The attorneys at Morningstar Law Group are leaders who are frequently asked to share their legal insights and expertise. Here is a sampling of the wisdom our attorneys are sharing at industry conferences, in published articles, and at continuing legal education events.

Insight

Why Would a Writer Need an Attorney?

July 24, 2020

The answer to this question and more was shared by attorney Mitch Tuchman at the recent virtual event hosted by the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Sharing his expansive knowledge and deep experience in publishing and copyright law, Mitch has spoken to this group on numerous occassions. Well-received, the organizers of the event shared “Our writers clearly […]

Insight

Copyright Office Provides Welcome Innovation for Bloggers and Creators of Other Short Texts

July 1, 2020

Good news from the Copyright Office for authors of blogs, newsletters, social media posts and other short works published online. Beginning August 17, 2020, authors will be able to apply to register claims of copyright in groups of up to 50 short works on a single application and for a single low fee: $65. A bargain by […]

Insight

COVID-19 and Privacy: Can We Remain Anonymous?

May 20, 2020

The unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has alarmed policymakers and healthcare professionals alike. The rate at which infections continue to spike and the fact that most cases appear to be asymptomatic makes efforts to control the outbreak much more difficult as compared to other diseases. Certain mitigation efforts taken by governments around the world, […]

Insight

Time to Panic? The Effects of COVID-19 on the Internet.

April 16, 2020

Given the social distancing guidelines and broad stay-at-home orders necessitated by the global COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, organizations and schools around the world have been forced to reevaluate the way they conduct their day-to-day operations. As a result, those organizations and schools have shifted to telecommuting and remote learning, which has placed a major strain on […]

Insight

Dumbing Down Some of the Privacy and Security Risks Associated With Smart Devices

March 25, 2020

Bluetooth sunglasses, temperature-controlled insulated bottles, voice-controlled dishwashers and other kitchen appliances, smart TVs, and doorbell cameras are just a handful of examples of the many everyday items that have been enhanced with “smart” capabilities to better fit within our increasingly connected and convenience-centric society. As we intensify our reliance on such “smart” Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, […]

Insight

Is the COVID-19 Pandemic a Force Majeure?

March 13, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak, now deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization, is disrupting supply chains globally, leaving many companies unable to perform contracts or supply products to their customers, but is COVID-19 a force majeure that will shield affected companies from liability for non-performance?  Under US law, the answer depends primarily on the terms […]

Insight

Wing Wednesday, Yes, But No Taco Tuesday

March 12, 2020

Last year, shortly after news broke of Tom Brady’s unsuccessful attempt to register the trademark “Tom Terrific” (see my article about that here), there were reports of a few other intriguing, high-profile sports-related trademark matters that seemed deserving of some additional commentary.   Possibly not coincidentally, given Brady’s historic distaste for the State of Ohio […]

Insight

Mercedes Case Reveals Integrated-Work Copyright Stopgap

December 15, 2019

As Appeared in Law360, October 26, 2019 Stripped, the Mercedes-Benz USA LLC G500 runs $124,000 (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) and comes in 24 colors. In the lead-up to the January 2018 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes planned an ironic, down-scale Instagram Inc.  campaign featuring photos of its Jeep-like G500s barreling through Detroit’s boho Eastern […]

Insight

Not So Terrific Understanding of Trademark Law There, Tom …

October 21, 2019

This recent article about Tom Brady and his unsuccessful efforts to register the trademark “Tom Terrific” came to my attention the other day: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27445881/not-terrific-tom-brady-trademark-refused. As an IP lawyer, I felt compelled to set the record straight and clear up any misconceptions Brady may have conveyed about trademark law to the general, non-(IP) lawyer public. First […]

Insight

2019 CLE: CCPA Takeaways

May 10, 2019

At Morningstar Law Group’s annual CLE program, Orla O’Hannaidh, a Data Privacy and Security Attorney with Red Hat, provided a list of the key takeaways from the CCPA. Click here to review her presentation.