JD Scoop

By now you've undoubtedly heard from every quarter (and have probably seen for yourself) that Facebook rolled out it's new "Timeline" for business pages over the weekend.

In anticipation of the change, we redesigned our JD Supra Documents application to take advantage of the new look-and-feel of professional Facebook pages.

As you know, our "Documents" application allows law firms to publish their portfolio of JD Supra legal publications directly within a firm Facebook page. Once connected, every new upload to JD Supra will be included automatically on that firm's Facebook page.

For examples of this app in action, see White & Case, Fenwick & West, Davis Wright Tremaine, and Wilson Sonsini, among others.

(Visit any of the firm pages above to see how we updated the design of Legal Updates within Facebook; changes are live.)

With the new Timeline, Facebook actually opened up more space for application pages, and we took advantage of the wider "canvas" to make Legal Updates on Facebook look more like Legal Updates on JD Supra.

The app's core functionality remains the same:

• Use JD Supra Docs to connect your JD Supra and Facebook accounts, and include your legal publications directly within your Facebook page
  
• Automatically announce each new upload on JD Supra as a status update on your Facebook wall (optional)
• Name your Facebook portfolio anything you want: Resources, Blogs & Advisories, Publications, Documents, etc. (new default setting is: Legal Updates)

Facebook's new Timeline also brings more visibility to apps installed on pages, and so we believe more visitors to your page will click through to your publications. That's a good thing:

If you haven't yet made the connection between JD Supra and Facebook, do so now.

We're happy to help, send a note if you need it.

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@adrianlurssen

What's new at JD Supra? Quite a lot, actually. Here's a quick recap of the latest exciting developments  - thanks for reading:

Got Video?

On Monday we rolled out our latest product development: video hosting and distribution. Now, along with legal articles, newsletters, whitepapers, court filings, alerts, blog posts, and other publications, law firms can include video in their JD Supra portfolios. As with text-based content, Pro Member videos are distributed in our various subscriber channels, including on LinkedIn via the Legal Updates application. (Videos can be played directly within the application on LinkedIn, too!)  At launch, we are serving up terrific video by Womble Carlyle, Allen Matkins, Loeb & Loeb, Dechert, Sands Anderson, Bloomberg Law, and MarketsReformWiki ... with others on the way. Our editorial team is happily using the videos in their news roundups - and I'll embed one below in this post. Why? Because I can.

A LexisNexis Partnership

Yesterday we announced a partnership with LexisNexis, whereby JD Supra will enhance the company's new Social Media Visibility offering for small firms and solo attorneys. We'll be hosting and distributing blog posts from LexisNexis customers and, as I said in yesterday's press release, we are always happy to share legal insights and commentary with our broader audience. In lead up to this announcement, we've been running a few test accounts on behalf of Lexis clients - the content is good, and our readers appear to agree. You can read news of the partnership here: LexisNexis Inks Deal with JD Supra to Power Distribution of Law Firm Blog Content to Wider Network of Social Media Sites...

New Content Formatting

This week we also added new formatting to our document view pages. Now, our contributor's publications can be displayed in full HTML (versus PDF embed), depending on the nature of the original post. Obviously, HTML rendering is a clean and easy way to reproduce the growing amount of blog posts and other content that come to us originally in HTML. Over the years we've heard from our readers that they appreciate the PDF formatting as well - corporate researchers in particular find it easy to compile and share our PDFs on any given topic - and so we have kept that formatting option. (Besides, many white papers and in-depth reports originate as PDFs in the first place.) We also have .DOC embed available for the court filings that pass through our system. Over the coming weeks, you'll see more and more JD Supra content rendered in pure HTML.

That's it from us. Thank you for reading. And, now,  also watching! In particular, this interesting video item from Bloomberg on law school class action suits:



best wishes,
Aviva Cuyler
JD Supra CEO & Founder

Last night I returned from the Legal Tech Show in New York City, where I had been invited to participate on a panel to do with new media, technology, legal marketing, and client retention.

My kids are happy to have me home, I brought them chocolate frogs from Dylan's Candy Bar (think: Harry Potter). My bags were stuffed but I did manage to bring back a little something for everyone. For you? Three videos. Enjoy>>

With Lexblog's Colin O'Keefe:


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In a post-panel recap with Samantha Miller, Larry Bodine, and Len Gilbert of Lexis Nexis:


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And from Lisa Solomon, this video update from Legal Tech, including (at one-minute mark) recap of the panel and quotes of yours truly:




Lisa's entire report from LTNY is available here.

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New laws for 2012, Sunshine Act regulations, retirement plans, medical marijuana, the Wage Theft Protection Act, Megaupload indictment, and more  ... for your reading pleasure, a look at some of the most-read legal news and analysis on the JD Supra network last month:

1. New Laws for 2012 - by Howard Ankin
2. New 2012 Illinois Laws Affecting Working Men and Women - by Katz Friedman
3. Proposed Physician Payment Sunshine Act Regulations Leave Many in the Dark - by Mintz Levin Health Law
4. Why Retirement Plan Sponsors are Always on the Hook for Liability - by The Rosenbaum Law Firm
5. New California Laws 2012 - by Lisa Ryan
6. A Reporting Nightmare - The IRS Finalizes Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets - by Akerman Senterfitt
7. DOT Restricts Mobile Phone Use Effective January 2012 - by Fisher & Phillips LLP
8. Is Super Bowl Protected by Trademark or Copyright Law? Try Both. - by Davis Wright Tremaine
9. New Obstacles on the Course: State Foreclosure Laws Continue to Complicate Mortgage Loan Servicing - by K&L Gates
10. Florida Casino Legislation Moves Forward as Genting's Boost to Miami Economy Being Watched Nationally - by Rosa Eckstein Schechter
11. A Comparison of US and EU Biosimilars Regimes - by Fenwick & West
12. Significant Changes To California Employment Law Effective January 1, 2012 - by Bryan Cave
13. Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA) - New York State - by Jonathan Foxx
14. Indictments of Megaupload Are a Greater Threat to Web Users Than Piracy - by Ifrah Law
    
15. Custody Case Pits Adoptive Parents Against Indian Nation - by Lawyers.com
16. A Plan Sponsor's Guide to Handling Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure - by The Rosenbaum Law Firm
17. NJ Medical Marijuana Program Facing NIMBY Opposition - by Patrick Dwyer
18. California Wage Theft Prevention Act Takes Effect January 1, 2012 - by Morgan Lewis
19. Costs Versus Quality In Electronic Discovery Document Reviews - by Hubbard & Jenkins
20. Department of Justice Improves the Odds of Online Gambling - by Dinsmore & Shohl
    
21. Becoming Immune to Reputation Damage: Tips from Kim Kardashian? - by Greenberg Glusker
22. California Governor Signs S.B. 459, Dramatically Increasing Penalties for Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors - by Schnader
23. Summary of FERC Meeting Agenda - January 2012 - by White & Case LLP
24. Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 - by King & Spalding
25. FCRA Class Actions on the Rise - by Ford & Harrison

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Follow @JDSupraBuzz for daily updates on trending topics, searches, and documents on JD Supra. A great way to see what's hot and find fodder for your own next article or post.

Also see our newest blog featuring roundups of consumer and personal law news: Is That Legal?

Archive:

- Most-viewed on JD Supra: Dec 2011
- Most-viewed on JD Supra: Nov 2011
- Most-viewed on JD Supra: Oct 2011

For your interest, a glance at some of the latest activity on JD Supra this week:

Yesterday we welcomed New York-based law firm White & Case LLP to the JD Supra network. One of the world's leading law firms, White & Case joins an ever-growing number of Am Law firms using JD Supra to publish and distribute their legal updates to targeted audiences online.

We also welcomed MarketsReformWiki to JD Supra this week: "The financial markets are facing hundreds of rule changes from the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as from the European Union and across Asia. MarketsReformWiki aims to pull all rule filings, news releases, comment letters, position papers, white papers and other publicly available information together in one central location that is easily accessed and searched."

MarketReformsWiki will share their own original publications on JD Supra, and (we're pleased to say) also will be featuring related law firm updates from JD Supra's Finance & Banking center on their site. You can already see JD Supra legal updates supplementing the content on over 100 market reform topics here...

Earlier this week we launched our latest blog focused on legal news and updates for specific readers. Is That Legal? will feature posts on personal and consumer-focused issues of concern to everyone: estate planning, bankruptcy, social media law, consumer protection, personal rights, family law, and much more.

Speaking of which, updates this week on our two business law blogs>>

[Small Business:] social media law updates, H1-B visa cap reached, how to protect your company's IP...

[Corporate Law:] a seasonal PSA from your HR folks, update on FINRA rules & regulations, and a broad employment law roundup covering exempt employees, NLRB union election rules, and more...

This week, after the arrival of Toronoto-based firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, we introduced some of the other Canadian lawyers and law firms publishing on JD Supra, eh...

It being the start of a new month, we also published the latest most-viewed documents list. Tax exemptions, estate planning, bankruptcy rules, employee misclassification, immigration issues, nonprofit governance, Facebook e-discovery, medical marijuana, and more ... it's all in there!

And on the topic of content, we've scheduled our next webinar dedicated entirely to the subject of legal content for online visibility. Join us. Mark your calendars - Tuesday, Dec. 13, 9:30am PST. Invite lawyers and marketers in your firm...

What else? Our Google Plus page continues to grow. Are you on G+ (yet)? Circle JD Supra+ for law news updates and more on that new and ever-expanding platform. We've also been encouraging our readers to follow JD Supra on LinkedIn Today, should you care to join us there.

(BTW: we're also considering training carrier pigeons to bring legal updates to those of you not yet on LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, or Twitter. But given the results of early training exercises, we anticipate only rolling out our pigeon fleet in - oh - 2017. At the earliest.)

This week we also learned a thing or two along the way. Including, since you asked: Showing Pictures of Your Boyfriend's Privates Will Doom Your FMLA Lawsuit (or Any Other Lawsuit).

Just saying.

And finally, we rolled out our latest JD Supra user case study video. From Fina Wert, marketing director at McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC:



Enjoy the weekend - we'll see you next week...

@adrianlurssen

With the recent arrival of Toronto-based law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, we thought now might be a good time to introduce some of the Canadian lawyers and law firms publishing their legal content on JD Supra. Without further ado:

- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Brand new to JD Supra: "Osler is recognized for the breadth and depth of its practice in business law and is consistently ranked as one of Canada's top firms. We have leading lawyers in the specialized areas that allow our clients to succeed in their business objectives and deep industry expertise in the various sectors of the North American economy.With almost 500 lawyers working together from offices across Canada in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa and our office in New York, we undertake mandates that cross Canada's internal borders as well as mandates that cross international borders..."

-  Heenan Blaikie LLP

"With our outstanding track record in business law, labour and employment law, litigation, tax law, entertainment law and intellectual property, we deliver comprehensive legal advice and innovative business solutions to clients across Canada and abroad from our offices in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. In 2009, the firm opened a representative office in Singapore, at the heart of the Asian market. Furthermore, with its reinforced practice in Paris as of January 2011, Heenan Blaikie has become one of the leading international business law firms operating in France..."

- Thomas Heintzman - McCarthy Tetrault

"Thomas G. Heintzman is senior counsel at McCarthy Tetrault in Toronto. His practice focuses on litigation, arbitration and mediation relating to corporate disputes, shareholder's rights, securities law, broadcasting/telecommunications and class actions. He has been counsel in important actions, arbitrations, and appeals before all levels of courts in many Canadian provinces as well as the Supreme Court of Canada..."

- Clark Wilson LLP

"Clark Wilson LLP, located in Vancouver Canada, provides effective and practical legal advice on a comprehensive range of commercial issues, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, real estate and trade. Our strong litigation and dispute resolution team provides support in the courtroom or by way of alternative dispute resolution when required. Our intellectual property group advises on patents, trademarks, licensing and related issues in the burgeoning area of technology law. And our tax lawyers can advise on the structuring of transactions and business ownership to minimize taxation...."

- Davis LLP

"...a leading full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services to clients through our offices across Canada and in Japan. We have more than 200 legal advisors and consultants representing financial, corporate and government organizations and individuals. Our highly specialized lawyers work in integrated practice groups to seamlessly deliver cross-jurisdictional advice"

- Ellyn Law LLP

"...a Toronto business litigation and arbitration firm. We act on cases involving contracts, agency and distributorship, trades disputes, shareholder disputes, oppression remedy, libel and defamation, foreign judgment enforcement and foreign arbitral award enforcement."

- Feldstein Family Law Group

"After graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School, Andrew Feldstein established Feldstein Family Law Group in 1994. The firm has now grown to include ten Family Law lawyers and a strong, dynamic support staff. As the senior lawyer in the firm, Andrew makes it his personal goal to achieve optimal results for all Clients of the firm. Andrew's passion for Family Law has directed his practice to focus exclusively on this area of law..."

- John McKeown - Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

"John focuses on providing advocacy and advice concerning intellectual property and related matters, including protecting trade-marks, copyrights, patents, confidential information and misleading advertising and claims under the Competition Act. He's certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in IP Law (Trade Marks/Copyright)..."

- MBM Intellectual Property Law LLP

"MBM Intellectual Property Law is a dynamic and progressive law firm that practices exclusively in the area of intellectual property, including the commercialization of technology and the exploitation of knowledge. Our firm and our professional teams have a wide range of services to offer in the intellectual property arena. With offices throughout Canada, MBM coordinates clients' intellectual property portfolios with the expertise available nationwide..."

- Reis Pagtakhan - Aikins Law

"Reis Pagtakhan practices primarily in the area of immigration and business law. His extensive experience includes obtaining temporary entry and permanent residency for business persons and individuals coming to Canada from all over the world. Reis has lectured on and written papers for the Law Society of Manitoba, the Manitoba Bar Association and the Community Legal Education Association of Manitoba. He has presented position papers before the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Immigration Department officials..."

- Chris Bennett - Davis LLP

"Chris Bennett is the head of Davis LLP's Trade-marks, Technology & Outsourcing, and Video Games & Interactive Entertainment Law Practice Groups. He is also a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Law and Franchise & Distribution Law Groups, and he is the Chair of the firm's Environmental Sustainability Task Force..."

- John Boscariol

"Head of McCarthy Tetrault LLP's International Trade and Investment Law Group & partner in the Litigation Group. John advises both private and public sector clients on the application of international trade and investment protection agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, the agreements of the World Trade Organization, bilateral investment treaties, and regional and sectoral trade agreements. His practice also focuses on other international trade matters, including export and import controls, trade embargoes, blocking measures, economic sanctions, defence controls, national security measures, anti-dumping, countervail and safeguard measures, anti-corruption laws, government procurement, and all customs tariff and enforcement issues..."

- Margot Patterson - FMC Law

"Margot practises with the Communications Law, Entertainment | Sports | Media, and Intellectual Property Practice Groups in the Ottawa office of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP..."

- Tracey Tremayne-Lloyd - Gardiner Roberts LLP, GR Health Law

"Tracey Tremayne-Lloyd (TTL) is a Certified Specialist in Health Law and has been practicing health law for over two decades. She is currently the Chair of the Health Law Group of the multidisciplinary Toronto firm of Gardiner Roberts LLP..."

- Erik Magraken - MacIsaac & Company

"Erik is a Personal Injury and ICBC Claims lawyer with the British Columbia law-firm MacIsaac & Company. He restricts his practice exclusively to plaintiff-only personal injury and ICBC claims with a particular emphasis on claims involving orthopaedic injuries, complex soft tissue injuries. brain injuries and spinal cord injuries..."

- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

"Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), the largest full-service Canadian law firm, is driven to help achieve the best possible results for all our clients. With more than 750 lawyers, intellectual property agents and other legal professionals in six offices, BLG provides corporate, litigation and intellectual property solutions to a wide range of clients nationally and internationally. And as a bilingual English-French firm, BLG excels under both the common and civil law systems in Canada..."

- Cory Furman - MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP

"Rounded experience as an intellectual property counselor, across various subject matter fields and client demographics. Experience primarily concentrated on the strategic identification and development of intellectual property rights and portfolios in a multijurisdictional context. Trademark and patent prosecution, and patent litigation, are the primary substantive areas of my legal practice in addition to portfolio advising. Corollary work in the areas of licensing, copyright and the like as well..."

- Daniel Strigberger - Miller Thomson LLP

"Several years experience being lead counsel in insurance litigation matters before the courts, private arbitration tribunals, and at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Many years working on numerous projects with Canada's leading authority on Internet law. With mix of insurance litigation and Internet law experience, in a key position to answer legal questions and litigate matters that include a technology component..."

- E. Wayne Benedict

"E. Wayne Benedict, LL.M (ADR) Candidate, JD (Distinction), B.HRLR (Great Distinction), is an Alberta Barrister and Solicitor with the Calgary firm McGown Johnson. Mr. Benedict was an editor of the Saskatchewan Law Review (2004-05) and the Alberta Law Review (2005-06), and he was Law Clerk to The Honourable Mr. Justice Kenneth Mackenzie and The Honourable Mr. Justice Allan Thackray of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (2006-07)..."

- Michele Allinotte

"I practice law in the heart of Downtown Cornwall at Allinotte Law Office My practice areas include estate planning, real estate and business law..."

- Garry Wise

"Garry J. Wise was born in Toronto, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1984. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1986, and practices law in Toronto with Wise Law Office, a Toronto employment law, family law and litigation firm. He has completed advanced training in Family Law Mediation and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology..."

- Omar Ha-Redeye

"Omar Ha-Redeye is a recent graduate (Juris Doctor) of the law program at the University of Western Ontario. He is articling with a top-ranked litigation boutique in Toronto for 2010-2011 (Student-at-Law, not a lawyer)..."

- Ryan Venables

"Ryan is a third year Juris Doctor (J.D.) candidate in the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Law with an expected graduation date of 2012. Ryan will also be joining the Hamilton law firm of Ross & McBride LLP for his articles commencing in August 2012..."

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If I inadvertently left you off the list, please drop a line and I'll add you.

Patent reform, crowdfunding, social media policies, employee rights, cloud computing ... for your reference, here's a quick look at the top-viewed legal roundups on our Small Business Support blog for this past week:

1. Patent Reform: 5 Ways You Can Expect Patent Litigation to Change
2. Crowdfunding: The Future of Startup Financing?
3. What Do Employment Law and Cookies Have In Common, Exactly?
4. Employment Background Checks: 5 Things You Can and Cannot Do
5. Social Media Policies: Is Your Procrastination Putting Your Company at Risk?
6. Private Employers Must Post Notice of Employee Rights - NLRB Final Rule
7. Cloud Computing and Security: Know Your Risks Before You Jump In
8. Protecting Your Brand in the .XXX Age: 8 Things To Know
9. Why Your Business Needs a Computer Use Policy
10. Employee Theft and Fraud in the Workplace: Legal Considerations

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Additional business law updates available @Biz_Law on Twitter.

We'll see you on the networks...

We're unsure which spread faster across the social grapevine: news of Muammar Gaddafi's death, or news that Google Plus pages are now available to businesses.

However, we do know that JD Supra now has a Google Plus page.

Join us! Circle us on G+ and we'll circle you back. You can expect a daily dose of legal news, analysis, and commentary from the nation's lawyers and law firms publishing their content on JD Supra.

And if you're connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn, you'll know to expect the occasional fun video or two - along with silly jokes, interesting links, and JD Supra site news and updates.

Speaking of video. We asked our friends John and June to sing us a number about Google Circles. This is what they came up with (below) ... sing along if you know the words.

And see you on G+ - we hope we do!

Join JD Supra on Google Plus>>

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Bankruptcy, retirement plans, alleged terrorist plots, patent reform, foreclosures, employee handbooks, trademark infringement, business formation issues, XXX domains, employee misclassification, cheating husbands, and much, much more ... here's a look at some of the most-viewed legal news and updates on the JD Supra network during the last month.

In case you're keeping score, for the first time in four months, ERISA attorney Ary Rosenbaum does not have the premier spot - however, true to form, Ary's well-read writing appears twice on the list.

Good work by great lawyers and law firms - and it's just the tip of the JD Supra iceberg:

1. Are You Being Sued by Midland Funding, LLC? Why You Should Fight Lawsuits by Debt Buying Companies - by John Skiba
2. 15 Symptoms that a Plan Sponsor's Retirement Plan might be "Ill" - by The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.
3. US v. Manssor Arbabsiar and Gholam Shakuri - Full Text Copy Amended Criminal Complaint - McNabb Associates, P.C.
4. Real Estate Market Update - October 13, 2011 - by Allen Matkins
   
5. Why Financial Advisors Should Offer Investment Education to 401(k) Plan Participants - by The Rosenbaum Law Firm, P.C.
6. America Invents Act - H.R. 1249 Patent Reform Bill - Full Text Copy
7. Seriously, We Couldn't Make This Stuff Up - by Dechert LLP
8. Top 12 Tips to Tell if Your Husband is Cheating on You - by Lawyers.com
9. Organic Web Strategy for Lawyers - by Gyi Tsakalakis
10. Physician - Hospital Co-Management Arrangements - by Akerman Senterfitt
11. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: How Dexia's Failure Could be Good for Capital Formation - by Dechert LLP
12. Walmart's Employee Handbook Cost them $187.6 Million; What Could Your Employee Handbook Cost You? - by Jaburg Wilk
    
13. Foreclosing Lenders Beware - by Snell & Wilmer LLP
14. McAfee & Taft RegLINC: Document destruction - Spoliation or legitimate process? - by Chris A. Paul
15. Restriction of Sale of Property on Power of Attorney - International Lawyers Network
16. 12 Reasons for A Startup Not To Be An LLC - by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
17. Music Licensing 101 - by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
18. MBHB snippets Alert - The .XXX Top Level Domain: What Do I Need to Know Now? - by McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP 
19. Social Media Giant Sued for Trademark Infringement (Again) - by Winthrop & Weinstine, PA
20. Newly-Minted Lawyers Are Generally Poor Writers: Why the Law Schools Are Largely to Blame - by Charles E. Rounds, Jr.
21. Trademark owners can block new .XXX domain names - by Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co., LPA
22. California Governor Signs S.B. 459, Dramatically Increasing Penalties for Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors - by Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
23. Significant Advances in Green Card Cutoff Dates for EB-2 India and EB-2 China - by Morgan Lewis
24. What Are the risks of Opting Out of the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Programs? - by Sanford Millar
25. Employment Law Advisory for October 26, 2011: Update - New Employment Laws for 2012 - by Hopkins & Carley

Related - also see:

- Corporate Law Updates: Top News Feeds for the Month
- 3 Trending Items on JD Supra: SEC Cyber Risk Disclosures, XXX Domains, Employee Misclassification...
- Top Business Law Roundups for the Last Week of October


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Follow @JDSupraBuzz for daily updates on trending topics, searches, and documents on JD Supra. A great way to see what's hot and find fodder for your own next article or post.

Archive:

- Most-viewed on JD Supra: Sept, 2011
- Most-viewed on JD Supra: Aug, 2011
- Most-viewed on JD Supra: July, 2011

File under Friday fun: 10 videos to get you in the mood for the Hallowe'en weekend. Stay safe, have fun, and most importantly: if you have a surplus of Mike & Ikes or Snickers bars, we'll take 'em off your hands. [Speaking of which: freeze your Snickers bars before you eat them; trust us on that!]

In no particular order: Team JD Supra's Top 10 Halloween Vids

Scary on so many levels, Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group:


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Season of the Witch, by Donovan - great song, but we still can't tell if the accompanying video is a parable, allegory, vignette, cautionary tale, or early, low-budget version of The Name of the Rose. Either way, it's just weird enough to be fun:


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Devil with a Blue Dress On - you know what's scary? The song pre-dates Monica. We like this amped up version:


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Don't Fear the Reaper, by Blue Öyster Cult. Also, repeat after us, don't fear '70s rock, don't fear the umlaut, and especially don't fear the cowbell (sadly lacking in this version). We know, it's a nightmare:


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Thriller, by Michael Jacskon. Helping us return to some semblance of a law-related site, here are the inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines, practicing their terrific moves to Michael:


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Devil Went Down to Georgia, by The Charlie Daniels Band. Great, great tune, especially when heard performed live by the man himself. Scary to consider that they played it live for the CBS Early Show audience. Doesn't quite seem to fit. Still, a great version:


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Friend of the Devil, by the Grateful Dead. Halloween be damned, we'll take every opportunity to share a Dead tune with anyone willing to listen. Here's Bob Dylan taking out the devil and his friend for a casual stroll:


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You know what's scary? We might actually get through all ten tunes without having to include Kanye West's Monster - which is good, but on everyone's list. Right? Here's the late, great Gil Scott-Heron with Me and the Devil:

..

Fair enough, everyone puts Werewolves of London on their Halloween list, too. But how many people serve up the Flamin' Groovies version. You know what's actually scary? YouTube has one of everything:



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Only thing scary about Stevie Wonder is how good the man is ... Superstition - enjoy:




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So what's on your list? Leave a comment and a link.

Happy Halloween and we'll see you online...

For your reference, here's a quick look at three law news items drawing particular interest on the JD Supra network during this last week of October:

1. SEC Tells Public Companies: Disclose Your Cyber Risks

On October 13 the Securities and Exchange Commission's  Division of Corporate Finance directed public companies to disclose cybersecurity risks and incidents to investors. From law firm Morgan Lewis: "The SEC's guidance was spurred by its recognition that registrants have been relying more heavily on digital technologies for their operations, which results in increased risks to those operations due to cyber vulnerabilities. The SEC explained that cyber incidents, including cyber attacks and unintentional cyber events, can lead a registrant to incur substantial costs and suffer negative consequences..." Tech lawyer Glenn Manishin says: "It's about time..."

Read more in our Corporate Law roundup on the SEC Cyber Risks Disclosure>>

2. Time Is Running Out to Protect Your Brand Against XXX Domains

In fact, you have until this Friday (October 28), when the sunrise period for blocking .XXX domain use of your trademark ends. Sure, after Friday, you can still register or block use of your brand by a porn site, it'll just be harder to do. And did we mention: "The owner of a registered trademark who wishes to opt-out and prevent its trademarks from being registered as second-level .xxx domain names may do so by paying a one-time fee of about $250 - $350 to block each registered trademark from being used as a second-level domain" (from Winthrop & Weinstine). To which our friend Bruce Colwin of LegalMinds Magazine said on Facebook: "...seems like a bit of a predatory business model."

What's your plan? Read more about .XXX domains and the Friday deadline here>>

3. The Cost of Employee Misclassification in California...

...just went up, when Governer Jerry Brown signed SB 459 (called by some the 'Corbett Job Killer Act of 2011'), legislation designed to crack down on businesses incorrectly classify employees as independent contractors. From law firm Schnader: "the legislation imposes dramatic penalties on employers found to have engaged in 'willful misclassification' of workers as independent contractors, as well as on non-lawyer advisors who knowingly counsel to engage in such reclassification."

Read our recent roundup covering the new stakes for employee misclassification in California>>

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We're also seeing rising interest in legal commentary to do with the approval of final regulations in California cap-and-trade program. Read more on the topic:

- California Air Resources Board Approves Final Cap-and-Trade Regulations (Reed Smith)
- California Adopts Historic Cap-and-Trade Program for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Morrison & Foerster LLP)

And finally, join the conversation on our IP Law Facebook page. The question, inspired by a post by JAMS: is mediation a viable alternative in IP litigation?

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For daily updates on what's trending on the JD Supra network: follow @JDSupraBuzz on Twitter. We'll see you online!

Last week we were surprised, taken aback, yay verily thrilled to receive notice that we'd won one hundred dollars from Westlaw. And now you can, too. Here's how.

Actually, let me rephrase that. We were thrilled to learn that one of JD Supra's Twitter accounts (@JDSupraBuzz) won a $100 Amex gift card from one of Westlaw's Twitter accounts (@Westlaw_GC).

Why? Because our Twitter account had followed their Twitter account and was, clearly, in the right place at the right time on the Twittersphere.

It's called viral social media marketing, people, get used to it. It's here to stay.

[Yes, you read that correctly: @JDSupraBuzz won $100 from @Westlaw_GC. And you heard it was strictly real names only on Twitter. Pshaw! Show me your $100 Amex gift card.]

As I say, truly appreciative to Westlaw for having won something, our first thought: take team JD Supra out to lunch when the Amex $100 card arrives (which it did today). Two problems with that plan: 1) we've been growing lately, and $100 no longer covers a team lunch. 2) We live and work in Marin County. See #1.

So, we had two options: 1) go to lunch and watch one of us eat well, or 2) pay it forward.

We opted for #2, and so, here's to the beginning of a $100 Twitter contest that we hope never ends. At the very least it goes like this:

Next Friday, October 14, 2011, one lucky follower of @JDSupraBuzz (a daily Twitter feed of what's popular at any given moment on JD Supra) will receive the $100 Amex card we won from @Westlaw_GC ("Helping corporate legal departments and compliance professionals be more confident and efficient. Every day.")

I think you know what to do next. [And just in case I'm wrong about that: before Friday October 14 follow @JDSupraBuzz -- and @Westlaw_GC for good measure.]

Best of luck to you. (You won't be disqualified for using your real name as Twitter handle; it's totally cool with us. Tell that to the folks at Google+.)

ps. And when you win, we hope you run a contest of your own. Ergo the title.

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@adrianlurssen

For your weekend reading pleasure, here's a look at some of the law news coverage from JD Supra's business blogs for the week:

- Human Trafficking & Slavery Law Comes to California Business:
We saw a recent uptick in commentary regarding The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010, which aims to bring accountability to corporations doing business in California regarding human trafficking and slavery in their supply chains. The Act goes into effect at the beginning of 2012. No pun intended on chains, here's our roundup on human trafficking and slavery in supply chains for California business>>

- Doing Business in China
Our latest roundup of law firm China commentary includes news and analysis of two sets of rules issued earlier in September by China's Ministry of Commerce (to do with M&A review systems and competitive influence.) We also heard from law firms about economic opportunity in China. For your reference, see our coverage of China's M&A Security Review, Competitive Influence, Counterfeits, Info Protection, and more>> 

- SEC Adopts Large Trader Reporting Requirements:
Earlier this summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted registration and reporting requirements for "large traders" - traders whose transactions in exchange-listed securities equal or exceed two million shares or $20 million a day, or 20 million shares or $200 million a month. Here's reading list breakdown of what broker-dealers need to know about SEC Rule 13h-1>>

- Fired While on FMLA Medical Leave? It Can Happen...
On the small business blog, we look at analysis of recent court decisions showing when it is OK to terminate for FMLA leave abuse. There's a thin line between authorized and unauthorized use of family medical leave, and dismissing employees for crossing it can leave employers exposed to claims of unlawful termination and retaliation. Here's where the courts draw the line on firings for FMLA leave abuse>>

- IRS Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program
A big story this week: the Internal Revenue Service's program which "purports to give a free pass to employers who promise to reclassify any workers incorrectly treated as independent contractors." Too good to be true? You'll have to read the updates: Is IRS giving employers a free pass with the Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program? Yes and no>>

In the related news, we put together a roundup of law firm commentary illustrating the difference between employer and contractor. Do you know one from the other? See: Employee or Contractor? 5 Ways to (Legally) Tell the Difference>>

- "Cool accent! Where you from?"
And finally, this week we also pulled together a collection of legal updates to do with job interviews; a refresher on what you can and cannot ask a candidate during a job interview. We all know about religion, sexual orientation, and the rest, but it can get tricky quickly. Do you know these 5 Questions you can't ask a prospective employee in a job interview?

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What else? International AmLaw firm Sheppard Mullin launched their Facebook page this week. What's not to LIKE: a firm page with news and substantive legal updates on all manner of topics? You know what to do next... Sheppard Mullin on Facebook.

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And finally, check out the new look of JD Supra's Law News pages if you haven't already. We've refreshed the look and feel of our topical news pages, delivering updates, articles, and other content from lawyers and law firms everywhere. Browse by subject (Intellectual Property Law, Finance & Banking, Securities Law, Employment, others...) and follow the feeds that matter to you in whichever platform you'd like: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or RSS.

Have a great weekend! And here's wishing that all your sweet apples are Granny Smiths:

Here's a look at some of our newest contributors, lawyers and law firms distributing their publications and legal content on the JD Supra network. We're thrilled to welcome:

- Snell & Wilmer LLP

"Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 400 attorneys practicing in nine locations throughout the western United States and in Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs." View Snell's legal portfolio>>
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- Jaburg Wilk

"Founded in 1984, Jaburg Wilk offers extensive experience, diversity in practice areas and the ability to think like a business owner. Our attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff's goal is to meet our clients' diverse legal needs and provide exceptional service." View Jaburg Wilk's portfolio>>

- Heenan Blaikie LLP

"Our clients range in size from start-ups to many of North America's largest public companies, public institutions including hospitals and universities, and government bodies. We also represent international clients seeking to protect and expand their interests in Canada." View Heenan Blaikie's portfolio>>

- Lowenstein Sandler PC

"Lowenstein Sandler is a nationally recognized, full-service AmLaw 200 law firm with offices in New York, Palo Alto and Roseland. Known for its results-oriented approach to client service, the firm represents public and private companies, financial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, universities, and private clients..." View Lowenstein Sandler's portfolio>>

- Butler Snow

"Butler Snow has emerged from being primarily a regional firm to one with national scope. Our practice areas include the full range of business law and litigation services. We offer the depth to represent a broad spectrum of national and regional clients in a variety of legal areas...." View Butler Snow's portfolio>>

- Low, Ball & Lynch

"For over sixty years, Low, Ball & Lynch has zealously represented litigants throughout California. Low, Ball & Lynch attorneys collectively possess an extraordinary range of expertise in the defense of insured, self-insured, and public entity liability claims...." View Low, Ball & Lynch's portfolio>>

-  Franczek Radelet P.C.

"Our practice is focused and clearly defined. We represent management in all aspects of labor and employment law and employee benefits matters in both the private and public sectors. We also represent educational institutions in all aspects of education law......" View Franczek Radelet's portfolio>>

- Ethan Wohl

"Our practice focuses on representing institutional and individual investors on a full or partial contingency fee basis in securities and shareholder litigation. In that sphere, we represent and advise clients on a wide range of claims, including securities fraud, stock options backdating, market manipulation, mergers and acquisitions, and self-dealing transactions by corporate executives....." View Ethan Wohl's portfolio>>

- Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard, P.C.

"We are a general practice firm serving clients in New Jersey and New York. We have been offering innovative solutions to business and personal legal issues for over 25 years - from business planning to tax and estates, from creditor representation in the areas of foreclosure, bankruptcy and collections to family law, from business litigation to personal injury and elder law. ." View Fein Such's portfolio>>

- BuckleySandler LLP

"BuckleySandler attorneys are among the leading financial services law practitioners in the country and have a track record of successfully assisting clients in litigation, enforcement, transactional and public policy matters...." View BuckleySandler's portfolio>>

-  Feldstein Family Law Group

"After graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School, Andrew Feldstein established Feldstein Family Law Group in 1994. The firm has now grown to include ten Family Law lawyers and a strong, dynamic support staff..." View Feldstein Family Law Group's portfolio>>

- Cogent Legal

"Cogent Legal is a legal graphics and consulting firm that develops visual presentations and strategy for attorneys in all phases of litigation. Cogent Legal integrates the legal expertise of a successful trial attorney with the creative and technical talent of a design firm...." View Cogent Legal's portfolio>>

- Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP

"Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) is one of the leading full-service business law firms in Manitoba, with over 120 years of history providing legal services to its clients locally, nationally and internationally...." View Thompson Dorfman Sweatman portfolio>>

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What about you? Ready to increase your online visibility with a JD Supra portfolio?

Get started with JD Supra now>>

For your Friday reading pleasure:a look at some of the most-read legal roundups for the last 30 days on our business-focused law blogs.

See if you can spot which title we most enjoyed writing (yes, yes, simple pleasures). A JD Supra free t-shirt to first three to tell us the answer:

From the Corporate Law Report

1. Patent Reform 2011 Reading List: 'America Invents Act' Passes House and Senate
2. Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Updated Reading List on Class Action Impact & Analysis
3. Final SEC Investment Advisor Rules: A Dodd-Frank Reading List
4. FCPA Analysis & Commentary: A Compliance Friday Update
5. Social Media and the Law - A Friday Reading List
6. Dodd-Frank: Bad Actors Disqualified from SEC Rule 506 Offerings
7. Dodd-Frankly, My Dear, You Should Give A Damn...
8. Hart-Scott-Rodino Rules: DOJ And FTC Final Changes To Merger Reporting Form
9. Conflict Minerals and the Dodd-Frank Act: Long-Distance Accountability?
10. OSHA Compliance Updates: Workplace Safety, Employee Hazards, Violations, and More...

From Small Business Support

1. Social Media and the Law - Your Friday Reading List
2. Employment Law Roundup: You Should Know (These Updates)
3. Employee Theft and Fraud in the Workplace: Legal Considerations
4. Non-Compete Laws: News from Texas and Beyond...
5. Piercing the Corporate Veil: How to Avoid Personal Liability in Business
6. Congratulations, It's A Regulatory Agency! The CFPB Is Open For Business
7. Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: What Lawyers Are Saying
8. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: More Complicated Than You Think
9. Employment Background Checks: Legal Considerations
10. I-9 Compliance: What Employers Need to Know About ICE Verification & Audits

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Biz Law News: Corporate Law Report | Small Business Support

Follow our business law roundups on Twitter at: @Biz_Law and @LegalNews among others.

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