Hanging By a Thread

A Pinterest{ing} Question: Is it Safe to Pin?

Failing to See the Forest for the Trees

A few weeks ago, we tried one of those do-it-yourself yogurt bars where you choose from 16 some odd flavors of yogurt and then pile on the toppings. You can go crazy or keep it modest. I let the boys choose their flavors and toppings with minimal help from me, allowing them to create their own unique treat. They actually kept it pretty respectable with a balance of fruit and candy.

On the way out the door, Darling 1 dropped his cup, spilling some of the kiwi fruit, gummy bears and brownie chunks out on the sidewalk. He panicked and began to go into hysterics, but I scooped it up and assured him that I had saved most of his delicious concoction. Once seated and chowing down on his frozen yogurt treat, he forgot about those lost gummy bears; and despite this small hiccup and near meltdown, he enjoyed his very distinctive "fro-yo" creation.

Sometimes we lack vision and can't see past a small stone in the path that we mistaken for a giant boulder. When that happens it takes insight from others to realize it's not really such a big deal.

Jumping the Gun

About a month ago, a woman wrote a post explaining her tearful decision to close her Pinterest account over fear of lawsuits regarding the photo links she "pinned" on this social media platform. After reading the Pinterest Terms of Use and considering copyright laws she basically panicked, pulled her boards down and spread her paranoid post across the blogosphere. I've been ruminating on this issue since reading the article. And finally, I have a chance to write about it.

For those who don't know, Pinterest is a relatively new social media platform where users can create virtual bulletin boards with different themes. Each time a user places a photo link on a board, it's called "a pin." Many websites have added buttons titled "Pin This" or other similar statements to encourage readers to post the link with a photo to their Pinterest boards.

I do have a Pinterest account, but I admit that I have barely used it and I'm certainly no expert on Pinterest, but my opinion is that this woman made a mountain out of a molehill. There are two issues to address: 1) Terms of Use; and 2) copyright laws. Neither of these issues are unique to Pinterest.

Terms of Use

The woman who sadly left Pinterest was apparently shocked to find that Pinterest claimed indemnity when it came to copyright issues, including attorney fees. Well, let me tell you that all online platforms who have covered all their bases, dotted every i and crossed every t is going to place all the blame squarely on your shoulders and leave your mess in your lap should you violate someone's copyright. And why shouldn't they?

After all, it's not Typepad's {my blog host} responsibility to make sure that I don't infringe on anyone's copyright, etc. They are merely the paid host of thousands of blogs. They are not the regulators of content, nor the owners of any of the content contained within each blog. Just as it is not Pinterest's obligation to ensure that everyone being pinned is alright with this. So, any legal actions, including any costs incurred, are the user's liability not the platform's problem.

This should not have been a shock to this woman. This is standard language in a Terms of Use policy. I would be shocked if the Terms of Use didn't contain these provisions. There's no reason to quit Pinterest because of this standard and fair language.

Copyrighted Material

As with any social media platform, all users should have at the very least a vague understanding of copyright laws in order to protect their own works and protect themselves from getting in trouble if using someone else's original work. I think, in general, misunderstandings about what constitutes copyrighted material and what is an infringement of such copyright abound in the world of social media.

It's actually quite easy to infringe on someone's copyrighted material if you're pinning content on Pinterest, posting photos that you didn't take or writing articles with liberal use of other's written words without permission from the copyright owner.

Here are a few of the basic concepts:

• What type of material is protected by copyright? {the short answer}
  • Copyright protects original works of authorship including literary, musicals. Dramatic and artistic works.
  • Copyright does not include ideas, systems, facts or methods of operation.
• What constitutes copyright infringement?
  • In general terms, a copyright is infringed when a person makes a derivative work, reproduces, performs, publicly displays or distributes copyrighted material without the permission from the copyright owner.
• What is fair use?
  • Fair use is a doctrine that allows for limited use of copyrighted materials without first acquiring permission from the copyright owner.
  • Under fair use, copyrighted material may be used for news reporting, criticism, commentary, educational uses, research and the like.
  • In determining whether fair use applies, a court will look at 4 factors;
    • Purpose and character of the use;
    • Nature of the original; material made for commercial use is less protected;
    • Amount and substance of original used; and
    • Effect that the use has had on the market of the original material.

Pinning without Permission

While "pinning" a photo that acts as a link to the original source, may or may not be considered copyright infringement {the courts haven't considered this specific issue yet}, most website owners are not going to be upset by this link. The pinning to a board in Pinterest will likely cause increased traffic to the original source's site, which for most will be considered a positive effect.

One exception might be photographers who are showcasing photos of clients or selling their art on their sites. These sites are often protected by passwords and/or have water marks on photos and provide language about the use of their photos.

However, should your "pin" not link the material to the original source, a problem could arise. And yet, most likely the first course of action will not be to file a lawsuit. Most of these issues can easily be corrected by contacting the person who is infringing on another's copyright and demand that the offending person take down copyrighted material immediately.

If that doesn't do the trick, a formal cease and desist letter would follow. And then, if there is still infringement or if there is a gross infringement or habitual infringement, a petition would most likely be filed in federal court.

The Scoop

Few with a heavy online presence haven't had to send a demand to take down a page or post or photo. It happens often, whether on purpose or in ignorance. I don't mean to say it isn't a big deal; it is. But it's usually something that can easily be dealt with without filing a lawsuit.

So, should you close up shop at Facebook, Twitter, your blog, Pinterest, et al? I don't think so. But I do think you should know what the Terms of Use that you have agreed to say and understand the basics of copyright law. When in doubt about whether what you're "taking" from another constitutes copyright infringement be sure to look it up; you can find anything online. Oh, and I'm fine with you "pinning" this on Pinterest, sharing it on Facebook or Retweeting it on Twitter Over and out....

Anna

A Guided Motherly Law Tour

Over-used Words

I often take for granted that my kids know what I'm talking about since they hear me saying certain words over and over. For instance, I tell my kids to "Focus!" quite a bit as they are prone to distractions of any kind, especially when out in public. However, it has occurred to me that I have never really explained what I mean when I tell them to "focus." What I mean is that I want them to pay attention to their surroundings, where they are in their space and where I am and what I am saying to them. So, clearly...Focus!

Another word I catch myself saying to my spirited Darlings is "Relax!" Again, I have never taken the time to show them what it means to relax or explained the meaning of it. And even if they understand that I'm telling them to take it down a notch, I don't think they know how to truly "chill out."

The Website

It's easy to forget that we may not all be on the same page or come on board at the same time. And I was thinking about this when I was on Motherly Law scrolling through taking a look at everything, which I do periodically to ensure there are no blips or glitches. I realized that I have added this and that, taken away a few items, changed other features, etc. over the last 20 months.

Fifty Percent of my daily traffic comes from search engines. That means there are many new people landing here every day for the first time in search of something I've written in the past. The other half may be relatively new readers or die hard Motherly Law supporters. Either way, I thought I would give you a little tour of all the features on Motherly Law.

Everyone assembled and ready for the guided tour? This is a hands-on, interactive tour. So, get ready to start clicking. OK, here we go...

Proceed to the Left Column...

• Please look to the top left corner. There you will find the "About" tab. Click on it and you will find a bit about me and this website. You'll also find my email address in case you want to drop me a line.
• Below "About" are the "Categories" of posts I have written. Click on any of these and you will find a list of the relevant posts.
• If you are searching for something specific, then you can use the "Search Box" just below the category cloud. There are now 447 articles here. You may need the search box to find something.
• There are also recent posts by title, in case you need to get caught up on the last week or so; and posts archived by the month.
• On the bottom of the left column are badges from events and conferences I have participated in and programs or causes I support and/or have written about in a post. If you click on any of these buttons, you will be transported to those respective sites.

Moving to the Right Column...

• At the top right side, you'll find the "I Follow the Motherly Law" button. If you have a website of your own, you can grab the code there and paste it in on your site. It's a way of letting your readers know that you read Motherly Law.
• In fact, on the top, right side, you'll find several ways of staying in touch and sharing Motherly Law with your friends.
• Just below my button, you'll see the Facebook, Twitter and RSS buttons: click on Facebook to become a fan and "Like" Motherly Law if you have a Facebook account; click on Twitter to follow Motherly Law if you engage in conversations there; and click the RSS button to get a feed to Motherly Law.
• An RSS feed will allow you to get notifications when there is a new post, making sure you don't miss a single one.
• Moving down the column, there are a handful of ads here. Click on any of them to be transported to those respective websites.
• You will also a notice a "Your Ad Here" button. That will take you to a page on my site with information about buying ad space on Motherly Law, should you be interested in promoting your goods and services here.
• The last item on the right column is the FDA/USDA Food Safety box. This box continually updates with new recalled food items with the details you need to know. You can scroll down through the list or click on a particular item for more information. I, myself, use this box quite frequently.

Lastly, scroll down the Bottom of the Post

• Here you will find ways to share a particular post by clicking the "Share It" button, which will give you a number of social media platforms to choose from, depending on which you have accounts for.
• There is also a permalink tab that you could use to link to or share.
• And a tiny button with the word "Comment" on it. You can click on that button to leave a comment. If you click through a permalink to a particular post, you need only scroll down below the post to the comment box, but if you are on the main page, you must click "Comment" in order to leave a note for me.

And remember sharing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, through email, through links in posts or even by word of mouth is the ultimate compliment. I do so very much appreciate any spreading of the word regarding Motherly Law. Thanks for your support.

The Scoop

Clearly this is another potluck week. You never know what you're going to be served from day to day. I've had several busy weeks and lots of tidbits I've wanted to cover lately. I'll get back in my groove soon.

Please go take my survey posted yesterday. It's all about you, the Readers. The answers to these questions help me to know you, my readers, better and provide you articles you want to read. I'm off to go demonstrate to my Darling Boys what it means to focus and relax, respectively. Over and out...

Anna

The Million Dollar Question: Pop Culture Clues

What makes an idea or an article novel or appealing? What makes a reader choose to click a link? What makes a message amazing, eye-opening or viral? What makes an online writer stand out from the hundreds and thousands of others just alike floating around, bumping into each other out in cyberspace? That is the million dollar question, isn't it?

I'm working on figuring this out. And when I do have the answer, I'll let you know. I know this much; the answer has just as much to do with what will not put you in reach of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as it does with what you should be doing to earn the gold star.

Here's what I know thus far:

1. There is no instant formula for fame and fortune in writing;
2. The more you write, the more you hear your own, true voice; and
3. The more you understand your readers, the more you know how to temper what readers want to read with what you want to write.

So, with these truisms in mind, I have a few fun questions for you, Dear Reader:

This survey is anonymous, and I would be so incredibly grateful to you if you would take just a few minutes of your time to answer the questions. The questions are completely random and whatever jumped into my head as I typed. While this is true, I do think these questions will give me great insight into how to choose topics and how my readers will perceive certain issues, etc. And I promise you know all the answers to this survey!

Thanks so much in advance for helping me get closer to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. Over and out...

Anna

Coffee with Anna: Week in Review Vlog

Welcome to Motherly Law's first Week in Review vlog. A vlog is a video blog; for those of you not familiar with that term. I'm going to give this a shot for a few weeks and see how it goes.

So, get a cuppa java and sit back and watch.

 

I would love your feedback, but do be kind, please. {Yes, Mom, I know I need a haircut, and I'm getting one today.} Please drop me a line! Thanks for watching. Over and out...

Anna

Raw Emotion Sells Like Hot Cakes; Law Simmers Like a Pot of Stew

Some of my more important, more informative, more potentially useful posts are not my highest read posts. Nope. It's my more sensational, more emotional, more totally raw, open hearted posts that break the bar, smash the records and hit the mark.

I'm struggling with this a bit. On the one hand, I'm always thrilled with astronomical pageviews. That means you like me, and more importantly, you like my writing. And hey, does it matter? I wrote it. It's from the heart. That's all that should matter.

On the other hand, I began writing Motherly Law in order to bring together legal information and resources about issues that do or could affect families; things that we, as parents, should know or teach to our kiddos or stick in our brains for some later date. I wanted to convey the law in a way that was less intimidating; more easily digestible; more appealing and interesting.

As I have written post after post, totaling almost 400 posts in 18 months, I've found my voice. I no longer tip-toe around potentially explosive topics {well, there are still a few I tactfully step around}. I express my opinions more freely. I write what I feel. I write what I think. I write what I love. I write what I loathe. I write what I fear. I write what I dream.

I think that's OK. After all, Motherly Law is all mine. It can be who I am as a whole. It's motherly, lawyerly and womanly all at the same time. And yet, when well-meaning and thoughtful people tell me that Motherly Advice is their favorite part of each week, I can't help but feel a little let down.

The Motherly Advice posts are full of heart and soul {my own}. I love them too. But, it's the law and resource related posts that take most of my time and draw on my legal expertise and research skills. It's what sets my site apart from others.

So, this is me, being honest and raw. And truthfully, I'm so very thankful for my very loyal readers and the huge number of people who stumble upon Motherly Law each day by way of search engine queries {and hopefully like what they find and come back again for more}. And I guess what that means is that as long as you know Motherly Law is here full of information, resources and reassurance, then you know you can find the information you need when you need it. And that's enough.

Sometimes I can gauge the response a post will have, but sometimes I'm thoroughly surprised by the attention or the lack thereof. There are some posts I know will be well liked the minute I post them; and others aren't loved to begin with, but will become search engine darlings in the long run. Some posts I love every word of from the first line; stories that come spilling out of my brain totally spun, no need for improvement. Some posts are fruits of great labor; the words don't come easily; my thoughts jumbled together mumbling and bumbling around in my head trying to blend and combine into a sweet melody.

And that, folks, is what this is writing thing is all about; trial and error. Very soon I'll be launching a new website, in addition to Motherly Law. This new endeavor will have nothing to do with the law, but it is something that's dear to my heart and a combination of passions. Stay tuned for that.

Oh, and don't forget to tune in tomorrow morning for my first "Coffee with Anna" Week in Review vlog. And one more thing, the photo is me, in the raw. {Just look at the gray hair! Oh well, it happens} Over and out...

Anna

Baby Steps: Learning to be Patient with Our New Endeavors

The best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft awry.

        ~From the poem, To a Mouse by Robert Burns

 Change is Good

At the end of winter and the beginning of spring this year, along with melting and budding and greening that the changing of the seasons brings, our household was making changes too. Dear Husband, Will, was forced to start looking for a new job; a new career. After a bit of searching, both on the job boards and in the soul, and a whole lot of brainstorming and praying, he decided to make a business plan and start a social media consulting business.

In May of this year, he opened the doors, so to speak, by launching his website for Open Door Consulting, Inc. Each day brings ups and downs in this new endeavor. We are ever hopeful, optimistic and yet realistic too. As with every new business, each step taken is a baby step ...hopefully, a step in the right direction.

We did not plan to open a business. We did not mean to both be self employed, but life happens and we must be resourceful and creative and learn to cope. Little by little, Open Door is gaining momentum.

The Written Word

This week, Will launched Open Door's Blog, The Key Word. His goal is to write interesting, informative, key posts on social media topics that run the gamut from online networking, analytical tools, social media tips in general to specific social media platforms, tricks of the trade, business blogging, Will's own experiences, opinions and practices.

Will intends to post 3 to 5 times per week. And guess what? Yours truly will be helping out by posting once or twice a week over at The Key Word. While these posts will specifically be aimed at businesses using social media, anyone using social media platforms for work or play or a little of both, will likely gain some insight and some know how from these articles.

My first post at The Key Word is up today. So, please go check it out and find out why every business should be have a blog. And feel free to drop Will a line of encouragement over on Open Door's website.

The Scoop

Do you have a business? Do you use social media? Do you hire someone to help with social media? Talk to me, folks. Over and out....

Anna

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Motherly Advice: Choose Faith

Ultimate Blog Party 2011: 2nd Annual BYOB {Bring Your Own Blog} Party at the Motherly Law Domain

Welcome to my blog, Motherly Law! I'm so glad to have you here. I'm a mom and an attorney, and I write about legal issues that affect families and offer tips and resources that pertain to those issues. On Fridays, I provide a bit of Motherly Advice; and when I'm inspired to write something totally unrelated to law, I do that too.

I've come a long way since Ultimate Blog Party 2010. Back then, I had just launched my blogging career and had about 12 posts under my belt. That seems like eons ago. I now post just about every day, actively participate in Twitter and Facebook, have attended BlogHer 10, Minnesota Blogger Conference and Blissdom 11 and have actually met many of my online friends!

I accidentally stumbled across the hashtag for Ultimate Blog Party last year and followed it back to www.5MinutesforMom.com. I quickly wrote a post, linked up and started party hopping. This year, I had it on my calendar. I have been monitoring the hashtag to ensure I don't miss out on any important #UBP11 information.

And now, it's here. So, I straightened up my site, put some shinier, prettier Facebook and Twitter buttons up, cleaned out the cobwebs {it is the World Wide Web, right}, and made cookies for the party.

Now here's the thing about the cookies. I was going to make something from scratch. I really was, but then time got away from me. I got busy and ran out of time. So, these cookies are slice and bake chocolate chip, but they're still yummy...and straight out of the oven.

I'm reading an advance copy of Becky Beaupre Gillespie's and Hollee Schwartz Temple's Good Enough is the New Perfect, and I have decided I fall in the "Good Enoughs" category; and I'm OK with that. So, no homemade cookies, but they're warm and freshly-baked. So, enjoy a few with a big glass of ice-cold milk or hot coffee and keep reading!

What I love about social media is the having the opportunity to meet and connect with so many wonderful, inspiring people across the country. I love hearing from readers that I have informed, entertained or made some kind of impact through a post. And I love to write!

I've covered distracted driving, estate planning, bike helmets, stalking, food regulations, toy regulations, pool safety, bullying, family law, car seats, gun laws and numerous other subjects. In the near future, I plan on tackling education, vaccines, child care, adoption, etc.

So, click on a few of the linked posts or go through the archives, but take your time, relax and enjoy. I'm from Texas, where people are friendly, and I live in Minnesota, where people are nice, which means I'm a gracious and kind hostess; and I would love to have you back as often as you would like to visit.

And last bit of information: I have a fantastic giveaway going on thru Sunday, April 3, 2011; $50 in shop credit from Circle Line Studio. Be sure to check out that post and enter to win!! Over and Out...

Anna

Life After Death: Your Online Digital Legacy

On Death & Dying

By the sound of the posts this week, I'm dwelling on death lately. I'm really not any more than my over-active, paranoid brain usually thinks about what would happen if...{fill-in-the-blank with any horribly sad newspaper headline ending in "leaving behind a devoted husband, two small boys, two giant dogs and three aging cats."} Regardless, these issues of estate planning must be attended to during our active lives to make everything easier on those who we leave behind if....

An Online Presence

I can count on one hand my friends and family members who don't have at least a Facebook account. Yet most have Facebook, Twitter, maybe an old MySpace page, a YouTube account, a blog {or two}, a Flickr or Tumblr account, a LinkedIn page and/or a host of lesser known social media networking sites. And I am going to venture a guess that just about everyone in this country has an email address; even my 87 year old grandma checks and sends email daily. Many people have e-trade accounts with passwords that change frequently or simply do all of their banking and bill paying online, etc. The list of online accounts is endless. We are one big online community.

To which of these groups do you belong? Do you have your accounts and passwords written down somewhere safe? Does your spouse or significant other, parent, child, friend or sibling know your passwords to these accounts? Your answer is probably no. More than likely you keep the passwords in your head and have shared them with no one.

So, what happens if you go to bed and don't wake up in the morning; or on the way home from work, your car is struck and you die? What will happen to your online digital legacy? Will your pages and accounts remain open and online? What do you want to happen to your blog(s) or other online writings, photos, etc.?

Last Digital Wishes

These are issues that have not traditionally been addressed when getting your estate plan in order, but these are now important issues if you have any online accounts. You might want information and photos from Flickr, Tumblr, YouTube, a blog, Facebook, etc. to remain visible and public for friends and family to continue to view, remember, feel close and mourn, but perhaps, you want an investment account, LinkedIn and a PayPal account closed.

On the flip side, if you don't record your wishes regarding your digital legacies, your family might think they should remove all online accounts, pages, etc. immediately. Yet, friends and family, especially those across the miles, may feel doubly sad and lost, losing all written and photographic memories of your times and experiences together.

Regardless of what you wish to be done with your accounts, you must record the information, share it with someone or use a service that will store, back up, secure, get rid of and/or notify loved ones with pre-written letters or videos, etc.

There are several services that have multiple levels with various price points depending on what services and the number of accounts you have. Here are a few to check out: Legacy Locker and Entrustet.

The Digital Afterlife Experts

Evan Carroll and John Romano run the site The Digital Beyond that is dedicated to all things regarding online digital legacies. They recommend naming a digital executor to handle all of your online information. A digital executor must understand the technology involved and that may not be the executor of your estate. Carroll and Romano further suggest making an inventory of the name of the account, passwords, etc. and what you want done with each of the accounts. You could use my free Financial and Legal Documents Records Book download for this purpose.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policies Regarding Death

It's important to review the terms of the online platforms you use to ensure your directions to your digital executor or other pre-designated arrangement upon your death do not violate the Terms of Use of Privacy Policies. For instance, you may not be able to transfer some online accounts to another person.

Twitter and Facebook do have policies handling the death of a site participant, which have some good points and are lacking in other ways. Facebook apparently allows for a memorialized page, but based on the number of comments from distraught family members of deceased Facebook users whose profiles have suddenly been removed or locked, Facebook needs to revisit its policy terms on this subject. The Digital Beyond lists other sites and their policies here.

Other Resources

This is a developing area of information. In the last few months there have been a number of articles written about this topic:

After Death, Protecting Your 'Digital Afterlife'

Digital Estate Planning: The Importance Of Giving Access To Online Accounts

Cyberspace When You're Dead 

2011 is Heating Up!

If you are concerned about digital information left on computers, but not online, such as financial records, photos, articles, drafts of literary or scholarly works, etc. read this article from the Wisconsin Lawyer by Nathan J. Dosch and Joseph W. Boucher where they address property rights, transferability, copyright issues and other matters concerning digital records stored on a deceased computer.

The Scoop

All in all, the moral of the story when it comes to estate planning is to, well...plan ahead. So, be prudent in how and where you list account numbers, passwords, user names and PINs, but do provide an inventory whether it's a list left with your attorney, in a Financial & Legal Records Book like the one in yesterday's post or through an online service, as referenced above.

It's a relatively simple process, but it does take time to keep it up-to-date and involves more than a pen and a stack of post-it notes stuck around the house {which is my preferred method of reminders and bits of important information}. Although 1 or 2 post-it notes left in strategic locations reminding you to take care of your online digital legacies is probably a good idea. Over and out...

Anna

Pop Quiz: Are You Up for a Challenge?

March has Challenged Me

March has been a wonderful, horrible, stressful, exhausting, nonstop, humbling, roller-coaster month for our family. I've been wonderfully blessed with so much support as I continue to write on Motherly Law and elsewhere. And ML continues to gain momentum in various ways. I'm excited to see what each new day brings my way as a result of all the writing and connecting I have done with ML.

I've been intending to update several posts as the laws have changed with some of the topics I have written about. I was going to write that post for today, but I really need to just drop into bed and sleep rather than stay up writing. So, I'll be updating posts on Saturday. Instead, I've come up with a ML Trivia Pop Quiz for you.

A Motherly Law Quiz

Here are some random questions regarding information from various posts. I hope you've been reading, but don't worry if you haven't or have and don't remember the answers. I have provided the answers at the bottom of this post:

1. What was the very 1^st ML post titled?
2. How many states ban the use of hand-held phones while driving?
3. In which post do I reveal the depths of my paranoia by telling you that I printed a photo list of the FBI's Most Wanted List the 1^st time I flew on an airplane after September 11^th, 2001?
4. Does the U.S. have any laws regulating naming a baby?
5. How much paid parental leave is mandatory in the U.S.?
6. Have I ever been bullied?
7. What do I always tell you to eat on Fridays in the Motherly Advice posts?
8. What new federal food safety law promises to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses?
9. What three blog conferences have I attended?
10. Which two U.S. Reps have guest posted on ML?
11. How do I refer to my sons and husband on the blog?
12. How many months have I been writing ML?
13. On what TV station's website can you find articles written by me?

Answers 1. Taking the Plunge 2. Only 8 3. Pool Safety Tips 4. No 5. There is no mandatory paid parental leave in the U.S. unlike most countries in the world 6. Yes, I have been bullied by a boss 7. Eat Chocolate 8. FSMA 9. BlogHer10, MN Blogger Conference & Blissdom11 10. Rep. Erik Paulsen and Rep. Keith Ellison 11. The Darlings 1 and 2 and DH {Dear Husband} 12. As of next Friday, it will have been a full 13 months 13. CBS Minnesota (WCCO)

The Scoop

How did you do with the quiz? Don't worry; DH couldn't even answer them all. If you want to read more about any of the questions, just click on the link in the answer to the question. I'll be back on Friday with a bit of Motherly Advice and on Saturday I will be writing updates for a handful of previous posts. Over and out...

Anna

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The Law with a Side of Bacon: Social Media Breakfast MSP Panel Discussion on Law & Social Media

BACON

 It's What's For Dinner

 

 

Early Wake Up Call {For This Night Owl}

This morning I participated in the Social Media Breakfast Social Media and the Law panel discussion moderated by Albert Maruggi. Joining me on the panel were three esteemed members of the bar; Teresa Thompson, James Quinn, and Jon Garon. Thomson Reuters sponsored this meeting of SMBMSP. It was a lively discussion of many areas of the law that impact how social media is used and consumed.

Much of the discussion centered on employment issues and use of social media, both as a means of business marketing and a person's private account. We briefly touched on how the courts are using social media as material to be included in discovery requests and as a part of the jury selection process.

I wish we had had more time to discuss the FTC Guidelines regarding disclosure, defamation issues and blogging, whether to trademark and whether there's a need to acquire an insurance policy as a social media participant. That's the beauty of the law; one discussion leads to a host of other interesting legal issues.

The Scoop

So, what's with the bacon and BLTs? Bacon is a part of the Social Media Breakfast's logo/theme. So, Thomson Reuters gave each panel participant a package of Hormel's Fully Cooked Bacon {and a deluxe edition of the newest version of Black's Law Dictionary, published by West, and engraved with each person's name, weighing a full 10 pounds; I'm not exaggerating...I weighed it}.

My Darlings and my dogs were most excited about the bacon. And that's what we had for dinner; BLT's. The bacon is fully cooked, but I still crisped it in the microwave for 2 minutes. It was really tasty; which is much more than I expected from fully cooked bacon that doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened. And just to be on the safe side with the FTC and the disclosure guidelines: Thomson Reuters gave me the bacon as a gift. I followed the directions on the box, ate it and enjoyed it!

Enjoy the weekend. We, in Minnesota, are beginning to see the ground... without snow on it. That's not the case in my yard, but maybe by Monday. Over and out...

Anna

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