Blawg of the Day: “Anticipate This”, an Entertaining Look at Patents.

The illustrations are the best part. This issue features wings for giving you an aerodynamic lift while skiing and a device for skinning a squirrel. However, there are also some serious discussion of the law that will be of interest to lawyers practicing in the field. In case you want to check it out later and forget the name, I’m adding to the Blogroll on the right hand margin.

Back Talk Requested: Google Books a Monopoly? Perhaps, but where’s the Harm?

Google’s “Project Gutenberg” is intended to save billions of publications in libraries and other collections from being lost and to make them available at a mouse click to a world-wide readership. This is a laudable goal, perhaps one worthy of public appreciation on the level of the Nobel Peace Prize. Nevertheless, some observers see a threat to the public good in Google acquiring the rights to so many publications. They make dire predictions of a knowledge monopoly. But Google responds that others can do the same thing it has done — copy books, wait to be sued and then settle.

Straight Talk About Outsourcing Legal Jobs to India.

First of all, there’s a vast cultural gulf between our two countries. We, Americans and Indians, don’t think alike and neither do our legal systems. There are too many concepts, nuances, emerging trends and anomalies of American Law that are pretty hard to keep straight, even when you are immersed in our legal culture.

Arbitration Awards and Judgment Liens — the Rescission of Rule 1307 (b).

Between 1836 and 2007, any Pennsylvania title searcher could tell you that the entry of an award of arbitrators in the Prothonotary’s docket was a lien on real estate, even if an appeal de novo was filed, taking the matter to a judge. The award of the panel of arbitrators was stated to have the same effect as a verdict on real estate. However, if the title searcher gives you the same answer today, he/she would be wrong. The reasons why are a little tricky.

Why is “Above the Law” the Top Legal Blog in Readership?

Pretty depressing, huh? So, is the secret to ATL’s success that there are armies of junior associates at Big Law firms checking this blog to see whether their firm is mentioned? Or are there just a lot of people who get off on reading about other people’s troubles? And what’s with issuing press releases when layoffs occur, a la Reed Smith?

Enough already!

Landlord & Tenant: City Rental Registration Program Put on Hold Until September.

challenging the Ordinance that created the Program and seeking to enjoin its enforcement.

After some testimony had been taken, the Plaintiffs in these suits obtained a consent order for the purpose of giving the parties time to work out a settlement with the City. Under the consent order, signed by Judge Joseph James on March 19, enforcement is suspended until September or further order of court.

Please Email; Please Don’t Fax; But Whatever You Do, Don’t Telex.

I can remember observing a Telex machine in the late 70’s, early 80’s in an office where I once worked. In the quiet of the night, you could hear it pounding away down the hall. But the only communications I ever saw come out of it were Associated Press news dispatches. I never sent or received a telex, but every now and then I would come across a Telex address on someone’s letterhead. In a wireless world, Telex apparently still has a niche. But not with me. Don’t try to send me one, I don’t have a wiring address.

It happened in Pittsburgh.

I suppose that I ought to read the decision before exercising my right of free speech to criticize it. But reading takes work and writing about decisions takes thought. Better to just flip off the judge. But don’t do it in court. It may not be disorderly conduct, but I guarantee you, in any courtroom in the world, it is contempt.

How Much Money Other People Make.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle One staple feature of magazines for lawyers and now websites, electronic newsletters and blogs for lawyers, is the feature about how much money other lawyers make. This stuff can give you a serious inferiority complex. It is almost guaranteed that reported median salary for in-house counsel, corporate general counsel, partner (or […]

Q: When is a Billboard not a Billboard? A: When it is 25 SF.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Township of Exeter v. Zoning Hearing Board of Exeter Twp., 962 A.2d 653 (2009) upheld a finding by the Zoning Hearing Board and affirmed by the Court of Common Pleas, based on expert testimony, that an ordinance that limited the size of a billboard to 25 feet effectively banned billboards, since 25 square feet was too small to display an advertising message of the kind commonly found on billboards to passing motorists. (Exclusionary Zoning)

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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