#attorney software review

[rivalsforlife]

Ace Attorney 456 Tokyo Game Show Information Masterpost

Since I haven't seen all the information collected in one place, this post SHOULD be a comprehensive review of everything revealed today - though please let me know if I missed anything important.

New Trailer and Release Date

We got a new trailer for the 456 collection, which covers (most of) what I'm going to say in this post, and a release date of January 25, 2024!

New Features

Language Support: These games are now available in seven languages: Japanese, English, French, German, Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese, along with voice dubs for each of these. These are some of the first times some of the games (in particular 5 and 6) are officially translated to many of these languages.

DLC: The previously DLC-exclusive cases Turnabout Reclaimed and Turnabout Time Traveler will be added to the game for free, along with previously DLC-exclusive costumes. You can dress up Phoenix in the Tigre outfit from the beginning!

QOL: As well, any of the quality of life features from the Great Ace Attorney Chronicles have been added to the 456 collection. This includes an episode/chapter select unlocked from the start, so you can skip straight to your favorite sections, autoplay and story mode, and a backlog/history to review recent text.

Art Gallery: The game will also include an "art gallery" which includes concept art for the games. This will also include special artworks commissioned exclusively for this collection, some of which are unlocked after beating each game and unlocking each trilogy.

Orchestra Hall: There is also an "orchestra hall" where you can listen to what seems to be the full soundtrack for all three games (though I haven't verified this), along with orchestral tracks from the 15th anniversary and 2019 orchestra concerts.

There are also two new "trilogy exclusive" songs: "Apollo Justice - A New Era Begins! 2024", and "Trucy's Theme - Bring It In, Everyone". The new "a new era begins" remix might possibly be what they're playing in the trailer. "Bring It In, Everyone" is distinct from Trucy's main theme, "Child of Magic" (listed earlier in the soundtrack list), so I have no idea what that one will be like.

Animation Studio: This new feature allows you to play around with character models, setting up different backgrounds and sprites and settings, to create whatever scene you want. This doesn't seem to have a text feature, so it just seems kind of like a worse objection.lol but with 3D sprites. (Although I'm sure the objection.lol people will find a way to rip the models in like... five minutes of the game's release)

Preorder Information

It seems we overseas people will only have the collection available digitally, but Japan seems to have physical copies along with a lot of preorder bonuses! You can find the official page here.

This includes the following:

Game Software: You can order this standalone, or with the other preorder goods, or seemingly just the goods on their own without the software included.

Original Drama CDs: Two new drama CDs are being developed for this collection! As far as I can tell, one involves the Gavinners attempting a one-night-only revival of the band (which goes poorly...), and the second involves Taka fleeing the courtroom.

Evidence and Items Set: This includes ten pieces of evidence available from the games, along with some original illustrations. As can be seen above, this includes things like the photo of Apollo and Clay from Dual Destinies, six ID photos of major characters, and a signed poster of Klavier.

As well, a new sleeve box drawn by Takuro Fuse, the character designer for 5 and 6.

That should cover everything, but please let me know if I missed any news!

[botgal]

CA Internet Bills Status as of 7/17/2024

I had wanted to wait to make this post until all of the bills updated texts had been uploaded to the usual sites, but it appears what whoever's supposed to be updating AB 3080 has been lagging, so I'll just go with what I have for now. It'll be long as I'll be looking at their statuses and analyzing their updated texts so I'll put it under a cut for now.

A reminder that California's legislature is currently on recess and will be until August 5th. So no immediately imminent bills at this exact moments. But please read below the cut to get more information on the deadlines coming up.

When I last posted, all three of the bills had gone into review in their respective committees and sadly all of them passed out.

AB 3080: 11 Aye - 0 Nay

AB 1949: 11 Aye - 0 Nay

SB 976: 7 Aye - 4 No Vote

All three bills have been amended during their time in committees.

Ab 3080

AB 3080 was amended and passed from committee as amended, it is now available for a floor vote. This is the only one of the three bills where its amended text hasn't been posted anywhere I can find. However, in the analysis of the July 3rd meeting, there were acknowledgements made that not only is there no effective and safe way to verify age to view online content, but also that the existence of VPNs can circumvent any attempts to region lock sites designated as "adult" (the definition as it stands still appears to be limited to commercial websites where more than 1/3 of their content annually is sexually explicit). And that the methods to implement such a thing on commercial and non-commercial websites alike can be prohibitively expensive. So the author of the bill agreed to amendments in the bill as such according to the analysis:

"In response to the concerns of opposition, the author has agreed to amendments that allow a less restrictive means to suffice in meeting the obligation of the bill, mitigating the impact on protected speech and expression. The amendments provide that “reasonable steps” includes the business implementing a system that includes metadata or response headers identifying the product as sexually explicit to parental control software, embedded hardware applications, and other similar services designed to block, filter, monitor or otherwise prevent a minor’s access to inappropriate online content, or that blocks users designated as minors by the operating system of the device used to access the website. It also limits enforcement of this new cause of action to the Attorney General and requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to provide better direction for reasonable steps to verify age in addition to those listed."

So it appears that the bill may allow more websites instead to mark themselves or certain portions of their content as adult in order to be properly vetted by in-device content filters and parental controls that can be set by the device operators (or their parents in the case of minors), rather than a method that would require users to provide identification.

It's eased up quite a bit since its initial incarnation. But it's still better safe than sorry with this kind of bill, so Californians let's still push the state senators to veto this bill completely.

Organizations in support of this bill:

Organizations in opposition to this bill:

AB 1949

AB 1949 was amended and passed from committee as amended, and is currently referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

This one has also seen some fairly positive changes during this committee analysis as can be seen in the latest version of the bill. The latest version has removed any indications towards age verification. As well as it having changed several of its details. The bill only comes into effect and prevents the sale of data if the website has actual knowledge of the users' age, and that there shall be an option for the user to transmit a signal that they are under 18 for this purpose. Which again should help the argument against strict age verification barriers due to advertising purposes.

"a business shall not use or disclose the personal information of a consumer if the business has actual knowledge that the consumer is less than 18 years of age, unless the consumer, in the case of a consumer at least 13 years of age and less than 18 years of age, or the consumer’s parent or guardian, in the case of a consumer less than 13 years of age, has affirmatively authorized the use or disclosure of the consumer’s personal information."

"A business shall treat a consumer as under 18 years of age if the consumer, through a platform, technology, or mechanism, transmits a signal indicating that the consumer is less than 18 years of age."

But, once again, it is best to still work against this bill and prevent its passing at all in case it there's push to use it as a stepping stone for any bills which may further push an age verification agenda.

Organizations in support of this bill:

Organizations in opposition of this bill:

SB 976

This bill passed with amendments and is currently referred to the California Assembly Appropriations Committee. Unfortunately no major changes have been made. Only an amendment clarifying that any parental controls are only meant to limit access to "addictive feeds" and limit access to school hours, not any of the content. As this function still requires a "verified adult parent to a minor", this still holds open the door to potential future age verification dangers. As it still states that an application may choose to withhold services to minors altogether, and explicitly leaves open the possibility to allow provisions for age "assurance". So we definitely want to strike this one down if we can.

Organizations in support of this bill:

Organizations in opposition to this bill:

As of this moment, the California Legislature is out on recess until August 5.

The Senate Appropriations Committee (AB 1949) is set to meet on August 5, no word on whether it will be heard that day or on the next set hearing, August 12. So if you wish to send a position letter to the committee it would be best to do so a week before that date, so by July 29. Just to be safe.

No word on when the Assembly Appropriations Committee is set to meet, but the deadline for fiscal committees to pass bills through is August 16, so I expect that SB 976 will be heard before that day at least.

And AB 3080 is set to go to the senate floor rather than be seen by another committee before being read. No word on when the next bill readings will be on the assembly floor after it's reconvened August 5th, but I'll keep an ear to the ground for that.

The last day for each house to pass their bills for the year will be August 31st. So any bills we can stop before then are halted for good for the year.

And for any bills that do slip through, the last day for the governor to sign, let pass without signing, or veto bills is September 30th. So even if the bills pass from the floor to his desk, there's still time to send him messages to urge him to oppose any that slip through.

Thank you for your time, both in reading this and in taking the time to help us fight these bills.

[mariacallous]

About three years ago, some of Google’s security engineers came to company attorneys with a gigantic mess.

The security team had discovered that Google unwittingly was enabling the spread of malicious software known as Glupteba. The malware had corrupted more than 1 million Windows computers, turning them into vehicles to mine cryptocurrency and spy on users. By hijacking Google accounts, purchasing Google ads to lure in users, and misusing Google cloud tools, the hackers behind the operation were on their way to infecting even more computers.

Tech giants such as Google long have had a playbook for destroying botnets like Glupteba. They call up fellow companies and US authorities and together coordinate a massive takedown operation. Sometimes, the cops file criminal charges. But this time around, Google’s legal team recommended an approach that the company hadn’t pursued in years: Sue the hackers for money.

The eventual lawsuit against two Russian men and a dozen unnamed individuals allegedly behind Glupteba would be the first of a run of at least eight cases that Google has filed against various hackers and scammers, adding to a sporadic few filings in the past. The tactic, which Google calls affirmative litigation, is meant to scare off would-be fraudsters and generate public awareness about scams. Now, for the first time, Google is opening up about this strategy.

Leaders of Google’s security and legal teams tell WIRED they believe going after people in court has paid off. Google hasn’t yet lost a case; it has collected almost all of the more than $2 million that it has won through the legal process, and forced hundreds of companies or websites to shut down. The awards are trivial to Google and its parent Alphabet, a $2 trillion company, but can be devastating for the defendants.

“We’re disrupting bad actors and deterring future activity, because it’s clear that the consequences and the costs are high,” says Chester Day, lead of the three-person “litigation advance” team at Google that’s focused on taking people to court. Google, he adds, is “making it clear that we’re willing to invest our resources into taking action to protect our users.”

Google blog posts and similar content about the lawsuits and the underlying scams have drawn more than 1 billion views, according to the company. Google representatives say that the awareness increases vigilance among consumers and shrinks the pool of vulnerable targets. “Educating people about how these crimes work may be the best thing we can do to stop the crime,” says Harold Chun, director of Google’s security legal team.

Several Big Tech companies have pursued affirmative litigation, though not necessarily under that name and with varying strategies. Microsoft has filed more than two dozen lawsuits since 2008 with a focus on securing court permission to dismantle botnets and other hacking tools. Amazon has been a prolific complainant since 2018, filing at least 42 cases over counterfeit products, 38 for reviews fraud, three for copyright abuse, and, recently, two for bogus product returns. Amazon has been filing so many counterfeit cases, in fact, that the federal court in western Washington assigned three magistrate judges to focus on them.

Since 2019, Meta has filed at least seven counterfeiting or data theft cases, with settlements or default judgments in four so far, including one in which it won nearly $300,000 in damages. Like Meta, Apple has sued Israeli spyware developer NSO Group for alleged hacking. (NSO is fighting the lawsuits. Trials are scheduled for next year.)

Some attorneys who’ve studied how the private sector uses litigation to enforce the law are skeptical about the payoff for the plaintiffs. David Noll, a Rutgers University law professor and author of a forthcoming book on state-supported private enforcement, Vigilante Nation, says it’s difficult to imagine that companies could bring the volume of cases needed to significantly stop abuse. “The fact that there is a small chance you might be named in a suit isn’t really going to deter you,” he says.

Noll believes the big risk is that Google and other tech companies could be burdening the court system with cases that ultimately secure some favorable headlines but do less to make the internet safer than the companies could achieve through investing in better antifraud measures.

Still, of the six outside legal experts who spoke to WIRED, all of them say that overall Google deserves credit for complementing the work of underfunded government agencies that are struggling to rein in online abuse. At an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars per case, it’s a low-risk endeavor for the tech giant, former prosecutors say.

“Reliable and regular enforcement when folks step outside the law brings us closer to a society where less of us are harmed,” says Kathleen Morris, resident scholar of law at UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. “This is healthy and robust collaboration on law enforcement by the public and private sectors.”

Google’s general counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, tells WIRED she wants to send a message to other companies that the corporate legal department can do more than be the team that says “no” to wild ideas. “Legal can be a proactive protector,” she says.

Marketing Scams

DeLaine Prado says that from its earliest days, Google has considered pursuing litigation against people abusing its platforms and intellectual property. But the first case she and other leaders within Google recall filing was in 2015. Google accused Local Lighthouse, a California marketing company, of placing robocalls to dupe small businesses into paying to improve their ranking in search results. Google alleged trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising. As part of a settlement, Lighthouse stopped the problematic calls.

Since then, Google has filed complaints against five similar allegedly scammy marketers, with three of them ending in settlements so far. A Florida business and its owners agreed to pay Google $850,000, and a Los Angeles man who allegedly posted 14,000 fake reviews on Google Maps agreed to stop. Terms of the third deal, with an Illinois company, were not disclosed in court files, but Google spokesperson José Castañeda says it involved a seven-figure payment to Google.

Castañeda says Google has donated all the money it has collected to recipients such as the Better Business Bureau Institute, the National Consumers League, Partnership to End Addiction, Cybercrime Support Network, and various US chambers of commerce.

Another genre of cases has targeted individuals submitting false copyright complaints to Google to get content removed from the company’s services. A man in Omaha, Nebraska, whom Google accused of falsely claiming ownership of YouTube videos to extort money from their real owners, agreed to pay $25,000 to Google. Two individuals in Vietnam sued by Google never responded—a common issue.

In 2022, Google won default judgment against an individual in Cameroon who never responded to charges that he was using Gmail to scam people into paying for fake puppies, including a $700 basset hound. After the lawsuit, complaints about the scammer dried up, according to Google.

But legal experts say the most fascinating cases of Google’s affirmative litigation are four that it filed against alleged computer hackers. The suits emerged after months of investigation into Glupteba.

Security engineers at Google realized that eradicating Glupteba through the typical approach of taking down associated servers would be difficult. The hackers behind it had designed a backup system involving a blockchain that enabled Glupteba to resurrect itself and keep pilfering away.

That’s in part why Google’s attorneys suggested suing. Chun, the security legal director, had pursued cases against botnets as a federal prosecutor. “I thought this would be something good to do from a civil angle for a company as well,” he says. “Law enforcement agencies have limits on what they can do. And Google has a large voice and the litigation capacity.”

Chun and other attorneys cautioned their bosses that the hackers might use the lawsuit to reverse engineer Google’s investigation methods and make Glupteba more evasive and resilient. But ultimately, DeLaine Prado, who has final say over lawsuits, signed off. Chun says his former colleagues from the government applauded the complaint.

Google sued Dmitry Starovikov and Alexander Filippov, alleging that they were the Russia-based masterminds behind Glupteba after linking websites associated with the virus to Google accounts in their name. The search giant accused the duo (and unknown co-conspirators) of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The lawsuit also alleged a trademark law violation for hiding Glupteba in a tool that claimed to download videos from YouTube.

Google argued that it had suffered substantial harm, having never received payment for ads it had sold to the hackers, who allegedly were using fraudulent credit cards. Users also had their experiences with Google services degraded, putting them at risk and impairing the value of the company’s brand, according to the lawsuit.

In court papers, Starovikov and Filippov stated they learned of the lawsuit only through friends and then decided to hire a New York attorney, Igor Litvak, to fight on their behalf. The defendants initially offered innocent explanations for their software related to Glupteba and said that their projects had not targeted the US market. At one point, they countersued Google for $10 million, and at another, they allegedly demanded $1 million each to hand over the keys to shut down the botnet. They eventually denied the allegations against them.

Following an ordeal over whether the defendants could obtain Russian passports, sit for depositions in Europe, and turn over work files, Google’s attorneys and Litvak traded accusations of lying. In 2022, US district judge Denise Cote sided with Google. She found in a 48-page ruling that the defendants “intentionally withheld information” and “misrepresented their willingness and ability” to disclose it to “avoid liability and further profit” from Glupteba. “The record here is sufficient to find a willful attempt to defraud the Court,” Cote wrote.

Cote sanctioned Litvak, and he agreed to pay Google $250,000 in total through 2027 to settle. The jurist also ordered Starovikov and Filippov to pay nearly $526,000 combined to cover Google’s attorneys fees. Castañeda says Google has received payment from all three.

Litvak tells WIRED that he still disagrees with the judge's findings and that Russia’s strained relationship with the US may have weighed on whom the judge trusted. “It’s telling that after I filed a motion to reconsider, pointing out serious issues with the court’s decision, the court went back on its original decision and referred [the] case to mediation, which ended with … me not having to admit to doing anything wrong,” he says in an email.

Google’s Castañeda says the case achieved the intended effect: The Russian hackers stopped misusing Google services and shut down their marketplace for stolen logins, while the number of Glupteba-infected computers fell 78 percent.

Not every case delivers measurable results. Defendants in Google’s other three hacking cases haven’t responded to the accusations. That led to Google last year winning default judgment against three individuals in Pakistan accused of infecting more than 672,000 computers by masquerading malware as downloads of Google’s Chrome browser. Unopposed victories are also expected in the remaining cases, including one in which overseas app developers allegedly stole money through bogus investment apps and are being sued for violating YouTube Community Guidelines.

Royal Hansen, Google’s vice president for privacy, safety, and security engineering, says lawsuits that don’t result in defendants paying up or agreeing to stop the alleged misuse still can make alleged perpetrators’ lives more difficult. Google uses the rulings as evidence to persuade businesses such as banks and cloud providers to cut off the defendants. Other hackers might not want to work with them knowing they have been outed. Defendants also could be more cautious about crossing international borders and becoming newly subject to scrutiny from local authorities. “That’s a win as well,” Hansen says.

More to Come

These days, Google’s small litigation advance team meets about twice a week with other units across the company to discuss potential lawsuits. They weigh whether a case could set a helpful precedent to give extra teeth to Google’s policies or draw awareness to an emerging threat.

Team leader Day says that as Google has honed its process, filing cases has become more affordable. That should lead to more lawsuits each year, including some for the first time potentially filed outside the US or representing specific users who have been harmed, he says.

The tech giants' ever-sprawling empires leave no shortage of novel cases to pursue. Google’s sibling company Waymo recently adopted the affirmative litigation approach and sued two people who allegedly smashed and slashed its self-driving taxis. Microsoft, meanwhile, is weighing cases against people using generative AI technology for malicious or fraudulent purposes, says Steven Masada, assistant general counsel of the company’s Digital Crimes Unit.

The questions remain whether the increasing cadence of litigation has left cybercriminals any bit deterred and whether a broader range of internet companies will go on the legal offense.

Erin Bernstein, who runs the California office of Bradley Bernstein Sands, a law firm that helps governments pursue civil lawsuits, says she recently pitched a handful of companies across industries on doing their own affirmative litigation. Though none have accepted her offer, she’s optimistic. “It will be a growing area,” Bernstein says.

But Google’s DeLaine Prado hopes affirmative litigation eventually slows. “In a perfect world, this work would disappear over time if it’s successful,” she says. “I actually want to make sure that our success kind of makes us almost obsolete, at least as it relates to this type of work.”

[mightyflamethrower]

A robotic malfunction at Tesla’s Giga Texas factory resulted in a violent encounter where an engineer was attacked by one of the company’s robots, resulting in significant injuries and leaving a ‘trail of blood.’

According to the Daily Mail, while working on software programming for non-functional Tesla robots, the engineer was suddenly pinned against a surface by a robot tasked with manipulating aluminum car components, with its metal claws inflicted an injury that left an ‘open wound’ on the worker’s left hand.

“Two of the robots, which cut car parts from freshly cast pieces of aluminum, were disabled so the engineer and his teammates could safely work on the machines. A third one, which grabbed and moved the car parts, was inadvertently left operational, according to two people who watched it happen. As that robot ran through its normal motions, it pinned the engineer against a surface, pushing its claws into his body and drawing blood from his back and his arm, the two people said,” The Information reported.

Quick action was taken by Tesla workers who intervened and triggered the emergency shutdown button to halt the malfunctioning robot and prevent further injury to the engineer.

This incident came to light through a 2021 injury report filed to Travis County and federal regulators, which Daily Mail reviewed. Tesla is legally required to report such incidents to ensure the continuation of state-provided tax incentives.

Despite claims by Tesla that the engineer did not require time off following the event, an attorney representing the factory’s contract laborers suggests otherwise. Evidence hints at possible underreporting of workplace accidents, casting doubt on the official records.

Daily Mail reported:

The injury report, which Tesla must submit to authorities by law to maintain its lucrative tax breaks in Texas, claimed the engineer did not require time off of work. But one attorney who represents Tesla’s Giga Texas contract workers has told DailyMail.com she believes, based on her conversations with workers there, that the amount of injuries suffered at the factory is going underreported. This underreporting, the attorney said, even included the September 28, 2021 death of a construction worker, who had been contracted to help build the factory itself. ‘My advice would be to read that report with a grain of salt,’ the attorney, Hannah Alexander of the nonprofit Workers Defense Project, told DailyMail.com. ‘We’ve had multiple workers who were injured,’ Alexander said, ‘and one worker who died, whose injuries or death are not in these reports that Tesla is supposed to be accurately completing and submitting to the county in order to get tax incentives.’

Elon Musk has yet to issue a formal statement in response to these allegations.

Just recently, Tesla revealed the second generation of its humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 2.

Optimus Gen 2 stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches and weighs in at a light 121 pounds, shedding 22 pounds from the first model. It’s not just its frame that’s been upgraded; this robot can reach speeds up to 5 mph, which is a substantial 30% increase in velocity.

[beardedmrbean]

The technologically savvy older brothers of a slain Texas college student handed over data extracted from social media accounts later used to secure convictions in the case. 

Zuhyr Hamza Kaleem, 22, was shot dead then buried in a premeditated killing by former classmates in 2019, prosecutors said.

Jose Varela, now 24, was sentenced last week to 45 years in prison in the death of 22-year-old Zuhyr Hamza Kaleem. Eric Aguilar, now 25, was sentenced to life in prison on capital murder charges last November. 

Austin Walker, also charged with capital murder in the case, pleaded guilty and is scheduled for a presentencing information hearing on Thursday, Harris County District Attorney's Office Community Outreach Coordinator John Donnelly told Fox News Digital.

A fourth man, Gannon Gotlieb, was charged with tampering after admitting to burying and burning Kaleem's body on his property in Grimes County, per the office; the status of that charge is unclear. 

Varela, Kaleem and Aguilar grew up in the same area near Houston, where Varela and Kaleem were classmates at Cypress Lakes High School near Houston. 

Kaleem agreed to meet at Varela's home in Katy to buy two pounds of marijuana on April 27, 2019, per court documents. After closing the garage door, Varela restrained Kaleem and Aguilar shot him, prosecutors said. 

"This was a premeditated murder that left a family questioning what happened to their loved one for more than a year," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. "With help from the victim’s family and great police work, we were able to get justice in this horrible case."

CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE FLAUNTS AI IN CREEPY 'FRAUD-FOR-HIRE' COMMERCIAL MEANT FOR DARK WEB

The recovery of Kaleem's body and the group's arrests, nearly a year to date from the murder, were achieved in part due to the investigative work of the victim's older brothers. 

Baffled by the Lone Star College student's disappearance, software engineer Umayr Kaleem, 31, told Fox News Digital that his family did not "have the option to just turn the other way and quit" when their brother and his car disappeared. 

"We're brothers. We've always been hardworking, ambitious – that's how our parents raised us," he said on Tuesday. 

Brothers Umayr and Uzair, a software engineer and mechanical engineer, respectively, learned from a close friend that Kaleem intended to buy marijuana the last day he was seen alive.

After he uncharacteristically failed to return their calls and texts, the brothers accessed his Snapchat account to see with whom he was last in contact. 

Valera, saved in their brother's phone as "Jose Cylakes Bayliss Long Hair" – referring to the high school that both attended – was the last person Kaleem had spoken with before his activity on the messaging app came to a halt. After reading a message that was no longer viewable, per court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Valera deleted Kaleem as a contact. 

AUSTIN POLICE ASK ROBBERY VICTIMS TO CALL 311 AMID STAFFING SHORTAGE, CRIME CRISIS

The brothers accessed Kaleem's phone contacts via his laptop, found Valera's phone number and began researching.

"From there, we started asking around, looking on Facebook, Googling him," Uzair, 27, told Fox. "We found a Facebook profile and it was clear that this was the last person Z talked to – we gave that information to police."

It was "pretty evident," Uzair said, that his brother's killers "tried going into Z's phone to wipe it completely," per notifications on the slain college student's MacBook. Although they "knew they were trying to do some weird s--- on their end," their family "wasn't going to let that happen."

The day after Kaleem vanished, his missing vehicle was observed crossing the border into Mexico from Hidalgo, Texas, per court documents. Almost 10 hours later, Varela crossed back into the United States on foot, police said. 

Call records obtained by police showed that Varela had communicated with Walker that day. Snapchat messages between the two pulled by police showed that Varela had asked Walker to bring him clean clothes. 

After his arrest on April 24 last year, Aguilar claimed that the gun went off accidentally after Kaleem pulled it out in an argument during the drug deal – but prosecutors argued that the killing and subsequent robbery had been planned over a period of weeks based on harvested text and call logs. 

Moreover, the brothers told Fox News Digital, Gotlieb testified that, as he buried the man's body, he noticed Kaleem sustained a bullet wound to his hand as though he had raised it in defense.

"These defendants thought they had gotten away with murder and had moved on with their lives, but they had not counted on the victim’s brothers and law enforcement relentlessly pursuing Kaleem’s whereabouts," Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dupree said in a press release. "This family went an entire year, pining away, praying for their loved one to come home only to find that his remains had been burned because of some marijuana and a couple of hundred bucks."

Uzair and Umayr told Fox News Digital that Valera's sentence – 45 years in prison with parole eligibility in 2033 – "didn't make any sense whatsoever."

"I think everybody in that courtroom was absolutely shocked," Umayr said. "Even just the prosecutors, there were tears in their eyes. The family is horrified. This person pleaded guilty to premeditated murder. [But] he'll be... on parole less than 20 years from today. He'll be right back on the street."

In light of the "absurdly light" sentence, he said, it's "incredibly hard to be happy." 

"The worst prison in the world is a home full of pain – that's all there is, just pain," Umayr said. "We go to birthdays, we try to celebrate things as a family, but it's always awkward. It's been years but that awkwardness, that pain is still there."

Uzair told Fox that his brother intended to transfer to the University of Houston and study business. The courtroom in both Aguilar and Valera's trials, he said, was "packed" with his brother's friends and family. 

[nothingunrealistic]

QUINN CLOTHING BRANDS

ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

FOUNDED: 1981

AVAILABLE POSITION: CHIEF COUNSEL

Quinn Clothing Brands distributes Quinns products in the U.S. Founded in 1981, Quinn Clothing Brands is a leading global online retailer with operations in Bangladesh and Allentown, Pennsylvania, along with other key markets. Quinn Clothing Brands reaches consumers across more than 150 countries and regions around the world. We place a premium on choice, delivering more than 6,000 new fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products daily with more than 600,000 items available. Our mission is to help people express their individuality through the latest trends that are accessible and affordable.

This Counsel position directly reports to the US General Counsel. We are seeking a corporate generalist to handle a variety of commercial and employment matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Review, structure, draft and negotiate commercial agreements in a broad range of transactional disciplines, including marketing and service agreements, publishing agreements, production agreements, co founding agreements, NDAs, and license agreements.

[…] legal reports and […], and effectively present information to senior management.

[…] internal and external […], and perform legal research and […], to determine whether company […] comply with company policies, […] including with […]

[…] Department and outside counsel on a variety of labor and employment issues.

Manage and collaborate with top tier outside law firms.

service contracts, concession agreements, leases

group sales and catering agreements

master procurement agreements

data privacy and security, including data breach management

IT and software agreements

administrative licensing

development of standard forms, policies, and procedures

employee relations matters, including EEOC matters and union negotiations

employee benefits matters

guest issues

premises liability

crisis management

trademarks and service marks

tax advice and representation

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum of 6-8 years of corporate transactional law experience. In-house experience preferred.

Self-starter, entrepreneurial, “roll up your sleeves” attitude.

Exceptional legal drafting, research and analytical skills.

Pennsylvania bar admission and good standing with the state bar.

Experience with labor and employment counseling a major plus.

Experience with marketing and sweepstakes laws.

[GRAY DUCK] CHOCOLATE COMPANY

[ROCHESTER], MINNESOTA

[FOUNDED: ?]

AVAILABLE POSITION: DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Rochester, Minnesota on the Zumbro River’s south fork

Gray Duck Chocolate Company [Headquarters in] Rochester, Minnesota

[…]

[GRAY DUCK] CHOCOLATE COMPANY

[ROCHESTER], MINNESOTA

[FOUNDED: ?]

AVAILABLE POSITION: DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

[…] company is trusted by […] customers, Gray Duck […] of more than […] revenues over $220 […] this trajectory […] momentum and is […] growth in […] acquisition. […] leadership […] before, having […] of over $3 […] vision, strong […] Gray […] assembled a […] culture with […].

[…] Chief Legal […] the Director of […]

[RESPONSIBILITIES]

[…]

[…]

Technology Strategy: Have end-to-end responsibility for the legal team’s technology strategy, from the RFP stage through implementation and maintenance, with the legal and compliance, finance and accounting, and IT teams as your key internal clients and partners. Identify and implement legal department tools to streamline new or existing practices, manage design, rollout, and training for new systems, and generally oversee the legal department’s technology strategy (including the selection, implementation, administration, and support of all technology resources related to matter and document management, content and knowledge management, e-billing management, contract management and related legal operations systems).

Outside Counsel Management: Develop and lead a process for positive and efficient outside counsel relationships. Identify and select firms (in partnership with attorneys) pricing negotiations, ongoing fee management, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion assessments, and […].

Communication & Professional Development: Coordinate the communication and professional development program for the legal department […]

Professional Management: […]

[…]

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

A Norfolk Southern Corporation train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed after an axle malfunction in East Palestine, Ohio. The 50-car train, which had been on fire for miles before it ran aground, produced clouds of noxious fumes that led to the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people, some of whom were extras in the film adaptation of White Noise, and the deaths of domestic and wild animals in the area. Norfolk Southern, which has paid its executives millions, spent billions on stock buybacks, and declined a shareholder demand to “assess, review, and mitigate risks of hazardous material transportation,” agreed to pay the city of East Palestine $25,000. 

Aid and rescue workers could not immediately reach victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks, some of which were nearly as big as the first quake, in Syria because of sanctions against the country, which were suspended by the U.S. government days after the disaster; more than 37,000 people across Turkey and Syria have died and tens of thousands have been injured by the quakes. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—who came to power over 20 years ago after a previous administration’s mishandling of an earthquake response, and has himself been criticized for slow rescue efforts as he faces an election in three months—announced that he would allocate more than $5.3 billion to relief. “It’s an issue that will take a coalition to solve,” said Microsoft, a computer manufacturer and software company worth $1.9 trillion, in response to a report outlining changes to small-scale cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is plagued by fatal cave-ins and child labor. Thirty-three members of Congress pushed for the U.S. Labor secretary to punish automotive companies whose Alabama factories have been employing children as young as 12, while lawmakers in Iowa and Minnesota have introduced legislation to allow minors as young as 14 to work in slaughterhouses, demolition, roofing, and other jobs that require the operation of heavy machinery. Missouri’s state house voted against prohibiting children from open-carrying firearms unless under adult supervision.

Attorneys for Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, the third consecutive member of his family to serve as South Carolina Lowcountry solicitor, who is accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul (who was implicated in the death of Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident) and of diverting millions of dollars in damages-settlement money intended for his clients and their families, including the sons of the family’s maid, who died in a trip-and-fall accident at one of the Murdaughs’ residences, to a bank account he controlled, moved for a mistrial over hearsay, but were denied. The majority-white, Republican Mississippi House approved a bill that will create a new district court in the majority-black, Democratic city of Jacksonville, whose judges will be appointed rather than elected, and the mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, said she supported the police chief’s proposed community oversight board, whose members he would select. “People are scared, upset, & are believing crazy things being said on the internet,” tweeted Marjorie Taylor Greene, who carried a white balloon around the Capitol the day of the State of the Union address, as she questioned the timing of three downed unidentified aircraft over North America: “[T]here is a lack of transparency from the Biden admin and simple explanations are owed to the people.” The White House denied the existence of aliens and a report that the United States had blown up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. A farmer advocacy organization said that record-high egg prices are being caused by collusion among egg producers, who are exaggerating the effects of avian flu on their industry, and the McDonald’s corporation agreed to remove an advertisement for its McCrispy sandwich inside a bus shelter in Cornwall that is opposite a road sign for the area’s crematorium.

A decade-long study revealed that instant noodles were responsible for nearly a third of all hospital cases of scalded children. Scientists found that female orcas who support their sons into adulthood suffer. Eighty-one bales of cocaine, weighing three and a half tons in total, were discovered floating off the coast of New Zealand. Members of Oregon’s liquor and cannabis commission were found to have abused their power in order to get deeply discounted bottles of Pappy Van Winkle’s 23-year-old whiskey. A 24-year-old man who abducted monkeys from the Dallas Zoo to keep as pets told police he would do it again, and a Nashville man resisted arrest by thrusting his cat into an officer’s face. A robot escaped a Pennsylvania supermarket. King Charles III wore a holey sock to an appearance at a Brick Lane mosque. 

—Violet Lucca  :: [Harpers Magazine :: Weekly Review]

[woefully-undercaffeinated]

A few more for Labor Day:

“If you aren’t fully prepared for work when you clock in, you’ll be disciplined/fired” you need to be dressed before you walk in, and that can include work gear that can be worn as regular clothing such as steel-toe boots (usually you need to be at least partially compensated for buying these) or a work uniform that can be worn in public. However, donning PPE, logging into a computer, retrieving tools, undergoing a security search, and other things that are required specifically for you to be able to work are covered under the umbrella of “donning and doffing period” and must be paid.

“We offered you the chance to take a break, so we get to deduct it from your pay even if you didn’t take it.” If you were working as an hourly employee, you must be paid for the time. Unless they actively tried to stop you from working and you overcame their efforts (please don’t do this), they must pay you for all time you worked even if you had the option not to. Also, if you “took a break” but were carrying out work duties during that time (i.e. eating lunch in front of the computer while attending a meeting, getting a coffee while reviewing email, etc) you weren't actually on break and you need to be paid for that time. And any break in which you did not have at least a twenty-minute period in which you did no work must be paid.

“If you quit, your final two weeks will be retroactively made minimum wage”. This one’s been cropping up a lot recently; while employers can usually change your wage going forward if said wage isn’t governed by contract, reducing an employee’s pay for hours already worked is always illegal in the US. Before you let your boss know you’re quitting, quietly grab copies of your hours worked and pay rate; if they decide to pull this stunt, contact the department of labor for your state and report wage theft.

“The law says we only need to give you minimum wage/15 minutes’ break every eight hours/etc, if I hear you complain about missing pay/talking to each other about working conditions/talking to regulators I’ll do that” Reducing an employee’s compensation or worsening their working conditions in retaliation for a complaint about wage theft or working conditions is illegal, even if the compensation or working condition is by itself legal.

“The employee handbook is what sets your wages, so if you say something in the handbook is illegal then I only need to pay you minimum wage for the hours you’ve worked.” This is another one I’ve been seeing crop up recently, and it’s complete nonsense. You can’t retroactively reduce an employee’s pay even if the document that originally set that pay is invalidated due to illegal provisions; the only thing that an employer can do is give notice to the employee that future wages will be reduced.

“You think the law will protect you? I’ve got enough money for an army of lawyers, and you’re broke; you’ll never win against me!” Labor attorneys usually work on commission, meaning rather than charging you an up-front fee or billing you for their services, they take a portion of the settlement that they get you or are paid by the opposing side as a condition of a judgment. Your boss’ deep pockets makes them a more attractive target for labor attorneys, especially since it’s likely that they’ll be able to find other mistreated employees to join the suit and turn it into a class action. On the other hand, corporate counsel bills by the hour and is very expensive, so your boss won’t save any money by dragging out the proceedings.

“It doesn’t matter what actually happened, I control the records and I can make them say whatever I want!”  Your boss has far less control of internal records than they think; most businesses today use a third-party service like Workday to track employee records, and those services use change-tracking storage that makes it impossible to doctor those records without being flagrantly obvious about it. Even employers who don’t use that software still use email and office applications to manage their business, and unless they own every single piece of silicon in those systems it’s going to be impossible to effectively doctor those records without leaving a trail. And, even if your boss uses nothing but paper records that they’re able to change at will, they still can’t stop witnesses from testifying, or prevent you from using your own records (such as cell location records, email, pay stubs, social media posts about work, etc) against them.

And, a special one that you can witness happening right here on the Tumblr Dot Com:

“I’m an employee like you, and it’s hopeless -- they have too much power, and they’ll win every time, so don’t get your hopes up.” I see this one cropping up a lot on pro-labor online groups; they claim to be another abused worker, complain about how terrible everything is, but they’ll constantly try to steer people away from using the legal protections available by cynically commenting about how impossible it is to get legal representation, or how the burden of proof will be on you, or that the company’s money means they’re untouchable. Often times they’ll add how their spouse/parent/friend/etc went through Exactly This Situation and was thoroughly humbled after seeking legal help. Yeah, the US labor protections are crap compared to other countries, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist or don’t work. Someone who tries to convince you that everything is hopeless and there’s nothing to be done about it isn’t your friend or your ally, they’re a company man doing the company’s bidding.

An incomplete list of things that employers commonly threaten that are 100% illegal in the United States

"We'll fire you if you tell others how much you're making" The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 specifically protects employees who discuss their own wages with each other (you can't reveal someone else's wages if you were given that information in the course of work, but you can always discuss your own or any that were revealed to you outside of work duties)

"If we can't fire you for [discussing wages/seeking reasonable accommodation/filing a discrimination complaint/etc], we'll just fire you for something else the next day." This is called pretextual termination, and it offers your employer almost no protection; if you are terminated shortly after taking a protected action such as wage discussion, complaints to regulatory agencies, or seeking a reasonable accommodation, you can force the burden onto your employer to prove that the termination wasn't retaliatory.

"Disparaging the company on social media is grounds for termination" Your right to discuss workplace conditions, compensation, and collective action carries over to online spaces, even public ones. If your employer says you aren't allowed to disparage the company online or discuss it at all, their social media policy is illegal. However, they can forbid releasing information that they're obligated to keep confidential such as personnel records, business plans, and customer information, so exercise care.

"If you unionize, we'll just shut this branch down and lay everyone off" Threatening to take action against a group that unionizes is illegal, full stop. If a company were to actually shut down a branch for unionizing, they would be fined very heavily by the NLRB and be opening themselves up to a class-action lawsuit by the former employees.

"We can have any rule we want, it's only illegal if we actually enforce it" Any workplace policy or rule that has a "chilling effect" on employees' willingness to exercise their rights is illegal, even if the employer never follows through on any of their threats.

"If you [protected action], we'll make sure you never work in this industry/city/etc again." Blacklisting of any kind is illegal in half the states in the US, and deliberately sabotaging someone's job search in retaliation for a protected action is illegal everywhere in the US.

"Step out of line and you can kiss your retirement fund/last paycheck goodbye." Your employer can never refuse to give you your paycheck, even if you've been fired. Nor can they keep money that you invested in a retirement savings account, and they can only claw back the money they invested in the retirement account under very specific circumstances.

"We'll deny that you ever worked here" not actually possible unless they haven't been paying their share of employment taxes or forwarding your withheld tax to the government (in which case they're guilty of far more serious crimes, and you might stand to gain something by turning them in to the IRS.) The records of your employment exist in state and federal tax data, and short of a heist that would put Oceans 11 to shame, there's nothing they can do about that.

[lazyscience]

In order to name a specific person as your executor, you need to have a will - otherwise the court will appoint someone, usually a family member, which is exactly what a lot of you don't want. With legal gay marriage, your spouse is the first priority choice for executor unless you choose someone else, and they'll keep their access to joint property, policies and bank accounts. When there isn't a will OR a marriage, shit gets really gray legally.

If you're a grown adult who pays your own bills, has your own bank accounts, has any retirement plans/has ever contributed to social security, and/or have life insurance, you should have a will. I know, I know, there's always time for that.

Spoiler: there is not, in fact, always time for that and it becomes a mess for your loved ones to deal with if you didn't.

You can say you know you partner's wishes, but you will be tied up a lot longer in probate if there's no will even if there are no challenges (probate=the legal process of disposing of an estate). Probate is MUCH shorter when there is a legally sound will - you can't do that shit like on TV where you write "I leave all my worldly possessions to my love, X. Havisham-Goode" on a piece of notebook paper and have a nurse and a janitor date and sign as witnesses - well, you CAN, but it's not like Murder She Wrote, your survivor will probably not find it very useful. Without a will, executor or not, if there's a challenge whoever can afford the most for lawyers will probably end up winning the battle for whatever property/belongings were at issue - like a shared house or bank accounts.

You can buy willmaking software that will do the job for most of us who don't have lots of property, but resign yourself to probably having to spend between $150-300, or more depending on how complicated your situation is/what kind of mutual property you own. If you have a house, significant retirement income in a 401K/IRA/other investments, and/or ESPECIALLY if you have kids, you should probably talk to a lawyer in person - guardianships in particular are nothing to fuck around with on an amateur level. DuckDuckGo "LGBT estate planning (your city/county/state)" to find someone knowledgeable near you, check the Better Business Bureau/Google for reviews, ask your friends who they used. It's not important you LIKE your lawyer, but you should feel like they know what they're doing and are professionally respected.

Look up your state's specific laws and constitution; it's unlikely that the Trump administration will be able to just retroactively ban gay marriages and say none of them ever existed. HOWEVER, what could happen is exactly what happened when Roe was overturned - states that have their own specifically gender neutral or specifically queer marriage friendly laws will continue to allow gay marriage that will need to be honored because of interstate commerce clauses but forbidden to continue in unfriendly states. What would be a whole disaster is if both Obergefell were overturned and the Respect for Marriage Act (2022) had constitutional challenge brought and was overturned - and even then, there would need to be a new federal law passed to forbid gay marriage. This process would not be able to happen on January 21st, 2025 - but be sure they'll be trying for it sometime over the next four years.

What you all need to do is not wait for there to be publicity about it. Hammer your Congressperson, blue or red, male or female, actual phone calls best, second letters, third faxes, fourth emails with YOU LEAVE GAY MARRIAGE THE FUCK HOW IT IS OR YOU'RE GETTING PRIMARIED (maybe a little nicer than that - but ONLY a little)

And fill out your durable power of attorneys, healthcare directives and write your wills in the meantime. They're good things to do even if the fashies don't come for gay marriage; they're a form of tangible help and support you can give your spouse even when you can't do it in person any more. Believe me when I tell you serious illness or death is going to be horrendous for your loved one WITHOUT having to book a seance to figure out what you really wanted, and it'll be invaluable if the worst does happen legally.

Before January 2025:

If you are a USAmerican in a relationship that might be affected by legislation that dissolves same-sex marriages, who may no longer be recognized as next-of-kin, especially if you have children, get your rights in writing!

Your marriage certificate may not be enough to prove you have rights to make medical decisions for non-biological children or for a same-sex spouse or partner.

Go to a lawyer, get it spelled out as clearly as possible that you have a voice in emergency medical and legal situations.

[kanakkupillai-trademark]

How to Register a Copyright for Books, Music, and Other Creative Works

In the digital age, where content creation is at its peak, protecting intellectual property is paramount. Copyright registration is a critical step for creators to safeguard their original works and ensure they retain exclusive rights. This guide provides an in-depth look at copyright registration, its importance, the process involved, and the benefits it offers to creators.

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal protection granted to the creators of original works, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. It provides the copyright holder with exclusive rights to use, distribute, and license the work, preventing unauthorised use by others.

Importance of Copyright Registration

Legal Protection: Registered copyrights provide solid legal evidence of ownership, which is crucial in infringement cases.

Public Record: Registration creates a public record of the work, making it easier for others to recognise your ownership.

Deterrent to Infringers: The existence of a registered copyright can deter potential infringers from using your work without permission.

Eligibility for Damages: In case of infringement, registered copyrights allow the owner to seek statutory damages and attorney’s fees in court.

International Protection: Registration facilitates protection under international copyright treaties, expanding the scope of protection beyond national borders.

What Can Be Copyrighted?

Copyright protection applies to original works fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This includes:

Literary Works: Books, articles, blogs, software code.

Musical Works: Songs, compositions, lyrics.

Dramatic Works: Plays, scripts.

Artistic Works: Paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs.

Films and Multimedia: Movies, documentaries, video games.

Sound Recordings: Audio recordings, podcasts.

Architectural Works: Building designs and blueprints.

Copyright Registration Process

Step 1: Prepare Your Work

Ensure your work is original and fixed in a tangible form. Save digital works in a standard file format (e.g., PDF, JPEG, MP3).

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

Visit the copyright office's website or the relevant authority in your country. For example, in the United States, the U.S. Copyright Office provides an online portal for registration. Complete the application form with the required details about the work and the author.

Step 3: Pay the Registration Fee

A fee is required to process your copyright registration. The fee varies depending on the type of work and the submission method (online or paper).

Step 4: Submit Your Work

Submit a copy of the work to the copyright office. For online submissions, you can upload digital files directly through the portal. For physical submissions, send copies as specified by the copyright office.

Step 5: Track Your Application

Once submitted, you will receive a tracking number. Use this number to monitor the status of your application. Depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of the work, the review process may take several months.

Conclusion

Copyright registration is crucial for creators to protect their intellectual property and maintain control over their original works. By understanding the registration process and its benefits, creators can ensure their works are safeguarded against unauthorised use and enjoy the full advantages of their creative efforts. Whether you are an author, musician, artist, or software developer, securing your rights through copyright registration is an investment in the longevity and success of your creative endeavours.

[talrappleyea]

Investing in rental properties can be lucrative, providing a steady stream of passive income and long-term wealth-building potential. However, purchasing your first rental property requires careful planning, due diligence, and financial preparation to ensure a successful investment. To help you navigate the process, here’s a proven checklist for buying your first rental property:

Define Your Investment Goals: Before diving into the rental property market, take the time to define your investment goals and objectives. Consider your desired return on investment (ROI), cash flow requirements, risk tolerance, and long-term financial goals. Clarifying your investment criteria will help guide your property search and decision-making process.

Assess Your Financial Situation: Evaluate your financial situation to determine how much you can afford to invest in a rental property. Calculate your available cash for a down payment, closing costs, and initial repairs or renovations. Additionally, assess your credit score and debt-to-income ratio, as these factors will impact your ability to qualify for financing and secure favourable loan terms.

Research Local Real Estate Markets: Conduct thorough research on local real estate markets to identify areas with strong rental demand, low vacancy rates, and potential for appreciation. Consider factors such as job growth, population trends, school districts, and amenities that attract tenants. Utilise online resources, market reports, and local real estate professionals to gather market intelligence and identify promising investment opportunities.

Set Your Investment Criteria: Establish clear investment criteria to guide your property search and selection process. Determine the type of property you’re interested in (e.g., single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, condos), desired location, target rental income, and acceptable cash-on-cash return. Having specific criteria in mind will help you narrow your options and focus on properties that align with your investment goals.

Perform Due Diligence on Properties: Once you’ve identified potential rental properties, perform thorough due diligence to assess their investment potential. Conduct property inspections to evaluate the property’s condition and identify any major repairs or maintenance issues. Review financial documents such as rent rolls, operating expenses, and tax records to verify income and expenses—additionally, research zoning regulations, landlord-tenant laws, and HOA restrictions that may affect your investment.

Calculate Potential Returns: Analyze prospective rental properties’ financial performance to estimate their potential returns. Calculate critical metrics such as cash flow, cap rate, and return on investment to assess each property’s profitability. Consider rental income, operating expenses, vacancy rates, and financing terms when performing your financial analysis. Utilise online calculators, spreadsheets, or real estate investment software to simplify the calculations and compare different properties.

Secure Financing and Close the Deal: Once you’ve found a promising rental property that meets your investment criteria, secure financing and close the deal. Shop around for mortgage lenders to find the best loan terms and interest rates for your situation. Gather all necessary documentation, including income verification, tax returns, and property appraisal, to expedite the loan approval process. Work closely with your real estate agent, lender, and attorney to navigate the closing process smoothly and finalise the purchase of your first rental property.

By following this checklist and conducting thorough research and due diligence, you can confidently invest in your first rental property and lay the foundation for a successful real estate investment portfolio.

[agnisystechnology]

IP Datasheet: Smart Datasheet

In the rapidly evolving world of intellectual property (IP), the importance of well-structured and accessible data cannot be overstated. IP professionals require quick access to detailed, accurate, and relevant information in order to make informed decisions and stay ahead of competitors. Traditionally, IP data has been stored in static formats, such as PDFs or spreadsheets. However, the advent of smart technologies has paved the way for the creation of smart datasheets, which revolutionize the way IP data is managed, accessed, and utilized.

A smart datasheet is a dynamic and interactive document designed to make IP-related information easier to navigate, analyze, and share. By incorporating advanced features such as data automation, metadata integration, and AI-driven insights, smart datasheets transform raw data into actionable intelligence. This enhances the ability of IP professionals to manage patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property more efficiently. In this article, we will explore the concept of the IP datasheet, how it benefits from becoming "smart," and its impact on IP management.

1. What is an IP Datasheet?

An IP datasheet is a document that captures key information related to an intellectual property asset, such as a patent, trademark, or copyright. It typically includes details about the invention or idea, the filing date, the legal status of the IP, and relevant technical specifications. These datasheets serve as essential reference points for inventors, patent attorneys, legal teams, and companies seeking to protect and commercialize their intellectual property.

The primary function of an IP datasheet is to organize information in a clear and concise manner so that it can be easily retrieved and reviewed. However, traditional datasheets often come in static formats, making them difficult to update, navigate, and collaborate on, especially as IP portfolios grow. This is where the concept of a smart datasheet comes in.

2. The Evolution to a Smart Datasheet

The smart datasheet is an evolution of the traditional IP datasheet, designed to meet the demands of a digital-first, data-driven world. Unlike its static counterparts, a smart datasheet is interactive and adaptable. It allows for the seamless integration of real-time data, automation, and collaboration features, which enhance its usability and efficiency. Smart datasheets can pull data from multiple sources, including patent databases, IP management systems, and research documents, to keep information up to date.

The transformation from a static to a smart datasheet involves the following key elements:

Dynamic Data Integration: A smart datasheet is capable of integrating live data feeds from relevant databases or software systems. This ensures that the IP datasheet remains current, reflecting the latest legal status, filings, or updates in patent applications. It also provides users with instant access to any changes in regulations, legal disputes, or advancements in related technologies.

Metadata and Tagging: Smart datasheets utilize metadata to categorize and tag information. This metadata includes keywords, patent classifications, related inventors, and technology domains, making it easier to cross-reference and search for relevant information.

User-Friendly Interface: Smart datasheets feature intuitive interfaces with filtering, sorting, and search options that help users quickly locate the specific information they need. This makes it easier to navigate large amounts of data and retrieve insights without manually sifting through documents.

3. Benefits of Smart Datasheets for IP Management

The transition to smart datasheets presents several advantages that significantly improve the efficiency of IP management processes.

1. Enhanced Data Accuracy and Consistency

Smart datasheets reduce the risk of errors and discrepancies that can arise from manually updating static documents. With real-time data synchronization, IP professionals are assured of having access to the most accurate and up-to-date information at all times. This is particularly important when tracking the status of patent applications, where any delays or omissions can have costly implications.

2. Streamlined Collaboration and Communication

IP professionals, legal teams, and inventors often need to collaborate across different departments or geographic locations. Smart datasheets support cloud-based sharing and collaboration, allowing multiple users to access, edit, and comment on the datasheet in real time. This eliminates the version control issues common with static documents and enhances team communication.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making

One of the most significant advantages of smart datasheets is their ability to generate insights through AI-powered tools. By analyzing data trends, patent filings, and legal precedents, smart datasheets can provide recommendations on whether to file for a new patent, pursue legal action, or explore licensing opportunities. These insights help IP professionals make informed decisions, thus improving the chances of success in the highly competitive world of intellectual property.

4. Faster IP Portfolio Management

Smart datasheets enable IP professionals to quickly sort, categorize, and manage large IP portfolios. Automated workflows can be created to track filing deadlines, renewal dates, and legal disputes, ensuring nothing is missed. This not only saves time but also reduces the administrative burden associated with managing IP portfolios.

5. Customizable Reporting

Smart datasheets allow users to generate custom reports tailored to specific needs. Whether it’s a summary of patent filings in a particular jurisdiction or a report on the licensing opportunities within a certain industry, smart datasheets can compile data and generate insights within minutes. This is especially useful for C-suite executives or legal teams who require high-level reports to inform strategic decisions.

4. The Future of Smart Datasheets in IP Management

As the world of intellectual property continues to evolve, so too will the role of smart datasheets in IP management. Future developments may include deeper integration with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technologies. For example, AI could further enhance the ability to predict patent trends, while blockchain could be used to secure data and verify ownership claims more reliably.

Moreover, the integration of smart datasheets with IP management platforms could create a fully automated ecosystem where every aspect of IP management is tracked, analyzed, and optimized in real time. This would not only improve productivity but also enhance the value that organizations derive from their intellectual property.

Conclusion

The transition from a traditional IP datasheet to a smart datasheet marks a significant step forward in the management of intellectual property. By integrating real-time data, AI-driven insights, and collaborative features, smart datasheets empower IP professionals to make better decisions, manage portfolios more efficiently, and ultimately protect their innovations with greater confidence. As IP becomes an increasingly valuable asset in the global economy, leveraging smart datasheets will be essential for staying competitive and unlocking the full potential of intellectual property.

[dave-antrobus-inc-co]

Dave Antrobus Inc & Co - Tips to be Successful in Real Estate Business

Success in the real estate business requires a combination of market knowledge, strong networking skills, and smart strategies. Here are some key tips shared by Dave Antrobus Inc & Co to help you thrive:

1. Develop In-Depth Market Knowledge

Research Local Markets: Understand property trends, pricing, demand, and regulations in the areas where you operate.

Stay Updated: Keep an eye on changes in laws, interest rates, and economic indicators that affect the real estate market.

2. Build a Strong Network

Connect with Key Players: Maintain relationships with other agents, brokers, contractors, lenders, and real estate attorneys.

Join Real Estate Groups: Participate in professional organizations and online communities to expand your contacts.

3. Leverage Technology

Use Real Estate Platforms: Market your properties on popular platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com, or local MLS listings.

Adopt CRM Software: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools help track leads, clients, and transactions, ensuring better client relationships.

Embrace Digital Marketing: Utilize social media, Google ads, and email marketing to reach a wider audience.

4. Provide Excellent Customer Service

Understand Client Needs: Focus on listening to and understanding the specific needs and preferences of your clients.

Communicate Effectively: Timely and clear communication builds trust and strengthens relationships.

Offer Post-Sale Support: Stay connected with your clients even after the sale for future referrals and repeat business.

5. Hone Negotiation Skills

Be Prepared: Research property values and market conditions to negotiate effectively on behalf of your clients.

Stay Calm Under Pressure: Stay focused on your client’s best interests and remain calm during tough negotiations.

6. Focus on Personal Branding

Build Your Reputation: Be consistent in delivering great service and develop a reputation for integrity, knowledge, and success.

Create a Personal Website: Showcase your experience, success stories, and available properties on a professional site.

Client Testimonials: Ask satisfied clients for reviews and testimonials to build credibility.

7. Invest in Continuous Education

Take Real Estate Courses: Attend seminars, webinars, and professional courses to stay informed about industry trends.

Obtain Certifications: Get certified in specialized areas like property management, commercial real estate, or luxury homes.

8. Manage Finances Wisely

Plan for Fluctuations: Real estate can be cyclical, so save for slower times and plan for market downturns.

Invest in Properties: If feasible, build your wealth by investing in rental properties or development projects.

9. Focus on Client Referrals

Ask for Referrals: Happy clients are more likely to recommend you to their friends and family, boosting your business through word-of-mouth.

Reward Referrals: Offer incentives or gifts for clients who refer new business to you.

10. Be Persistent and Patient

Stay Consistent: Success in real estate often takes time, so stay consistent with your efforts, even if results take a while.

Learn from Failures: Not every deal will be successful, but each provides an opportunity to learn and grow.

By following these tips, you can build a thriving and sustainable real estate business. Follow Dave Antrobus Inc & Co for more such posts!

[investinceofund]

From Purchase to Profit: A Comprehensive Guide to Mortgage Note Investing

Welcome to the world of mortgage note investing! If you're looking for a way to generate passive income while diversifying your investment portfolio, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know, from understanding mortgage notes to scaling your investments.

What is Mortgage Note Investing?

Mortgage note investing involves buying the rights to receive payments on a mortgage loan. When you purchase a mortgage note, you essentially become the lender, receiving monthly payments from the borrower. This investment can provide a steady cash flow, making it an attractive option for many investors.

Benefits of Mortgage Note Investing

Passive Income: One of the main draws is the potential for regular income from monthly payments.

Diversification: Investing in mortgage notes allows you to diversify beyond stocks and bonds, reducing overall risk.

Control: You have the ability to choose which notes to invest in based on your risk tolerance and investment strategy.

Understanding the Risks

While mortgage note investing can be lucrative, it's not without risks:

Default Risk: Borrowers may fail to make payments, leading to potential losses.

Market Fluctuations: Changes in real estate values can impact the value of your investment.

Regulatory Changes: Be aware of new laws that may affect mortgage lending.

Getting Started

Step 1: Educate Yourself

Start by learning the fundamentals of mortgage notes. Consider enrolling in online courses, reading books, or attending workshops.

Step 2: Conduct Market Research

Understand the current trends in the real estate market. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions.

Step 3: Network

Connect with other investors, note brokers, and real estate professionals. Networking can lead to valuable opportunities and insights.

Sourcing Mortgage Notes

Direct Purchases: Approach banks or individual sellers directly.

Note Brokers: Work with professionals who specialize in buying and selling notes.

Auctions and Marketplaces: Explore online platforms dedicated to note trading.

Evaluating Mortgage Notes

When evaluating a note, consider:

Borrower Creditworthiness: Assess the borrower's financial history.

Property Value: Ensure the property is worth the investment.

Payment History: Review past payment patterns to gauge reliability.

The Purchase Process

Negotiation: Agree on a purchase price with the seller.

Documentation: Ensure all legal documents are in order, including the assignment of the note.

Closing: Finalize the transaction through an escrow service or attorney.

Managing Your Investment

Payment Tracking: Keep meticulous records of payments received.

Communication: Stay in touch with borrowers to address any issues.

Default Management: Have a strategy for handling late or missed payments.

Exit Strategies

Consider your options for exiting an investment:

Selling Notes: If you wish to liquidate your investment, consider selling on the secondary market.

Foreclosure: As a last resort for non-performing notes, you may need to initiate foreclosure proceedings.

Re-performing: Work with borrowers to help them resume regular payments.

Scaling Your Investment

Once you're comfortable, think about expanding your portfolio:

Diversification: Invest in different types of notes and various markets.

Automation: Utilize software tools for tracking payments and managing your portfolio.

Partnerships: Collaborate with other investors to share resources and expertise.

Conclusion

Mortgage note investing offers a unique opportunity to earn passive income and build wealth. By understanding the fundamentals and following a strategic approach, you can turn your investment into a profitable venture.

Additional Resources

Books: Look for reputable titles on mortgage note investing.

Webinars and Courses: Consider platforms that offer in-depth training.

Networking Groups: Join communities of like-minded investors for support and advice.

[ediscoveryai]

Leveraging AI in eDiscovery: Early Case Assessment Software Solutions

In today’s fast-paced legal landscape, the ability to quickly and accurately assess a case can make all the difference. As litigation becomes increasingly complex, traditional methods of eDiscovery can feel like navigating a maze without a map. Enter early case assessment software—an innovative solution that leverages artificial intelligence to revolutionize how legal professionals approach their cases. Imagine having insights at your fingertips almost instantly. With early case assessment tools, lawyers and firms can uncover critical information that shapes strategy and decision-making right from the start. This shift not only enhances efficiency but also positions legal teams to tackle challenges head-on in an ever-evolving environment. Join us as we explore how these intelligent solutions are transforming ai in ediscovery and empowering legal practitioners to unlock valuable insights faster than ever before.

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