Piracy Log with Attorney Steve®

Send us Fan Mail The legal side of software raidsAre software companies legally allowed to conduct a software raid on your business if they have a suspicion that your company is using software that is pirated, or illegally downloaded from file sharing websites such as "bittorrent" or others, or that you are using counterfeit software, or using crack-codes to run software without paying f...

Send us Fan Mail Software Compliance & Copyright Infringement Law - Things to know before you engage in a software audit with Microsoft, Autodesk, the SIIA or BSAThis podcast discusses the ESSENTIAL checklist you must go through line by line if you received an audit lettter asking you to engage in a "voluntary" audit of your computers, networks and servers and laptops of your busines...

Send us Fan Mail Illegal downloading of ographic moviesCopyright law is heating up with demand letters based on illegal downloading of adult ograpy on p2p file sharing websites such as BitTorrent.  Attorney Steve, the copyright lawyer discusses this interesting situation to be aware of when you are downloading and uploading movies, books, audio tapes, games (ex. xbox and playstation), software, co...

Send us Fan Mail This Vondran Legal Hour podcast discusses the tort of defamation. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail SIIA software defense law firmThe Software & Information Industry Association ("SIIA") is a private trade group (not law enforcement) that seeks to enforce the intellectual property rights (ex. copyrights in software programs) of its member companies such as Google, Facebook, Adobe and others. Copyright lawyer Steve Vondran discusses what this entity is, explains som...

Send us Fan Mail BSA Defense Lawyer discusses the Business Software Alliance ("BSA")When your company is involved in a software licensing audit with an industry trade organizaation such as the BSA, you need to know what you are up against, and what you will be dealing with.  You need to understand the issues and defenses.  Attorney Steve Vondran, the Software Lawyer, provides another gre...

Send us Fan Mail Software Audit Attorney InsightsOur firm has helped many different types of companies handle their software licensing infringment cases, whether the auditing company is Autodesk, Microsoft, Adobe, Bentley, BSA or SIIA or even a third party "software compliance group."  These cases are rarely as easy to resolve as some people think.  In this exciting episode of Vondran Le...

Send us Fan Mail Negligence and Intentional Torts Laws in CaliforniaIn this episode of Vondran Legal Hour Steve and Lisa discuss the Charlie Sheen case and California law relating to giving other people HIV, aids, herpers or other STD.  Some of the torts discussed are:1.  Negligence2.  Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress3.  Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress4.  Fraud5.  Civil batt...

Send us Fan Mail What is a subpoena? Attorney Steve explains what a subpoena is and how to respond in this episode of "Vondran Legal Hour."  If yo uhave been served with a subpoena or need to serve one, we can help.  Find us on the web at www. AskAttorneySteve.comMotion to QuashWhen you are served with a subpoena, one thing you might need to do is to file a motion to quash.  This is a mo...

Send us Fan Mail Attorney Steve discusses the "office action letter" you might get from the USPTO if your trademark application (or servicemark) is intially denied.  If so, you will have 6 months to respond and cure the defects in your application, disclaimer certain things, provide a specimen etc. If you need help with intellectual property legal issues such as trademark (including trad...

Send us Fan Mail Copyright Law Basics - The Fair Use DefenseThis Vondran Legal Hour podcast discusses things copyright holders must consider before firing off a DMCA take down notice.  The case of Lenz v. Universal Music Corporation has set the standard in the 9th circuit which means that copyright holders (artists, songrwriters, musicans, software and game developers, and others) must consider (a...

Send us Fan Mail This Vondran Legal Hour legal podcast discusses the role of the "informant" in software audit cases.  Some things to consider asking the opposing party (usually an intellectual property law firm) when faced with a voluntary audit:1.  Who is the informant?2.  What information did they give you?3.  We believe confidential trade secrets have been stolen (you are assisting t...

Send us Fan Mail Overview of Software Licensing AuditsEngineeer and Architechts be on notice - Autodesk, Adobe and Microsoft can audit your internal coroprate installations of Autocad software and make sure you have properly licensed, and are properly pahying for your companies usage of these companies software products.  Small to mid-size, and even large businesses in the archtiecture and enginee...

Send us Fan Mail This video discuss form interrogatories in California.  How do you respond to these?  What are they?  Attorney Steve, the business and real estate lawyer discusses. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Telephone Consumer Protection Act - [47 U.S.C. 227]We all hate those annoying phone calls from "robodialers" but did you know in some circumstances Plaintiffs can turn these pesky violations into nearly a quarter million dollars?  Listen to civil litigation attorney Steve Vondran explain the newest case to hit the press.  In this case, Judge Alvin Hellertsein of Manhatte...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Vondran Legal Hour discusses copyright infringement and whether or not you can go into bankruptcy and discharge a unsecured judgment for willful copyright infringement.  If you are accused of willful copyright infringement in a Microsoft software audit, or Autodesk or Bentley, call one of our intellectual property lawyers. We may be able to settle your case without...

Send us Fan Mail Federal Copyright law - Software infringement defenses to allegations of willful copyright infringementOur intellectual property and copyright attorneys defend companies that are facing an Autodesk audit for AutoCad or Microsoft software audit.  This may arise as part of a BSA or SIIA audit or a standalone software audit.  When you are faced with a charge of federal copyright infr...

Send us Fan Mail Maricopa County Arizona has launched a new "business court" where only commercial, business and commercial real estate disputes will be heard,  Some cases have to have a miminum $50,000 amount in controversy requirement.  Some dont. Tytpes of cases that can be heard in this court polit program are breach of contract, UCC, trade secret theft,, copyright, trademark, unfair...

Send us Fan Mail IntroductionWhen you are involved as a Plaintiff in a financial elder abuse case in California, you need to understand the pre-judgement writ of attachment process.  This legal procedure allows you to go after the assets of one or more defendants and levy personal and real property BEFORE the case is over if the judge approves and signs the order of attachment.  This real estate l...

Send us Fan Mail IntroductionWhen you are involved in real estate litigation that affects title or possession to real property, you need to know what a lis pendens is and how it works.  You need to understand what it means to "cloud title" and what it means to "slander title."  These are very important real estate concepts that every litigator and land owner should be aware of....

Send us Fan Mail IntroductionFinancial elder abuse is on the rise in California.  People are living longer due to advances in science, medicine, health, fitness and nutrition.  At the same time, "seniors" (those over 65 years of age - which is still relatively "young" if you think about it) are some of the sole survivors of the "mortgage meltdown" and they are oftens...

Send us Fan Mail Legal insights regarding Autodesk Software Licensing AuditsThis episode of Vondran Legal Hour deals with tips for those companies facing Autodesk Audits.  Software licensing compliance can be complicated and frustrating, but Attorney Steve explains the process of undergoing a BSA software licensing audit with the architecht and engineering software Autodesk, which has over 10 mill...

Send us Fan Mail Can a real estate broker represent a California property owner in a small claims court in a dispute involving the property? Yes.  Under the California Code of Civil Procedure, there is a way that a real estate broker (property management) can represent the property owner. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.540CCP 116.540 states:(h) A party who is an owner of rental rea...

Send us Fan Mail Cumis Counsel LawyerWhat is cumis counsel? Sometimes in your practice of real estate (ex. as a property manager, commercial real estate or residential agent, or mortgage loan originator) you will be sued for your role in the transaction.  A plaintiff in a civil lawsuit might sue you for any or more of the following:FraudConstructive FraudBreach of ContractNegligenceFinancial Elder...

Send us Fan Mail Reverse domain name hijacking overviewThis epsiode of Vondran Legal Hour discusses the growing phenomena of the "trademark bully."  This show is general legal information only and not legal advice.  A trademark bully is a company that owns a federally registered trademark that believes it can force other pcmpanies (by use of threats, intimidation, fear, and express or im...