Aspiring DJs and music enthusiasts everywhere love original music, and they love it even more when it’s remixed. But is it illegal to remix music? Whether you’re making mash-ups for your own personal playlist or getting ready to spin your first set at the club, your remix could end up being quite costly if a copyright holder sues you for infringement. Here’s what you need to know about music remixes and the law:...
A new lawsuit against neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and white nationalist groups in the wake of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia claims the antagonists brought “semi-automatic weapons, pistols, mace, rods, armor, shields, and torches” to the city, with “the purpose of inciting violence and instilling fear within the community of Charlottesville and beyond.” The suit, filed on behalf of 11 people injured during the August clashes, charge 26 individuals and groups with negligence, conspiracy, harassment, infliction of emotional distress, and assault along with violations of the Ku Klux Klan Act and the Civil Rights Act....
In the event that someone ever uses sticks and stones to break your bones, not only will words never hurt you, they can actually be very helpful in pursuing a lawsuit to recover for your injuries. Learning the specialized language of the legal system, known as legalese, gives you the ability to understand and use the law to your advantage, either on your own or with the help of an attorney....
The mother of Philando Castile has settled the wrongful death case stemming from the tragic slaying of her son. The $2.995 million settlement will allow the case to get out of the media spotlight and avoid the deeper probing of a civil murder trial, assuming it gains approval of the court. It will also allow the family to move on more quickly and begin making an impact through the Philando Castile Foundation....
LA pot shops are being told they must follow the city’s new marijuana dispensary laws or face closure. The City of Los Angeles is keeping its word to go after hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries it calls illegal and police will begin cracking down on clinics that are not in compliance with the marijuana dispensary laws, Associated Press reports. City officials have begun take tally of those medical marijuana dispensaries refusing to close in defiance of a new ordinance because the deadline has arrived for illegal medical marijuana dispensaries to shut down or possible civil fines or criminal charges....
Truck drivers are required to pass a medical exam and carry a certificate certifying that the trucker is medically safe to drive. The long hours and late nights on the highway are a breeding ground for exacerbating existing medical conditions, and requiring an annual medical check-up is intended to help combat some potential problems and accidents. According to a new report covered by MSNBC, there is a rise in fake trucker exams which is serving to compromise safety for everyone on the road....
The things you say on Facebook can come back to haunt you, especially if they’re comments about your ex during a divorce. Facebook is such a part of everyday life for many people it’s easy to forget that it’s a public forum, not just a personal diary. Airing your dirty laundry in public is definitely on the list what not to do in a divorce. Freedom of speech still applies on the Internet but that doesn’t mean you can say anything....
As if eating out wasn’t already expensive enough, U.S. restaurants are now facing the challenge of record-high food prices. A rise in food costs is problematic because consumers are alright watching their money, restaurants have high levels of debt, and profit margins are razor thin. In just the last year, Fuddruckers, Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse and Uno Chicago Grill Pizza declared bankruptcy, and more are likely to follow, Reuters reports. And with the increase in food prices, 2011 could be even worse, with companies like Sbarro, El Pollo Loco, Perkins & Marie Callender’s Inc, already on the brink....
In the not-too-distant future, all tedious tasks will be on autopilot. Tech devices will answer our mails, regulate our homes, and do our chores, as well as our actual jobs. At that point, we’ll be totally free to transport automatically in self-driving cars, exploring our connected world. It sounds like sci-fi but it’s real life, which is why federal regulators today announced that they are giving themselves six months to come up with a set of rules for automated vehicles....
Equipping teenagers’ cars with “black box” monitoring devices can help reduce the risks that unsupervised young drivers take when they get behind the wheel, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). What Do the Devices Monitor? Although they may sound like every teenager’s nightmare, vehicle “black box” monitoring devices can use GPS to pinpoint a car’s location, and record and transmit driving data – including speed, sharp braking, quick acceleration, and use of seat belts by drivers and passengers....
While small businesses always need to be alert for hackers and other security threats, tax season always seems to be especially popular for phishing scams. Perhaps it’s our eagerness to put the work behind us or get it done quickly, but small business owners can be especially vulnerable to scammers trying to get access to personal employee information regarding tax filings. Take, for instance, a recent W-2 phishing scam uncovered by cybersecurity analysts Barracuda – attackers are using multiple techniques to trick small business owners and employees into sending the employee W-2 forms, which can include an employee’s name, social security number, and other identifying information....
When an owner decides to sell a company, there are a few things he must do before the company is put on the market. First, all records need to be put in order, including financials, leases, legal documents and licenses. Then the business must be appraised–a reasonable price is best for all parties. After that, the owner may want to employ a broker to help get the word out and handle the negotiation side of any dealings....
Yesterday, news broke that Northern California brewery Lagunitas was suing Sierra Nevada, the other big maker of craft beers in Northern California. The controversy centered on the design and use of the letters “IPA” in the labels for both breweries’ India Pale Ales. Lagunitas claimed that Sierra Nevada’s design infringed on a trademark for its particular use of “IPA.” Today, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Lagunitas’ founder announced over Twitter that he was dropping the suit after some harsh public criticism....
Businesses complain about it all the time: having to defend themselves against patent trolls and frivolous litigation. But many business owners are still in the dark about what exactly a patent troll is, how they operate, and why small businesses should be worried about them. Patent trolls don’t only go after giant corporations like Apple and White Castle. They can also stop a startup in its tracks. So here is how patent trolls work and how you can protect your small business....
A summertime swim took a turn for the sick after a visitor at an Arkansas water park contracted a potentially lethal form of amebic meningitis, a brain-eating parasite, causing the park to close. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) confirmed that a 12-year-old girl contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), probably from swimming at the Willow Springs Water Park in Little Rock, CNN reports. Should parents now worry about their children being infected at a water park?...
As any small business owner knows, getting easy access to credit can be a challenge. You’ve already hit up friends and family for a business loan and the time and paperwork involved in applying for a bank loan are just too daunting. But like most challenges these days, the Internet is here to help. More and more businesses are foregoing traditional bank loans and instead turning to online lenders to meet their cash needs, mostly because access to capital can be quicker and more convenient....
Last week marked the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade. And while that ruling made abortion legal nationwide, it also allowed states to regulate abortion, to a certain extent. Since Roe was decided in 1973, states have passed their own abortion laws, some of which require parental notification for minors, mandate waiting periods or counseling prior to the procedure, and restrict late term abortions. And, as recent cases have shown, not only do these laws vary greatly by state, but they are almost constantly in flux....
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials at Boston’s Logan International Airport are accused of engaging in racial profiling when determining who to target for security checks. This is probably not that surprising in the eleven years since the 9/11 attacks as many still stereotype terrorist threats as young men belonging to certain ethnic groups. And if you’ve spent any time in an airport, you’ve probably noticed that people of certain ethnic groups are much more likely to be stopped for additional checks than people of other ethnic groups....
In a previous post, we discussed the application of Attorney General Jerry Brown, on behalf of the state of California, to resume state executions of death row inmates. Executions have been stayed in the state since a 2006 ruling by a federal court finding the state’s method of execution was not constitutional. Since the application was successful, the executions are set to resume in the state and that of Albert Brown was the first scheduled, initially set for 12:01 a....
For a person with a criminal record–or even a prior arrest that never led to a conviction–making it through the hiring process can be very difficult and nerve-wracking. Because background check laws vary by state, there’s no definitive answer as to whether a potential employer can conduct a background check, ask about, or use an applicant’s criminal record when making hiring decisions. But as a general rule, most states allow employers to consider some portion of an applicant’s criminal history, even without obtaining prior consent to conduct the investigation....
