Computer and Technology Law Books

The book weighs a ton and there's lots packed in it. Have not attempted to use the CD-ROM. Index helped me find specific answers to specific issues, since I don't know the program at all and had to hit the ground running. Have not been able to find answers to more esoteric matters, but the book has been invaluable for my quick-fix situations. Legal-specific and more useful on a daily basis than the "Dummies" book my boss bought. Thank you, Payne Consulting Group!!!

Any law firm that uses MS Word has been influenced by the work of Payne Consulting. Payne Consulting was in a conference that went into a committee that worked closely with MS to influence Word and to make it compatible to what law firms got used to with Word Perfect. Interestingly, Word finally has a feature that offers you the opportunity to recover documents if you had not saved it the day before.....wow.....why didn't they do that for corporations.

Well, if you are a Word Perfect user in a law firm today, you will want to open up new vistas by learning MS Word for Law Firms. I recruit in Legal, and this tool is useful to improving your skills and making a transition to a larger law firm possible.

real world advive for anyone interested in applications of word in a business setting

I found the book easy to follow with a lot of useful information in the form of tips and cautions. I purchased the book to prepare for the Word 2002 MOUS exam (and passed). I cannot recommend it highly enough.

As a forced convert from Word Perfect, I was looking for a resource that would allow me to do two things: (1) learn Microsoft Word; and (2) integrate it into my practice.

Ms. Payne's book helped me with the first task and made Word a much easier program for me to utilize.

I was somewhat disappointed, however, in the second aspect. I would like to automate my litigation documents to a greater extent, but I couldn't fully realize this goal. At the end of the day, I'd like to turn out better, more polished legal documents, but, I think there are some limitations in either my own understanding or the software that prevent me from being as effective as I'd like. At more than 700 pages, Ms. Payne's book certainly contains a good deal of information and suggestions as to how Word can be used in a law firm environment, but I found it to be most helpful as a Microsoft Word resource.

I loved this book. It covers the history of Open Source and explain WHY people do open source and HOW they make it happen!

The Success of Open Source in a not a just wistful paean to Linux as the title would suggest. Rather, it is two books in one.

The first book is one of the very best recapitulations of the open source movement and all of its predecessors. The second book is about how something that just seemingly shouldn't work, works so well, and how those principles behind its working extend to more than just the open source movement.

The author, a university professor, draws liberally from the traditions of historians, economists, sociologists, and psychologists to paint a compelling picture of why the forces behind open source are not going to go away any time soon. Read in best companion with The Cathedral and the Bazaar, which IS a bit of a wistful paean to Linux, it illuminates its subject wonderfully.

Steven's book brings a rich articulation of the social practices innovations unleashed by the Open Source collective: a new understanding of private property that better fit the tech forces and the challenges of the present. His book it is not a model; it is not the list of the 10 reasons why...; it is not the defense of an emerging theory; but an historical account in which anecdotes, facts, historical moment, tentative hypothesis, set the background to allows the reader to reshape her/his own questions. The book gave me a perspective I have been testing with IT architects, programmers, software designers...I feel myself much more prepare to engage in conversations about the future in a meaningful and effective way. Thanks to the author!

For the serious reader (and who indeed thinks open source is hilarious?), Weber provides a detailed history of how this idea developed. He traces it from the advent of unix in the 1970s, and the generous (ie. low fees) licensing terms by ATT. Which led to the BSD Unix that flourished in the 80s. Also during this time, GNU took off.

But the bulk of the book deals with the 90s onwards. Especially as linux grew from Torvalds' seminal contribution. Its intellectual roots in unix and GNU are studied. We also see the rise of the Free Software Foundation and Apache, as articulate enablers and promoters of open source. All of which was aided by the invention and meteoric growth of the Web. This played a vital role in enabling a global audience of programmers to hear of and contribute their efforts.

I'm a commercial software developer, and found the author's history of the UNIX culture and the story of its evolution into what we now call Open Source to be fascinating. That alone made it a good read for me. Add in the thought provoking analysis of the "whys" (the real point of this book), and it's a killer combo.

Warning: the book is *full* of sentences like "Pluralism at many different levels is being enabled by communications technologies and by experimentation with property; together, these are reducing the marginal cost of adding voices toward an asymptote of zero." Despite that, I've been able to read it at the pace of a thriller, not a textbook.

There is a lot of good information in the book and I found it to be well worth the read. The structure of the book was a little disorganized for my liking, but I read the book front to back and considered it to be well worth the time and money spent. Not so sure about the cover of the book, but it did grow on me.

Trout has provided the best desk top reference on an increasingly crucial topic. Don't engage in online business without it.

Okay, I am the publisher; but look, I've read every page of this book, holding a microscope the entire time over the pages. I see a lot of manuscripts pass over my desk, and frankly, most go in the garbage can. This book is thorough and valuable -- what else could you want? It went straight to press!

Brett Trout's concise work is a must for online businesses. Read it once before you launch and keep it as a reference for the myriad issues that arise in online business. With this second work, Brett Trout has established himself as the authority on cyber law.

Trout is an excellent source for information an your rights when dealing with the internet- and let's face it - today we are almost all dealing with the internet. This book is not just for businesses. This book is a must read if you are dealing with a sticky situation/transaction over the internet. I first started reading Trout's advice on his blog - useful, everyday, legal advice - and he even makes it interesting and FUNNY. I had to check out his book. This book covers all the bases. It is a great help to anyone doing business over the internet.

Ordered item on 4/24/09 and received on 5/2/09. Item received "new" as stated by Seller. Very pleased with the service.

Great Book gives you the answers you need if you starting or running an ebay business. Show you how to protect and minimize the legal blind spots that the average person may not think about that can happen as you run your business. Great book help you with the mine field thats out there and what and how to avoid it! Tells you what taxes you have to cough up to your new invisible business partner uncle sam wheather it's a hobby or a business and how to minimize them. Most important it gives real world examples of resolving seller-buyer disputes which are bound to happen sooner or later when your dealing with the public. Great book to clue yourself in on running an Ebay Business! Thanks really great job on this book love it!

As far I know, this is the only book of its kind. I would probably buy anything written by this author, Cliff Ennico-and no, I do not know him personally--there are tons of books on Ebay--some great, some good, and some terrible--I rate this one in between great and good--and it does not need any type of editing job, like so many self-produced books about Ebay selling.

The eBay Seller's Tax and Legal Answer Book: Everything You Need to Know to Keep the Government Off Your Back and Out of Your Wallet

This is a great book written by an attorney who has a sense of humor who can have you laughing while you are realizing that the tax collector has his hands in your pocket.

The writing is crisp and to the point. It is well organized and indexed so you can find something you need to know when you need it.

Cliff Ennico has written this book to be not only packed full of great legal information and tips, but his humor throughout the book made it fun to read. I am so glad I bought this book before I got too far into ebay (or any other online selling) because it answered so many of my questions regarding tax issues. Buy it, use it, and keep it handy! Definitely worth every penny paid!

This is the best single reference that I've seen on the subject. Kevin and Rebecca have assembled a guide that is eminently practical, superbly organized, and tremendously helpful. I reach for it every time I have a question on HIPPA. In fact, it's the only HIPPA reference I've used since I got it.

Rebecca and Kevin have created an excellent resource for HIPAA Security Practictioners. They provide practical guidance for interpreting the HIPAA security rule, in terms that the non-security professional can understand. Especially of value are the ideas on how to "implement" the security rule, broken down by the relevant HIPAA security standard. I agree with the practical approach that they take within the book, as it is consistent with the HIPAA message that I have also been communicating over the past several years. There are also useful lists of items needed to maintain security compliance after implementation. This is a good book for the novice and experienced privacy/security professional. It is nice to see that someone has compiled this much useful information into one book. Nice job ! This is a must have book if you are a Security of Privacy Officer.

The guide layout is very easy to follow and provides the reader with a clear and concise roadmap for beginning or maintaining HIPAA compliance.

Very well done.

As the title states, the book provides a very practical guide to HIPAA Privacy and Security. I used this book as a key reference to understanding the HIPAA privacy and security rule and in building a comprehensive roadmap (project plan) for compliance -- nicely done!

I strongly recommend the book to all Security Professionals that are working to build an environment based on standards of good practice -- including HIPAA compliance.

For all the people out there looking for a comprehensive and thorough, plain-language explanation of the HIPAA security rule, who then complain about not having a clue about what next steps should be taken, the complaints should cease and the excuses should disappear after reading this book. "The Practical Guide to HIPAA Privacy and Security Compliance" not only "talks the talk" but the authors allow the reader to "walk the talk" as well, The appendices are invaluable resource. As a healthcare compliance consultant, I definitely will be recommending this book to my clients as well as apply some of the implemmentation suggestions with my clients during my own engagements.

Well done Beaver and Herold!!!

This is a complete primer on intellectual property and its value to the enterprise. Key issues that are addressed include:

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)- this is probably the most important discussion in the book because it continues to be controversial.

Complete discussions of all aspects of intellectual property law as it pertains to cyberspace. The clarification of the protections afforded to patent holders that are not given to trademark holders is invaluable. In addition, I learned much about the value of patents and how a business model can be developed around patents alone. I particularly liked the discussion of patent ownership (employee inventor vs. company to which the patent was assigned). This alone makes the book worth reading.

Case studies - many of the case studies which are used throughout the book focused on pending court cases when the book was published. Many have now been resolved, the resolution of which open more questions and further cloud issues. I'd like to see an update or second edition that provides closure.

Excellent introduction to technical issues. The author has a knack for reducing the key elements into easy-to-understand chunks of information that teach non-technical readers quite a lot about technology.

If you buy one book on intellectual property law from a cyber-business perspective, this is the one to get.

I am a senior engineer for network security operations who frequently reviews technical books. I was hesitant to read "CyberRegs," given its "Business Guide" subtitle. Noticing the book mentioned controversial topics like the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), Napster, and the DeCSS case, I decided I'd give "CyberRegs" a try. That proved to be a wise decision, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone worried about the future of the Internet.

The book is exceptionally well-written, with a clear style and a welcome lack of typos (gasp). In a former life I read plenty of boring, repetitive policy books, but I had no trouble digesting "CyberRegs."

The book is arranged around the themes of copyright, patents, electronic signatures, and privacy. "CyberRegs" gives both sides of each argument, but wisely includes the authors own helpful opinion. (I was pleased to see the author share many of the security community's views on the DMCA, Napster, and so on.) Because Zoellick presents balanced arguments, readers will understand the opposition's complaints and can more effectively counter them.

"CyberRegs" was written to help business people engage in the debates and legislation shaping the Internet. Along the way the reader gains a solid historical understanding of how we arrived at the current state of affairs. Would you believe that software or business methods weren't patentable until recently? Would you believe the United States was the world's most egregious intellectual property pirate until 1891? Given this background, readers gain a sense of why policies developed, and how one can help influence the present and future of the Internet.

I found no major weaknesses in this book or its arguments, but I have two technical/security comments. First, "Web bugs" can be used to transfer more information than an IP address; some use "Web bugs" to validate email addresses. Second, giving customers access to data collected by businesses opens bigger doors for malicious hackers to manipulate that data. Readers may share these concerns, which the author doesn't address.

"CyberRegs" seems marketed as a "business guide," and speaks in part to "business people." As a technical person, I gained the knowledge needed to better defend my opinions on copyright, patents, electronic signatures, and privacy. Technical staff looking for the "why" of state of the Internet will probably love this book -- I certainly did!

(Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from the publisher.)

Although CyberRegs has a much wider audience, my perspective of this book is that of a competitive intelligence specialist. The four topic areas covered, from a CI specialist's point of view are illuminating.

The first two topics, copyrights and patents, are the foundation of intellectual property and by extension, corporate and shareholder value. The author's discussion of both copyrights and patents expose loopholes that can work for or against you, depending on which side you are on. One theme the author repeatedly addresses is the fact that copyright and patent law is lagging behind the technology. He cites numerous case studies, all of which you will either applaud or condemn depending on which side of the issue you happen to be. As a CI specialist who engages in "white ops" (collection of competitive intelligence using legal methods), I was somewhat dismayed by aspects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) because it draws legal boundaries that didn't previously exist. The CI community needs to be aware of this particular law because what was heretofore "white ops" may fall under black ops (illegal intelligence gathering) under the provisions of the DMCA.

The more technical topics, electronic signatures and privacy, are presented in the same balanced and thought-provoking way as copyrights and patents. Having recently read Bruce Schneier's SECRETS & LIES I had some insights into the technical aspects, but the nuances that Mr. Zoellick brings to these topics makes for compelling reading. He manages to raise thorny issues and provide answers from both sides of the issue.

Overall this is an invaluable book that should be read by anyone who seeks to understand the current state of intellectual property laws, the challenges imposed by the connected world, or how the laws and challenges combine to change the playing field. As stated above, the DMCA alone will have wide implications in my profession, and is certain to affect business operations and corporate policy in far ranging ways.

Laws relating to patents and copyrights are always moving targets, but at this time they are running on jets. The speed with which technology is changing how we use things has left the legal system struggling to understand, much less keep up. However, it is a critical part of our society at large, as well as how we do business now and in the future. Therefore, all citizens need to understand the basics of the law and it is unconscionable that anyone in business would not understand the rules of copyrights and patents to a high degree. Yes, it is possible to hire lawyers, but they are expensive and cannot be with you every moment of the business day.
This backdrop serves to demonstrate how critical this book is to the management of the modern business. Since an Internet presence that allows for interaction is nearly mandatory, this could be the most important book you read this year. It already has a place on my best books of the year list for 2002. What makes the book so impressive is that the author pounds home the point that copyrights and patents are not fundamental rights, but are in fact derived under the basic notion of the common good. They are designed to encourage the creators of new things to make them available for the general society, while reserving certain key aspects for the inventors. The case involving the music swapping company Napster is examined in detail without a step up on a virtual soapbox. Zoelick also recapitulates the famous legal case over the video cassette recorder, which went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the decision turned out to be a sensible one.
The end result of that case should provide all of us with an object lesson concerning new technologies. It is clear that fighting the new technologies is at best a holding action rather than an effective long-term strategy. The best solution is simply to ferret out the best ways in which your business can open new markets and profit from the changes. Yes, changes in copyright law take many years to resolve, but in the end, the market and society will get the greatest good, which is the way it must be.
This is a book that should be required reading of anyone in business who makes decisions concerning intellectual property. In fact, some of the chapters are recommended for any citizen concerned about how our society is changing, as the effective resolution of these issues may have a dramatic affect on our economy.

As book titles go, CyberRegs: A Business Guide to Web Property, Privacy, and Patents sounds uninteresting. Fortunately, what the book lacks in flashy titles, it makes up in interesting content. CyberRegs is an engrossing and sometimes angry look at the perverse nature of patent law.

When many people think of the Internet and e-commerce, they think of a series of open and non-proprietary standards that enable computers to speak networking Esperanto. As the book shows, that does not necessarily jive with reality. Many companies have tried to homestead on pioneering technologies and use them to gain a lock on the market. Author Bill Zoellick cites numerous cases -- many still in litigation -- to illustrate this point.

The book starts with a brief background of the nature of copyright and patent law and doesn�t assume any type of legal background or expertise. Zoellick�s writing style is easy going but to the point, and he accomplishes his goal of examining the disruption and instability that the Web has introduced into the world of intellectual property.

Zoellick looks at the Web from many different perspectives, from business and legal to technological and political. While some may think they don't need a book about Internet law and regulations, the reality is that, for any organization doing business on the Internet, there exists the strong possibility that they may be infringing on someone else�s intellectual property rights.

One of the most controversial issues that the book looks at is one-click patents issued to Amazon.com. The one-click patents preclude any Internet business that has not licensed the technology from Amazon.com from enabling their customer�s to complete their purchasing experience with a single mouse click. The question of whether one-click is even patentable is a controversial one. Those who say it is, feel that Amazon.com is protecting a vital business asset. Those who don�t support it say that it only serves to stifle productivity. Zoellick gives numerous other examples.

CyberRegs also goes into such issues as digital signature and privacy. Zoellick does not take sides, but provides a fair-minded look at the debate between greater and lesser control of privacy and the Internet. The book also tackles such controversial topics as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Napster and DeCSS.

In part 3, Zoellick provides an excellent overview of digital certificates. He goes into detail on the parameters around the groundbreaking E-SIGN (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce) act. Many have complained that E-SIGN is extremely light on details and specifics, which it is.However, Zoellick says that with E-SIGN, Congress took the approach that we don�t really understand how to do business on the Internet so issues surrounding authentication of electronic signatures are not necessarily easy problems to solve.With that, Congress restricted government action to the parts of the problem where they are directly involved and required.Congress recognized that for any effective solution, markets need time to develop and patience is required. Although this approach is hard when dealing with Internet time, it is nonetheless necessary.

You don�t have to be a lawyer to appreciate CyberRegs. Anyone who wants to have a business presence on the Net should read this book so as not to get involved in a legal tussle. While John Grisham may own the legal fiction market, CyberRegs is as close to a non-fiction legal thriller as you can get.

This is a great book for the non-lawyer. It explains not only IP law, but also the ramifications that these regulations can have to your business as a holder of IP.

A ravenous beastie, technology eats everything it touches. Our daily lives, the way we shop, how we communicate, our work habits, the way we entertain ourselves, and how we exist day by day have all irreversibly transmogrified in the maw of the computer and information age. Now we live like network packets, shooting from node to node with rarely a pause, gathering and transporting information. In degrees of busyness, we've outdone the bees. Such a tsunami of change has to impact the way we govern ourselves. And of course it does. Not even the law escapes technology.

Patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets. Technology has chiseled into each one of these modes of intellectual property protection. But the issues remain complicated and hairy, and this book, with text thick as shag carpet, provides a detailed starting point for exploring the legal implications of technology.

After a thorough introduction to the United States' legal system, some 75 pages worth, the book dives into patent law. Any questions about the nature of patents such as cost, usefulness, novelty, nonobviousness, infringement, or validity receive apt treatment. The book even throws in an overview of the significant Patent Reform Act, not yet passed as of this writing. This Act promises to overhaul the United States patent system, potentially obsoleting some of the information presented. Concerning the patentability of computer programs, the whole drama gets laid out like an adventure tale. Computer programs didn't become patentable overnight. Some even doubted their eligibility for protection.

Trade secrets and their discontents, such as reverse engineering, receive a bulky chapter. These issues affect nearly all technology employees. Use caution, because tricks, shortcuts, or streamlined processes taken from one company to the next could, depending on the circumstances, misappropriate secret information. And when that happens the lawyers come out swinging.

The fuzzy nature of Copyright law receives as much tree bark as patent law. Questions arise on this subject often, especially in regard to the internet. Can I copy an image and put it on my site? Can I legally download digital music? What if a .jpeg doesn't have a copyright notice? The book provides a suitable background to answer these. And, similar to patents, the copyrightablility of computer programs also weaved a loopy route. At first they received overwhelming protection, which disturbed judges, who then abstracted, filtered, and compared protection down to a mere kernal of expression. The entire yarn gets told.

The book ends with chapters on trademarks, domain name issues, tort liability, privacy law, and issues related to contracts, particularly "shrink-wrap" and "click-wrap" licenses. At over 600 pages, the book defies summary. Prepare for a full brain.

Along the way, excerpts from actual court cases, including many Supreme Court decisions, bolster the main text. Not only that, a case study, CoolEdge, runs through the entire length of the book, elucidating murky concepts with comprehensible examples.

This book won't turn readers into lawyers, but it will open up a world of technology law to those with the gusto to brave its dense contents. Some chapters take upwards of two or three hours to complete. But the effort offers great rewards of legal knowledge at a detailed level unobtainable in most survey books or on FAQ websites. Best of all, no legal knowledge is required upon entry. Absolute beginners can comprehend every word in this book. As such it provides a great, but ardous, starting point for technology law.

I bought this book because it was the most recent publication purporting to explain technology law. Although I thought the price was a little high, I sure got more than my money's worth. This book really covers the most important and interesting topics in technology law, and it does so extremely well. Biotech, Internet patents, privacy, obscenity, copyrights, trade secrets, click-wraps, domain names, design protection, strategies for computer programs, the Microsoft Antitrust case-you name it and this book has got it. The book also deals with international matters, such as the WTO, and international strategic considerations. The court case examples are well selected, and the editing is superb. They are not to short to be trivial, but not to long either. I also visited the Web site mentioned on the back cover. It already has a bunch of helpful updates, including the Napster and DVD encryption (DeCSS) debates, among many others. This really is a great book. I recommend it highly.

Call this book Release 2.0! It's a fine upgrade from Prof. Burgunder's prior release.

With the growth in the internet and the advent of business method patents, interest in patent, trademark and copyright issues has surged to new heights. Awareness and integration of these legal aspects into our management of technology is absolutely vital for the future.

I practice law. Specifically, I work on intellectual property matters. I am also building two websites. As a result, I am keen on staying on top of my field. Professor Burgunder's new treatise is an important addition to the literature in this field. He writes in an accessible manner: open to students, interested people and legal practitioners alike. In addition, the arrangement of the book is well thought-out: you don't have to read or study it from the first chapter. Depending on your familiarity with this field, you can select topics and areas to review or you can build a college course around the book.

I was also delighted to see that Dr. Burgunder has been intelligent in the use of a web site to keep the book current.

If you are interested in technology and legal issues, this is a great book to help you! I recommend it heartily.

A splendid piece of work! It is timely and up-to-date with all the most recent & important technological law issues, including the Internet. It contains sophisticated analysis, but in an easy-to-read style. I particularly liked how the Internet is treated in the context of associated technology issues, rather than segregated as a separate unrelated universe. A big plus is the web site connected to the book where Burgunder provides updates about current issues --- such as Napster, Internet linking, and the antitrust case against Microsoft. This will keep the material fresh for years to come! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about technology law. It's a winner!

This is the type of writing you only get from experienced business writers. This is not magazine type writing..this is highly thought provoking and very well written. Every Congressman in America should read this book....if they did they would realize big business is not where its at. Good read!

To anyone who wonders why things aren't stable any more (and I mean everything from businesses to social relationships), this book is the Rosetta Stone. Blankenhorn takes Moore's Law from an obscure, techno-driven curiosity and maps out exactly how it continues to pulverize our social and commercial expectations. If you've ever scratched your head over why the American dream never seems to materialize in the marketplace, this book makes sense of it all. An enjoyable read, too, from the irascible journalist who's never been afraid to tell it like it is.

Dana has produced an excellenbt book on Moore's Law, perhaps the most determinative "Law" of the end of the 20th Century. Technology isn't easy, but this book is an easy read about the how and what and why of computer technology. Good for teenaged kids too.

Want to know how to predict the future? Want to understand your kids' world?

Then you need this book. In just a few hours you'll get to know the forces that control our working lives, and the heroes behind it. People like Gordon Moore, Jack Kilby, and Hedy Lamarr. (Yes, THAT Hedy Lamarr.)

This isn't a technogeek kind of book. It's a simple, down to Earth, and readable book. It's filled with stories and anecdotes you'll nod your head with, and some stories "ripped from the headlines" you will see with new eyes.

Best of all, this book does not leave you hanging. You will know the secret to accelerating change, and to decelerating it. You'll also be introduced to new technologies that will drive future progress.

All in a book you can read in a single evening. Not a bad deal.

In this day and age of hypemeisters and hacks, Blankenhorn's observations stand out like a beacon of truth. His lateral obsevrations not only make sense, but thoughfully demonstrate how Moore's Law impacts everything you do on a daily basis. Thanks to this book, what was once relegated to microchips and silicon can now be seen in a much larger sense, explaining why so many are so bewildered at the lack of stability in their lives. Want to know the deeper reasons why we're all stressing out? Read it. A great piece for thinking people interested in making sense of our strange new world.

It's an enormous book, but then, it covers an enormous amount of material. It has easily justified its cost: it's already saved me from contacting my attorney over certain issues that I just needed confirmation on, and I expect it'll shorten the conversations I do need to have.

One thing to note: even with its size, there are a few instances where you get the "on the one hand", but no "on the other". Of course, when you are digging down to that level, it's probably time to call your attorney in any case.

If you are a digital media focused contractor/consultant/freelancer, an entrepreneur across any industry, or above the director-level within your organization's IT/IS group, this book needs to be on your desk!

Since the mid-90s I have been working within the digital world. I currently head the digital practice for an advertising agency with regional, national, and global clients.

Since I picked this book up over a month ago, I have referenced it at least 3-5 times per week.

I have used it for:
- guidance (web and mobile deal making)
- reference (open source licensing and usage)
- direction (~40 sample agreements and a critical section around beta-testing agreements)
- education/learning (clearing content for applications and legal rules for mashups)
- curiosity (the entire video game deals chapter)
- enlightenment ("clickwrap" verse "browserwrap" agreements)

If you have ever:
- googled for example legal agreements
- reused someone elses website T&C, privacy statement, etc.
- thought about creating a site/app that utilizes user generated content, scraping, mash ups, syndication, social media distribution, etc.
- engaged with a company as a vendor or used technology vendors
- worked with global-focused businesses, trademarks, or digital properties
- looked into patenting an idea/invention
- started your own digital-based company
- (and I could go on and on and on)

... then get this book!! It is a companion. It is a reference. It is a critical resource to have in your office.

--------------------------

Random learning: It is legal to use a competitors trademarked brand names within the meta-tags of your site.

As an IT/Digital French to English legal translator I found this book to be very clear, practical and complete.

The first half of the book consists of explanations of concepts (with lots of clear examples), while the second part is comprised of 20 varied relevant (and downloadable -- on their site) legal documents.

Ken Fagan
www.droit-ntic-traduit.com

This legal overview is absolutely what every sw marketer needs: if (s)he is new, it's a great initiation, and for a more war-worn guy like me (20+ years...) it's a great recapitulation of all you thought you knew, but had forgot, plus all the stuff you just never knew. One can use it as a reference, as a do-it-yourself, or as a backgrounder to prepare for working with a lawyer. The latter is the most probable scenario, but the book will save you tons of money for your lawyer's not having to spend time educating you and your team first.

The law is the law, and you are far better off knowing the laws as it applies to IT about copyright, trademarks, domain names, software patents, trade secrets, NDA's, NCA's, open source licenses, consulting agreements, SLA's, beta test agreements, EULA's, SaaS TOS, commercial distribution agreements, privacy, digital content agreements, videogame publishing agreements, foreign distribution agreements, and what happens if you try to sell your encryption software to a Denied Person.

Oh my aching head!

Fortunately, Gene Landy has summarized all the above and more into language understandable by people not attorney's, added 38 juicy contracts and forms and authored a book you need, now: "The IT / Digital Legal Companion: A Comprehensive Business Guide to Software, IT, Internet, Media and IP Law".

I've been reading up on Software as a Service, chapter 13, and in 24 pages Gene did an excellent job of summarizing what you need to know about SaaS from a legal point of view. This book, published in June, is very up to date, logically organized and includes the seasoned judgment of a practicing IT attorney.

If you are in the IT industry, you have no excuse for not owning this book.

Rogers' book is an easy-to-understand, intuitive and state of the art guide to trial lawyers for getting an edge on the opposition. For some of us, "technology" is a four letter word. Rogers de-mystifies it, and shows how simple it is to use it to persuade ... and to win.

I have to say this book was an excellent guide to making me a better trial lawyer. I have used PowerPoint and Sanction before, but this guide made it so simple I'll probably use them in every trial.

The examples and the straightforward approach by the author (with lots of pictures to demonstrate) makes this one a winner.

Enjoy.

I just finished this book. As a trial lawyer, I have used various trial presentation methods for years. I am always looking for new ideas, however. This book, perhaps because it is written by a trial lawyer, had excellent examples that were very helpful to me.

Use of technology in the courtroom is a fast evolving area of trial practice with which most lawyers are not familiar. This book is a practical, easy to use guide which emphasizes the utility of programs such as Powerpoint and Sanction II in a real courtroom setting. It uses typical case fact patterns to provide context for the learning experience. The layout is graphic-intensive, clear and simple to follow.

As a practitioner who is constantly seeking to upgrade my level of advocacy at trial, I can highly recommend investing in Mike Rogers' new book.