malpractice award limits?
The Delaware State Legislature is looking at a proposal to limit awards given by juries in medical malpractice cases. The cap would be $250,000 for non-economic damages such as "pain and suffering." Lost wages, the cost of medical care, and punitive damages would not be affected. The incentive behind such a move? To attract more insurance companies to provide medical malpractice insurance in Delaware. Chances are that this proposal comes too late in the legislative year to be acted upon by the Delaware Legislature, but it is stirring up a good deal of debate amongst legislators, and strong commentary from legal groups.
Tuesday, June 04, 2002
forensic science
For all of the CSI fans out there, there are a good number of web sites that cover the subject of crime scene investigations and science used in uncovering clues about crimes. Crime and Clues has collected a large number of articles on subjects such as crime scene investigations, physical evidence, death investigations, and others. An example of one article that they link to is a comprehensive description of the Collection and Preservation of Evidence. They also link to a number of other sites on related topics, such as criminal profiling, and forensic art.
For all of the CSI fans out there, there are a good number of web sites that cover the subject of crime scene investigations and science used in uncovering clues about crimes. Crime and Clues has collected a large number of articles on subjects such as crime scene investigations, physical evidence, death investigations, and others. An example of one article that they link to is a comprehensive description of the Collection and Preservation of Evidence. They also link to a number of other sites on related topics, such as criminal profiling, and forensic art.
recording artists rights
A couple of years ago, Courtney Love sent a letter out to other musicians about the state of the relationship between recording artists and record labels. Two examples that she used in the letter, of artists who were earning very little even though their records were selling very well were Toni Braxton, and the band TLC. A number of west coast recording artists joined together in the last few years to form a group called the Recording Artists Coalition (RAC), which allows them to share resources and information in their legal struggles against the recording industry.
Very few black musicians have become involved in the efforts of the RAC. A Village Voice article entitled Hip-Hop and R&B Artists MIA in Music Industry Struggle: Blacked Out, describes some of the reasons why.
A couple of years ago, Courtney Love sent a letter out to other musicians about the state of the relationship between recording artists and record labels. Two examples that she used in the letter, of artists who were earning very little even though their records were selling very well were Toni Braxton, and the band TLC. A number of west coast recording artists joined together in the last few years to form a group called the Recording Artists Coalition (RAC), which allows them to share resources and information in their legal struggles against the recording industry.
Very few black musicians have become involved in the efforts of the RAC. A Village Voice article entitled Hip-Hop and R&B Artists MIA in Music Industry Struggle: Blacked Out, describes some of the reasons why.
u.s. patent and trademark office to go electronic
Approximately 2% to 3% of all patent applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are filed electronically. The Office would like to increase those numbers drastically, and speed up the amount of time it takes to handle the patent and trademark processes. The solution they've arrived at is to develop an e-filing system using commerical off-the-shelf software, and to consult with patent offices in Europe and Japan which have already made the transition.
Approximately 2% to 3% of all patent applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are filed electronically. The Office would like to increase those numbers drastically, and speed up the amount of time it takes to handle the patent and trademark processes. The solution they've arrived at is to develop an e-filing system using commerical off-the-shelf software, and to consult with patent offices in Europe and Japan which have already made the transition.
pop-under patent
ExitExchange is a company that specializes in ad technology on the web. They had a patent application published last week by the U.S. Patent Office for pop-under advertisements:
ExitExchange is a company that specializes in ad technology on the web. They had a patent application published last week by the U.S. Patent Office for pop-under advertisements:
The filing broadly covers any systematic delivery of a window launched after another, including those on devices such as cell phones. If its application is approved, ExitExchange will have rights to collect royalties on the use of pop-under ads.Some potentially affected groups include Yahoo, Doubleclick, the New York Times, X10, Orbitz, and many others who use that type of advertising.
look smart
A class action suit may be brewing against internet search engine directory LookSmart. The suit involves how the directory sells some of its commercial listings. Thousands of companies had paid a one time fee to be listed in the directory, and LookSmart recently switched those businesses into a pay-per-click type of listing. One of the companies affected by the change was a legal staffing service, and it appears that they've recruited a large California law firm, with considerable class action experience, and a wealth of intellectual property knowledge and internet savvy to represent them.(via Cre8asite - a Yahoo group focusing upon website promotion, search engine optimization, and usability)
A class action suit may be brewing against internet search engine directory LookSmart. The suit involves how the directory sells some of its commercial listings. Thousands of companies had paid a one time fee to be listed in the directory, and LookSmart recently switched those businesses into a pay-per-click type of listing. One of the companies affected by the change was a legal staffing service, and it appears that they've recruited a large California law firm, with considerable class action experience, and a wealth of intellectual property knowledge and internet savvy to represent them.(via Cre8asite - a Yahoo group focusing upon website promotion, search engine optimization, and usability)
Monday, June 03, 2002
academic common market
I first learned about the Academic Common Market (ACM) when a neighbor's daughter wanted to go away to another state to study at a college that offered a major in Equestrian Science. The University of Delaware doesn't have a program in that field. But the ACM offered her an opportunity to afford to go to another school. The program allows people to pay in-state tuition rates for schools in participating states that offer programs not available in their own state. Delaware is one of 16 member states in the Market, which provides a win-win situation for students and schools. Students are able to pursue a course of study that they are interested in, even if it isn't offered locally. Schools are able to offer programs that might not be attractive to a large number of students otherwise.
I first learned about the Academic Common Market (ACM) when a neighbor's daughter wanted to go away to another state to study at a college that offered a major in Equestrian Science. The University of Delaware doesn't have a program in that field. But the ACM offered her an opportunity to afford to go to another school. The program allows people to pay in-state tuition rates for schools in participating states that offer programs not available in their own state. Delaware is one of 16 member states in the Market, which provides a win-win situation for students and schools. Students are able to pursue a course of study that they are interested in, even if it isn't offered locally. Schools are able to offer programs that might not be attractive to a large number of students otherwise.
Sixteen states, including Delaware, are part of the Academic Common Market. The others are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.Delaware joined the ACM in 1998, and more information about it can be found on the pages of the Delaware Higher Education Commission, including participating colleges, and the ability to search for a program (see the links at the bottom of their page).
The participating colleges offer 1,170 majors in the program. Delawareans have access to 290 bachelor's degree programs, 360 master's programs and 190 doctoral programs.
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