WRAL Tech Wire

 Title insurance - Reading the fine print

TechLaw: Most purchasers of real property, and almost all of their lenders, obtain title insurance. Title insurance, however, is not a cure all. This article addresses the coverage that title insurance provides to you and the rights of your title insurance company in dealing with a claim from you.

 'JOBS' overview: 'Jumpstart Our Business Startups' act

TechLaw: The JOBS Act signed by the President on April 5, 2012, may offer better capital-raising opportunities to many tech companies and reduce their SEC compliance burdens. But we must await SEC rulemaking to determine how useful the JOBS Act changes will be.

 Criminal background information in employment: It's not what you learn, but how you use it

TechLaw: While an employer's gathering of criminal background information for use in its hiring and promotion decisions is allowed, it nevertheless can result in a charge of discrimination if such information is not used carefully.

 Intellectual property in bankruptcy: An Overview

TechLaw: More businesses today rely on intellectual property for day-to-day operations. How might a bankruptcy proceeding affect your or your business's intellectual property rights?

 Proposed changes to tax laws may reshape estate planning landscape

TechLaw: President Obama's desired modifications to federal wealth transfer tax laws may limit your future estate planning, but you still have many tax saving opportunities during the remaining months of 2012.

 Need a manufacturing facility but don't want to own one? Try contract manufacturing and a comprehensive manufacturing agreement

TechLaw: Developing and marketing products is your expertise, not owning and operating a manufacturing facility. You want to engage a third-party manufacturer to manufacture your products, freeing you up to pursue the aspects of your business that you do most efficiently. If that is the case, you need a well-drafted written Manufacturing Agreement.

 Litigation by any other name would still be dispute resolution

TechLaw: Litigation includes many components that are often referred to interchangeably and incorrectly. Understanding the correct use of these terms is essential in gaining a working knowledge of the litigation process.

 Google-Oracle jury reaches impasse on key issue

A federal jury in San Francisco has reached an impasse on a key issue in Oracle's copyright-infringement case against Google, handing the database-software company a major setback.

Google vs. Oracle

 State settles with Abbott Labs for false drug advertising

The Chicago-based drug maker is to pay a record settlement of $100 million total to North Carolina and 45 other states over marketing tactics used for Depakote.

 When employees' Facebook posts turn into protected activity

TechLaw: The National Labor Relations Board is significantly increasing enforcement related to protecting employees' use of social media websites.

 Raleigh proposes funding for open-source government

The Raleigh City Council voted this week to include $50,000 for a hosted open data catalogue in next year's proposed fiscal budget. Council members will vote on the budget on May 15.

 Latest news on wireless, land-line services, CISPA, NYC

U.S. wireless traffic more than doubles; State laws let telephone companies end land-line services; Cybersecurity Bill revised to ease privacy concerns; 'Smart screens' to replace pay phones in NYC.

 The Limited Availability to employers of additional claims for relief in noncompetition disputes

TechLaw: The North Carolina Business Court has recently issued an opinion suggesting that, in most cases, an employer's claim for breach of a former employee's noncompetition agreement will be the employer's only possible remedy. North Carolina employers need to be aware of this limitation and take proper steps to ensure that they are able to fully protect their rights.

 Proposed patent fees under Leahy-Smith America Invents Act: Be prepared for sticker shock

TechLaw: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was signed into law on September 16, 2011, amid much fanfare. The recently proposed fees authorized by Section 10 of this Act, however, have generated more shock than fanfare.

 I've been sued for a preference (and don't feel preferred at all)

TechLaw: My business received a demand letter from a bankruptcy trustee for a bankrupt customer asking me to return payments I received for goods and services provided to the customer. Do I have to return the payments?

 Taxpayers have one more chance to avoid trouble: IRS announces new offshore voluntary disclosure program

TechLaw: In January, the IRS announced a new Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program for taxpayers with undisclosed foreign assets. The IRS warns taxpayers to come forward or risk facing severe penalties and criminal prosecution.

 Tracing the comet's tail: Metadata is now discoverable information in litigation

TechLaw: Much like tracing a comet's tail will eventually lead one's eyes to the comet, metadata are bits of information that can be traced to a piece of electronically stored information. These bits and pieces of hidden data used to be largely ignored, but they are now discoverable during litigation under North Carolina law. Business owners should plan accordingly.

 Does your company's website privacy policy pass the test?

TechLaw: Just weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with Facebook over allegedly unfair privacy practices. The Facebook(r) matter presents a lesson about important but often overlooked website privacy law that your company should consider if it has a website.

 Your federal estate and gift tax exemption - Use it or lose it?

TechLaw: All individual taxpayers have a window of opportunity for passing their assets to family members or other individuals with less gift tax than ever under current tax law. But this window is more than "half-way shut." So, immediate action is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity.

 Conservation easement opportunities: Protect natural resources, receive tax savings

TechLaw: A conservation easement may protect natural resources for future generations, while affording you substantial property, income, and estate tax savings and, at the same time, allowing you to retain title and the right to use your land for many purposes.