Media Industry Strikes Back at Online Infringement
By Rimon Admin | Jul 18, 2011
This blog originally appeared on the Wiliam Galkin's Law Blog.
It’s no secret that piracy of music and movies over the Internet is rampant and costs industry billions of dollars annually. Most people involved in this activity are not hardened criminals, and if asked, will probably admit that it is a technical violation of the law, but that it’s not really that illegal. You might even hear an argument that since industry is resigned to the fact that nothing can be done about it, it’s basically permissible. Legal solutions alone clearly have not worked. Most acknowledge that the only solution is an innovative combination of advanced detection technology and enforcement of applicable intellectual property and Internet laws. Well, perhaps a first step in this direction has now occurred.
Charge for Value not Time: Why Alternative Fee Arrangements Make Sense
By Michael Moradzadeh | Jul 18, 2011
A business is defined by what it sells. A fairly obvious proposition, one would think. Well, then, what is it that law firms sell? The obvious answer should be solutions to legal problems. But, too many law firms are not in the business of selling those services, they are oddly in the business of selling hours.
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Dodd-Frank is here
By Robin Powers | Jul 16, 2011
July 16 has Arrived…
And the world hasn’t ended.
More importantly, the financial sector hasn’t gone into a state of meltdown. While we will continue to watch as rules are debated, agency heads speak before Congress, and press releases are circulated, it is important to note that the implications of Dodd-Frank’s July 16 deadline had a stronger bark than bite.
Despite all of the headlines that the SEC and CFTC have generated as a result of their delays, it is comforting to know that these agencies are not hastily creating rules solely to adhere to the July 16 deadline. While they still have a large workload ahead of them drafting rules dictated by the Act, they appear to be working at a swifter pace then what is typically seen by most government agencies.
The PROTECT IP Act Blacklists IP Infringing Websites: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?
By Rimon Admin | Jul 15, 2011
On May 12, 2011, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy introduced the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (PROTECT IP Act) to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill is a revised version of the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA), which was unsuccessful a year ago.
The Act’s primary purpose is to prevent websites, both foreign and domestic, from infringing on the rights of U.S. patent holders. However, the proposed procedures and methods to protect the patent holders have sparked justified controversy and opposition to the Act. As such, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden held up the bill on May 31 to prevent it from reaching the full Senate for the time being.
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Day 1
By Robin Powers | Jul 15, 2011
Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (FIEL)
Japan’s corollary to Title VII of Dodd-Frank is the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (FIEL), which went into effect in 2008. While the laws are similar, they are by no means identical. The Japanese law remains silent on topics that Dodd-Frank addresses thoroughly. Most notable among these topics are provisions regarding derivative clearing organizations (DCO’s) and clearing counterparties (CCP’s). Whereas Dodd-Frank provides a framework for how DCO’s and CCP’s must be organized, maintained, funded, and accounted for, FIEL does not give any specific guidance on CCP business continuity, outsourcing, or price transparency. Dodd-Frank imposes across-the-board capital requirements intended to minimize risk in the event of a major default and ensure the business’ functionality for at least a year. In contrast, FIEL’s minimum capital requirement for CCP’s is on a case-by-case basis. Dodd-Frank also implements collateral requirements with the purpose of reducing risk to non-defaulting members in the event that a major member becomes insolvent or defaults.
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Day 2
By Robin Powers | Jul 14, 2011
Swaps Experts Say Market Will Grow; Others Differ in Opinion
As the swaps market braces for Dodd-Frank impact, firms and investors differ on the anticipated changes in the newly regulated market.
Citigroup, Inc. recently released a white paper predicting that interest rate and credit default swaps will grow more than 10% by 2013 as trading risk will decrease and price transparency will increase under Dodd-Frank. Citigroup also stated that Clearinghouse increased requirements for margin will likely cause market participants to avoid marginally profitable investments. They estimate that 60% of OTC derivatives market by volume will soon be centrally cleared.
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Day 3
By Robin Powers | Jul 13, 2011
ISDA Calls for Coordination Amongst Global Regulators
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) recently announced their position that Global regulators need to first coordinate new rules for trade repositories before drafting more complex derivatives rules. The ISDA feels that G20 agreed upon reforms must be enacted prior to other rules so that there is consistency amongst market participants.
http://www.gfsnews.com/article/2373/1/Isda_wants_US_slowdown_on_swap_rules
Lara Pearson on Teach Me Law - Part 2
By Rimon Admin | Jul 12, 2011
Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Teach Me Law on Blog Talk Radio. Teach Me Law is Tara's journey to educate and provide resources to those who want to understand law and its impact on everyday life. On July 10, 2011 she featured the second part of a two part interview with Lara Pearson, Chair of Rimon's Trademark Practice and its Chief Sustainability Officer. The interview touches on copyright basics including: what a copyright does and does not protect; how rights come into existence; and what is required to enforce them.
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Day 4
By Robin Powers | Jul 12, 2011
CFTC Increases Policing Power under Dodd-Frank
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has finalized a set of five “anti-manipulation” rules with respect to Title VII of Dodd-Frank requirements.
The CFTC voted unanimously to expand the government’s ability to police potential fraud and insider trading with respect to derivatives. The CFTC established that a regulator need only show that a trader acted recklessly, as opposed to the previous standard of proving that the trader intentionally manipulated the market and created artificial prices. Scott O’Malia, CFTC Commissioner, stated that this anti-manipulation rule may confuse market participants until the agency is able to clarify how it will be used. It still remains to be seen how the CFTC will prosecute these instances of fraud and manipulation, but CFTC Chairman Gensler said this rule, “closes a significant gap as it will broaden the types of cases we will pursue and improve the chance of prevailing over wrongdoers.”
Dodd-Frank 30 Day Countdown: Day 5
By Robin Powers | Jul 11, 2011
Banks Ask for Margin Relief
The largest U.S. banks via a joint letter on June 29, 2011 asked the Commodities Futures Trade Commission (CFTC) to remove the requirement that overseas swap transactions be subject to margin requirements, regardless of whether the swap counterparty is an affiliate of a U.S. organization. This follows on the coattails of a letter written by seven large foreign financial firms in January who asked that their margin requirements be based on their home country regulation.