Legal Blog Articles

Does a work have to be published before it can receive copyright protection? The answer is not anymore, but prior to 1978 copyright protection was established, either by publishing the work and affixing the copyright notice symbol, or through registration.
So how do we define publication for the purpose of copyright protection?

People as Obstacles   There is no doubt that you've already encountered people who always have a negative word to say about a project you're starting or a great idea you have. They quickly focus on the reasons why you won't succeed, instead of encouraging you to do...

So what exactly is a copyright and what does it protect?

We are what we believe, and we create our reality based on what we think. What do you do today (or not do) that can be traced back to a childhood belief? For example, as a kid, were you taught that vegetables were good for you? If so you either love vegetables because you believe they were healthy, and you want to be healthy, or you hate them because you rebelled against being told you had to eat them. Either way, your belief about vegetables defines your relationship with them today.

As has been expected, more and more federal courts are ruling on issues related to social media and content use. In a case that every copyright lawyer has been anticipating, recently, Judge Alison Nathan from the District Court for the Southern District of New York held that the Agence France-Presse and The Washington Post improperly used images that photojournalist Daniel Morel posted to his Twitter page.
With the explosive growth of Social Media, ownership of content has become an all-important issue. Once you post a story or photo to a social media site, is anyone allowed to use your content without permission? This is the question that everyone has been waiting for the courts to answer.

There are many obstacles which stand between you and living your dreams. Some are real; some are fancied. All stand in your way.

Self-esteem comes from DOING Esteemable Acts, and it’s an Esteemable Act to have the courage to stand up against the loudest voice with the biggest and most plentiful guns. It amazes me that it takes someone from a foreign country to have the courage to stand up...

What did I accomplish in 2012? – At the beginning of last year, I had 3 overriding goals: get published, get more connected to family/friends, and get fit. I started out committed to all 3, but by year’s end, I had successfully accomplished 1 of the 3.

A big mistake often made my business owners and entrepreneurs is signing agreements (or any document) without first reading them carefully and/or understanding what they read. In this day and age, it seems hard to believe that any savvy business owner would enter into a relationship without a signed agreement. But it happenes ALL THE TIME.