Updating Your Website? Update Your Terms!
If you’re feeling ready for a change and updating your website, or even if you aren’t, now is a good time to take a look at your website’s Terms of Use, Terms of Sale, and Privacy Policy.
Internet
What Should I Put in My Company’s Social Media Policy?
It seems like someone is in the news for getting into trouble on social media almost daily. Many companies have adopted social media policies as part of their employment policies to help guide their employees’ behavior and prevent embarrassing mishaps. If you are considering a social media policy, here are some things to think over and include.
Updating Your Outdated Terms of Use
You just looked at your business website’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for the first time in ages and realized that they have been in place since the Clinton Administration. It’s time for an update. What do you need to consider?
Crowdfunding On the Horizon
The SEC has announced that it has adopted final rules (PDF) for crowdfunding, but that 1) the forms for registering as a crowdfunding portal are not effective until January 29, 2016; and 2) the implementing regulations do not go into effect until May 16, 2016, 180 days after they were published in the Federal Register.
Pinterest for Employers
I was recently interviewed for the Society for Human Resource Management article “Pinterest Might Facilitate Copyright Infringement.” Below for your viewing pleasure is the entire text of the email-based interview with Workplace Law Content Manager Allen Smith
Legal Terms in Real Life: Genericide (Or: The Death of Google)
Today’s Legal Word of the Day is “genericide,” from trademark law. Genericide has been in the news recently because of Arizona resident David Elliott’s lawsuit to cancel two of Google’s trademark registrations for the term “GOOGLE” (Reg. Nos. 2,806,075 and 2,884,502). Black’s Law Dictionary (8th Ed.) defines “genericide” as: “The loss or cancellation of a trademark that no longer distinguishes the owner’s product from others’ products.”
Crowdfunding and Your Business
In March, Congress passed the controversial Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act), Public Law 112-106, and President Obama signed the bill into law on April 5, 2012. The Act is designed to stimulate job creation (and, by extension, the economy) by helping emerging companies get better access to capital. This post explores some of the changes to crowdfunding brought about by the Act and what you might consider in deciding whether crowdfunding is right for your business.
Social Media and the Law
After a whirlwind week of events, I have not had time to write my weekly post. Instead, I offer up video from my presentation to JMU612 with Paul Godfread last week. Keep in mind that the videos are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Huge thanks to Joel Carlson for taping, editing, and posting, and to Erica Mayer for keeping us on task. Enjoy!
Cloud Computing Basics for Lawyers
I am a (very!) active member of Minnesota Women Lawyers, so I was pleased when offered a chance to write for the current issue (Volume XXXVI, Issue IV) of the organization’s publication, With Equal Right. I wrote about basic cloud computing concepts for attorneys.
Pinterest Copyright Questions and Concerns
The Social Networking Nanny, Lanae, and I co-wrote a blog post over at Lanae’s blog. We discuss who should use Pinterest and why, and what copyright questions have been raised about the site lately.