Welcome to "On the 50 Yard Line" The Blog of Stuart L. Pardau, Attorney, Professor and Observer of Political Economy; It’s not just about football.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Law School Debt Continues to Explode, Cal Western leads the pack

The average indebtedness figures for 2011 law graduates are stunning. Last year, 4 law schools had graduates with average debt exceeding $135,000. This year 17 law schools are above $135,000. Last year the highest average debt among graduates was $145,621 (Cal. Western); this year the highest average debt is $165,178 (John Marshall). Below are the 20 schools with the highest average law school debt among graduates (these figures do not include undergraduate debt).

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2012/03/quickly-exploding-law-graduate-debt.html

FTC Issues Final Report on Privacy Best Practices for Businesses

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's chief privacy policy and enforcement agency, issued a final report setting forth best practices for businesses to protect the privacy of American consumers and give them greater control over the collection and use of their personal data. In the report, "Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: Recommendations For Businesses and Policymakers," the FTC also recommends that Congress consider enacting general privacy legislation, data security and breach notification legislation, and data broker legislation.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/03/privacyframework.shtm

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Monday, March 19, 2012

Apple Announces Plans to Initiate Dividend and Share Repurchase Program

Subject to declaration by the Board of Directors, the Company plans to initiate a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share sometime in the fourth quarter of its fiscal 2012, which begins on July 1, 2012.

Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a $10 billion share repurchase program commencing in the Company’s fiscal 2013, which begins on September 30, 2012. The repurchase program is expected to be executed over three years, with the primary objective of neutralizing the impact of dilution from future employee equity grants and employee stock purchase programs.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/03/19Apple-Announces-Plans-to-Initiate-Dividend-and-Share-Repurchase-Program.html

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Chinese Authors Sue Apple for Copyright Infringement


A group of 22 Chinese authors have filed a claim against U.S. technology group Apple, alleging its App Store sells unlicensed copies of their books, Chinese state mediareported on Sunday.
The group, the Writers Rights Alliance, petitioned Apple last year to stop electronic distribution of the writers' books and had earlier persuaded BaiduChina's largest search engine, to stop publishing their material on its Baidu Library produc



http://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinese-writers-group-sues-apple-124128015.html

HHS Announces First Enforcement Action Under HITECH Act Breach Notification Rule

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST) has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) $1,500,000 to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules, Leon Rodriguez, Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), announced today.  BCBST has also agreed to a corrective action plan to address gaps in its HIPAA compliance program.  The enforcement action is the first resulting from a breach report required by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act Breach Notification Rule.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/03/20120313a.html

Friday, March 9, 2012

Activist Shareholder, Daniel Loeb seeks to Gain Seats on Yahoo! Board


After spending years working behind the scenes to push for change, the hedge fund manager is once again openly admonishing management and battling a corporate board. The target: Yahoo.
His firm, Third Point, has amassed a 6 percent stake in the struggling Internet company, and he intends to propose a slate of four directors, including himself, at the company’s annual meeting. He has also sketched out a turnaround strategy for Yahoo that does not necessarily match management’s vision.



http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/activist-investor-charts-plan-to-revitalize-yahoo/

The New York Mets, Its A Wonderful Life and On the Road

Here is a wonderful excerpt:

"There’s a core American debate between “On the Road” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “On the Road” suggests that happiness is to be found through freedom, wandering and autonomy. “It’s a Wonderful Life” suggests that happiness is found in the lifelong attachments that precede choice. It suggests that restraints can actually be blessings because they lead to connections that are deeper than temporary self-interest.

The happiness research suggests that “It’s a Wonderful Life” is correct and “On the Road” is an illusion. So I’ll die a Mets fan, exaggerating their potential, excusing their deficiencies. "


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/opinion/brooks-the-things-we-dont-choose.html?_r=1&ref=columnists

ABA Asks Courts to Consider Foreign Privacy Laws


The American Bar Association’s (“ABA’s”) House of Delegates adopted a non-binding resolution urging courts to consider foreign data protection and privacy laws when resolving discovery issues. The full text of the resolution is as follows:
“RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges that, where possible in the context of the proceedings before them, U.S. federal, state, territorial, tribal and local courts consider and respect, as appropriate, the data protection and privacy laws of any applicable foreign sovereign, and the interests of any person who is subject to or benefits from such laws, with regard to data sought in discovery in civil litigation.”


http://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2012/02/articles/american-bar-association-asks-courts-to-consider-foreign-privacy-laws/

Copyright and Photography

A very good summary/primer courtesy of Business Insider...

http://www.businessinsider.com/photography-and-the-law-copyright-issues-2012-2

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Friday, March 2, 2012

Barry Diller Funded Company, Aereo, Sued for Copyright Infringement

Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, and several other television broadcasters filed two major copyright infringement lawsuits against Aereo, a service that's planning to launch in the New York area on March 14th to allow consumers the ability to watch broadcast television online through digital streaming.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/aereo-barry-diller-stream-tv-online-296426

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