Category Archives: Law

Study Says Online Social Norms Create Copyright Violations

Posted on July 13, 2014 by debmcalister

A new study from Georgia Tech says that mash ups, fan fiction and content sharing have created new complexities in copyright that have effectively turned the legal concept of “fair use” on its ear. Research into fan fiction and other types … Continue reading →

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New Sources for Free Photos & Images for Bloggers

Posted on May 20, 2014 by debmcalister
Metropolitan Museum of Art Fashion Collection

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Is there a budget-conscious blogger, PR person or marketer who hasn’t been tempted to right-click on an image found by a search image and “save as” before using it? Probably not. Luckily, most of us know better than to steal … Continue reading →

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Are You Inviting Hackers & Thieves Into Your Home or Office?

Posted on May 6, 2014 by debmcalister

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I admit to being something of an IT security geek — a direct spin-off of having been fortunate enough to work with Zone Labs (now part of CheckPoint), McAfee, Trend Micro, and Catbird. And I thought I understood the mechanisms … Continue reading →

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When Does a Copyright Troll Back Down?

Posted on May 1, 2014 by debmcalister
BitTorrent Billboard by Steve Rhodes

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It’s a known fact that while copyright trolls tell those they are suing that they will pursue all of their cases to the bitter end, that isn’t how they behave. Court records show dozens – if not hundreds – of … Continue reading →

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The Definitive Guide to Secure Mobile Printing

Posted on January 15, 2014 by debmcalister

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Like a lot of others, my iPad surprised me when I first got it and discovered that there was no way to print easily from it. Since mine was a gift, I just added that to a list of other … Continue reading →

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Live in the U.S.? DON’T Tie a Yellow Ribbon on Your Dog’s Leash

Posted on January 5, 2014 by debmcalister
yellow ribbon on dog leash

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Sounds like a good idea — but it isn’t. It’s being used by lawsuit-happy attorneys as an admission that the owner knows they have a dangerous dog. One of the memes making the rounds on Facebook urges dog owners of … Continue reading →

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Social Media and Online Privacy: Did We Celebrate Too Soon?

Posted on October 29, 2013 by debmcalister
iPad with Zag Keyboard

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Remember last year when everybody on Facebook got all upset because some employers and colleges were asking applicants for social media passwords, and then judging them by what they had posted? State lawmakers around the country spotted an election year … Continue reading →

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Copyright Infringement, Plagiarism, and Client Demands

Posted on October 11, 2013 by debmcalister
Lone Star Circus Student Show 2013

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Lately, I’ve been surprised by client requests to create content in such a way that the request borders on copyright infringement or plagiarism. And I’ve been even more surprised that some otherwise intelligent business people don’t know the difference between … Continue reading →

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Are You Careful (Enough) In How You Phrase an Online Review?

Posted on August 25, 2013 by debmcalister

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A writer friend of mine called me this morning before 9 a.m. I knew it was important, because when a writer picks up the phone that early in the morning, it usually involves blood or at least gore. Not this … Continue reading →

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Best Anti-SLAPP Letter Ever!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by debmcalister

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Businesses, elected officials, government agencies, and lawyers file SLAPP suits against people who are doing something they don’t like. The acronym stands for “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation”, and started as a name for the suits that elected officials and … Continue reading →

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