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Check Out My Guest Blog Post!

Franklin Graves — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:23:39 +0000

VLPA Spotlight - Ben & Brittany CooperHead over to the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville's website for my guest blog post where I interview some friends of the Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts (VLPA)! Check it out.

Available Now: "Careers in IP Law: Avenues and Opportunities"

Franklin Graves — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:00:22 +0000

L to R: Sharra Brockman, Chrissie Scelsi, and Matthew HintzPre-order today! The ABA's newest publication, "Careers in IP Law: Avenues and Opportunities," is now available from the American Bar Association's Section of Intellectual Property Law. Click here to order a copy.

I had the chance to flip through a copy of the book at the Intellectual Property Law Conference in Washington, D.C. last week and highly recommend getting a copy. If you are a law student, I was told you can qualify for a free digital copy!

"This is a great resource and provides a fantastic discussion of what it takes to practice in IP areas," says Griffin Barnett, a third-year law student at American University Washington College of Law. "It offers excellent advice to both law students and young lawyers looking to practice intellectual property law."

#IPLSpring CLE Preview: The Blonde, the Red Shoe, the Round-Cornered Rectangles: Debating the Frontiers of Trade Dress Law

Franklin Graves — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:40:08 +0000

With trade dress being a hot topic in the news recently, you know the 28th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference in Arlington, VA would have an entire CLE session devoted to the topic! "The Blonde, the Red Shoe, the Round-Cornered Rectangles: Debating the Frontiers of Trade Dress Law" CLE session will take place on Thursday, April 4th, from 8:30 AM until 10:00 AM in Salons I and II of the Arlington Ballroom.

#IPLSpring CLE Preview: From the Inside Looking Out: An In-House Counsel Perspective on US International Trade Commission Investigations

Franklin Graves — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:42:09 +0000

Credit: U.S. International Trade CommissionWait! Don't leave! One of the capstone CLE events of the 28th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference in Arlington, VA this year covers the topic of Section 337 investigations. The CLE session will take place on Friday, April 5th, from 3:30 PM until 5:00 PM in Salon IV of the Arlington Ballroom. Plus, the program is eligible for ethics credit!

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 is used most often in the area of intellectual property to prohibit the unfair methods of competition or other unfair acts in the importation of goods into the United States. Claims include allegations of patent infringement and trademark infringement by imported goods.

#IPLSpring CLE Preview: Copyright: Copyright Infringement in Patent Prosecution: Might Your Firm Be the Next Litigation Target?

Franklin Graves — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:00:03 +0000

We are less than a week away from the ABA's 28th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference in Arlington, VA! There will be over 30 Continuing Legal Education credit sessions, some eligible for ethics credit, in addition to multiple networking events. I will be covering one of the sessions on Copyright called "Copyright Infringement in Patent Prosecution: Might Your Firm Be the Next Litigation Target?" at 8:30 AM in the Arlington Salons 5 and 6.

Book Preview: "Careers in IP Law" by Sharra Brockman

Franklin Graves — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:39:22 +0000

"If you get a law degree you can do anything you want." That is a phrase often heard before, during, and after attending law school. How much valuable information ever follows that sentence? My guess is not much.

Image courtesy of the ABA-IPL.However, Ms. Sharra Brockman aims to bring real answers to that token phrase in her new book, "Careers in IP Law," published by the American Bar Association's Section of Intellectual Property Law.

Keeping A Professional Image Online

Franklin Graves — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:00:35 +0000

A recent segment on 'The Ellen Show' got me thinking about the importance of your online image. In the clip, you can watch as Ellen DeGeneres surprises members of her audience by showing embarrassing photos they posted on Facebook. Some are mortified, others are strangely proud. Below are a few take away points from Ellen's mischief.

5 Attorneys on 5 Entertainment Contract Essentials

Franklin Graves — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:00:42 +0000

Image Credit: frank3.0 on FlickrIn the world of entertainment contracts it can be next to impossible to comprehend the legalese without a thorough understanding of the law. Yet, there must be some essential points to an entertainment contract that all creative people should know about, right?

In searching for an answer to the "essential points" question, I decided to poll five prominent entertainment attorneys from across the country and ask them! Here's what I discovered:

NEXT STOP: #IPLSpring

Franklin Graves — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:44:20 +0000

Be on the look out for future updates related to the American Bar Association's 28th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference because I am now an official Law Student Reporter! I was informed this week that I was selected to participate in the ABA's Law Student Action Group's reporters program. This spring will mark the third anniversary of the program which sends students to Arlington, VA to cover the three-day conference across blogs and social media. The conference kicks off Wednesday, April 3rd and runs through Friday, April 5th.

Legal Blogging for Reputation 101

Franklin Graves — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:00:46 +0000

Have you been thinking about starting a blog, but don't know how? Or, do you have a blog, but can't find the time or inspiration to update it?

Image credit: Sue Richards (via Flickr)I highly suggest you check out Ernie Svenson's new book, Blogging in One Hour for Lawyers. The book was recently released by the American Bar Association (ABA) and offers advice for attorneys looking to blog. The book provides entire chapters on setting up a blog for attorneys that might not be tech-savvy. At one point, Ernie talks about a blog providing attorneys a way of standing out in a competitive world. The book starts off by encouraging readers to "Google" themselves. Have you done this recently?