2014

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FCC Decides that it will No Longer Enforce the Zapple Doctrine – Killing the Last Remnant of the Fairness Doctrine

Broadcast Law Blog

'The Zapple Doctrine was an outgrowth of the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine. The Zapple Doctrine required that broadcast stations that give air time to the supporters of one candidate in an election give time to the supporters of competing candidates as well. Even though the Fairness Doctrine has been defunct for years, having had various manifestations of the Doctrine declared unconstitutional either by the Courts or the FCC, Zapple apparently lived on, or at least a death certificate had never been

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Where Can I Find a Virtual Paralegal to Match My Practice?

DigitalParalegalServices

“There just are not enough hours in the day to do everything myself! I want to improve my work-life balance by delegating tasks, but no one is available. I keep reading and hearing about virtual paralegals and virtual assistants as affordable options, but I wonder: Where can I find virtual support which meets the needs of my law practice?”. Solo and small firm attorneys often share these same thoughts.

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Paralegal Jobs- Are They Out There?

Paralegal Alliance

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegal and legal assisting field is expected to grow at a rate of 17% between 2012 and 2022. This is 6% faster than the average industry growth rate. Now, here’s where most of you reading this, say “No Way! I don’t believe that for a second!” […].

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Best Practices for Writing Effective Legal Email and Memos

The Paralegal Resource

When a partner or associate asks for a legal memo or email regarding a legal topic, he or she is asking for a complete analysis of one or more legal topics. This memo can help form the basis of important decisions, such as whether or not a case should be taken. Additionally, a legal memo can establish the foundation for other legal documents, such as preliminary motions, motions in limine and briefs to the court.

Legal 40
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6 Contract Data Analytics Tools To Boost Contract Oversight

Analyzing contract trends with manual contract management is like sifting through a pile of papers in a dimly lit room, trying to find clues manually. Advanced CLM software’s contract data analytics, on the other hand, is like having an AI-based, intelligent magnifying glass that not only highlights key clues but also connects the dots for you. With innovative, AI-powered contract data analytics, you can solve the mystery of trends faster and with greater accuracy, making informed decisions base

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ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform

ABA Journal

Life in a women’s prison definitely has its downside in a popular Netflix show, Orange is the New Black.

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Discovery – Quiz (Key)

Paralegal Essentials

Here are the answers to yesterday’s quiz on discovery: 1. All of the ones on the form may be used, but it is best to use only the ones that are relevant to the subject matter of the lawsuit. 2. 35. 3. 30 days plus 5 days for mailing if the interrogatories were served by mail. 4. 30 days plus 5 days for mailing if the interrogatories were served by mail. 5.

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New Columbia Resource Tracks the President’s Climate Action Plan

ClimateChange-ClimateLaw

On June 25, 2013, President Obama delivered a major speech on the topic of climate change. In it he outlined a broad policy agenda aimed at addressing the challenges posed by the changing climate. The agenda, detailed in The President’s Climate Action Plan , relies almost entirely upon executive powers; Congress is not even mentioned in the text. The diverse policy initiatives taking place under the rubric of the six-month-old Climate Action Plan are complex in their design, potentially signific

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Why is a US Radio Station Getting a Notice about Webcasting Royalties in Canada? – Why Webcasters Geo-Block Their Streams to Avoid International Music Royalties

Broadcast Law Blog

'An Alabama radio station recently received a notice about the new royalty rates that are payable to ReSound, the Canadian equivalent of SoundExchange , a collective set up to receive from webcasters royalties for the public performance of sound recordings and to distribute those royalties to the copyright holders (usually the labels) and the artists who recorded the songs, according to a story in today’s issue of Tom Taylor Now (a radio industry newsletter).

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Learning Copyright Law from TV’s The Good Wife – Compulsory Licenses, Derivitive Works and Parody and Fair Use

Broadcast Law Blog

'The Good Wife is not usually where one turns for serious discussions of music copyright issues (nor is Stephen Colbert’s Christmas special where we found copyright issues discussed several years ago ). But I was surprised to find this Sunday that the principal plot line of The Good Wife was focused on a music rights dispute. After watching, I wondered how many people in the show’s audience had any idea of what the legal issues being discussed were really all about.

Laws 72
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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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Supreme Court Finds Aereo Infringes on Broadcasters’ Public Performance Rights – Why the Court Got it Right

Broadcast Law Blog

'The Supreme Court decided the Aereo case (decision here) and, if I can brag a little, the decision was pretty much what we predicted here after the oral argument – a relatively narrow decision finding that there is a public performance of the broadcast television signals retransmitted by Aereo as part of their service. The Court looked at the service, and concluded that it effectively does what a cable system does with broadcast television stations – it takes their signals off the air and tran

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Digital and Social Media Legal Issues for Broadcasters – Exercise Care in Using Internet Content on Your Digital Properties, And Why Fair Use is Not Always a Defense

Broadcast Law Blog

'Social media and other digital platforms are playing a more and more important part of the business of traditional media companies. In the last few weeks, I’ve participated in two seminars, looking at the legal issues that arise in these areas. At the Winter Convention of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association , I conducted a seminar outlining the legal issues that broadcasters need to consider in their digital media endeavors.

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Copyright Office Announces One Week Extension for Comments on Music Licensing Inquiry and 3 Roundtable Discussions of the Issues – Just One of Many Proceedings Affecting Music Rights and Royalties

Broadcast Law Blog

'On Friday, the Copyright Office extended by one week the deadline for comments on its wide-ranging proceeding on the current music licensing regime and whether reforms are necessary or appropriate. We wrote about the proceeding and the many questions that it raises here. Comments are now due on May 23. Comments can be filed on the Copyright Office website, here. .

Legal 51
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Raising the Royalties for Musical Works? A Discussion of the Potential Dispute between Music Rights Holders over the Value of Their Rights

Broadcast Law Blog

'In discussing music royalties, the controversy that usually makes the news is the dispute between music services and copyright holders – with services arguing that the royalties are too high and rightsholders contending that they are underpaid. The introduction of the Songwriters Equity Act in Congress earlier this year seems to point toward a new area of dispute – one between the various rightsholders themselves.

Court 49
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Excellence in Trial: A Strategic Guide for Modern Paralegals

Modern trial practice has evolved beyond basic organization. With technology reshaping courtrooms and attorneys expecting more than ever, paralegals need to elevate their capabilities while mastering the fundamentals of trial excellence. This comprehensive guide from Steno, built from author Joe Stephens' real-world experience as both a practicing attorney and law professor, provides a blueprint for delivering exceptional trial support in today's complex legal environment.

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FCC Seeks Comments on Expanding Online Public File Obligations to Radio and to Cable and Satellite Television Operators

Broadcast Law Blog

'The FCC has asked for public comment on whether it should extend the online public inspection file obligation to radio , and also whether it should adopt an online public file obligation for cable television and satellite television operators. The latter proposal originates in a recent petition by the Sunlight Foundation and two other public interest groups seeking an online political file for cable and satellite television providers. Sunlight has been active in filing complaints with the F

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Copyright Royalty Board Reissues Decision on Internet Radio Royalties for 2011-2015 – Same Rates But New Analysis

Broadcast Law Blog

'Last week, the Copyright Royalty Board published in the Federal Register its decision on Internet radio royalties for 2011-2015. The question that I received many times since the publication last week is “huh, didn’t we already see that decision a long time ago?” Indeed we did – the original decision setting the rates was reached in December 2010 (which we wrote about here and here ).

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New FCC EEO Audit Letter Sent to 280 Radio and TV Stations

Broadcast Law Blog

'It is a new year, and the FCC is starting with a new round of EEO audits. Letters to over 280 affected radio and TV stations went out late last week, and the FCC’s Public Notice of the audit, listing all of the affected stations, has just been released. The Commission has pledged to audit 5% of all broadcast stations and cable systems each year to assure their compliance with the Commission’s EEO rules – requiring wide dissemination of information about job openings and non-vacancy spec

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Be on the Alert for EAS Tones in Non-Emergency Situations – Big FCC Fines for These Violations and Other EAS Issues

Broadcast Law Blog

'The FCC has recently staked out a policy that the any use of EAS tones, or tones that sound like those alerts, outside of a real emergency, will lead to big fines. Since the beginning of the year, the FCC has issued notices proposing fines totaling over $2.2 million against some of the biggest media companies in the country for such violations (see this decision proposing a $300,000 fine against Turner Broadcasting System Inc. for tones mimicking the EAS alerts that were included in a commerci

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Transform Your E-Learning: Download the Ultimate Localization Use Case!

Uncover the secret to breaking language barriers and expanding your e-learning reach! This powerful use case reveals how Cesco Linguistic Services transformed 19 training modules for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood into culturally relevant courses in Arabic and Spanish—delivered on time and exceeding expectations. Learn how to localize your content seamlessly, avoid costly pitfalls, and connect with diverse audiences like never before.

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Activating the FM Chip in Mobile Phones – As Blackberry Steps Up, a Policy and Product Review

Broadcast Law Blog

'This blog usually covers legal and policy issues, not product reviews. And this article will at least try to relate policy decisions to a product review, but mostly it’s to share a cool new feature on my phone. To explain, I am one of those holdouts still using a Blackberry. In dealing with new media clients, I almost feel like I have to make excuses for still using a Blackberry, but as an attorney who travels frequently and writes many emails from the road, the physical keyboard reall

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FCC Reminds Small Market TV That Political File Goes Online As of July 1, No FCC Review of the Obligations Seems Imminent

Broadcast Law Blog

'The FCC on Friday issued a reminder to all TV stations that, as of July 1, they will have to upload all of their new political broadcasting documents to their online public file s. Up to this point, only stations affiliated with the Top 4 networks in the Top 50 markets had to worry about putting their political file materials online. Later this year, that obligation is extended to all TV stations.

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Utah Court Enjoins Aereo Service – A Preview of the Supreme Court Decision? Could It Find Aereo to Violate Copyright Law Without Overturning the Cablevision Decision?

Broadcast Law Blog

'Aereo finally lost a court decision. The US District Court in Utah released a well-reasoned decision finding that the service, by transmitting via the Internet over-the-air TV programming to subscribers without any consent from the TV stations or their program suppliers, violated the copyrights that the stations have in their programming. Specifically, the Court found that the transmissions were public performances , the very issue to be determined later this year by the US Supreme Court when

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Super Bowl, the Olympics and March Madness – Watch Your Advertising and Promotions for Unauthorized Uses of Trademarked Phrases

Broadcast Law Blog

'It’s that time again when broadcasters and advertisers need to watch their commercials and promotions to avoid improper uses of trademarked phrases – with the Super Bowl only weeks away, the Winter Olympics to follow soon thereafter and March Madness to follow closely after that. Already, Stephen Colbert is making jokes about not using the Olympic rings in promotional announcements (see the first segment of last night’s show ), so you know that the issue is arising at media outlets

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Uncovering The Hidden Connections: A Patent Family Survival Guide

Speaker: Andrew Klein

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It’s the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles Arrival in the US – Why Are Their Songs Still Missing on Some On-Demand Music Services?

Broadcast Law Blog

'50 years ago the Beatles invaded America, stacking up Number 1 hit records by the dozens, and creating music that, even today, remains incredibly popular with many Americans. But go to many of the interactive or on-demand music services, like Spotify, and search for Beatles music, and what will you find? Mostly cover tunes by sound-alike bands rather than the original hits.

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Copyright Royalty Board Calls for Petitions to Participate in Proceeding to Set Webcasting Royalties for 2016-2020 – Posing Many Questions for Potential Participants

Broadcast Law Blog

'The Copyright Royalty Board today published in the Federal Register its notice announcing the commencement of the next proceeding to set webcasting royalty rates for 2016-2020. The Notices ( here for webcasting and here for “new subscription services ” – subscription webcasting and other similar pay digital music services, other than satellite and cable radio whose royalties were set in another proceeding about which we wrote here ) were notable as they were not simply an announcement that the

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Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in the Aereo Case – A Summary of the Issues and a Prediction

Broadcast Law Blog

'The Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in the Aereo case yesterday, it has received all the briefs, and now we all just wait for a decision – to probably be released late in June before the Court’s summer recess. The transcript of yesterday’s oral argument has been released and is available here. It makes for interesting reading, as the questions from the Court seemed to be dubious of Aereo’s claims that it can retransmit the signal of a broadcast television station over

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$44,000 Fine for 11 Missing Sponsorship IDs for Radio Station 45 Second Spots – Emphasizes Importance of Strict Compliance with All FCC Programming Rules

Broadcast Law Blog

'In a decision released this week , the FCC fined a Chicago radio station $44,000 for omitting sponsorship identification announcements on 11 on-air spots promoting the positions of the sponsoring organization on certain issues facing the local community. Finding that the purpose of the sponsorship identification rules (Section 317 of the Communications Act and Section 73.1212 of the FCC rules) is to allow the station’s listeners to know who is trying to convince them of whatever is being broad

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.