Category Archives: Law

Too Old for Digital Marketing and Social Media?

Posted on June 1, 2013 by debmcalister

Well, the time has come. On Monday, June 3, I am officially a senior citizen.  Although there are still a few hours before I turn 60, I’ve been considered a digital dinosaur for a couple of decades now. Every few months … Continue reading →

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Copyright Myths from the World of Fan Fiction

Posted on April 28, 2013 by debmcalister
Masters of the Universe

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If you’ve never experienced the uniquely creative and often surreal world of Internet fan fiction, then you’ve missed out on one of the most creative offshoots of the online revolution. Fan fiction, for the uninitiated, is just what it sounds … Continue reading →

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The Copyright Lobotomy

Posted on April 24, 2013 by debmcalister

TechDirt blogger Leigh Beadon wrote a brilliant analysis of the basic problem with intellectual property law titled, The Copyright Lobotomy: How Intellectual Property Makes Us Pretend to be Stupid. I’m not going to attempt to summarize the excellent article, because … Continue reading →

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Copyright Infringement…or Racial Stereotyping?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by debmcalister
Albrek's Tomb vs. Lord of the Rings

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Our 11-year-old is reading a series of young adult fantasy novels called The Adventurer’s Wanted Series, by Utah-based author M.L. Forman. Kameron and I often read the stories aloud to each other — I read to him while he’s practicing juggling, … Continue reading →

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Is Apple Changing its iTunes on Copyright, Resale?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by debmcalister

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In December of last year, I published a blog post about the issue of digital asset ownership after the original owner dies. For years, Apple has insisted that the license to access content purchased on iTunes ends with the death of … Continue reading →

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Parents of Would-be Child Actors: Beware of Scammers!

Posted on March 10, 2013 by debmcalister
Dallas child actor Kameron Badgers

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I met a neighbor recently, and we were exchanging contact information when one of my grandson’s business cards fell out of my purse. She was very excited to meet “a working child actor”, and told me that her daughter has an upcoming … Continue reading →

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Pink Slime Makers Sue Diane Sawyer for $1.2 Billion

Posted on March 7, 2013 by debmcalister
Diane Sawyer

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Few of us will forget the images plastered on the nightly news last year of “lean finely textured beef” (better known as “pink slime” after the news report). But did you remember that it was veteran newswoman Diane Sawyer who broke the story? I … Continue reading →

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The Second Wife’s Guide to Estate Planning

Posted on February 22, 2013 by debmcalister

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I have been to two family funerals in as many weeks, and after each one, I was reminded once again how few of us actually leave our affairs in order when we go. This is especially true for today’s modern, … Continue reading →

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Can a Company Require Customers to “Like” It on Facebook to Qualify for a Product Warranty?

Posted on February 6, 2013 by debmcalister

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Sandy Berger, a correspondent for the syndicated Computer America radio program, reviewed a new version of the KUBE MP3 players after this year’s CES show. Today, she posted this on her Facebook page.  “BTW, the new KUBE that I just … Continue reading →

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Ready or Not: Here Comes the Six Strikes Rule

Posted on January 25, 2013 by debmcalister

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Torrentfreak this week confirmed what I’ve been saying for a year or so: it’s about to get a lot harder to find a free public WiFi connection. After dancing around the details for over a year, the Center for Copyright … Continue reading →

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