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Showing 16 posts in Technology.

Big Hollywood Studios Win Injunction Against Streamer VidAngel in Copyright Infringement Case

A big legal battle has been breVidAngel Logowing between upstart video streamer VidAngel and Hollywood heavyweights Disney, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox. So far, the studios have scored a clean knockdown, if not a knockout.

VidAngel describes itself as a family-friendly video streamer that allows users the ability to filter language, nudity and violence from movies and TV shows. Its business model involves selling new movies to customers for $20, allowing customers to select which snippets of content to edit out, and then buying movies back for $19. The price VidAngel will pay to buy back the content diminishes by a dollar for each day the buyer keeps it. In other words, VidAngel does not license the movies from the studios who hold the copyrights to the content like, for example, Netflix does.

The big studios took notice, and in June filed suit, alleging that VidAngel was operating as an “unlicensed [video on demand] streaming service.” Among other claims, the studios requested that the court grant an injunction blocking VidAngel from continuing to stream films. VidAngel fired back with counterclaims alleging antitrust violations by the studios. Read More ›

Categories: Copyright, Intellectual Property, Technology

5 Tips for Investigating and Purchasing Cyber Insurance

In 2016 Lansing, MI's Board of Water and Light fell victim to a cyber-attack that resulted in $2.4 million in costs, including a $25,000 ransom paid to the perpetrators. In the aftermath of the breach, BWL announced that it was filing for a $1.9 million insurance claim under its cyber insurance policy, including $2 million in covered losses, less a $10,000 deductible.

There is a lot at stake for businesses when it comes to cyber-crime, which is why more and more businesses are investigating and purchasing cyber insurance to hedge against the risks associated with cyber security and data privacy. Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, News, Privacy, Technology

Assembling Your Company's Data Breach Response Plan

Business TeamNo matter how carefully, thoughtfully and diligently a company works to prevent it, data breaches happen. Company management, IT teams and outside consultants can do everything right and still end up dealing with a breach. That means that knowing how to best respond when (not if) a breach happens should be part of every company’s data protection strategy.

We recommend that every company assemble a security breach team, consisting of individuals inside and outside of the organization who possess different skill sets. This may include technology officers, as well as staff from IT, human resources, communications, legal departments, outside counsel, and outside vendors. The composition of the team will depend on the type and size of the organization, but each member should be in a position and have skills that enable the organization to quickly and properly respond to an incident. The team must also be equipped, authorized and empowered to evaluate and immediately react to an incident once it has occurred. Read More ›

Categories: HIPAA, News, Privacy, Technology

Lawsuits Encouraged by Sixth Circuit Decision Where Customer and Employee Sensitive Data Breached

Cyber SecurityA recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (the “Sixth Circuit”) may make it easier for plaintiffs to bring costly lawsuits against companies that allow sensitive data to fall into the wrong hands. Most troubling from a company's perspective, the Sixth Circuit used language that some states legally require in data breach notification letters to justify allowing the case to move forward. Read more about this case here.

Categories: Employment, News, Technology

Deadline for EHR Attestation Fast Approaching

deadline for ehr attestationAs noted in our September 2011 article, it is time for hospitals and physicians to start using electronic health records ("EHR").  It is particularly important if hospitals or physicians want to take advantage of the 2011 Medicare incentive payments, since important deadlines are quickly approaching. Read More ›

Categories: Technology

First Electronic Health Record Incentive Payments To Be Issued However Few Are Able to Exchange Information as Required

electronic health record incentive paymentsThe Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology ("ONC") announced that the first electronic health record ("EHR") incentive payments were going to be made in mid-May to providers who had successfully attested to having met "meaningful use" and all of the other program requirements.  The maximum payment that a Medicare provider in the EHR program can receive in 2011 for his or her first year of participation is $18,000.  Incentive payments for eligible hospitals begin at $2 million. Read More ›

Categories: Technology