Legal Blog of Perdomo Law

The Risk of Not Using Commercially Licensed Images for Your Business Companies of all sizes use images on their websites, blogs, and social media marketing efforts. Most of these images are copied and used without commercially licensed authorization from the copyright owner of the art. Businesses are exposing themselves to potential financial risks, and potentially court appearances. Companies that license art, such as Getty Images and Shutterstock, have computer programs that search the internet for companies stealing and using their art without permission. Fines can be in the thousands of dollars for each occurrence. Individual photographers, songwriters, artists, musicians, and authors all have the same right to protect their intellectual property. Copyright laws protect all "original works of authorship" across music, art, literature, and drama, including things like movies, poetry, novels, architecture, even computer software. Unlike patents or trademarks, it is...

When You Can Terminate An Employee for Smoking Marijuana in New York State Not long ago, firing an employee for testing positive for marijuana was a regular occurrence for employers. With some states legalizing its use under certain conditions, a situation that used to be black and white has developed a lot of gray areas. There have also been a lot of gray areas developing in the mind of employers because it has been proven effective in treating some medical conditions. Marijuana use it is not appropriate in most workplaces, and some of the side effects can pose safety hazards for all the employees in the company. In states like New York, firing an employee for using marijuana must be carefully weighed, sometimes on a case by case basis. The Compassionate Care Act allows residents to legally purchase and smoke medical marijuana, which means that some people who test positive can fall back on discrimination for medical conditions. It is essential for employers to know when you ca...