Starting a New Company? Here’s Your Checklist. In Social Media on April 2013 at 4:25 am Reblogged from Corporate Counsel : Ever wonder what’s required or recommended to set up a new company? Yes, incorporation is an obvious first step, but there is much more to delineating a company as a separate legal entity than just
Posts Categorized / Corporate
Top Six Legal Issues Facing Today’s Online Media Companies
Social and digital media has grown exponentially in the last decade, with enterprising companies creating uncontested market space in the online and digital industries. Whether your company is engaged in a new search engine, an analytics platform, or ecommerce; social media as a tool has become a necessary component of both the customer acquisition process and marketing
Instagram’s New Policy: Yes, it does mean what you think.
You do have the rights to your Instagram photos, but you share the rights to your photos. That means when someone pays Instagram to use your photos, you can’t do anything about it (like litigate.) There’s been a lot of talk on the web about two issues related to Instagram’s newest policy updates: The tech-lovers pointing
UK LAW REFORMERS URGE SOCIAL MEDIA CLAMPDOWN
UK LAW REFORMERS URGE SOCIAL MEDIA CLAMPDOWN In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on November 2012 at 5:40 pm Social media is facing an overhaul of the contempt laws prompted by the rise of Twitter and bloggers. The Law Commission, the UK government’s law reform watchdog is set to publish a consultation paper yesterday
3 Key Things for Your Social Media Training
Social media is about interaction, and for growing companies that interaction is critical. However, both companies and employees make mistakes, whether it be on social media platforms or in some other aspect of their job. Instead of reacting to that mistake, sometimes (most of the time) it is better to preempt that mistake with a
Angel Financing: 4 Things Startups Must Know
Angel financing is loosely defined, as it runs the gamut in terms of executions. We’ve seen angels simply hand a check to a startup; while other angels hire aggressive large law firms with armies of associates working on an angel financing round. Because the experience with angel financing can vary, it’s important for startups and entrepreneurs to understand some of the basic
VC Financing for Startups: Understanding Cost Drivers
Originally published in Corporate Counsel NY There has been a lot of debate on the legal costs associated with financing rounds for startups. Fred Wilson’s challenge to startup lawyers called for legal costs to be reduced to $5,000.00 for a seed financing round. The issue, brought up by many lawyers is this: (1) large firms
VC Financing for Startups: Understanding Cost Drivers
There has been a lot of debate on the legal costs associated with financing rounds for startups. Fred Wilson’s challenge to startup lawyers called for legal costs to be reduced to $5,000.00 for a seed financing round. The issue, brought up by many lawyers is this: (1) large firms are not going to drop their
Are Twitter Followers a “Client List” – and Who Owns the Account?
When you start tweeting as part of your corporate position, the lines between what is a personal Twitter account and one made for business purposes is blurred – especially in the world of startups, new ventures, and media companies. What happens when you leave the company? Who has ownership rights over the Twitter account - the company, or the
Are Twitter Followers a “Client List” – and Who Owns the Account?
When you start tweeting as part of your corporate position, the lines between what is a personal Twitter account and one made for business purposes is blurred – especially in the world of startups, new ventures, and media companies. What happens when you leave the company? Who has ownership rights over the Twitter account - the company, or the
Personal Liability of Corporate Shareholders
Personal Liability of Corporate Shareholders In Entrepreneurs and Social Media on July 2012 at 6:42 pm Originally published in Corporate Counsel NY. It’s a little known fact (especially in the startup world) that New York privately held corporations can hold the top 10 shareholders of such corporations personally liable for any unpaid compensation to the corporation’s employees. The reason
5 Issues for Employers re Social Media – Infographic
5 Issues for Employers re Social Media – Infographic In Entrepreneurs and Social Media, Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on June 2012 at 3:04 pm Article source: http://socialmedialegal.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/top-ten-issues-for-employers-re-social-media/
Louisiana law extends sex offender notice to social media
benish shah, law, law firms, lawmakers, louisiana, politics, sardar law firm, sheheryar sardar, social media Louisiana law extends sex offender notice to social media In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on June 2012 at 2:16 pm Article source: http://socialmedialegal.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/louisiana-law-extends-sex-offender-notice-to-social-media/
SLF Named “Best Law Firm for Startups” by BroadStreet Times
For the full article, http://broadstreettimes.com/best-resources-for-startups/
Netflix’s Facebook app could be illegal – Maybe.
Netflix’s Facebook app is up and running in all 46 countries where it offers service — all except America. Because of a law referring to “prerecorded video cassette tapes or similar audio visual materials.” The video streaming service is blocked from creating a Facebook app in America because of a 1980s law. The law, Video
Employers Asking for Facebook Passwords Could be Violating Federal Law (Really)
According to recent reports, certain employers across the country are demanding the social networking information from job applicants as part of the interview process — including photos and personal messages not shared with anyone else; they want user names and passwords for social networking and email websites from all applicants. In one case, the Associated Press
Uploading Images on Pinterest Can Get You Sued?
Pintrerest, one of the fastest growing sites in the social media world has created an interesting problem for users. While scouring the web, you found high quality images on the latest trends in gothic interior decoration that captured your aesthetic. You save them onto your computer and upload them on your Pinterest profile. It immediately
Tweet Issues
During a Kansas Youth in Government field trip to the state Capitol on November 21, Emma Sullivan, a teenager, Tweeted: “Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.” She did actually say anything to Kansas Governor Brownback, and stated that the Tweet was in regards to a personal
Prevent Piracy or Innovation?
On November 16, 2011 Congress began review of The Protect IP Act (PIPA) is a U.S. Senate bill introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy and its House counterpart Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Since their introduction in May 2011, the bills have been met with severe backlash, with opposers calling them “innovation killers” and “patently unjust.” On the first day of hearings even Rep.
Stop Piracy, or Innovation?
On November 16, 2011 Congress began review of The Protect IP Act (PIPA) is a U.S. Senate bill introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy and its House counterpart Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Since their introduction in May 2011, the bills have been met with severe backlash, with opposers calling them “innovation killers” and “patently unjust.” On the first day of hearings even Rep.
The International Landscape: A Broad View on Intellectual Property Protection
Despite the harmonization of intellectual property law and policy seen in the numerous international treaties between countries, there is no single copyright or trademark law that protects a work in every country in the world. To avoid legal problems, such as property theft, companies which conduct or seek to conduct business abroad should take the
The International Landscape: A Broad View on Intellectual Property Protection
Despite the harmonization of intellectual property law and policy seen in the numerous international treaties between countries, there is no single copyright or trademark law that protects a work in every country in the world. To avoid legal problems, such as property theft, companies which conduct or seek to conduct business abroad should take the
Social media has schools on defense
Our very own social media maestro, Sheheryar T. Sardar, got interviewed by Business Insurance about schools going on the defensive with social media. Take a read at this excerpt: Social media has schools on defense The circumstances under which a school might find itself in court over an item of social media content are fairly
This Quarter in Venture Capital: Dealflow and Funding At Highest Levels
The venture capital database CB Insights has just released its report of investment from the second quarter of 2011, and based on the deals it’s tracked, venture capital funding is at a nine-quarter high – both in terms of the amount of funding and the number of deals. Compared to this time last year, deals are up
Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid for Start-ups
July 30, 2011 Book launch party! Sandstorm: a leaderless revolution in the digital age July 26, 2011 How to Start Your Own Start-Up Entrepreneurs Event @Sardar Law Firm Article source: http://newyorkentrepreneurlaw.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/top-5-mistakes-to-avoid-for-start-ups/
Finra authorizes regulatory notice on non-traded REITs, private placements
Finra is continuing to shake up the way broker-dealers show the value of illiquid investments such as non-traded real estate investment trusts and private placements on clients’ account statements. Last week, the board of governors of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. authorized staff to issue a regulatory notice on the amendments to the rule.
10 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes an Entrepreneur Can Make (#s10-5)
July 30, 2011 Book launch party! Sandstorm: a leaderless revolution in the digital age July 26, 2011 How to Start Your Own Start-Up Entrepreneurs Event @Sardar Law Firm Article source: http://newyorkentrepreneurlaw.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/10-ways-to-avoid-the-biggest-mistakes-an-entrepreneur-can-make-s10-5/
Trend: Registering Businesses in Singapore
The recently released Monthly Digest of Statistics Singapore, by the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Trade Industry, shows a sharp increase in the number of new companies registered in Singapore in the year 2010. 29,798 new companies were registered in 2010, recording an 11.4% increase over the previous year total of 26,414 companies. So far for the
Simple Facts: Microloans & Entrepreneurs
The Small Business Administration’s Microloan Program is a means for an entrepreneur, start-up, or already existing business to acquire a small, short-term (6 year maximum) loan of up to $50,000 (with the average being about $13,000). They are a relatively easy to obtain and smart alternative to traditional bank loans meant to spur business growth.
Foreign entrepreneurs?
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Giving more foreign entrepreneurs visas could help lower unemployment and jumpstart the economy, a nonpartisan research organization said. The politically charged recommendation comes out of the Startup Act, a sweeping proposal released by the Kauffman Foundation Tuesday. The Act proposes giving foreign entrepreneurs more access to visas and extending green cards
Arab Spring & Social Media: about time a book got it right.
Arab Spring Social Media: about time a book got it right. In Social Media on July 2011 at 12:08 am Sandstorm distills how social media played a role in creating a global generationthat catalyzed a historic “leaderless revolution” in the greater Middle East. The Arab Spring, notably Tunisia and Egypt, harnessed the power of social media as a means to facilitate the
Facebook ‘Face Recognition’ Feature Draws Privacy Scrutiny
Facebook ‘Face Recognition’ Feature Draws Privacy Scrutiny In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on July 2011 at 3:34 am European Union data protection regulators said on Wednesday that they would investigate Facebook over a feature that uses face-recognition software to suggest people’s names to tag in pictures without their permission, and a privacy group in the
What Entrepreneurs Should Know About Angel Investors
Angel investors have an interesting rep. Most startups see them as a source of free money; someone that is wealthy and just wants to give away money. Unfortunately, there are few Willy Wonka style investors out there (offering Charlie the entire factory just for being a nice boy). Getting an Angel investor to invest in
Why you should never use legal documents on the Internet. Seriously.
Why you should never use legal documents on the Internet. Seriously. In Entrepreneurs and Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on May 2011 at 7:10 pm With the Internet so accessible it is easy to forget the unreliability of the content found online. Specifically, when it comes to legal documents, if found online, one should
What Startups Need to Know About Angel Investors
Angel investors have an interesting rep. Most startups see them as a source of free money; someone that is wealthy and just wants to give away money. Unfortunately, there are few Willy Wonka style investors out there (offering Charlie the entire factory just for being a nice boy). Getting an Angel investor to invest in your business
Why You Shouldn’t Use Legal Documents from the Internet. Seriously.
Entrepreneurs need to bootstrap, there is no doubt about that. But, often, the bootstrapping is done in the wrong arenas, which can cause grief in the not-so-far future of a startup. One of the main culprits is online legal forms, which seem like the free answer to entrepreneurial legal woes; instead those forms end up adding
Privacy… What?
Privacy has always been a big deal, with social media, the question is – where does the right to privacy exist and who guarantees this right? Justice William O. Douglas established in the 1960s that the right to privacy is a right so fundamental to the individual, is it located in the, “penumbras” and “emanations”
ISLAMIC FINANCE & INVESTMENT: THE NEXT WAVE
With the legal market saturated with lawyers in every conceivable practice area, from corporate to litigation, there are few opportunities to distinguish one’s own practice. Islamic finance however, is gaining ground as a mainstream vehicle for individual and institutional investments, mergers, property development and acquisitions. Islamic finance refers to principles of funding and investment based
Losing Your Idea Through Social Media
Before presenting an idea to an investor, companies usually ask them to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”). The NDA is viewed as critical to protect the company or individual,and their idea. In the small world of entrepreneurship, the fear of losing is a cashable idea is daunting. And then, an entrepreneur decides to take his
American Investors & Middle East Private Equity
Private Equity Legal Issues The current economic climate has forced American investors to reassess their general investment strategies in the Middle East private equity market (MEPE). Legal protections are becoming more pronounced due to the tightening of credit. Vested parties are conducting critical due diligence, assessing both the creditworthiness of the debtor parties and Return
Social Stock Trading: Sardar Law Firm on VOA
Ayesha Tanzeem of Voice of America interviews Sheheryar Sardar on the risks associated with social media in stock trading and securities. (Video and content belongs to VOA).
Social Stock Trade
Ayesha Tanzeem of Voice of America interviews Sheheryar Sardar on the risks associated with social media in stock trading and securities. Social Stock Trading Video For more information contact: Sheheryar T. Sardar, Esq. Sardar Law Firm LLC 917-740-5097sardar@sardarlawfirm.com Article source: http://globaldealflow.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/social-stock-trade/
Hiring ICs v. Employees – Social Media Interns?
Hiring ICs v. Employees – Social Media Interns? In Entrepreneurs and Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on March 2011 at 6:44 pm (1) Do you dictate the manner in which the service is carried out? (2) Do you provide the tools necessary to complete the service? (3) Do you directly supervise the service? (4)
Independent Contractor v. Employee: Misclassification Can Cost You
(1) Do you dictate the manner in which the service is carried out? (2) Do you provide the tools necessary to complete the service? (3) Do you directly supervise the service? (4) Who sets the rate of pay? (5) Are you able to evaluate the services rendered? (6) Does the individual need prior permission for
Protecting Your Blog from Violative Content
One of the most important statutes to consider when discussing the legal liabilities and obligations of the social networking sites is Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Section 512(c) removes liability for copyright infringement from websites that allow users to post content, as long as the site has a mechanism in place whereby the copyright owner can request the
Entrepreneurs & Contracts: the basics
Before you even start a company, or else plan on developing professional relationships with external agencies, prospective partners and employees, it is critical to understand the laws of contract. When there is a dispute, and often there is at least one during the development phase, all parties will look to the contract. As such, having
Corporate Social Media: Why Adoption Must Be a Collaborative Endeavor
Corporations tend to fragment specific tasks, and for good reason. Efficiency requires structural fragmentation, a calibrated process to move along something as complex as a large company, a living organism complete with working parts. Each department has its mandate and performs within the bounds of its directives, whether it’s marketing, compliance, communications, or accounting. But,
Social Media at Corporate Trainings
Social Media at Corporate Trainings In Social Media on February 2011 at 4:12 am (It’s not by SLF, but we love it. Great for mitigating social media risk, and for preventing social medial legal troubles) Before the world of social media the most worrisome part of a corporate training was that some people may not pay
Protecting Your Blog From Violative Content
Protecting Your Blog From Violative Content In Technology Issues and the Law on January 2011 at 9:41 pm One of the most important statutes to consider when discussing the legal liabilities and obligations of the social networking sites is Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Section 512(c) removes liability for copyright infringement from websites that allow users
Assess, Influence & Evolve: 2011
Social Media use surpassed expectations in 2010. Goldman Sachs is now pumping money into Facebook, Maryland has a law regulating social media use by political candidates, and New York courts don’t seem to attach privacy to Facebook use. With this, companies need to start taking social media risks very seriously, to follow the pace of social
Maryland’s Social Media Regulation: Political Candidates
Maryland’s Social Media Regulation: Political Candidates In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on January 2011 at 9:40 pm Article source: http://socialmedialegal.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/marylands-social-media-regulation-via-political-candidates/
Cyber Bullying
Cyber Bullying In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on January 2011 at 9:31 pm Social networking sites make cyberbullying, a type of bullying that occurs online, easier and more public than bullying through other online activities such as email and instant messaging. A 2009 study found that 17.3% of middle school students have been
Social Media Helps PREVENT a Lawsuit?!
Social Media Helps PREVENT a Lawsuit?! In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on November 2010 at 6:17 pm With companies running afoul of most regulations and boundaries through social media use, it was almost refreshing to find this story of when social media is actually a PREVENTION tool for a lawsuit. Rae Hoffman blogged
Top 4 Legal Issues in Clean Tech (we know its not Social Media, but it’s still interesting!)
Clean technologies are receiving increased attention from a variety of stakeholders today. All levels of government, from local to federal, are providing tax abatements, grants and subsidies for the development of clean technologies involving solar, wind, carbon sequestration and nanotechnology. With global warming a household name and the “green” label in vogue, clean technology is
Jurors: Have you commented on a blog?
Jurors: Have you commented on a blog? In Social Media, Technology Issues and the Law on November 2010 at 9:24 am One of the questions asked to the jury pool in Washington asked: “Have you ever written a letter-to-the-editor or ‘blog’ about any story you may have read or heard about relating to violent crime?” While
Social Media & Corporations: Assess, Influence, & Evolve
Sheheryar T. Sardar and Benish A. Shah discuss Social Media usage and risks for corporations, and the absolute need for corporate social media policies. Social Media is akin to the e-mail era: it is so convenient that it will not fade away and social media law must follow the pace of social media. The varying forms of
What Social Media Companies Should Know About the Contract
Sheheryar T. Sardar discusses Social Media companies and their potential contract issues. Social media has grown exponentially in the last decade, with enterprising companies creating uncontested market space in the online and digital industries. Whether its new search engines or unique services offered to niche markets within the browsing population, social media has transcended all
Employment Law in a Downturned Economy
Sheheryar Sardar, Esq. recently spoke at New York University on employment law and discrimination issues. The event was sponsored by the Council on the Advancement of Muslim Professionals, New York chapter (CAMP-NY). Professionals of diverse backgrounds attended the event, keen on understanding how they can protect their rights under federal and state law in a
E2: Investor Visas
Foreign investors who invest a “substantial amount of capital” in a US business, and who will develop and direct the business may apply for the E2 investor visa, if their country of citizenship has the required treaty (Pakistan has this treaty) with the US. Foreign companies whose owners are nationals of a treaty country may potentially petition their employees for the E2 visa.