Insights

How Long Should a Book Publishing Agreement Endure?

This is the 2nd article in a series intended to introduce readers to publishing agreements. Click HERE for Mitch’s 1st installment. Authors don’t live to see their copyrights expire.  By law those rights endure 70 years postmortem and frequently pass unheralded through their owners’ estates to uninformed or indifferent heirs.  Yet every day publishers negotiate […]

New to Publishing Agreements? What You Need to Know.

In a world before self-publishing—and still today—authors with the ability to write but not the wherewithal to print and sell books in commercial quantities engaged publishers to do so.  Publishers in turn undertook to manufacture and distribute books—and maybe sublicense rights to create derivative works—looking to the resulting revenues to compensate themselves for their risks […]

Employment Law Alert: ARPA Requires Employers to Pay 100% of COBRA for Certain Employees

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), signed into law on March 11, 2021, beginning April 1, 2021 employers will be required to pay 100% of the COBRA continuation premium for group health plan coverage for certain employees and their qualified beneficiaries for up to six (6) months.  Who Qualifies for The COBRA […]

John Kivus Creates Force Majeure Clause & Contract Amendment Template for ShootProof

ShootProof is an online company whose the mission is “to be the global leader in software, e-commerce, education, and productivity solutions that empower every photographer to create, grow, and manage the business of their dreams.” One of the resources provided by the company is a contract tool that delivers lawyer-drafted templates. In response to the pandemic, […]

Morningstar Law Group's Richard Caira Contributes to Financial Times Article on Data Regulation

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Morningstar Law Group's Mack Paul Looks at 2021

Mack Paul, a partner in our firm’s Real Estate and Land Use practice group, joined two other local business leaders in an interview with Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) regarding their business outlook for 2021. Asked “Based on the information you have now, how do you see your company performing in 2021? What do you think […]

PPP Program Alert: New Paycheck Protection Program Guidelines Permit Escrow Option to Close M&A Transactions Without Prior SBA Approval

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies with Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans that are considering mergers, acquisitions, or sales of their businesses have been working with lenders and advisors to best structure “change of ownership” transactions to comply with restrictions on these loans.  Unfortunately, very little guidance has been available until now regarding how to […]

Why Would a Writer Need an Attorney?

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 […]

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

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 […]