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Evaluating Art Licenses: How to Tell if You Have a Good Deal
February 11, 2013In a recent discussion on the LinkedIn group “Art of Licensing,” an artist asked group members to evaluate whether an agent had offered her a “good deal” based on the percentages of compensation. Artists and agents, alike, chimed in with their thoughts on the percentages and what makes for good representation in the art licensing field. As I followed the discussion, I thought about the questions that clients frequently ask me about proposed contracts and what questions they ought to be asking. In this post, I will focus on licensing agreements rather than representation agreements, although some of the issues certainly overlap.
Read More...Hot Topics in Advertising Law for 2013
January 16, 2013With 2013 now officially underway, I am highlighting some hot topics in advertising law. We will continue to see developments in these areas, whether judicial or legislative in nature. The most proactive step a brand can take to avoid legal risk is to allocate some of its crisis budget to audit its advertising and marketing practices early in the year.
Read More...Risky Pinterest Business? Questions on Intellectual Property Protection and Brand Promotion
December 5, 2012Pinterest’s announcement last month that it would allow the creation of business accounts seemed a welcome development. After all, the site had always encouraged authenticity but had not been welcoming authentic commercial use. Now businesses can come out of the shadows and claim their board’s business pages. In so doing, they still face many unanswered questions.
Read More...Legal Response to Newcomers’ Concerns in Launching Social Media Campaigns
November 12, 2012October, 2012 was a busy month for social media panels in Westchester, NY where my offices are located. I spoke at the Westchester County Bar Association about “The Evolution of Lawyers’ Ethics: Traps in Traditional Transactions and in the Use of Social Media” and at the Ad Club of Westchester on “Real World Successes (and Lessons Learned) with Social Media.”
Read More...Influencer Marketing Programs: The FTC is Watching
October 28, 2012The FTC recently closed its investigation of the Hewlett-Packard Company and its public relations firm, Porter Novelli, Inc. for violations of the 2009 Endorsement and Testimonial Guidelines. In a case that closely mirrors the Ann Taylor investigation of 2010, the FTC provided insight into how it determines whether to proceed with charges. (To read its closing letter, click here.)
Read More...Why Penny Auction Sites Could Be Dangerous and Possibly Illegal
September 28, 2012The Internet offers multiple websites luring consumers with promises of free iPads, TVs, and high-tech cameras. Many of these sites are auction sites, selling brand-name merchandise at deep discounts. Consumers bid on the merchandise, just as they do in an auction, but they frequently have to pay for the opportunity to bid. The sites are often referred to as “penny auction” sites, and variations on the model are proliferating rapidly on the Internet.
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