suits Be Served Via Facebook, Twitter
A Texas lawmaker floated a bill Wednesday that would allow lawsuits in the state to be served over Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites in some circumstances where traditional means of service have failed.
-
February 27, 2013
Employers Ask Supreme Court To Find DOMA Unconstitutional
Google Inc., Facebook Inc., Starbucks Corp. and a slew of other businesses told the nation's highest court Wednesday that the federal Defense of Marriage Act forces them to affirm discrimination, saddles them with compliance burdens and strains their relationships with employees.
-
February 26, 2013
NJ Lawmakers Approve Internet Gaming Measure
The New Jersey Legislature on Tuesday approved revised legislation allowing people across the state to place online bets on Atlantic City casino games in an effort to boost the state’s economic engine, sending the measure to Gov. Chris Christie for final approval.
-
February 25, 2013
Apple, Facebook, Microsoft Get Cyberattack Info From Feds
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are sharing intelligence about recent cyberattacks with private firms in the wake of recent data breaches targeting intellectual property at Apple Inc., Facebook Inc., Microsoft Inc. and other technology companies, federal cybersecurity officials said Friday.
-
February 22, 2013
Nevada Legalizes Online Poker Playing Across State Lines
The Nevada Legislature on Thursday pushed through a bill legalizing online interstate poker, authorizing Gov. Brian Sandoval to enter into agreements with other states to allow people to play online poker across state lines.
-
February 22, 2013
Utah Bill Would Keep Facebook Passwords Private
An Internet privacy bill passed Thursday by the Utah House of Representatives would prohibit employers and colleges from requesting workers’ or students’ passwords or user names for Facebook or other social media accounts, and fine them if they do.
-
February 20, 2013
NCAA Sues Pa. Gov. Over Law Keeping $60M Penn State Fine
The NCAA hit Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and other state officials with a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging a newly enacted law keeping in state the $60 million fine it slapped against The Pennsylvania State University over the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.
-
February 20, 2013
Stalled NJ Social Media Bill Still Expected To Pass
New Jersey legislation banning employers from requiring job candidates or current workers to disclose their usernames or passwords for social networking sites has sat in the state Assembly for months following its overwhelming passage in the Senate, but observers still expect the measure to win final approval.
-
February 20, 2013
COPPA Team's Move Likely To Jumpstart FTC Enforcement
The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday that it would soon shift responsibility for its children's online privacy rule from its advertising unit to its data collection and security division, a move attorneys expect to drive an increase in enforcement as agency officials better connect the rule to general privacy violations.
-
February 20, 2013
FCC Moves To Free Up More Spectrum For Mobile Devices
The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday it has taken initial steps to free up additional spectrum for wireless devices, a move aimed at easing congestion on public and private Wi-Fi networks and enabling faster connection speeds.
-
February 19, 2013
Camelot Agrees To Extend Pa. Lotto Privatization Bid
The company hoping to privatize Pennsylvania’s lottery system agreed Saturday to extend the shelf life of its bid by a week while the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett plans a response to the state attorney general’s claim that the privatization effort is unconstitutional.
-
February 15, 2013
GCs Name 43 Best-Of-The-Best Attys
In-house counsel from Fortune 1000 companies and other multibillion-dollar operations listed the top 43 attorneys whose practices are built on extraordinary client service, pointing to their reliability, attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond expectations.
-
February 15, 2013
GCs Name Cream Of The Crop Litigators
Corporate counsel singled out nearly 100 litigators as the most client service-driven in their field thanks to their innate ability to deliver solid outcomes, effectively communicate litigation strategy and prioritize their clients' business interests.
-
February 14, 2013
Miami-Dade, Dolphins Officials Press For Stadium Upgrades
With negotiations commencing between Miami-Dade County and the Miami Dolphins to hash out a referendum over funding for the team's proposed $400 million Sun Life Stadium renovation, government and team officials promoted a message of economic development at a press conference Thursday.
Expert Analysis
-
Novel Approach To Opposing Class Certification Rejected
Current and former student-athletes are one step closer to forcing the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its member institutions to share their profits with them now that the Northern District of California ruled they can proceed to class certification. Lawyers should take note that the judge made it clear that the defendants' motion to strike the certification motion was not the correct avenue to take, say attorneys with Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason LLP.
-
Why Can A Librarian Make Unlocking Cellphones Illegal?
On March 4, the Obama administration said that consumers should be able to unlock their cellphones without risking penalties — a response to the librarian of Congress making unlocking illegal by altering a Digital Millennium Copyright Act exemption. The DMCA provides for a triennial exemption review process by the librarian, which has resulted in irrational results that often have little to do with protecting copyrights and significant impact on consumers, says Danica Mathes of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP.
-
6 Areas Often Underestimated In Law Firm Mergers
While mergers in other industries are driven by cost efficiencies or economies of scale, law firm mergers are typically focused on the potential to leverage clients and the overall quality of the attorney population, branding and market position. As a result, full disclosure of third-party vendor or support function operating costs can be a secondary concern until after the deal closes. Firms need to hit the ground running the moment the merger is inked, says Matthew Sunderman of HBR Consulting LLC.
-
Fashion Designers Face Uncertainty After Louboutin V. YSL
After receiving a directive from the Second Circuit to rewrite Christian Louboutin SA’s trademark for red-soled footwear, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently narrowed the scope of Louboutin’s red sole mark. While this trademark battle may have finally come to an end and both parties have claimed victory, fashion designers must remain wary of litigation in the future, for the law remains unsettled, says Daniel Englander of Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi LLP.
-
Wisconsin's Take On Ad Injury Coverage Under CGL
The recent decision by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in Air Engineering Inc. v. Industrial Air Power demonstrates that Internet advertising, even if tailored to specific customer inquiries or search terms, qualifies as an "advertising idea" — meaning that there may be coverage for intellectual property claims relating to the misappropriation of that idea, says Nicholas Nierengarten of Gray Plant Mooty.
-
Hacking Attacks Highlight Importance Of Preparation
Over the past few weeks, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets have reported sophisticated attacks on their computer systems, raising significant concerns for just about any company with an online presence. Before hackers strike, companies would do well to review their response plans, data retention policies and insurance program, say Russell Cohen and Stephanie Sharron of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
-
5 Trade Secret Trends That Could Shape 2013
Litigators should consider the trade secret trends from 2012 that promise to shape developments this year, including the increasing federal power being brought to bear on trade secret law, a deepening circuit split over the interpretation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, increasing litigation involving social media, and the necessity of written confidentiality agreements for sophisticated businesses to protect trade secrets, say attorneys with Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.
-
Emerging Trends In The Advertising Self-Regulatory Council
This year, advertisers should anticipate that the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council will continue to address advertising on emerging social media platforms, as well as green marketing. The ASRC is also expected to expand its review of advertising directed to children and continue to evolve its operational policies to encourage and foster efficacy and participation in the advertising self-regulatory process, says Alexis Payne of InfoLawGroup LLP.
-
Online And Off Song-Beverly: Some Relief For Retailers
In Apple Inc. v. Superior Court, the California Supreme Court recently found that Section 1747.08 of the Song-Beverly Credit Card Act does not apply to online retailers that sell digital downloads. However, the ruling leaves open a lot more questions than it addressed, such as whether Song-Beverly applies to Internet transactions involving physical goods or kiosk transactions in brick-and-mortar stores, say Stephanie Sheridan and Caitlin Ross of Sedgwick LLP.
-
When Social Media Collides With Medical Practice
The Federation of State and Medical Boards recently adopted policy guidelines for the use of social media and social networking in the medical practice. Physicians, physician groups and hospitals also need a properly drafted social media policy, because without one, the entire medical practice group or hospital may be liable for the actions of a single physician, say attorneys with Locke Lord LLP.