In this growing age of technology, one’s digital assets should be included or at least considered when creating an estate plan. When we prepare an estate plan for a client, we ask them to list all of their assets so that we can discuss how they want each asset to be distributed or handled upon Read More…
Snapchat Settlement Shows Importance Of Proper Legal Advice When Starting A Business
Earlier this month, Snap, Inc. launched its initial public offering (“IPO”) at a price that gave the company a $24 billion valuation. Snap, Inc. owns Snapchat, a mobile application that allows users to send photos to one another that automatically “disappear” after a few seconds. Less widely reported amidst the hype surrounding the IPO price, Read More…
Impact Of New Defend Trade Secrets Act
A new federal law, the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. section 1836 et seq.), was signed into law on May 11, 2016. Among other things, the Defend Trade Secrets Act creates a new private civil cause of action under federal law for the theft of trade secrets that are used in interstate commerce. In Read More…
Appellate Court Addresses Enforceability Of Website “Terms Of Use” Under Browsewrap Agreements
Contracts formed on the internet come primarily in one of two forms: “clickwrap” (or “click-through”) agreements, in which website users are required to click on an “I agree” box after being presented with a list of terms and conditions of use; and “browsewrap” agreements, where a website’s terms and conditions of use are generally posted Read More…
Trio Of Copyright Cases Reject High-Profile Ownership Claims
In recent months, three separate cases scaled back copyright protection for works well known in popular culture. In the first case, Marya v. Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. et al., a longstanding copyright dispute over the “Happy Birthday to You” song ended when the United States District Court for the Southern District of California held the music Read More…
Protecting Your Ideas And Inventions During The Development Phases
Imagine you are a small company or a single person and you have an idea for an advancement of a product, process, or machine that already exists; or, you have an idea for a completely new product, process, or machine, but you don’t have the means to develop it. You need help from someone that Read More…
Managing Online Business Presence To Maximize Trademark Protection
The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s recent handling of trademark applications suggests that businesses can significantly help — or hinder — their protection under trademark laws depending on how they manage their online presence. A few simple steps can help a business ensure it is able to take advantage of the fullest extent of Read More…
