Me Too You

My recent writings around the web...

• Thoughts on The Happiness Project at Simplicity Sake
• Eating Raw at Simplicity Sake
• What We're Reading at Simplicity Sake
• Eric Goldman's talk to students about social networking and blogging at Whereas
• Weekly Whereas: Legal Education Commons launched, content theft for 2008 review and the Gatehouse Settlement
• Discouraging Sploggers at Whereas
• Common Misconceptions About Trademarks at Whereas
• Infertility treatments leading to twins, triplets...octuplets? at Mad About Multiples
• Controversy over the octuplets at Mad About Multiples

And, yes, I need to catch up on the personal stuff and post some birthday photos of Ben and Lily - they turned the Big 5 a couple of weeks ago!

My session at BlogHer '08 - Taking Care of Business: Resources for Blog Law and Incorporation

I had a lot of fun yesterday at my BlogHer panel session Taking Care of Business, taking with the legal issues with blogging, including incorporation, along with Kelly Phillips Erb of TaxGirl (talking about...you guessed it, taxes!) and Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software (tackling how to value your services. The summary of the session and all the resources we discussed are over on my business, technology and media law blog, Whereas.

Today I am having fun at BlogHer in a different way - I'm going to sessions, thinking about things that we can do on Mad About Multiples, things that some of my clients might be interested in and thinking about. Maybe making a Sesame Street video. Oh, and I'm going to make sure I get to eat lunch today.

Mommy is heading to SF for BlogHer

I am packing for a little getaway - 3 days in The City. On about an hour I will be sitting on my suitcase to get it shut (no silly cups will be in there, just clothes and shoes and clothes and shoes...all for me!), picking up some business cards at the printer, and making tracks to SF. I will be speaking tomorrow on legal issues with blogging and I am very excited for the parties...I mean, my session. See you there!

Top 10 Blog Law Issues

In preparation for BlogHer next week, I've been thinking about the main types of issues I see my blogging clients dealing with. Here are my top. Anyone have others to add?

1. I consider myself a "citizen journalist." How do I avoid being sued for defamation? What is defamation anyway?

2. What is "fair use" of copyrighted material? What is plagiarism? 

3. How can I protect my content from being "splogged"?

4. I have been asked to distribute my content on another site / accept advertising / enter into another business agreement - how do I protect myself and my content for the future?

5. Should I trademark my blog name?

6. Akk! I received a cease and desist letter (for trademark or copyright infringement). What should I do?

7. Can I write about my neighbors and friends without violating their privacy rights?

8. Should I incorporate my blog as a business?

9. What types of legal language / disclaimers / terms of use should I have on my blog?

10. I'm starting (or have started) a blog with other bloggers. What issues do we need to be aware of, think through and document?

Although many of these are specific to bloggers' particular situations, I'm hoping I can address some (or all!) of these questions at the BlogHer session I am a part of next week - Taking Care of Business.  Hope to see you there! Although...I hear it is sold out at this point...

Crossposted from Whereas, where Linsey writes about business, technology and media law.