If salespeople connect with their business contacts on LinkedIn or another social media site, can they take that information with them when they leave the company? Maybe not, according to a federal court in California. David Oakes worked for six years as a salesman for a cell phone accessories company. He had signed an agreement saying that he wouldn’t disclose any proprietary information, including the company’s customer base. When the company terminated him, he started a co

If you've put a lot of time and money into designing a distinctive website or online store, and a competitor comes along and copies your site's look, can you sue? Yes, according to a federal court in California. The "look and feel" of a website is protected by the trademark laws. Surprisingly, this is one of the first court rulings ever on this question. Of course, a website is different from a trademark. But a website can still be protected by the law, because it can amount

The Duluth Trading Company was looking for a way to promote its men’s Henley-style collarless polo shirts. It thought of Don Henley, the lead singer of the Eagles, whose first big hit in 1974 was called “Take It Easy.” So it created an ad that said, “Don a Henley and take it easy.” Result: The company got sued – by Don Henley. Under the law, celebrities often have a “right of publicity” – that is, they’ve worked hard to create positive associations with their name, and they h

​​ Companies that are leasing their own space for the first time are often surprised by the terms of a commercial lease – and even companies that have leased space before sometimes overlook important points where they might be able to negotiate matters to their advantage. Here’s a quick guide to what to look for: Letter of intent. This sets out the basic terms of the agreement so everyone is on the same page before a formal lease is drafted. Be careful – the document should s