Blogs

Intellectual Property

Common Myths about Copyrights and the Internet

Myth: If it’s on the Internet, it’s in the public domain. Mostly False. “Public domain” refers to works which are NOT protected by copyright law. There are only three ways in which something can be considered “public domain”: The work is not subject to copyright protection in the first place . For example, ideas and facts, titles and names, short phrases and slogans, or government works. The work has been assigned to the public domain by its creator . For example, some works may be marked “No…

November 12, 2014

Business and Financial Services

Fraud in Virginia

Fraud cases in Virginia are not only difficult to prove, but can also be challenging to plead. The well-established standard that fraud must be pleaded with particularity diverges from the “notice pleading” test that permits general allegations to suffice in most circumstances. In County of Grayson, et al. v. Ra-Tech Services , two Virginia counties brought a claim against Ra-Tech and its two principals – John Spane and Dale Sutphin – alleging fraud, fraud in the inducement, constructive fraud…

November 12, 2014

Divorce and Family Law

Protective Orders in Virginia

As I am writing this article, it is the day after the first week of NFL football games. The sole topic on the cover of sports websites, discussed on sports radio shows and covered on ESPN and other sports channels is the video in which Ray Rice brutally knocked his fiancé unconscious inside of a Las Vegas casino elevator. While this incident is both graphic and extremely unfortunate, it reminds the greater public what many family law attorneys already know to be true: domestic violence is…

October 8, 2014

Construction

D.C. Office of Planning Takes a Stand Against Pop-Ups With New Zoning Text Amendment

Sustained population growth in the District of Columbia in recent years has spurred a rapid wave of construction throughout the city as upscale condominium projects appear to spring up almost overnight to meet growing demand for housing. But while residential development has been a welcome sign of revitalization in areas from U Street to NoMa,…

September 16, 2014

Employment Law

Data Security in a Technological World

The Uniform Trade Secrets Act, adopted by 47 states including Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, generally defines protectable trade secrets as information that derives independent economic value from not being generally known or readily ascertainable and that is subject to reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy. In an age of electronic information storage…

September 12, 2014

Business and Financial Services

Restrictions in Franchise Agreements Narrowly Construed

Courts continue to interpret restrictive provisions in franchise agreements narrowly, particularly when enforcement depends on precise contractual language such as whether an agreement was “terminated” or simply expired. In this Bean, Kinney & Korman article published in the BKK Business Law Newsletter, James V. Irving explains how that distinction proved decisive in Hamden v. Total Car Franchising Corp., where most post-agreement restrictions were deemed unenforceable because the agreement…

September 2, 2014

Business and Financial Services

The Eight Corners Rule and the District of Columbia

The “eight corners rule” can determine whether an insurer must defend a claim in the District of Columbia by limiting the coverage analysis to the allegations in the complaint and the language of the insurance policy itself. In this Bean, Kinney & Korman article published in the BKK Business Law Newsletter, Jennifer O. Schiffer explains that insurers generally cannot rely on outside evidence and instead must evaluate the duty to defend based only on the complaint’s “four corners” and the…

September 2, 2014

Employment Law

Splits Are Not the Best for Business: Uncertainty after Conflicting Decisions on the Scope of Obamacare Subsidies

The recent decisions by the Fourth Circuit and the D.C. Circuit address a controversy that could have far-reaching consequences for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”). Under the ACA, states and the District of Columbia are authorized to establish health insurance market places (“exchanges”) where each state’s citizens may purchase health insurance.…

August 18, 2014

Estate Planning

New Investment Thinking for Trustees?

Traditional trust investment strategies often emphasize preserving assets through cautious, low-volatility investing, but that approach may not always best serve beneficiaries over time. In this Bean, Kinney & Korman article published in the BKK Wills, Trusts and Estates Newsletter, Jonathan C. Kinney and Jennifer O. Schiffer examine whether trustees should rethink conventional investment models and consider more growth-oriented strategies when managing trust assets. The piece explores how…

August 4, 2014

Estate Planning

Thinking of Moving to Florida? Maybe a Little Further South is a Better Option

Puerto Rico’s tax laws can offer substantial advantages for certain individuals and business owners willing to relocate, but those benefits depend on meeting strict residency and income-sourcing requirements. In this Bean, Kinney & Korman article, Jonathan C. Kinney and Samuel J. Banks explain how Puerto Rico’s Act 20 and Act 22 incentives may reduce taxes on active income, passive income, and certain capital gains for qualifying residents. The piece walks through the practical legal standards…

August 4, 2014