Intellectual Property Law

Copyright Law #2: Introduction to Copyright II
Copyright applies to a wide variety of works, even types of expression that are newly created (and not explicitly referenced in the copyright act). However, some items of “intellectual creation” are outside of copyright, such as ideas or works of the federal government...

The Risk of Using Independent Contractors
The Risk of Using Independent Contractors is an interesting May 15, 2008 New York Law Journal article which discusses the risks in classifying individuals as independent contractors verses employees...

Fundamentals of Copyright #3: Duration of Copyright I
Copyright lasts for a very long time. For works created after 1977, the term of copyright is life of the author plus seventy years. However, previous copyright acts had different rules, and those rules will affect the duration of pre-1978 works...

Independent Contractors: New Hampshire Defines, FedEx Whines
New Hampshire has come up with their own 12 step program to determine whether contractors are truly independent or just employees. Meanwhile, the IRS has come down hard on FedEx, hitting the company with a $319 million fine for misclassifying drivers as independent contractors...

Employee or independent contractor
In the eyes of the law, employees and contractors are as different as apples and oranges. Hence numerous legal issues turn on whether a person is another's employee or, alternatively, an independent contractor...

Working on Orphan Works
Congress is once again considering legislation to deal with the problem of orphaned copyright works-- those works that are still under copyright but where the copyright owner may be impossible to identify and locate...

Copyright Lawsuits: Critical Issues Before Filing Copyright
Federa Rule 11(b) Considerations

Pre-paid Leagal Services
What are Prepaid Legal Benefit Plans

Ownership Transfer
Amsol to pay $5.625 million settlement in buyout lawsuit.

Undetected Sewage Spill
Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board spends $17 million on upgrades and testing.

HIV Funds
Dallas Independent School District pays $336,000 settlement for misappropriated program funds.

Technician Whistleblower
Jury orders DuPont Chambers Works to pay $1.224 million settlement to employee.

Spike Lee and Showtime
Settlement reached in script copyright infringement lawsuit.

Department of Education Fraud
$4.25 million settlement to be paid in whistleblower lawsuit.