In The News

Blawgosphere Covers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:34:51 GMT

As might be expected, lawyers and commentators involved in Banking and Security Law are writing about yesterday's announcement from the Fed:

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System announced Sunday that it has granted the Federal Reserve Bank of New York the authority to lend to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should such lending prove necessary. Any lending would be at the primary credit rate and collateralized by U.S. government and federal agency securities. This authorization is intended to supplement the Treasury's existing lending authority and to help ensure the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to promote the availability of home mortgage credit during a period of stress in financial markets.

Read what the blawgosphere has to say below:

Fannie, Freddie, & the Fed - A Sunday Announcement -Banking Law Prof Blog

Freddie, Fannie, and Moral Hazard - Blawgletter

More on Possible Federal Government Measures to Prop Up Fannie and Freddie - CL&P Blog

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle - Point of Law

Technorati Tags: fannie mae,freddie mac,banking law

Back from the 4th Headlines...

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:39:22 GMT

Across the blawgosphere this morning, here are some of the topics being discussed:

China: The Peoples Republic Of Capitalism - China Law Blog

The important point that Kennedy v. Louisiana proves about Boumediene v. Bush - BeldarBlog

Providence Journal summarizes the lead paint ruling - Point of Law

ACS Week in Review: June 27 - July 3, 2008 - ACS Blog

U.S. Bankruptcy Filing Rate Holding Steady - Credit Slips

Tenured Teacher May Not Be Dismissed Without Due Process - Adjunct Law Prof Blog

Rising Interest in Immigration Law - PT Law Mom

s That An Encyclopedia In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?- FutureLawyer

Picker on Competition, Privacy and Web 2.0 -Truth on the Market

Headlines Catching Eyes Across the Blawgosphere

Bill Gratsch — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:24:20 GMT

Some eye-catching headlines across the blawgosphere this morning:

Court Overturns Fathers Decision to Ground 12-Year-Old Daughter - Lowering the Bar

The Cocktail Party Question - Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer

Is A Full Labor Relations Privilege Developing? - Adjunct Law Prof Blog

Hillary Clinton Returns to Senate Amidst Cheers - TalkLeft

This Is the Subprime Mortgage Smackdown? - White Collar Crime Prof Blog

State of Florida to Buy US Sugar While US Sugar ESOP Litigation Continues - Pension Protection Act Blog

Law Librarianship as an Alternative Career for Attorneys - WisBlawg - From the UW Law Library

Oil Spills, Waste, Shipwrecks and Liability: Case C-188/07 - by EU Law Blog

Smokers Need Not Apply at Rogers Towers - The Legal Beat

Technorati Tags: blawgosphere headlines,blawgosphere

U.K. Law's Fast Fifty

Bill Gratsch — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:51:36 GMT

Legal Week has an interesting piece this week entitled 'Fast Fifty' Tracks U.K. Firms' Top-Growth Sites.

This year's Intendance "Fast Fifty" benchmarking of the 50 fastest-growing law firm Web sites is further proof of how the legal sector is stepping up its online operations. Famed throughout the business-to-business sector, sometimes unfairly, as being among the least innovative of the professional services in terms of harnessing the power of the Internet, law firms are now showing signs of shedding that image. Of course, the big news since last year's report is the arrival of the much-heralded Legal Services Act, which will open the sector up to outside competition. It is too early to tell whether the act has focused partners' attention on developing hitherto untapped business streams, but there are advantages to be had by developing online capabilities.

Some snippets of note:

In particular, two statistics stand out from the survey: 42 percent of respondents expect to increase their spending on online projects in the future; while 26 percent strongly agree that Web 2.0 will be a key component of their online strategy.

It is not just the largest firms that are plowing their efforts into making their content more appealing through new technology such as RSS feeds, podcasts and video clips. Freeth Cartwright, content winner in this year's Fast Fifty, is a fine example of a smaller firm that has created a name for itself by leading from the front.

Personalized content is a very progressive aspect of Web development -- the BBC has only recently adapted its homepage to be customizable -- but the legal profession is slowly catching up.

Another trend to emerge from this year's Fast Fifty, related to the global/local issue, is the need for improved search engine optimization, especially where firms are rolling out new offices worldwide. Country-specific SEO is imperative, as different regions favour different search engines.

Check out Intendance Research for more information.

Monday Morning Headlines

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:47:55 GMT

Interesting Headlines Across the Blawgosphere this Morning...

Ten New Law Schools In The Works! - Adjunct Law Prof Blog

Mankiw Makes the Case for McCains Corporate Tax Cut - Truth on the Market

The "Early Show" addresses internet prescriptions - poorly - Internet Pharmacy Law

Lawdable Quotes: Immanuel Kant - Fastcase - Accelerated Legal Research

Democratic Rules Committee Decides Florida, Michigan - Wise Law Canadian Blawg

Britany Spears mentally incompetent to appear in probate court - Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog

Common Good "Boundaries of Litigation" forum - Point of Law

Technorati Tags: blawgosphere headlines,blawgosphere

Headlines Across the Blawgosphere - May 12, 2007

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:17:50 GMT

Some recent headlines across the blawgosphere...

The Looming Polar Bear War - Earth Jur 1.0

San Diego Lawsuit Brings Attention to Food Contamination - San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog

Option Backdating: A Flawed SEC Complaint Raises Questions About the Enforcement Program And Its Direction - SEC Actions Blog

Happy Mothers Day - Legal Writing Prof Blog

Case o' The Week: It Pays to Discover, Chapman - Ninth Circuit Blog

Romney Speech on Religion 2.0 - Blog From The Capital

When Is a Water District Not a Municipality? - New York Zoning and Municipal Law Blog

Tax Havens: Renegade States in the International Tax Regime? - Suo Tempore

New Scribble-in-Law at LawComix.com - Scribble-in-Law

Technorati Tags: blawgosphere,blawgosphere headlines,law blog news

Headlines Across the Blawgosphere

Bill Gratsch — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:05:21 GMT

If your feed reader is anything like mine, it is increasingly jammed with interesting posts on myriad subjects.

Here are some headlines that have caught my eye this week:

SEC's Corporation Finance Recommends Changes to Cross-Border Tender Offer Rules - Securities Law Prof Blog

Wikipedia Ethics Event, May 15 at SCU - Technology & Marketing Law Blog

Rethinking Waiver Provisions - AdamsDrafting

$24.2 Million Verdict in Asbestos Suit Against Honeywell International - Products Liability Prof Blog

Conflict Coaching Podcast - mediator blah...blah...

Creating an effective IP and trade secret protection program -The Trade Secrets Vault

Military Religious Freedom Case Gains Attention - Blog From The Capital

Prepare for Exams with Library Study Aids! - LexLibris

Eric Posner on Ledbetter Act -Point of Law

Technorati Tags: blawgosphere

Coverage of Harry Potter Trial Continues

Bill Gratsch — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:53:58 GMT

For those so inclined, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog has been posting an interesting series of dispatches, commentary and analysis from the trial Warner Bros. and Rowling vs. RDR Books aka the Harry Potter trial.

Here are some links to jumping off points:

Day One of the Harry Potter Trial: Rowling Holds Her Own

Harry Potter Lexicon Author Breaks Down on the Stand

Judge in Potter Trial Calls on Parties to Settle

Notes from the Potter Trial: After a Partial Settlement, the Defense Digs In

Potter Case: IP Lawyer Calls It a Toss-Up

Potter Trial: On Last Day, Defense Outshines Rowling

Technorati Tags: harry potter,warner bros. and rowling vs. RDR Books,harry potter trial,rowling,jk rowling,harry potter lexicon

Headlines Across The Blawgosphere

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:20:23 GMT

It is one of those mornings where, in scanning the latest headlines across the blawgosphere, so many posts look interesting that I am not just not sure where to jump in.

Here are a sample that leave you with the dilemma I faced:

Kryptonite Copyright - ACS Blog

Trade Secret Jury Verdict : EMS Gulf Coast, LLC v. Tanner Construction Co. of Texas Inc. et al - The Trade Secrets Vault

D.C. Madam Trial To Start - Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Blogging Kills - Jeremy Blachman's Brand New Weblog

John McCain and Signing Statements - Election Law

14th Amendment and the Colfax Massacre - Of Arms and the Law

Technorati Tags: blawgosphere

Starbucks, Commercial Law and the Perfect Coffee Pledge

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:05:22 GMT

I am halfway through, and thoroughly enjoying, a book covering the origins and subsequent growth of Starbucks and the United States love affair with coffee drinks. Entitled Starbucked, the book is well written and recommended for aficionados of coffee and entrepreneurship alike.

With the above in mind, a post at a recently started blawg, Commercial Law, An update on the coffee, caught my eye this morning.

The post, written by Law Professor Jennifer Martin, mentions a recent legal setback for Starbucks in California, as well as its continued recognition among the top of Fortune's Best Companies to Work For list. The post continues with the following commentary regarding Starbucks' perfect coffee pledge:

The problem with the perfect coffee pledge to me, though, still remains. Starbucks has set consumer expectations high, but their ability to convert on their pledge of quality coffee rests with the employees in the stores. That is where the tension between being a great place to work and discontent over the tipping policy may affect whether the baristas ultimately “make it right.”
All of this serves as a reminder that companies which make express warranties regarding the quality of their products may be heavily dependent on their employees to really come through. This would seem to be especially true where the sale involves a mixed goods and services transaction. As to Starbucks, the dependence and ultimate fulfillment of warranty conditions (if the perfect coffee pledge is more than puffery) will require employee dedication to ensure quality coffees.

In the comments following the post, Meredith Miller noted that:

It is so interesting to me that you describe Starbucks as providing both a good and a service. I gave a contracts exam recently that involved an entity based upon Starbucks (named Starlucks). I was surprised how many students identified the transaction as mixed - where, I had thought of it only as a sale of a cup of coffee and, thus, simply a sale of a good. But, to the extent the entity in the fact pattern was based on Starbucks, I had to give the students credit for this analyis. Above all else, the company has been successful in marketing itself as providing more than just a cup of coffee, but the preparation (to supposed perfection) of that cup of coffee. (By the way, the other marketing triumph is calling a small coffee a "tall" -- sounds like so much more...) But, my point is that, before the infestation of Starbucks, I think we all would have agreed (to paraphrase Freud slightly): a cup of coffee was just a cup of coffee.

To which Professor Martin responded and etcetera.

Funny how some mornings you pour yourself a cup of coffee and dive in the blawgosphere...only to realize thirty minutes later you have just worked through a legal fact set and your coffee has gone cold.

Dive in yourself: An update on the coffee, Starbucks' "perfect" coffee pledge

Good stuff.

Technorati Tags: commercial law,starbucks