Yesterday I posted on Steve Jobs proposal to eliminate digital copy protections from music purchased online, which would allow consumers who purchase music from online purveyors, such as Apple’s iTunes, to freely share their purchases. Today, several music industry executives dismissed Jobs’ proposal out of hand, labeling Jobs “disingenuous,” among other things, setting the stage…
Author Archives: Mark
9th Circuit Upholds Wal-Mart Class Certification
A split panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today upheld a trial judge’s certification of a clas of as many as 1.6 million women in a case alleging that Wal-Mart discriminated against female employees with respect to pay and promotions. The ruling almost certainly guarantees that Wal-Mart will now…
Sullivan & Cromwell Hits Back
Sullivan & Cromwell, the white shoe New York law firm, has filed counterclaims against the former associate that sued it, claiming that the firm discriminated against him on the grounds of his sexual orientation. This is shaping up to be an extraordinarily nasty fight, even by employment law standards. I woudn’t think that a firm…
Apple Does About Face on Music Copy Protection
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in a letter posted on the company’s website, has called on the largest music companies to license their music for distribution without digital anti-piracy protection. See the New York Times’ take on Apple’s move below the fold:
Will the Supreme Court Review the 5th Circuit’s Divided En Banc Arbitration Opinion?
The Next Supreme Court Arbitration Case? Common law judges expressed a negative view toward arbitration, apparently based on a belief that such alternative dispute resolution ousted the court’s jurisdiction. In the United States, the legal landscape fundamentally changed with the passage in 1925 of the Federal Arbitration Act. The purpose of the FAA “was to…
Baron & Budd Sued by Shareholder Over Compensation
A shareholder of Dallas plaintiff’s law firm Baron & Budd has filed a lawsuit against the firm alleging that it breached an agreement to pay her a minimum amount of specified compensation and benefits. As the firm has stated, this appears to be little more than a garden variety breach of contract claim. But I…
California Declares War on Small Business
That is what the headline for this post from USA Today’s small business blog could have been. California, it seems, has enacted regulations banning one of the most common chemicals used by dry cleaners. Compliance with such regulations (or non-compliance, as the case may be) for many small, mom and pop businesses can be costly,…
Former Coca-Cola Employee Convicted in Trade Secrets Case
A former Coca-Cola employee was found guilty of plotting to steal Coke’s trade secrets and to sell them to rival PepsiCo. She faces 10 years in prison. Maybe she can share a cell with whoever thought that Vanilla Coke was a good idea.
The Netherlands – Tax Haven of Choice
Very interesting article in tomorrow’s New York Times about the Netherlands’ burgeoning status as an international tax haven. The Caymans may have great weather, but, if the Times article is to be believed, its got nothing over the Dutch Masters when it comes to tax avoidance.
Judge Dismisses Part of Enron Class Action
Judge Melinda Harmon has granted the Plaintiffs’ motion voluntarily dismiss Houston based law firm Vinson & Elkins and several former Enron executives, including the estate of former CEO and Chairman Ken Lay, from the massive class action currently scheduled to go to trial in April. The Texas Lawyer has a few more details on the…