Category: Computer and Software Law
Hey Dad… about your car…
April 7, 2017 | Carole Clark IsaksonThe story I’m about to tell you is true. There I was, on a beautiful sunny day in 1983 driving through the Notre Dame student parking lot in my father’s beautiful sky blue 1969 Corvair convertible. What an understandably excellent mood I was in! And then…. Not. That great day was destroyed in an instant by a horrible crash and heavy scraping noise. I didn’t know what had happened, but I was fairly sure it wasn’t good, so I stopped the car, shut off the engine, and walked to the back (from whence the horrible noise had come). And there I saw it – the unexpected sight of the car engine ON THE GROUND!!! I had no plan in place for this sort of disaster, other than the “Call Dad” plan. And while it worked for me then in 1983, I currently recommend to clients that a somewhat broader and more detailed disaster recovery plan be developed. Does your business have one? I expect that as with many of my business clients, a customer or supplier has asked for you for a copy of your disaster recovery plan or your business continuity plan. The former is just what it says – how your business will cope with a disaster of various types. The…
Read MoreBGS Attorney Isakson Presents Seminar for Trade Creditors
March 3, 2017 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.On February 16, 2017, BGS Attorney Carole Clark Isakson spoke to collection professionals at a program sponsored for various industry members by Forius NACM North Central. Forius is a proud affiliate of the National Association of Credit Management, and is dedicated to serving the needs of commercial credit professionals. When asked about Carole’s presentations for Forius, President and COO Toni Nuernberg said, “Carole always brings a wealth of information to our members. After her most recent presentation, I asked members for feedback. They said Carole provides relevant information that is easy to understand and somehow manages to make what could be a “boring topic” come to life. Our members love her!” It was not a long seminar but Carole managed to cover all of the questions submitted prior, and to provide helpful and practical direction to the participants on handling bankruptcy cases. What to do, when, why and how were covered with humor, and rapidly! Audience members shared stories of involvement in cases, and Carole’s commentary offered additional insight into the good, the bad, and the ugly of the bankruptcy process. When thanked by participants for her great presentation, Carole let them all know how much she enjoys the interactive seminars she does with Forius. Being a creditor in a bankruptcy case can…
Read More“Just pull it off the internet!” Said no good lawyer…ever
January 10, 2017 | Carole Clark IsaksonNeed a graphic of fireworks for a party invite? Looking for a cartoon for a blog? It’s tempting to just use your favorite search engine and copy one of the internet… but please DON’T (at least not until after you read this article!). Copyright law is alive and well – and applies to items on the internet to the same extent that it applies to the books at the library. We all know that copying someone else’s work is illegal; that work includes art, photos, books, movies, songs and more. Recent law suits have highlighted the wrongful use of pieces of songs, with courts reiterating that any original work of authorship (so long as it is expressed in a tangible way) is protected. The internet IS a fixed medium, and works that are found on the internet are still subject to protection. That fireworks graphic? Well, it was created by someone and if you want to use it, you need to have permission. At this point I suspect some readers are thinking “wait! This is fair use. I won’t make any money on that party invitation so I can use the artwork”. Actually, not true… but don’t feel bad about being wrong, most people (including lawyers) are confused by the concept of “fair…
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