Luce Forward attorneys work closely with a broad spectrum of business clients to help them build and protect their business interests and assets on the Internet. Whether it involves assisting "brick and mortar" entities looking to establish or expand commerce on the Internet, start-up companies looking to do business in cyberspace, or established Internet businesses looking to leverage their identity and grow their business, Luce Forward can provide the expertise needed.
In conjunction with our Business Practice Group, we are able to assist companies with special needs and issues related to conducting business on the Internet, including those related to contracting online, privacy, the use of commercial emails, content protection, trademark and copyright protection and liability and taxation.
In conjunction with our Labor and Employment Group, we can also assist businesses with issues arising from the use of technology in the workplace, including employer liability for e-mail, employee privacy rights, and employee use of software and the Internet.
General Counsel Services.
Luce Forward e-Business attorneys provide general counsel to a variety of companies with respect to their Internet commercial transactions. Our attorneys' experience as in-house and outside counsel for companies engaged in e-commerce and EDI transactions makes Luce Forward ideally suited to understand your business and legal issues arising in Internet commerce.
E-Commerce / Internet Marketplace.
Luce Forward advises its clients on all aspects of structuring their e-commerce transactions and implementing marketplaces for their products and services. Luce Forward lawyers have assisted our clients with various aspects of e-commerce transactions, including:
- EDI agreements.
- Clickwraps, shrinkwraps, terms of use and privacy policies.
- Exchange participation agreements.
- Taxation issues related to e-commerce.
- Advertising and sweepstakes.
- Marketing on the Internet.
- Internet strategic alliances.
- Protection of intellectual property, such as trademarks and copyrights.
- Rights to, and protection, of domain names.
- Software patent drafting and prosecution.
- Implementation of effective trade secret programs.
Internet Regulatory and Compliacne Issues.
Luce Forward e-Business attorneys advise our clients engaged in Internet commercial transactions on various applicable regulatory and compliance issues. Luce Forward lawyers have strong expertise with the ever-changing regulatory framework affecting business on the Internet, including:
- COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).
- Can-Spam Act Of 2003.
- GLB (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).
- UCITA (Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act).
- UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act).
- E-Sign (Electronic Signatures In Global And National Commerce Act).
- DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).
- Telemarketing Sales Rules.
Intellectual Property Strategic Planning.
Luce Forward attorneys also assist companies engaged in Internet commerce in assessing the scope of their intellectual property and in structuring and implementing comprehensive intellectual property protection programs to differentiate them from their competitors and to enhance their value proposition. Our services include:
- Conducting IP internal audits.
- Focused analysis of intellectual property assets related to e-Business.
- IP strategy execution.
Dispute Resolution / Litigation.
Luce Forward provides dispute resolution and litigation services to its clients in controversies arising from Internet commerce, including:
- Internet jurisdiction issues.
- Business Software Alliance audits and negotiation.
- UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy).
- Metatagging.
- Hyperlinking.
- Spamming.
- Online defamation.
- Website infringement.
- ISP liability issues.
Technology-Related Employment Issues.
For e-Business employers, Luce Forward develops personnel policies and documentation; negotiates and drafts employment agreements; and provides counsel and litigation services on all aspects of employer/employee relationships, including:
- Employer liability for e-mail and Internet use.
- Employee use of software.
- Obtaining visas for computer and technology employees.
- Privacy considerations regarding employees' use if Internet/intranet.
- Employer surveillance of Internet/intranet use.
- Internet use policies.