One-Stop Legal Shop

by Lina Maini

Well, here's an interesting concept whose time has come: JD Supra: a repository of free legal information shared by the professionals who generate it. From legal documents, legal forms, court filings to newsletters that benefit the legal community, legal consumers, the media, and the general public, you'll find it all in an easily navigable site: JD Supra.






You can also find the Beacon Bulletin there every Monday!

Contribute, stay informed and find information.

BNI Operatives: Street Smart: Web savvy.

Stay safe.

Sex Sells; Lawyers Prove It

We've covered legal marketing in numerous Bulletin issues and have imparted this known advertising truth: Sex sells. Not the generic type ad execs are prone to clone but the simple hardwiring differences between the genders. Our minds are primal-brain trained for long term survival.

This seems to be a duh-factor for most, but, and the focus of this week's Bulletin, is that even that old Mad Men maxim has cleverly reached previously untouchable, seemingly unrelated, niche markets. Specifically, the greenies. Two examples of brilliant sex/green cross marketing campaigns, using a simple advertising tool - the annual calendar are:

- The Philadelphia Eagles 2009 cheerleaders' calendar, printed on recycled paper, features the cheerleaders wearing bikinis made from 100% organic cotton and accessorized with natural stones jewelry.

- Habana Outpost, NYC's cool new eco-friendly restaurant (utensils are made from potato-based compost, they use corn cups and smoothies are processed through a bike-powered blender, $1 off if you ride the (stationary) bike yourself) offers up its 2009 Chicas Habas (Girls Gone Green) calendar on recyc paper, of course, and printed with soy ink.

And lawyers almost hit the ultimate feel-good, carbon footprint accounting, animal friendly marketing trifecta with the (possibly first ever) Beautiful Lawyers calendar to benefit Greater Boston Legal Services (whose sub charities list includes the Animal Rescue League of Boston). The Beautiful Lawyers calendar is also equal op: male and female JDs, (no bikinis, on either) but it is printed on REAL, glossy expensive paper with regular multi-color ink, no less. Sigh... Wait, we have 2010!

But now, my innate competitive NY spirit demands that the 2010 BL calendar be an Empire State version. Send in pics and charity suggestions. We'll donate our marketing advice on covering the green brownie points. NY can't get beaned on this one!

BTW, is anyone else curious about the Habana Outpost's chicken and steak menu?

BNI Operatives: Street smart; Web savvy; Green conscious; Pet friendly. (No, as far as we know, there are no plans for a Police Canine calendar for furry friend lovers.)

(This entire post may be an outpouring of the stress of enduring a 2-year presidential campaign but lately, I'm finding it easier to concentrate on wall calendars than mega-worries Wall Street, Detroit and France's new found admiration for the U.S..)

Seriously, stay safe all,

Lina

Drawing A Line In The Cement: NYCRR: Sidewalks

It's later in the year than we would normally re-issue this article but at least we are getting it in before the big freeze or snowfall.

We're tackling the issue of NYC's sidewalk maintenance, use and liability, early this year, before any unintended skating events occur on any of the City's 12,750 miles of sidewalks.

The following information pertains to the sidewalk rules and regulations for the 5 boroughs of New York City.

Sidewalk Maintenance

The sidewalk in front of any building or lot must be maintained and repaired by the property owner. Any defects must be promptly repaired. The owner of all property with four or more families is responsible for any injury caused by the owner's failure to maintain the sidewalk in a reasonably safe condition. If the repair covers more than 25 square feet of the sidewalk, the owner or contractor must obtain a Sidewalk Replacement Permit from the Department of Transportation.

Sidewalk Use

All businesses intending to use a portion of the sidewalk for daily operation, or who wish to attach to or place upon the sidewalk any items such as canopies, bike racks, benches, planters, or who wish to use a basement vault, must obtain a renewable permit or a revocable consent from the Department of Transportation. The placement of any item on the sidewalk must not interfere with the use of the sidewalk by pedestrians. A minimum of 8 feet or half the sidewalk, whichever is greater, must be kept clear between the item and any obstacle on the curbside, such as hydrants and traffic control devices. No business may prevent parking or paint the curb, sidewalk, or roadway to advertise the business.

Sidewalk Obstruction

Businesses are responsible for keeping the adjacent section of sidewalk free from all obstructions such as refuse, refuse containers, and A-frame signs to allow the free flow of pedestrian traffic. It is illegal for anyone to place or leave any box, barrel, or other moveable property (regardless of ownership) upon any public street or public place. This law applies to construction or demolition containers, which may only be placed on the street with a permit from the Department of Transportation. In addition, restaurants may not place obstructions such as stanchions or cones in the street to prevent parking or to provide ingress/egress for customers.

Snow and Ice Removal

Snow and/or ice must be removed from the sidewalk within four hours after the snow has stopped falling, or by 11 AM if snow has stopped falling after 9 PM the previous evening. If the snow or ice becomes so frozen that it cannot be removed, the sidewalk may be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust or similar suitable material within the same time limits. The sidewalk must be thoroughly cleared as soon as weather permits.

Stay safe,

Jonathan Caspian
Writer
Beacon Bulletin

IP Theft - Not If but When

Intellectual property (IP) theft is on the rise. It is of particular interest to us in that it is a challenging area of research and investigation, with which we have formidable experience but also because of the sheer laxity with which people, unintentionally, treat their personal concepts and/or corporate secrets. One of the most infamous IP hijack attempts is the one by a Pepsi employee several years ago, of rival, Coca Cola's age old secret formula. (This situation was more of a former Coke employee, turncoat cum extortionist, caught in the act.)


No longer is it the ragged thief on the sidewalk selling bootleg DVDs (although, despite recording and film industry-instigated aggressive prosecution, continues at a multi-billion dollars a year loss). Cyber thievery is the crime du jour. The mastermind cyber criminal needs only to bring in a skilled hacker (he/she may not even be old enough to vote - although we encourage everyone to get out tomorrow, Election Day '08!) and if there is a focus on your product or concept, and you've maintained it on your corporate or personal PC, it can be retrieved from the outside. For that matter, it's not just traditional IP materials that are vulnerable to cyber theft, so are your client lists, address book, confidential case file data, etc. As you can see in the CBS News clip below, there are actually hacking kits on the market.




Cyber Crime/Intellectual Property Protection Tips:

1. Have all employees, affiliated vendors.. sign confidentiality agreements. Specify the agreement to your firm's concerns.

2. Conduct specific prior IP theft prosecution background checks for any employee or potential subcontractor, vendor... who may potentially gain access to proprietary company information.

3. Change passwords. Frequently. This can be a hassle but there are off the shelf programs (roboform comes to mind immediately) that can automatically enable and track these changes for you.

For more info, there is an up-to-date, comprehensive cyber crime area on the USDOJ site.

BNI Operatives: Street smart; Web savvy.

Stay safe and VOTE!,

Lina