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Blog Law

Avoiding Copyright Pitfalls on Pinterest

You either know what Pinterest is or you don’t. For those who do, just skip this next section. For the uninitiated, let’s bring you up to speed. Pinterest in the online equivalent of all those torn out magazine photos, articles and recipes you’ve got taped on your wall, stuffed in a drawer, bookmarked in your [...]

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Tax Tips For Bloggers

Every week I get a few emails from bloggers or online professionals asking me questions about taxes. Most of them are the same questions again and again. Because I can’t answer fact-specific questions individually without potentially creating an attorney/client relationship, I tend to give the same general answers. First and foremost, seek counsel from a [...]

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Copyright Fair Use and Online Images

  Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s fair to use. Today I’m at Social Media Examiner discussing Copyright Fair Use and how it applies to online images. If that is a topic that interests you, please check it out. If it’s something you think others would want to read, please share it [...]

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Fotolia Stock Photo Service Review

Photo Credit: Sample Image from Fotolia You know what a stickler I am about the proper use of photos on blogs and websites. As a lawyer who has worked with clients to protect their images and use others’ images properly, I was very pleased when Fotolia contacted me to check out their stock photo service. [...]

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Blog Law: Public Disclosure of Private Facts

Tommroch – Fotolia.com On a weekly basis I find misdirected emails in my inbox. With a name as common as Sara, it’s been happening to me for years. And now with blogging, there are so many with the same name it’s easy to end up with an email not intended for you. Have you ever [...]

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Blog Law: Online Bullying Isn’t Just For Kids Anymore

In some ways I feel like a therapist. I get emails with details on how a blogger or small brand is being taunted and tormented by others online. I completely feel for them because I have my own trolls and ‘mean girls’. I always thought that grown ups would be different. I figured that I’m [...]

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Just Because It’s Not Illegal Doesn’t Mean It’s Right

Every day I get a few emails and DMs from bloggers upset that another blogger has taken something of theirs. Whether it is an idea, a design concept, something from Twitter, a hot deal, a complete post, it seems like there is a lot of taking going on. In addition, as bloggers are trying to [...]

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Defamation – When Online Statements and Free Speech Collide

Remember when you were a kid and your mom or dad told you “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”? And then you rolled your eyes (with your head turned so they couldn’t see you) and under your breath called your brother a jerk? OK, maybe it was just me. But, [...]

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Blog Law: Facebook Promotion Guidelines Updated

This week, on May 11, 2011, Facebook made some sweeping changes to their promotional guidelines. The Facebook promotion guidelines are much shorter, but still pack a punch. As such, I wanted to highlight the changes.  To see the prior iteration of the guideline, check out my Blog Law post about the prior Facebook promotion guidelines. [...]

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Blog Law – Is Your Giveaway Legal?

More and more I’m seeing giveaways that may not be fully compliant with federal or state laws governing giveaways. Whether online or off, there are a host of laws that every contest holder must follow or risk significant fines or, in some states, criminal prosecution. Sweepstakes and contests have been used by marketers for decades [...]

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